Inner fender dust shields
 

what is everyone using for the staples to secure the flaps to the inner fender the ones they give you in the kits are very hard to work with there has to be a better way

Inner Fender Staples
 

I used the supplied staples. But punching them through the inner fender sheet metal was a challenge. What I ended up doing was drilling staple sized holes with a small drill bit using a pre-sized wood block template. I then pressed the staples through the fender and dust shield and then pressed the staples legs together. It took time and was a PITA but it came out looking okay for my restoration.

Dan

https://imgur.com/a/a8KI2uW

or buy some stainless/steel wire and make your own -

I Used the "Lloyd-Chick" Trick.
Medium sized staples, straightened out and cut to length re bend insert and fold over.

It is a bit difficult to do a one person install, you also need to pierce the rubber and use a small pair of round nose pliers to "Roll" the ends to simulate a mechanical-stapler crimp.
With practice and time it can be done in a manner to replicate a factory installation vice the repop square body roofing staples supplied.

what size stainless / steel wire will work the best

I believe lloyd used 17 gauge zinc plated wire from a spool. 17 gauge is about .054 thick. Looks to be size in the pic as the large paper clip.

That is correct about what Eddie said. This is what Lloyd used, 19 gauge galvanized very easy to work with.

I used a coil wire that farmers use to build electric fences for cattle. A guy told me about it. It won’t rust and has a medium stiffness to it. Worked fine.

I use aluminum wire peened over the jaws of my linesman pliers. A 1/16" drill to enlarge the factory holes a bit and the same pliers to bend both ends towards each other, then a body hammer to lay them flat. Won't corrode, simple to bend, and they have lasted over 20 years on at least 2 cars.