| Author |
Message |
Daryl Dressler (152.163.201.186)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 28, 2001 - 3:56 pm: | |
We just purchased an MCI-9 and would like to know how hard it is to raise the roof. Daryl |
C. Ray Powell (Raypowell) (205.188.197.157)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 29, 2001 - 1:11 am: | |
I just raised the roof on MCI 5C. Not a big deal. Just takes some time. Good luck
C Ray |
Rich Lanigan (24.218.245.137)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, April 29, 2001 - 10:43 am: | |
Hi Daryl,
I have an MCI-9 and am going to be raising the roof in a few months. I have it ready to just cut the rails and up she goes. There are a lot of things that should be done before tackling this.
The interior should be gutted out, all the windows should be removed also. Cut the fiberglass cap off the front and rear, make sure you leave plenty of cap form the joint for the new cap to attach to.
Locate some 1-3/4" square tube, this is not the most popular size tubing, it's mainly manufactured in the USA so the price is more than 2"X2" stock.
I got some 1-2/2" square tubing and machined it to fit inside the 1-3/4" tubing. I cut enough pieces of the 1-3/4" tubing for all the window supports and inserted the 1-1/2" tubing into it having 4" of the 1-1/2 protruding out each end. This will help to lock the additional 8" piece of 1-3/4" tubing in place.
An important thing to do before cutting the old roof off is to block the buss solidly, square and level, this will ensure everything stays straight during this process and that nothing moves.
Next you have to have a way to lift the roof. I'm using pipe staging set up with the screw jacks on them. I've attached them into the bus and secured them to the roof and to the floor. I have 8 jacking points through the length of the bus, this will help keep the roof straight when jacking.
The best place to cut the roof off is at the window post, this allows the 8" pieces with their 4" extensions to be installed. Additional pieces will have to be fabricated and welded in for both the front and rear of the coach.
A lot of times the structure in the rear of the coach will have rust and have to be repaired or replaced. This is a good time to replace it to fit the new style caps from R&M Fiberglass. (I am not affiliated with them in any way)
I cut a couple of pieces out of my coach using a Sawzall with a metal blade, I found the blades dull quick due to the alloy of the steel being harder than usual. I found it's best to use the fiber cut off blades for this.
I'm building a garage at the moment to work on the bus in so the roof raising is on hold until the garage is done. If you tackle yours before then let me know how it goes, you can email me direct.
Good luck,
Rich |
genelewis (166.82.235.85)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 30, 2001 - 3:00 pm: | |
Not a lot of difference in an Eagle and a MCI. I raised the roof on my 05 Eagle alone. The article is on Tom Hall's Coach Conversion Central site at: http://users.cwnet.com/~thall/gene_lewis.htm
Fred Hobe has articles on this site as well and can be helpful to you.
If I can answer any questions for you let me know.
Enjoying the journey in NC,
Gene Lewis
glewis@dasia.net |
James Robinson (Jjrbus) (209.26.169.186)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 11:34 pm: | |
I raised the roof on my 5C it's a rather stright forward job, but takes a lot of time, it's not a weekend job, maybe 8 weekends with a good helper, you have to pull the old windows,cut lots of metal,the fiberboard saws are the fastest and cheapest,chop saw and Drill Doctor are good injvestments, you will also need a good welder, migs are everybody's favorits I like the stick myself,Mig welder needs to use gas so you can weld stainless steel, don't get a cheap one you don't need the very best but something in between.
look at all the rivets above and below the windows, they all have to come out and they all have to go back in, lots of fun.
Fred Hobes site is loaded with good info on this subject the man is my hero, I can't wait to buy him dinner.
work safely Jim Robinson |
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