Wheel well removal and new floor.

[jamesw]

So my wife and I are renovating a 1979 sovereign in order to live I for while. We have gutted almost everything except wiring, plumbing and th floor so far. I'm stuck on how to remove the wheel wells so I can completely remove the old bad flooring. The black plastic is caulked? To the aluminum trim and I can't g t it to budge. Any way to get this off or should it be left? The wood goes underneath the aluminum trim, but can I just slide the new sub floor under it or does it need to come off completely? Thanks

[Al Boondy]

It is held down by the floor, it goes under the bottom aluminum channel with elevator bolt through it, and is sandwiched with the exterior skin by the wheel well trim with rivets.

Remove floor and elevator bolts, drill out rivits in wheel well trim and remove trim by sliding down. Should come out then.

[Pams72]

I removed our wheel wells when we replaced our floor. Our 1972 Safari the wheel wells were screwed down to the floor, they were in two parts with insulation sandwiched between the outer and inner wells. My guess is there is either vulcum or butyl tape under it, use a blade or somthing to get under and try to cut through what ever is holding it , be careful so you don't injure yourself or the wheel well. good-luck

[jamesw]

I was trying to do that, but it seems there was a couple of screws that are beneath the black plastic that hold the aluminum down. The lip of the aluminum makes it nearly impossible to get under the plastic and unstick it from the aluminum. There is black plastic, vulcum, metal trim, vulcum, wood floor.

[clydecrashcu]

Screws/rivets need to come out no matter what . if I have photos of what I just did (removed mine in 76) I will send to you PM if that is OK. I am currently replacing sub floor / repairing inner and outer wheel wells and replacing outrigger that was damaged by tire blow out by previous owner. I will see if the photos are on tel. and if they are post them.

[jamesw]

Cool. Pictures would be helpful. Thanks

[Al Boondy]

This is pic after wheel well trim was removed. Trim is shaped like a "U" and wheel well and skin are sandwiched together and trim is riveted to skin.
Drill out the rivets and trim will slide down to take off and free plastic wheel wheel well.