| Author | Message | ||
| Jason Whitaker (Jeepme)
Rating: N/A |
I bought my bus already converted but in the process of updating have pretty much been entirely rebuilding the interior. All the windows are still in place and I'm going to leave them. I can't bring myself to do anything to the outside of this beautiful 45 year old bus. So what's the best way to cover these windows from the inside? It has a heavy black vinyl hanging over each window that is blocked by an inside wall, closet or bath. This looks real good from outside, with the slight tinted glass every window looks uniformly black. I tried hanging the shiny bubblewrap material over a window and it doesn't look good from the outside. How about painting the inside of the glass black? Would this cause the glass to crack in the heat? How about painted black windows and bubblewrap behind that? Other ideas? Thanks! Jason Whitaker 4104 | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A |
I used 1/4" masonite on the inside | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A |
every window you eliminate w/steel/insulation...you make it easier to heat and cool your bus | ||
| Jim Bob Rating: N/A |
Dogs, a 4104 is a post WWII work of art. It's body is just about 100% ALCLAD aluminum about .060 thick. The only problems I have on mine are the two small areas where they used steel. (The steel is going away.) If you are modifying a steel BlueBird, then steel is great. But to fasten steel to aluminum is a loser unless you are REALLY careful in isolating it from the aluminum. The 4104 deserves aluminum window covers that will last another 50 years just like the bus body. I have seen literally dozens of buses with rusty steel window cover panels. Jim-Bob | ||
| Jason Whitaker (Jeepme)
Rating: N/A |
I don't want to blank out the windows. That would be the best solution but I love the old bus look. For my next bus I'll start with a good rear engine scoolie and skin over windows, add roof racks, hack holes in the sides for appliances, all the stuff I can't bring myself to do to this classic. Kind of silly considering that the inside is gonna be 2005 era motorhome. Anyway, that's why I'm interested in what others have done for leaving in the windows. Right now I'm thinking of cutting foamboard to fit into the window frame and gluing the black vinyl to the foam before installing it permanently inside of the glass. Not as good as shiney bubblewrap for insulating but I think it will look best. Jason Whitaker | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A |
find some 4104 skin & cover the windows...black vinol....I saw that in "Grapes of Wrath"  | ||
| Brian Brown (Fishbowlbrian)
Rating: N/A |
No matter what you put inside the glass, it'll eventually delaminate. Even flat black paint won't hold up to the heat generated. Anything you adhere to the glass will bubble, flake, or pull off. You might reglaze the window frames with a spandrel panel glass that you see on skyscrapers. Another option is to just reglaze the windows with the some metal filler that's painted to resemble glass... black or greenish, and maybe a plywood backer on the inside. I don't blame you for liking the stock GMC look. IMHO, they made the best looking busses, hands down. But, you won't regret the heat gain/ loss from covering up as many windows as you can. Just some ideas, Brian Brown PD4106-1175 Longmont, CO USA Bus Site | ||
| captain ron (Captain_ron)
Rating: N/A |
they make a speacial spray paint for painting plastic and glass I used it on a couple windows in my bus and it works fine you can find it at any hardware store or lowes. its in a spray can. been on my bus for about a year | ||
| DMDave Rating: N/A |
Hey Jason, we have a 48 coach and we sympathize with you. We have blinds and curtains and we have celotex insulation cut to fit in the windows. Its the stuff with black on one side and the silver on the reverse.We put them up on the sunny side when its hot and pretty much everywhere when its cold. when we travel and its cold we keep the front 1/3 open for sightseeing. we keep large ones that fit the windshield when stopped. We also cut out black screen to fit the outside window frames and siliconed in place.Then we can still slide the windows open and get the great cross breeze | ||
| Mike (Busone)
Rating: N/A |
I remember reading on another board a while back a similar thread. Many people just painted with flat black. Though who knows in a few years how well it will hold up. | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
Rating: N/A |
PPG (and I suppose most paint producers) makes a special glass paint that adheres well. try an automotive paint store near you. NAPA may also have it. They also make the Solar Bloc film in Black. | ||
| gusc Rating: N/A |
Anything white will reflect sun and heat much better than even silver. A mirror surface might be better but I think it would also get hot since the heat or sun must travel through the mirror glass to the silver reflector on back of the glass. White also will not deteriorate in full sun. Silver paint will turn dark gray and black will not only absorb hear but will not hold up very long. Lay your hand on a silver colored car and a white one some sunny, hot day and feel the difference. | ||
