Installing Fusion Sport Sideskirts on a non-sport

[FusionDailyDriver]

I have been looking around for a very long time, and have not had any luck finding any information. I just bought sport sideskirts for my 2011 SEL, and although they need paint before installation, I am trying to figure out how they get attached. It is not a "plug and play" installation like I once thought. It seems as though there need to be holes drilled where clips on the skirts can mount. Can someone confirm this? There are mounting points on the bottom of the car that match up, but nothing to support the top of the skirt.

Thanks in advance.

Here are some pictures of the clips to give you an idea. I am not the most fond of drilling into a car that is in the rust belt. My 2006 Taurus rotted out and I do not want this rotting out too.

[Big Jim]

It is pretty evident that to mount the skirts the same way as the factory did that you will need to drill.

 

An aternative would be to use some high quality dual sided tape that is intended for the purpose. Some aftermarket body kits were installed this way. 3M is one of the better vendors for this. If the right tape is used and the surgaces properly prepped the results are very strong.

 

Obviously, the factory method is more robust. If you pursue this path, treat the holes by painting the exposed edges and after it is dry, treat the area with Ziebart or something similar.

 

Since you need to get them painted anyway, you might seek advice from the body shop that paints them for you as well.

[FusionDailyDriver]

Well yeah the holes are gonna need to be done. I am just weary about doing it. How badly do these rocker covers hold in salt, dirt, and slush? On my 06 Taurus, that is exactly what the stock covers did and the rockers disintegrated. So I am worried about doing this to the Fusion, although the Fusion is built much better.

 

Any pictures out there of a sport without the side skirts on? Any idea what diameter hole? These are things I neee to find out before drilling.

 

I am not scared to drill.. you are talking to the guy who cut a hole in his roof and installed a factory moonroof.. that was in the Taurus. But I need to know what exactly to replicate before I do it.

 

I know someone with a Sport, but he is in Mass. Ideally I would make a template using his car, but that may be hard.

[FusionDailyDriver]

Bump. Looking for any input or ideas anyone has on this topic. Thanks.

[MDB]

To determine hole size, just figure out what's needed to get the clips into the hole and keep them there. It doesn't have to be that precise in diameter, rather large enough so that you can get them in with smashing things trying to force them into too small a hole and not so large that just fall out. I would just hold a drill bit up to the side of the retention clip and determine from that. You can start a little smaller and then see how difficult it seems to be to force the clip through the hole and then drill larger as needed. Roughly, it looks like about 3/8" but that's just a WAG.

[Jarcmx]

I know this is an old post, but this is exactly what I'm trying to do to my car. Where to get the sport side skirts? I've been looking online with no luck yet.

 

Thanks in advance

[Johnnyjea]

Can anyone please tell me where they got the sport side skirts please.

[bbf2530]

3 hours ago, Johnnyjea said:

Can anyone please tell me where they got the sport side skirts please.

 

Hi Johnny. You can get the part numbers and pricing from the Parts Department at your local Ford Dealer. Then you can negotiate the price with them, or take the part number and shop online form any of the many online Ford parts sellers: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=Online+Ford+Parts+Sellers

 

You can also check with your local Salvage Yards to see if they may have a Fusion Sport with side skirts in good shape. Either way, you will need to have them painted, since they come unpainted when ordered as parts.

 

Let us know how you make out and good luck.