Wheelhouse panels

[bill rush]

I've been off the list for a while so if you have
beat this subject to death please advise.

I removed the wheelhouse panels from my 73
Canyonlands when I installed headers and never
replaced them.

I plan to do some traveling this spring and would
like to put them back on, but I am concerned about
the heat build-up and the fact that they are so
close to the headers they will probably melt. Has
anyone cut holes, added louvers, or otherwise
modified the panels to deal with the heat. I may
go the fan route, but I'm still concerned about
melting the panels.

Ideas?

Bill Rush

 

[russ bethel]

When headers were installed on my 76 Glenbrook we cut the lower edge of the
wheel well covers to get some additional clearance. I think I have about 3
inches of clearance after they were cut. I have not had any problems with
the covers melting.

Russ Bethel
rbethel

- -----Original Message-----
From: Bill Rush
To: GMC Motorhome
Date: Sunday, January 17, 1999 5:42 PM
Subject: GMC: Wheelhouse panels

>I've been off the list for a while so if you have
>beat this subject to death please advise.
>
>I removed the wheelhouse panels from my 73
>Canyonlands when I installed headers and never
>replaced them.
>
>I plan to do some traveling this spring and would
>like to put them back on, but I am concerned about
>the heat build-up and the fact that they are so
>close to the headers they will probably melt. Has
>anyone cut holes, added louvers, or otherwise
>modified the panels to deal with the heat. I may
>go the fan route, but I'm still concerned about
>melting the panels.
>
>Ideas?
>
>Bill Rush
>

 

[zachary zehnacker]

Bill,

Our drivers side wheel well seems fine and seems to have enough clearance
with the headers. Our passenger side wheel well was very close to the
headers, however. It did eventually melt somewhat. The last time we had
them out (frame off), we cut away the melted area (and a little more for
good measure). Now there is quite a bit of clearance and we have not had
any problems with them melting again. It is probably a better/safer idea
to cut the wheel well to give adequate clearance before they melt . If
you test fit them, you should be able to see where the passenger side one
is close and make the appropriate modifications to give yourself enough
clearance to avoid problems. You should also check the driver's side one
to make sure that it also has adequate clearance.

Zak

>I've been off the list for a while so if you have
>beat this subject to death please advise.
>
>I removed the wheelhouse panels from my 73
>Canyonlands when I installed headers and never
>replaced them.
>
>I plan to do some traveling this spring and would
>like to put them back on, but I am concerned about
>the heat build-up and the fact that they are so
>close to the headers they will probably melt. Has
>anyone cut holes, added louvers, or otherwise
>modified the panels to deal with the heat. I may
>go the fan route, but I'm still concerned about
>melting the panels.
>
>Ideas?
>
>Bill Rush
>
>

 

[thomas g. warner]

Seems like it would be quite easy to fabricate a simple sheet metal heat
shield to screw on to the top of the frame rail to protect the wheel well.
anyone done that?

>Bill,
>
>Our drivers side wheel well seems fine and seems to have enough clearance
>with the headers. Our passenger side wheel well was very close to the
>headers, however. It did eventually melt somewhat. The last time we had
>them out (frame off), we cut away the melted area (and a little more for
>good measure). Now there is quite a bit of clearance and we have not had
>any problems with them melting again. It is probably a better/safer idea
>to cut the wheel well to give adequate clearance before they melt . If
>you test fit them, you should be able to see where the passenger side one
>is close and make the appropriate modifications to give yourself enough
>clearance to avoid problems. You should also check the driver's side one
>to make sure that it also has adequate clearance.
>
>Zak
>

>>I've been off the list for a while so if you have
>>beat this subject to death please advise.
>>
>>I removed the wheelhouse panels from my 73
>>Canyonlands when I installed headers and never
>>replaced them.
>>
>>I plan to do some traveling this spring and would
>>like to put them back on, but I am concerned about
>>the heat build-up and the fact that they are so
>>close to the headers they will probably melt. Has
>>anyone cut holes, added louvers, or otherwise
>>modified the panels to deal with the heat. I may
>>go the fan route, but I'm still concerned about
>>melting the panels.
>>
>>Ideas?
>>
>>Bill Rush
>>
>>
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach

