2012... The Year of Renewal

[TygerCub]

Originally Posted by crazycal

You are doing a great job on the bus. Are you trying to show off your feet?

Unfortunate accident.

I added the last wall to the tank and dragged the thing under the bus for a test fit. Good thing too since I will have to cut an inch off the side. It's a PITA to maneuver up into the space too. Looks like I'll have to switch the bolts on the tailpipe from pointing up, to down to avoid scratching along the bottom.

Well... back to it.

[browncrown]

Originally Posted by TygerCub

It's a PITA to maneuver up into the space too.

I'm sure we can all relate to that...skoolies were never built to have holding tanks

[TygerCub]

WOO HOO! Phase One of creating a custom tank is finished:


Now to test fit it ONE MORE TIME (tomorrow) and then start planning my fiberglass attack!

[crazycal]

are you raising the bus to fit the tank?

[pipopak]

Originally Posted by TygerCub

Looking forward. You can see how much space the pipe takes. What's strange is it's lower here than at the exit. I would think this would make it trap condensation at the low end and cause a rust spot in that area. Whatever.

Stupid question: is there a valid reason to have the exhaust pipe taking all that space instead of running paralell to the chassis?. It is a lot easier and cheaper to reroute it than going around it with everything else.

[TygerCub]

Originally Posted by pipopak

Stupid question: is there a valid reason to have the exhaust pipe taking all that space instead of running paralell to the chassis?. It is a lot easier and cheaper to reroute it than going around it with everything else.

Not a stupid question.

I actually want to re-route the tailpipe. But right this minute, I'm kinda tight on time. I do not personally have the tools or the skills to change the pipe out, and the guys I know that can do it are busy now that summer is here and/or have other obligations at the race track.

So, I'm stuck being innovative. I would rather have moved the tailpipe and installed a normal square tank. But as it stands, I get to learn a new skill (fiberglass) and have the satisfaction of slamming my head repeatedly against the bolt that sticks out of the counterweight

[bansil]

Go to auto parts store and buy a foot or two of rubber hose,cut two pcs an inch longer than the two c-channels split them in half length wise(1 slice)open them up and slide onto metal...instant bumper and then slide 2 pcs over the thread 1/2 longer and the bolts won't hurt as much

[TygerCub]

Awesome idea! Thank you!

Well... some bad news/good news.
Bad news... One of the guys at work that works fiberglass all the time (makes boats and surfboards) said that while the tank was cool and congrats on the unique solution to a difficult problem... it won't work for fiberglass. He said the edges are too sharp for the glass to handle. I'll need to round the edges over somehow, or just make it out of metal.

Good news... I have several sheets of 2" foam left. I can make another tank form out of it and easily round over every curve and edge with ease. It will be a mess, but easier than welding that much sheet metal in this heat.

So that's what I'll be doing this weekend instead of glassing. Minor setback, but the way this build has been going, it's not really unexpected

[chev49]

so i assume the guy who works with fiberglass is concerned about the stress loading... that is what reinforcing during the construction is for.

[lornaschinske]

Fiberglass on Plywood Tanks
by George Myers

[bus-bro]

One question have I: how are you going to make it?

[TygerCub]

Well, the heat has been kicking my butt for the last two weeks. I tried to work with the fiberglass last week - probably made every rookie mistake possible - and the heat + humidity made the final batch of resin kick less than a minute after I mixed it. So with a wad of burning hot resin flung across the yard, and a quite, but heartfelt epitaph, I called it a day. Mom's boyfriend offered his air conditioned garage to work in when I'm ready to try again.

To escape the heat I built little things: a shelf under the sink area, and matching trim on the couch, counter-top and dividing wall between the bathroom and living room. Turned out pretty nice looking.

Today, since we had it off of work, I decided to tackle the roof deck on the bus. HA! Fun, but a challenge from the start. I ran over Mom's mailbox trying to back the bus into her driveway (she was NOT amused), and halfway through the morning we had to relocate to her BF house to find shade to continue working. Good new: we got the main framing done and on the roof (including adding the joist hangers). But it took us from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. to get that much done. The heat really takes a lot out of me and I had to take several breaks - especially once we were on the roof. Dizzy spells when one is 10 feet in the air are Not Fun! By 5 I was done for the day. The BF was making plans to take us all out on the boat to watch the fireworks this evening, but I couldn't stand the thought of being on open water with No Shade until later in the evening, so I borrowed Mom's car and came home. The bus is still beside his garage in some spotty shade.

So... tomorrow I'll go back over to Mom's BF to finish working on the deck. Hopefully, I'll have some photos of the work. Gotta get them off of Mom's camera and onto my computer. That... and the half dozen videos I still have to catch up on will be this weekend's chore I think.

[TygerCub]

Other stuff I've done...
Finished permanently installing the AC.



And trim pics...
Counter


Couch


Wall

[ol trunt]

Hi TC, the trim work looks very nice--you're a woodworking pro!

I probably missed reading it but how are you going about the roof rack build? Star

[ol trunt]

That's (stay cool) two fingered typist at work

[bansil]

I ran over Mom's mailbox trying to back the bus into her driveway (she was NOT amused)

Sorry but that is funny..any pics?

Stop at an auto store and buy a plastic "fin" tool,that will straighten out bent ac fins and it'll look better and cool better....oh and good luck with the heat

[Accordion]

Originally Posted by bansil

Sorry but that is funny..any pics?

Stop at an auto store and buy a plastic "fin" tool,that will straighten out bent ac fins and it'll look better and cool better....oh and good luck with the heat

TC, the trim looks awesome. Very tasty.

Indeed do straighten the fins on the outside of the air conditioner. It must work to it's fullest capacity.

Very nice ideas and craftsmanship are evident in your project.

[browncrown]

Your wood trim is top drawer! Very nice!!!

[TygerCub]

Because you guys asked for it...



See the video on YouTube

[bansil]

priceless