| Author | Message | ||
| Jim Sanders (Sandy)
Registered Member Username: Sandy Post Number: 1 Registered: 1-2011 Posted From: 69.199.96.250 Rating: N/A |
Hi guys I am new to BNO Purchased a 68 flx.Got big trouble. Any one out there knows these busses help would be appreciated.Jim (sandy) sanders cell pho 281 630 9835 E mail sandersjim@ live.com | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 1184 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.55.4.4  Rating: N/A |
Jim What kind a problems are you having? We can't help unless we know whasssuuppp?? LOL Gomer | ||
| Jim Sanders (Sandy)
Registered Member Username: Sandy Post Number: 2 Registered: 1-2011 Posted From: 69.199.96.250 Rating: N/A |
Gomer the biggest problem i am haveing right now is rust in the frameing I have A horror of replacing the frame of the bus and then see it running down the road sidewayse. suggestions?jim | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 1376 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 75.204.98.33  Rating: N/A |
Depending on how much of the frame needs replacing, you might want to consider if the cost of frame repair can be justified or look for another bus. You did not mention if the coach is a shell or converted. Jack | ||
| Jim Sanders (Sandy)
Registered Member Username: Sandy Post Number: 3 Registered: 1-2011 Posted From: 69.199.96.250 Rating: N/A |
Jack the bus was sold to me as a RV.I did not like the way it was laid and made. So I knew that i was going to change it. I was expecting some rust in it. So i got what i paid for. The bus does not have a main frame. ithas a (space frame)?????? | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 711 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 64.40.213.45  Rating: N/A |
I know some Flx folk. Some pictures would help along with year and model. I'll PM you and see if we can find you some help. Paul | ||
| Dal Farnworth (Dallas)
Registered Member Username: Dallas Post Number: 299 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 98.20.57.250  Rating: N/A |
Jim, Is this the Flx that was on Craigslist for a long time? It had a 6L71 and was parked beside a garage or a fence? I live about 140 miles west of you in Franklin. You should plan on stopping here for our rally March 30 to April 4. Maybe we could do some trading and bartering. I have a GMC PD4103 that I'm in the process of remodeling. I also have a bunch of stray bus and Detroit Diesel parts I'm cleaning out. | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 1010 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.43.204 Rating: N/A |
If you could make it to Wickenburg AZ this weekend all the Flx people are there for the rally would get a great amount of hands on redoing one just a thought. good luck | ||
| Jim Sanders (Sandy)
Registered Member Username: Sandy Post Number: 4 Registered: 1-2011 Posted From: 69.199.96.250 Rating: N/A |
Paul My bus is a 1968 Flxible Flxliner Bought ib New Jersey. Idrove it to houston tx. I have a lot of pictures do i send some to you or BNO Luverbus no way hope later | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 713 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 64.40.213.45 Rating: N/A |
Jim, I sent you an email, did you get it? I can respond back with some contact information. You can send me some pics and I'll forward them to those that know. | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1431 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 69.19.14.34  Rating: |
"the biggest problem i am haveing right now is rust in the frameing I have A horror of replacing the frame of the bus and then see it running down the road sidewayse." This is normal in FLX and Eagles. Our VL took about 2000lbs of replacement steel from engine to front door. Admittedly some was overkill to handle doubling the torque. If this is not your bag , dump the coach and get an aluminum monocoque GM. FF | ||
| Jim Sanders (Sandy)
Registered Member Username: Sandy Post Number: 5 Registered: 1-2011 Posted From: 69.199.96.250 Rating: N/A |
Fred I fell in love with the Flxible the first time i saw one. Why that is Heaven knows I dont? You said flx and eagles are bad about not tracking. can this be corrected? | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 1377 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 75.202.236.219 Rating: N/A |
I think Fred meant that if a frame is not kept true when replacing members or with failed framing members, it will not track straight. If replacing a lot of the frame this is certainaly a possibilty. Blocking the bus frame and doing a lot of measuring can help. Jack | ||
| Jim Sanders (Sandy)
Registered Member Username: Sandy Post Number: 6 Registered: 1-2011 Posted From: 69.199.96.250  Rating: N/A |
Jack I am guiet sure that you are correct. Fred said something about a VL ( VL 100 Flix?) If so i would like to talk to him. I abm sure that the vl would be harder to alighn that the flxliner | ||
| Jack Fids (Jack_fids)
Registered Member Username: Jack_fids Post Number: 361 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 69.171.161.105  Rating: N/A |
You have my sympathies... Before I bought my 4106, I was slightly captivated by FlxLiner. I took it for a test drive of 20 miles or so. It was the only time in my life when I felt like I was trying to drive a 3 legged Hippo. After it was over I took a crawl around the coach on my belly to see the suspension.... HOLY MOELY!!! The right side front axle was swinging free! the mounting pad & frame member were rusted completely thru... daylight showed between the pile of rust flakes that had been the steel mounting plate. The front axle was literally "swinging in the breeze"! I'm sure it ran down the road Kitty-Whopise...how could it not? | ||
| Jim Sanders (Sandy)
Registered Member Username: Sandy Post Number: 7 Registered: 1-2011 Posted From: 69.199.96.250 Rating: N/A |
Jack you talk like you saw my bus before that i did. Ha I dont think mine was quite that bad but i would not bet money on it. I did drive my bus from NJ to hou. Not too bad. COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER!!!! If you are careful you can get what you pay for | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 585 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.165.176.62  Rating: N/A |
Jim, I just sent you a link to some photos of my 1968 as well as a pdf copy of the service manual for the bus. I'll post the link here incase it doesn't make it through... http://members.tccoa.com/timb/Flx/ | ||
