Chevy & GMC Vans

I am considering removing the lower body cladding on my '98 LS.
I see horror stories about 'rust' in some areas of the country. It is not usually an issue here in the Pacific Northwest, unless you live right on the coast.
Assuming I do not have much rust inside, what else am I likely to find as far as additional holes etc. How are they mounted?
It appears that some edges are just automotive trim tape, and a few small screws in the wheel openings.
What else hold these onto the body, that will leave holes if i try to remove them?
Thanks,

Rod J
Issaquah, WA

What year is the van, I can go verify but its a bunch of the tape like you mentioned. You will need some sort of fenders that people sometimes find in a junkyard but I do not have those, so I plan to cut the old cladding and put back until I find a pair regardless to how it looks, as that metal corner hurts your head when working in the wheel well hahah, so it wouldn't do a tire any good either. There is a 3M puck wheel that I have waiting to remove the adhesive others here have recommended, I can grab the part number.

Edit: Add your Year, and details of your van in your sig if you can, it helps people as there are slight differences between certain years.

I was wrong there were screw holes in the van body below the door, they go from from the wheel well to the door and then stop, then there is a ledge under that, with screw holes from front to back.

Here are some pics, plus the corners. I will probably just clean up around the holes and ignore them, they are not too obvious.

Sorry, Mine is a '98 LS AWD

Great pic's, thanks.

Rather than leaving the few screw holes to possibly collect water and mud (I am up in the Pacific NorthWe(s)t rain zone); I would consider putting screws back in those holes, with a bit of caulk or a thin rubber washer. Then paint them with some touch-up paint. They should not look bad at all.
Maybe a small mud flap could be installed with screws in the same holes, or seal up the holes and hide them behind a mud flap.

Rod Johnson

Great point I will do exactly that with the holes, not sure why I would be so lazy.


Also, it wasn't 3m, I bought a "Smart Eraser Pad 400E" by Astro Pneumatic Tool Company, its just a pad to remove the adhesive, but should save a lot of time and elbow grease.

Please see update, there are screws underneath that run from front to back.

Yes,
I found some free time today, and with dry ground (dry ground is something unusual in the Pacific Northwest so far this spring). I ran the van up on blocks, and looked at the situation. I now see the many screws you mentioned, but they should not be much of a problem to deal with.
I will be headed to a couple of P'n'P's soon, and hopefully I will be able to see a bit more detail about how it all comes apart, and how big a mess remains after removal. I have a small list of incidental items to look for to, so I am sure I will be visiting almost every Astro/Safari on the lots.