PNW_Steve's 2002 Bluebird A3RE

[PNW_Steve]

Well....

I used a cup brush on my 7" polisher and went over the entire floor focusing on the areas with surface rust. The blew & swept until I had thing cleaned up.

Then I mixed a little TSP with hot water and scrubbed the floor with a carwash brush and rinsed with a garden hose.

After it was mostly dry I applied Prep & Etch as I cannot find Ospho here. I waited a bit and the areas the were really active I hit with a second coat.

Now that it is all dry I have two issues. There is a white residue on everything. It is pretty well wtuck to the floor. A good application of the wire brush gets rid of most, but not all of it.

Also, the areas that had more significant rust turned black and looked solid. Well, they are not solid. The black material chips off easily.

I am in the process of wire brushing the whole floor again.

When I get it brushed should I wash it again? Or just go ahead and apply the Rustolium Rusty Metal Primer?

I spoke with Aserailtech the other day and he had some similar issues. Anyone else here dealt with this?

Thanks.

S.

[PNW_Steve]

Got the piece for the back deck from the fabricator and installed.

I was really nervous about the fit. I was sooo relieved when we set it in place and it only took two tiny cuts to trim it for a great fit.

[plfking]

That back deck looks great.....nice job.

[PNW_Steve]

Thank you Don.

I am pleased with the progress.

[Asetechrail]

That deck looks good Steve! Have you decided whether the back windows are staying? As I remember you are going with a 24 volt solar system. I seem to remember you already having inverters, have you decided on the charge controller and battery set up yet?

[EastCoastCB]

Bus is now a notchback.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by Asetechrail

That deck looks good Steve! Have you decided whether the back windows are staying? As I remember you are going with a 24 volt solar system. I seem to remember you already having inverters, have you decided on the charge controller and battery set up yet?

Thanks Kent,

I am leaning towards the midnight classic charge controller and 4x L-16 batteries in series.

I am probably going to cover the back windows with metal.

[PNW_Steve]

It's raining in my bus.......

In an attempt to clear the ice off of the roof, as I need to climb up there this morning, I started the propane about an hour ago.

I just went out to check on it and the entire interior of the bus is wet and dripping.....

[cadillackid]

I dont dig any type of open flame inside a bus.. gas / propane burn with lots of moisture.. those up north probably notice all the steam coming out of the stack. when someone's gas furnace kicks in.. thats all combustion moisture..



I like a heat exchanger type system for that reason...

-Christopher

[erniejt]

re: the back deck.... BRILLIANT!!! That's using the old noggin! Looks GREAT!!!

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

I dont dig any type of open flame inside a bus.. gas / propane burn with lots of moisture.. those up north probably notice all the steam coming out of the stack. when someone's gas furnace kicks in.. thats all combustion moisture..



I like a heat exchanger type system for that reason...

-Christopher

no doubt!

It's been a while since I ran an open flame propane heater. I was surprised at the sheer volume of water.

Well, it did the trick.... The ice is melted...

[Ninjakitty]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

Thanks Kent,

I am leaning towards the midnight classic charge controller and 4x L-16 batteries in series.

I am probably going to cover the back windows with metal.

I'm running the midnite classic 200. It's been working like a charm.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by Ninjakitty

I'm running the midnite classic 200. It's been working like a charm.

I was pretty sold on Victron until I found out about a feature on the Midnight that others do not.

That will allow me to significantly overpanel while limiting current into the batteries to a preset level.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

overpanel while limiting current into the batteries to a preset level.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

Charging FLA batteries too rapidly boils the electrolyte out of the batteries. Charging too slowly will cause sulfating of the plates.

With the charge current limiting I can panel for Seattle weather and not boil my batteries when I head for AZ.

[PNW_Steve]

We got the bulkhead piece cut and clamped in place.

As soon as the ice melts on the deck I am going to start riveting.....

[PNW_Steve]

One item of note.....

Dytron seam sealer is a PITA when it is 29F outside.....

[PNW_Steve]

These things are really handy where they work.

I tried using them on the side metal and there was too much "tension" and they wouldn't hold.

The "back deck" metal was bent and trimmed to fit and lies nicely. The Cleco's worked much better here.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

These things are really handy where they work.

I tried using them on the side metal and there was too much "tension" and they wouldn't hold.

The "back deck" metal was bent and trimmed to fit and lies nicely. The Cleco's worked much better here.

Looks beautiful, man.
I bought a bunch of cleco's and haven't had a use for em yet.

[BlackJohn]

Bulkhead looks well fitted, nice work. Can picture some work of art painted on it, maybe a tunnel.



John