Wheel Well Sealer?

bevman · 08-30-2007, 06:38 PM

The PO had used masking tape to seal the seam between the wheel well and the wall. It was crispy and loose, so I yanked it. I'm assuming that there was air or water incursion (or both) so I should do something about it. What should I use to run along the curve?

InsideOut · 08-30-2007, 07:23 PM

I would caulk it...not w/silicone, but Vulkem.

This last weekend, when we were pulling out the floor on our '56, we found masking tape under the wheel well - between the metal flange & floor. It must have come from the factory that way...maybe the tape on your seam did too.

Shari

clancy_boy · 08-30-2007, 07:44 PM

You can clean up the area real well and use AC duct tape (not the cheap Walmart brand but the metal foil stuff that the pros use). Not too expensive, available at many home improvement stores and really sticks.

davidz71 · 08-31-2007, 01:55 PM

I caulked mine with Trempro 635 from Vintage Trailer Supply and sprayed the bay area with asphault undercoating.

TomW · 08-31-2007, 02:38 PM

I sealed the galvanized metal wheel wells from underneath with silicone rubber (RTV) after the first long trip in pouring rain after it was obvious that the wheel wells needed sealing. That was almost 4 years ago, and there have, unfortunately, been many more trips in the pouring rain. Fortunately, the RTV has held as the leaks have never come back.

I took a look at everything a few months ago while installing the new axles, and the RTV does not appear to have debonded anywhere.

Note that galvanized metal, not aluminum, was involved.

Tom