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How to repair this damage to wheel well liner? [message #164195] Sun, 25 March 2012 22:25 Go to next message
Dennis S is currently offline  Dennis S   United States
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The right side wheel well liner on my 73 is damaged. The worst is at the lower rear.. photo...

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=43351&title=00714&cat=4620

And as viewed from inside -- now that I have the propane compartment out...

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=43350&title=00415&cat=4620

I am considering making a patch to fit inside and then pop riveting through from the wheel side. Followed with a coat of Rhino truck bed liner type spray coating.

Any suggestions or comments on how to best proceed? I am working at the mini-storage lot -- which may limit some options.


Thanks,
Dennis


Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro
Re: How to repair this damage to wheel well liner? [message #164201 is a reply to message #164195] Sun, 25 March 2012 22:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
RadioActiveGMC is currently offline  RadioActiveGMC   United States
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Location: Hot AZ desert
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Honestly I have little to write to help you. But your plan is what I have planned on doing exactly. Patch and coat. Mine are pretty ugly. I may try to make some new ones myself out of fiberglass. But I'm guessing I'll take the easy route.

***"Gettin There"-1973 23' Sequoia- Michael, Onans smell, "Go solar/wind power!"
Re: How to repair this damage to wheel well liner? [message #164203 is a reply to message #164195] Sun, 25 March 2012 23:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
captjack is currently offline  captjack   United States
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You could always buy a new one from Jim K
http://www.appliedgmc.com/prod.itml/icOid/1015


Jack Christensen - K6ROW, '76 Glenbrook/Clasco - "The Silver Bullet", Sebastopol, CA
Re: How to repair this damage to wheel well liner? [message #164204 is a reply to message #164195] Sun, 25 March 2012 23:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GeorgeRud is currently offline  GeorgeRud   United States
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I think that JimK has fiberglass wheel well liners available if you need to replace yours. Otherwise, you can use some sort of plastic sheeting that can be pop riveted to the original liner.

I think the addition of a truck bed liner spray would nicely cover the repaired area.


George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
Re: How to repair this damage to wheel well liner? [message #164207 is a reply to message #164195] Sun, 25 March 2012 23:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
RadioActiveGMC is currently offline  RadioActiveGMC   United States
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I have a very close friend that makes fiberglass/carbon fiber custom stuff for a living. I can make one for TONS less with sweat equity. The ones he sells are super nice, but are costly. I'm thinking about the patch idea as well.

***"Gettin There"-1973 23' Sequoia- Michael, Onans smell, "Go solar/wind power!"

[Updated on: Sun, 25 March 2012 23:38]

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Re: [GMCnet] How to repair this damage to wheel well liner? [message #164217 is a reply to message #164195] Mon, 26 March 2012 05:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mr ERFisher is currently offline  Mr ERFisher   United States
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your wheel well liner, looks exactly like my 73/23
the wheel also broke the drain pipe above the wheel well liner.
I removed the HW heater, through the bath module, and repaired the plumbing
and liner from the inside.

here are some tips to read about the 73 models
http://gmcmotorhome.info/skin.html#REAR

on the 73 models, the down range of the air bags has to be mechanically
limited (- 2 inches) to keep the wheel from damaging the liner. The "up"
range of the bag was about +3", at 100#, which is ok. This is what I did
(more range at higher pressure)
http://goo.gl/h24Cq

I have put plastic wood on the "inside - top" of the liner, screwed the
broken parts to the "plastic wood" , used a urethane calk on the cracks,
and an aluminum plate in the wheel liner with calking and screwed it in
place. (time will tell).

I could not remove the cracked liner, so this was the method for now.
(pictures to follow)
gene




On Sun, Mar 25, 2012 at 8:25 PM, Dennis Sexton <dennisfsexton@aol.com>wrote:

>
>
> The right side wheel well liner on my 73 is damaged. The worst is at the
> lower rear.. photo...
>
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=43351&title=00714&cat=4620
>
> And as viewed from inside -- now that I have the propane compartment out...
>
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=43350&title=00415&cat=4620
>
> I am considering making a patch to fit inside and then pop riveting
> through from the wheel side. Followed with a coat of Rhino truck bed liner
> type spray coating.
>
> Any suggestions or comments on how to best proceed? I am working at the
> mini-storage lot -- which may limit some options.
>
>
> Thanks,
> Dennis
> --
> Dennis S
> 73 Painted Desert 230
> Germantown, TN
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>