| Jim Sanders (Sandy)
Registered Member Username: Sandy Post Number: 8 Registered: 1-2011 Posted From: 69.199.96.250 Rating: N/A |
Idid get your pictures!!and drooling over them. but I think i can get there. Time and money | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 586 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.165.176.62 Rating: N/A |
Let me know if there is anything you need me take a picture of for you and I'll be glad to. Did the service manual come through as well? | ||
| Dal Farnworth (Dallas)
Registered Member Username: Dallas Post Number: 301 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 98.20.57.250 Rating: N/A |
Jim, the Flxliner and the VL are pretty much the same coach. One has a hump in the roof and one doesn't. BTW, it's Flx, Flxible, Flxliner, etc. The guy who built the company was a great engineer, but a lousy speller. I've had a couple of the old Flx buses, from the 50's.. Always great buses, even though they weren't GMC's. LOL. They have character and space. If you are concerned about the amount of rust you find, you ain't gonna be happy with any coach that isn't a GMC, and they still have rust,(contrary to popular belief). Good luck, and if you want to talk about and trade bus stories, send me an email. Or not. | ||
| Ralph Peters (Ralph7)
Registered Member Username: Ralph7 Post Number: 179 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 75.223.241.98 Rating: |
Yesterday I went to Huston and had a very nice visit with Jim and yes it has rust. He as replaced the super structre under the fuel tank with heavy square tubing, the front wheel wells, suspension surface rust (no thick scales), rear wheels/area only 1 upper rectangle brace needs about a 10in. U channel overlay. The tunnel and floor nice. Mr. Sanders removed all bay doors, hinge mounts good. Also removed rivets, halfway up sidding and full length above bay doors, NOW the steel under the stainless,full length is 1/3-1/2 gone (saw tooth like) top and rivet hole area good. I suggested overlay, after cleaning(soda blast). The interior walls/channels, angles needs minor work, he removed the steel above the rear wheels and part of the shock mount(above the tire) not the shock. He has redone most of the drivers floor and steps. But it is not time to scrap it. Not a ton of steel needed, but a heavy brake to form angles on 1/8-3/16 flat stock 6-8in. wide,etc.. Just keep workin. | ||
| David Evans (Dmd)
Registered Member Username: Dmd Post Number: 547 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 24.46.196.121  Rating: N/A |
Jim, thats the way it works for some people, it was for us. I wish i could objectively look at something and reason it out pros and cons and make a rational decision. But then i would have to post on the Bus-n-Brains board! (copyright pending!) When i first saw my bus it was sitting in a field and hadent been on the road in a long time. Way to hang in there and good luck. | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 1185 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.55.4.4 Rating: N/A |
I found a steel supplier here and he would bend up to 1/2 steel with his little 200 ton bender. My what a machine!! He will fabricate and weld whatever is needed. Saying that, check around for a supplier and they will be able to guide you in the right direction for your needs.Pricing was 30.00 an hour for labor plus going rate for metal. Gomer | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1433 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 66.82.9.81 Rating: N/A |
"The guy who built the company was a great engineer, but a lousy speller." FLX was started building side cars that allowed the bike to lean into the turns. Copyright laws caused the co to spell FLXIBLE , their way. | ||
| Jim Sanders (Sandy)
Registered Member Username: Sandy Post Number: 9 Registered: 1-2011 Posted From: 69.199.96.250 Rating: N/A |
Fred You dont know how much i appreciate all the help and support i have received from BNO. I know that my spelling,english,and typeing is BAD BAD BAD. Please bare with me and hopely it will improve | ||
| Dal Farnworth (Dallas)
Registered Member Username: Dallas Post Number: 303 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 98.20.57.250 Rating: N/A |
Fred, It was a joke. | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 1186 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.55.4.4 Rating: N/A |
Fast Fred has had a pwoblim wit spel'n 2 I ant got no pwobim meself. good Morning NUTS! gomer | ||
| Jack Fids (Jack_fids)
Registered Member Username: Jack_fids Post Number: 362 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 69.171.161.25 Rating: N/A |
"Please bare with me and hopely it will improve" Jim...it's a GOOD thing that reply was to to Fred...he overlooks spolling airrors... Had you asked Dal to BARE with you (instead of BEAR w/you).. you might have found yourself in a cold & embarrassing situation... Dal likes to honor requests of his friends.....most of the time anyway! ;) HEY MARV! Nice to see you functioning at 100% again! (Message edited by Jack_fids on January 21, 2011) | ||
| Jim and Myrna Lawrence (Daffycanuck)
Registered Member Username: Daffycanuck Post Number: 73 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 66.82.9.59  Rating: N/A |
Sandy...ours is not a Flx, but we too purchased a rust hulk. You're right, time and money will fix all. http://lawrj.sasktelwebsite.net/roofrais.htm We have now been in our DAF 13 years. The work building the new frame has been worth it. | ||
| Jim Sanders (Sandy)
Registered Member Username: Sandy Post Number: 10 Registered: 1-2011 Posted From: 69.199.96.250 Rating: N/A |
Dal i still need your e mail send me one thin i can answer you sandersjim@live.com I feel at home here If any of us had a brane we would take it out abd play with it or try to remodel it | ||
| Dal Farnworth (Dallas)
Registered Member Username: Dallas Post Number: 306 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 98.20.57.250 Rating: N/A |
Jim, I sent you an email... check your spam folder, LOL. | ||
| Douglas Wotring (Tekebird)
Registered Member Username: Tekebird Post Number: 444 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 71.57.226.89 Rating: N/A |
My Dad restored a 68 amd rehabed it's twin consec serial numbers. Both of them where abount non existnat in the area of the front suspension bulkheads.....bothe were totally rebuild....not a small project. |
