| Author |
Message |
captain ron (Captain_ron)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 01, 2006 - 3:54 pm: | |
I have all the windows out now, there were six still in the bus. all interior panels are out so I can see all the frame work for the roof. All the trimm peices on exterior are removed. today I got material for the floor to be leveled and my holding tanks boxed in. all of that will be done tonight. then I will grind the rivets off of the rear section of roof and remove it.on the front cap area I am going to leave the original cap and just raise it with the rest of the roof. hope to have roof raised and tack welded in by tuesday.
any of you that have done this on a mci feel free to give me a call with advice. trying to decide whether to remove wind shields and raise that frame piece or cut it above that frame piece. I will have limited internet acsess so phone calls will be apreciated. but please only if you can realy help as time is limited and I don't want to waste any unesesary time on phone. no offence.
and should I use bucking rivets or pop rivets ok?
Phone # 239-292-1750 |
Marc Bourget.
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 01, 2006 - 4:42 pm: | |
Are you going to raise the driver's floor? It is desirable as it adds useable floor space.
If so, raise the windshields at the same time.
You should consider raising the window sills down the sides as well as stock height is below counter/furniture height.
Use buck rivets as much as possible, better and cheaper than blind rivets. Don't use actual "pop" rivets.
You didn't "pull" the floor? There'll more than likely be lots of caca and corrosion below the floor over the wheels, front and back. Major structural members are SS but there's lots of support in the wheel wells that's mild steel. Badly corroded in both my 80 and 81 MCI-9s. The fiberglass wheel well "cap" fractures from rocks and debris. It lets the dirty water slung off the tires into closed spaces. This very fine silt collects on top of air beams, acting as a corrosive "sponge". If you plan on keeping it for awhile, I'd pull the floor boards. Get an battery or cord electric impact driver. Get good phillips bits from Sears. Harbor Freight bits lasted 2-3 screws, Two of the good ones did the rest of the bus. The impact driver is 3/8's drive and an impact socket will handle the nuts for the flat head bolt from below.
The phillips screws are buried under some filler, like spackle, but you'll soon pick out the pattern.
The only tough part is dealing with the tar tape, but remember to replace it when you replace the floor!
Onward and Upward |
David (Davidinwilmnc)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 01, 2006 - 4:57 pm: | |
Marc,
About tar tape... I've been cussing it ever since I started removing the inside aluminum wall panels. Now, I'm preparing to reinstall them. Should this tar tape be used here again as well, or is something else better (easier, cleaner to install, etc)? I'd like something a bit thicker to thermally isolate the aluminum panels from the steel frame. I'd appreciate any insight, ideas, hints, experience, etc. Thanks and happy New Year to everybody. |
Marc Bourget
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 01, 2006 - 8:29 pm: | |
Tar tape, as I understand it is to stave of electrolysis, in case things get wet, which they will. There's lots of things that serve this purpose, few work as well. Considering Jerry's experience, I ain't gonna question Sojourner's opinion on the subject.
3M makes a butyl type tape, IIRC from posts long ago.
I cuss the tar tape too, btw!
Despite cussing it, I'll be using it when I put the MCIs back together!
Engine is going together and back in the '81 in January! Hooray!! |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 01, 2006 - 8:41 pm: | |
Most all RV dealers carry the butyl tape. Home Depot, Lowes,
etc., carry tubed butyl (caulking tube type). It's cheaper than
the butyl ribbon.... but is it better than tar? dunno. |
Tim (Timkar)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 7:58 pm: | |
Agree with Marc on pulling the floor. I only pulled "the ramp" today and from under there and whatever I could reach in and get under the floor I ended up with a five gallon bucket full of hair, cigarette butts, straws, gum wrappers, etc, etc. all of this from a 17 year old MCI |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 02, 2006 - 8:11 pm: | |
What are you going to do with the hair, Tim? |
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