Splitting seam on outer wheel well?

Splitting seam on outer wheel well? - 01/01/12 09:39 PM

What is the best method to split the seam on the wheel well? Going to be replacing the outer wheel wells on my charger.

Thanks.

Posted By: yellowfin

Re: Splitting seam on outer wheel well? - 01/02/12 03:00 AM

For me, it really depends on how they are going to be re-attached to the quarters. If plug welded, just drill them out and you have a nice hole to access the new wheelhouse metal. If spot welded, a special sheetmetal bit drilled from the wheelhouse side would be your best bet, but be careful with the depth you drill with those, I've had significant (read; deep) scoring on the "good" metal if I wiggled on the drill to much. In addition, you will need a 90 deg head on the drill to do this properly, as there's just not enough room in there for a conventional. Some guys split it apart with a chisel, but the potential for damage to the quarter is too great IMHO. Just go slowly and you should be fine, whichever method you choose to go. Good luck

Posted By: fig426

Re: Splitting seam on outer wheel well? - 01/02/12 10:30 AM

Like said,,, if plug welding the new, just drill out the old. If spotting or plugging from the inside, I always used a cut off wheel to grind the spot weld from the inside. Keeps the quarter untouched if you're careful.

Posted By: 69charger440_6pa

Re: Splitting seam on outer wheel well? - 01/02/12 07:30 PM

Sorry should have been more clear. I'm not talking about the seam on the quarter. I'm taking about the seem for the 2 halfs of the wheels wells. It's not exactly spot welded like everything else on the car is.

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: Splitting seam on outer wheel well? - 01/03/12 12:32 AM

Quote:

It's not exactly spot welded like everything else on the car is.

They aren't ???

Posted By: Dodge33

Re: Splitting seam on outer wheel well? - 01/03/12 02:10 AM

they are what I CALL roll welded,put in a machine
and welded with electric current.you have to cut the metal
outer wheel well off,leave the flat of the outer well on
there,take a grinder carefully grind the flat flange away.
hint when the metal gets thin and turns blue STOP, use a pair of
plier's and wiggle the thin metal loose,use a 3 or 4 inch pad grinder
to finish,go slow not to make the inner flange thin.

Posted By: JohnRR

Re: Splitting seam on outer wheel well? - 01/03/12 05:30 AM

Quote:

they are what I CALL roll welded,put in a machine
and welded with electric current.you have to cut the metal
outer wheel well off,leave the flat of the outer well on
there,take a grinder carefully grind the flat flange away.
hint when the metal gets thin and turns blue STOP, use a pair of
plier's and wiggle the thin metal loose,use a 3 or 4 inch pad grinder
to finish,go slow not to make the inner flange thin.

Thanks , I didn't know that , I'll have to look at one closely now ...

Posted By: 69charger440_6pa

Re: Splitting seam on outer wheel well? - 01/03/12 07:26 AM

Quote:

they are what I CALL roll welded,put in a machine
and welded with electric current.you have to cut the metal
outer wheel well off,leave the flat of the outer well on
there,take a grinder carefully grind the flat flange away.
hint when the metal gets thin and turns blue STOP, use a pair of
plier's and wiggle the thin metal loose,use a 3 or 4 inch pad grinder
to finish,go slow not to make the inner flange thin.

Thanks!