 

[marcus mcgee]

I used some fiberglass faced with reflective silver mylar that was meant for
header wrapping. Cut a piece large enough to fold over the edges to get a
seam on the edges to prevent fraying of the fiberglass. Folded the edges over
and used high temp RTV to seal the edges down. Then used small stainless
bolts and nuts to attach it to the wheel well liner, reflective side facing
the header. The whole piece is about 12" x 18" and seems to work quite well.

Marcus

> Seems like it would be quite easy to fabricate a simple sheet metal heat
> shield to screw on to the top of the frame rail to protect the wheel well.
> anyone done that?
>

> >Bill,
> >
> >Our drivers side wheel well seems fine and seems to have enough clearance
> >with the headers. Our passenger side wheel well was very close to the
> >headers, however. It did eventually melt somewhat. The last time we had
> >them out (frame off), we cut away the melted area (and a little more for
> >good measure). Now there is quite a bit of clearance and we have not had
> >any problems with them melting again. It is probably a better/safer idea
> >to cut the wheel well to give adequate clearance before they melt . If
> >you test fit them, you should be able to see where the passenger side one
> >is close and make the appropriate modifications to give yourself enough
> >clearance to avoid problems. You should also check the driver's side one
> >to make sure that it also has adequate clearance.
> >
> >Zak
> >

> >>I've been off the list for a while so if you have
> >>beat this subject to death please advise.
> >>
> >>I removed the wheelhouse panels from my 73
> >>Canyonlands when I installed headers and never
> >>replaced them.
> >>
> >>I plan to do some traveling this spring and would
> >>like to put them back on, but I am concerned about
> >>the heat build-up and the fact that they are so
> >>close to the headers they will probably melt. Has
> >>anyone cut holes, added louvers, or otherwise
> >>modified the panels to deal with the heat. I may
> >>go the fan route, but I'm still concerned about
> >>melting the panels.
> >>
> >>Ideas?
> >>
> >>Bill Rush
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> Tom & Marg Warner
> Vernon Center NY
> 1976 palmbeach

 

[david l greenberg]

Might sheet metal wheel wells vibrate a bit? Just asking.

David Lee Greenberg F22009
GMC Motorhome Registry
200 MacFarlane Drive PH4
Delray Beach, FL 33483-6829

 

[bartz paul]

My headers have been ceramic coated and so far have posed no problem to
melting the wheelwell liner.

Paul Bartz

From: Zachary Zehnacker [mailto:zakz]
Sent: Sunday, January 17, 1999 11:54 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Wheelhouse panels

Bill,
Our drivers side wheel well seems fine and seems to have enough clearance
with the headers. Our passenger side wheel well was very close to the
headers, however. It did eventually melt somewhat. The last time we had
them out (frame off), we cut away the melted area (and a little more for
good measure). Now there is quite a bit of clearance and we have not had
any problems with them melting again. It is probably a better/safer idea to
cut the wheel well to give adequate clearance before they melt . If you
test fit them, you should be able to see where the passenger side one is
close and make the appropriate modifications to give yourself enough
clearance to avoid problems. You should also check the driver's side one to
make sure that it also has adequate clearance.
Zak

I've been off the list for a while so if you have beat this subject to death
please advise.
I removed the wheelhouse panels from my 73 Canyonlands when I installed
headers and never replaced them.
I plan to do some traveling this spring and would like to put them back on,
but I am concerned about the heat build-up and the fact that they are so
close to the headers they will probably melt. Has anyone cut holes, added
louvers, or otherwise modified the panels to deal with the heat. I may go
the fan route, but I'm still concerned about melting the panels.
Ideas?
Bill Rush