--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
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Re: How to repair this damage to wheel well liner? [message #164221 is a reply to message #164195] Mon, 26 March 2012 07:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
94nubble is currently offline  94nubble   United States
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Location: Chesapeake VA
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My right side wheel well was a mess. Broken in a dozen places with holes all over. I used a plastic soldering tool kit from Habor Freight and thickest plastic I could find (storage container form WallMart)for patches and welded them in. I tested the welds by throughing the wheel well at brick wall a couple of times and kicking them. The seams held. Get the seam areas as clean as possible, I use 80 grit sand paper. Always trim off any thin edges, like where a tire has rubbed through. The trick to welding them is to tack the patch panel in by just melting them together in a few places then melt a deep V between the panels with your Iron. Fuse them together by pushing the plastic filler into the V from behind with the Iron tilted forward and then pull back over the molten plastic, then push the molten plastic into the V. The flip the well over and do the back side of the seam as well. It's not hard to do, just a slow process of pushing in the filler and pushing the molten plastic into the V and always pulling back toward you. The well took me about 3 hours to finish. I have another Coach that I did this too with the well still in.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=16339


Tom McManus
1977 Royale
Chesapeake VA

[Updated on: Mon, 26 March 2012 10:26]

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Re: How to repair this damage to wheel well liner? [message #164225 is a reply to message #164221] Mon, 26 March 2012 08:44 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Dennis S is currently offline  Dennis S   United States
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Registered: November 2005
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Senior Member
Thank you for the suggestions.

I could have been more clear -- it is the rear wheel liner behind the wet bath -- removing it is too large a project for me at the moment. So, buying a new/used replacment isn't an option.

Gene -- thanks for the patch ideas. I have the rear bath wall out and reasonable access to part of the top of the liner now.

Tom -- nicely done plastic welding repairs. Whatever I do now -- I would like to be able to complete a similar repair in the future. Did you consider cutting our the wheel scuff damage and installing bump-ups to give more space -- similar to what the later design allowed?

Please keep the ideas coming.

Dennis


94nubble wrote on Mon, 26 March 2012 07:56

My right side wheel well was a mess. Broken in a dozen places with holes all over. I used a plastic soldering tool kit from Habor Freight and thickest plastic I could find (storage container form WallMart)for patches and welded them in. I tested the welds by throughing the wheel well at brick wall a couple of times and kicking them. The seams held. Get the seam areas as clean as possible, I use 80 grit sand paper. Always trim off any thin edges, like where a tire has rubbed through. The trick to welding them is to tack the patch panel in by just melting them together in a few places then melt a deep V between the panels with your Iron. Fuse them together by pushing the plastic filler into the V from behind with the Iron tilted forward and then pull back over the molten plastic, then push the molten plastic into the V. The flip the well over and do the back side of the seam as well. It's not hard to do, just a slow process of pushing in the filler and pushing the molten plastic into the V and always pulling back toward you. The well took me about 3 housrs to finish. I have another Coach that I did this too with the well still in.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=16339



Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro
Re: How to repair this damage to wheel well liner? [message #164260 is a reply to message #164195] Mon, 26 March 2012 16:38 Go to previous message
Larry C   United States
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Registered: July 2004
Location: NE Illinois by the Illino...
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Senior Member
Followed with a coat of Rhino truck bed liner

The wheel wells are made of ABS If I recall correctly. Same as the grill. Both can be a challenge to repair.

I have used a mix of solvent and ABS granuals to make a mix of ABS mud. This stuff is messy, stinks and will form any shape you need, like fiberglass only in the ABS style.

If you have a large hole, make a patch with fiberglas, leave enough room to screw or pop rivit to the good existing material.

THEN after watching MYTHBUSTERS ( no affiliation ) test the incredible strength and abilities of truck bed liner, like Rhino and others, I would definately apply a good coat of truck bed liner over the entire wheel well, including around the edges at the bottom, to seal really well.

after seeing MYTHBUSTERS ( no affiliation ) put this to the test, and see how the truck bed liner kick butt and come out looking the same as it went in, I am going to do this to my rear wheel wells this summer. If you missed the show, it is on the web... you have to see this one to really know the impact of what I am saying and how this stuff held up to explosions, dog bites, and came out the same as it went in, no damage....

With all the talk, over the past year or so, about the damage that occurs when the tires come apart and seeing this show, it might be possible that this stuff may protect the wheel well from being beat apart... A solution has been needed, maybe this may be in the right direction....

my bit


Gatsbys' CRUISER 08-18-04
74 GLACIER X, 260/455-APC-4 Bagg'r
Remflex Manifold gaskets
CampGrounds needed, Add yours to "PLACES" /> http://www.gmceast.com/travel
_

[Updated on: Mon, 26 March 2012 16:41]

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