Yes, that's the rub (or at least one of the rubs). I have a taildragger and I was going to be brilliant and make the wheel pants a total of 2 pieces (for each wheel). Yes, it came out great and looks wonderful, everybody comments on it. However, I would not do it again. The labor and time to get it right is not worth it (IMO). The way Van's has us put the "spats" on the wheel pants is just fine, aerodynamic, and looks good. It's also easy.
Since you asked, yes...you'll need to have access to the screws that hold on the pant to the bracket. To do this, you need to make something that will guide and hold the screw between the outside of the spat, and the bracket that holds the wheel pant on.
- I made a fiberglass mold (tube), 3D printed a device that would hold a piece of waxed piano wire in the middle of the tube, and filled it with epoxy/flox. When cured, I removed the piano wire and drilled out to the proper size. The tube allows the screw to hit the hole in the wheel pant. It also must be robust enough to hold the pant in place.
- I then drilled the spat in the proper place (tough to get it right), epoxied the tube in place at the wheel pant and the spat.
- Sanded off the tube even with the spat. Made a nice
- Counter sunk the tube so that the screws would be flush/hidden (note: the top screw must be very long and is hard to find).
Sadly, that was the easy part.
To really do this properly, you'll need to put a tab on the back half of the spat that will fit under the front half of the spat. If not, then they will not likely line up when put together or catch the wind and/or create drag (it also doesn't look good). If you're going to go to this much trouble, you want the two halves (of the spats) to fit flush where they meet.
It was tough to get everything to fit properly and when I take the wheel pants off, the spats try to drag across the gear leg faring. It's not that much of an issue, but I'm afraid it could scratch the paint even though anti-scuff tape is to be used there.
Not sure this all makes sense. Below are a few pictures that I had on my phone that may better explain what I did. I'll try and make time to post some pictures this evening. Or, you can PM me and we'll discuss.
Best of luck,
Fred