| NelsonThomas Rating: N/A |
I am useing alu flashing glued to 1/8 " fiberboard and attached to the area around the window with caulk and screws. this will be covered with 1/2" insulation and 1/8" RV textured ceiling board. I am cutting holes in this for RV windows that will sit flush with the inside of the orgional window. I will be able to open the large window and use it as an awning. I have used some special latches to secure the large window from inside. when closed the large window will act as a storm window over the RV window. Nelson, Knoxville | ||
| Jason Whitaker (Jeepme)
Rating: N/A |
I'll look at the paint shop for some glass paint. I really like the idea of replacing the sliding glass with the skyscraper stuff but that sounds real expensive. Be nice to have a high gloss black aluminum panel in the frames. My main concern besides insulation is that it looks good and any white or aluminum panel inside the window shows up really well. I would think that painting the window black would be better than having a 2" air gap and a black wall. Not positive that you'd be able to tell the difference though. I like the celotex panels I bet that makes the bus a lot more livable. I haven't even thought about screening yet. | ||
| Jason Whitaker (Jeepme)
Rating: N/A |
The storm window idea is really cool (way to think out of the box!) but those are some heavy awnings. How are you going to prop it open? I popped the emergency latches on the front windows and had them propped open with a couple 1x2s. Be really nice to be able to do that at the beach! Hate to have the wind catch them and slam them shut though. | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
Although its very pricy , compared to a can of black paint, IBC has fluited siding that covers the window from the after edge of one your keeping to the foward edga of the rear one your keeping. You can cover one or two windows with a single sheet. The coach will retain the fantastic good looks , except it will look as if it was a factory blanked windows. A Fine improvement !! FAST FRED | ||
| gillig-dan Rating: N/A |
If you keep the glass, there should be some way to get at it for replacement. That may mean removing a dividing wall or shower enclosure. It wouldn't necessarily have to be an easy job to replace the glass, just possible. I would think that any paint on the inside of the glass would eventually fail unless the glass was etched first. I am in the same boat (bus), I would like to keep my windows. The previous owner painted them. That paint is now flaking off. That's OK though. I am hoping that all of that paint job will eventually flake off the entire bus! I am considering using window film on all the windows, with black insulated panels behind the blank window glass. Haven't figured out what to make those panels from yet. I will watch this thread to see which idea I like best. Masonite sandwiching 1/2" styro-foam may be a good solution for my needs. Gillig-Dan | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Rating: N/A |
Jason, I too like the classic look. I'm planning to use the commercial limo tint film. (most any local window tint place can sell it to you, or even install it.) I used it on a window van & it worked GREAT, Still looks new after 27 years. You have to really clean the window to get ALL dirt & stuff off before the tint will go on with out any bubbles. Future access to the back of the "blocked off" windows is also an excellent idea, will make finding leaks easier too. Kyle4501 | ||
| PAUL COLLYER (Paso_1)
Rating: N/A |
The back two windows on each side on my bus are blacked out with tint film been that way for ten years no problem. very hard to see thru at the best of times. | ||
| Jason Whitaker (Jeepme)
Rating: N/A |
The siding from IBC sounds like the best solution but....I like the looks of the windows and seeing that once you skin the bus there's no going back I think I'll deal with the glass for now. Can always pull the windows and skin in later. I have some vinyl/fabric stuff that the bus came with over the blocked windows. Looks a bit like felt on one side. Mostly reminds me of the weed barrier that you put bark and gravel over in your yard. This stuff has obviously been hanging in the sun for many years and is still strong and black. I think I'm going to fasten this to a 1/2" foam board cut to fit the window opening, tape it in nice and air tight with aluminum tape. Install another foam sheet over the wall then paneling. I'll look into the paint and tint too, I imagine either would help keep some heat out of the wall. I've removed the emergency latches, two out of three were so corroded they broke trying to open them. I'm going to bolt the windows shut from the outside so I can replace the glass without taking out interior walls. Jason Whitaker 4104 | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A |
I would skin it with 4104 skin...but..that's what this hobby is about...doin' it your way and yeah...the original lines of the older buses are sexier...There ain't nothin' like haveing a waitress AND the cashier standing there holding the door open....'course...they were kinda disapointed when they found out it WASN'T a busload of people |