Difficulty of bodywork?

[EastCoastCB]

How much can the metal expand?

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by Tango

Hmmm...I guess all the sheet metal professionals I've worked with must have been "Old Wives".

I am not and never have been any kind of qualified metal worker. When I was preparing to do the work described I described, I went out and looked at what other people had done and asked how they did it. I saw end results that I didn't like and end results that I liked.

I simply copied the method that yielded the best end result. That involved heating and pulling the big piece of metal.

It worked and if I have to attach a large piece like that again I will probably do the same again.

For this project I don't know that it will be needed. Smaller pieces = less dimensional change in each piece with temperature changes.

I think I may have found a source for used parts. I do wonder a bit if removing the parts from the old bus and repairing any damage I do there may make the new parts a bit more attractive.

[New2Skool]

The best I can relate is reskinning my entire bus and fabricating enclosure sections following a 16 inch lift. The body work has not be terrible but, something to avoid the next time around. That being said, I made it work and the forum helped a ton.

Fixing that rear section doesn't look too hard.
I would cut the whole thing out.
Build a basic square frame from the floor or mid beam of the wall.
You could build the framework straight and lose the inward tilted section.
To make the curve, I would just use a couple of 1 inch tubes.
Cut them and curve them to match, weld together.
Remove the rivets from the forward rib.
Slide sheet metal under rib and back to new rib.
Glue, Rivet, Seal, Prime, Paint.
Good as new.

Or just find a different bus. Haha, it is your choice.
I opted to reskin my bus, replace a wheel well, do a lift, and in the process of replacing the entire rear wall section.

Have fun and good luck.

[Rameses]

Well...

Did you buy it??

[PNW_Steve]

Well up to now this has been an exercise in "what if".

If I buy the bus what will the repairs involve.

Well..... thanks to a typo, I bought a bus. I made a mistake while typing in my max bid. What could have been worse turned into my paying $300 more for the bus than I had intended.

Had I not made that mistake I would not have won the auction.

2002 Bluebird All American RE
8.3 Cummins
MD-3060

I think I can live with it

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

Well up to now this has been an exercise in "what if".

If I buy the bus what will the repairs involve.

Well..... thanks to a typo, I bought a bus. I made a mistake while typing in my max bid. What could have been worse turned into my paying $300 more for the bus than I had intended.

Had I not made that mistake I would not have won the auction.

2002 Bluebird All American RE
8.3 Cummins
MD-3060

I think I can live with it

Sounds like a great bus, congrats on the typo!

[DoubleO7]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

Well up to now this has been an exercise in "what if".

If I buy the bus what will the repairs involve.

Well..... thanks to a typo, I bought a bus. I made a mistake while typing in my max bid. What could have been worse turned into my paying $300 more for the bus than I had intended.

Had I not made that mistake I would not have won the auction.

2002 Bluebird All American RE
8.3 Cummins
MD-3060

I think I can live with it

Congrats
how far away is it?

[Tango]

Just for the record...the caps, both front & rear are critical structural components. I had a long discussion with a retired BB engineer in GA that advised me to absolutely NOT cut or relocate either cap when doing my 19" roof raise. I built up and over them both which created a great space for A/C and other stuff.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Sounds like a great bus, congrats on the typo!

Originally Posted by DoubleO7

Congrats
how far away is it?

Thank you!

It is about 4 hours away... ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!!!!

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by Tango

Just for the record...the caps, both front & rear are critical structural components. I had a long discussion with a retired BB engineer in GA that advised me to absolutely NOT cut or relocate either cap when doing my 19" roof raise. I built up and over them both which created a great space for A/C and other stuff.

Thanks for the info Tango.

I would not have expected quite that critical nature. I will keep that in mind.

[Rameses]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

Well up to now this has been an exercise in "what if".

If I buy the bus what will the repairs involve.

Well..... thanks to a typo, I bought a bus. I made a mistake while typing in my max bid. What could have been worse turned into my paying $300 more for the bus than I had intended.

Had I not made that mistake I would not have won the auction.

2002 Bluebird All American RE
8.3 Cummins
MD-3060

I think I can live with it

What you ended up paying for it was exactly what I had set as the max I was willing to spend on it.

Unfortunately, that included budgeting for a plane ticket and $800 for diesel.


I'll be really interested to see how the repair goes for you. I'd spent the last several days debating how I wanted to try to tackle it if I bought it.

[PNW_Steve]

I fibbed again... It is 5 hours away.

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

How much can the metal expand?

the metal must expand some or it wouldnt creak and crack when it heats up... those creaks and cracks are the metal in Motion.....

Most noticeable as a kid living in the north when our Gas furnace would Pre-heat.. the ducts would all clang and bang a Lot before the belt driven fan squealed into action...
-Christopher

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

Thanks for the info Tango.

I would not have expected quite that critical nature. I will keep that in mind.

The seats are structural, so is everything.

Steve just remember you have to crack a few eggs to make a delicious spanish omelette, you got this man!



Just reinforce the area a bit, and figure out some creative solution. You're a man of impeccable taste and class- wow us all!

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

The seats are structural, so is everything.

Steve just remember you have to crack a few eggs to make a delicious spanish omelette, you got this man!



Just reinforce the area a bit, and figure out some creative solution. You're a man of impeccable taste and class- wow us all!

I will keep that in mind

While the skoolie side is new to me bus conversions and DIY RV's are not so I think that with the support of this fine community, I will be ok.

As far as the comments regarding my character.... You Sir are an optimist....

As you get to know me you may adjust your perspective.

Thank you all for your input and support.

S.

[prof.fate]

school bus structural..for rollovers structural? Yep, i bet it is.
For RV use? Just staple some 2x2 pine sticks together, cover one side with paneling and the other with alum siding...it's all they've been doing for 40, 50 years now. Seems to hold up - structurally.

As for metal expanding..paint it white to reduce that (and keep the coach cooler inside). I'm guessing oversize rivet holes and flexible sealant would be sufficient.

[EastCoastCB]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JceGMNG7rpU

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by Rameses

What you ended up paying for it was exactly what I had set as the max I was willing to spend on it.

Unfortunately, that included budgeting for a plane ticket and $800 for diesel.


I'll be really interested to see how the repair goes for you. I'd spent the last several days debating how I wanted to try to tackle it if I bought it.

I suspect that is because my "proxy bid" was higher than yours.


I started out focused on the idea of replacing all of the damaged parts with new or, if I could find good ones, used factory parts. I am now considering alternatives thanks to some of the suggestions above. I will start a build thread and share my progress (misery?).

I am thinking about taking the train to Salem and spending a day or two then driving home. Kind of a mini vacation. I have $80 budgeted for diesel for the drive home....

[Rameses]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

I suspect that is because my "proxy bid" was higher than yours.


I started out focused on the idea of replacing all of the damaged parts with new or, if I could find good ones, used factory parts. I am now considering alternatives thanks to some of the suggestions above. I will start a build thread and share my progress (misery?).

I am thinking about taking the train to Salem and spending a day or two then driving home. Kind of a mini vacation. I have $80 budgeted for diesel for the drive home....

No, I meant I was only willing to bid a grand less than you paid because I had to factor in transportation costs. I ended up not bidding at all, because it got too rich for my blood with about 10 minutes left.

[DoubleO7]

This looks like a PNW kinda style you could do and skip the OEM look on the rearend altogether !