93 Thomas unconventional roof raise?

[Koreed]

Hey there. As I was ripping these seats out last night, I was brainstorming something to do with all the tubular steel from the seat frames. I also want to raise my roof, but leave my windows alone for the most part. My idea is to turn the seat frames on edge to create an 18" or so lift, then a 3' slope, then but up to a big rectangle welded out of something. I figure 10 seat frames per side, so I can build a 30' roof structure on the ground, hoist it up onto the existing roof, fasten it, skin it, then cut it out inside the bus to reveal my new roof. How ridiculous is this idea if anyone care to chime in??

[Carytowncat]

Cool ! Can you sketch your idea and post a picture to help us see what your visi9n is?

[Robin97396]

The picture I'm getting from what you said is you want to use the seat frames to basically build a gable roof over the bus, then remove the original bus roof and ceiling?

I too would need to wait for clarification to understand you better.

The seat frames are a lot of steel in total and it would be good to use them for something. It sounds like you're making good progress so far.

[Koreed]

Here is a highly detailed technical blueprint

[EastCoastCB]

You'll have to do something unconventional, a THomas has a slight angle in at the bottom of the windows.

[Robin97396]

If you're planning on cutting the ribs when removing the original roof you'd loose a lot of strength in the structure of your vehicle. It all depends on what you want to use it for. I've seen buses made into greenhouses.

My thoughts about replacing the roof are why reinvent the wheel, especially if your current roof doesn't leak. I don't mean to discourage you, because anything is possible, but it's highly likely a replacement roof would leak considerably. That issue is dealt with in the most prescribed method for roof raises on this site.

If you can do something new and it works we all learn from it.

[BurlKing]

I made a back seat rest and rack for my snowmobile out of some of the metal from my seats too. Lol. Use em' if you got em'.

Sent from my LGLS775 using Tapatalk

[Marceps]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

You'll have to do something unconventional, a THomas has a slight angle in at the bottom of the windows.

Are you saing the ribs bend inward? I never noticed. Now I want to find out.

[M1031A1]

At the bottom of the Thomas window line there is a *6 incline on each side of the bus going to the roof. IF you do a roof raise, do it at or BELOW the bottom window line.

[Koreed]

It's my remodeling background and my "need"?to repurpose that is beckoning this idea. I got all the seat frames "harvested " last night. I don't have my own welding setup yet, so I might send this one out, however I really want welding stuff so I may pick some stuff up. Burlking is gracing me with his removed windows so I will have upper windows in the bump up. I'm not so worried about water leaking, yet, and I intend to layer new sheeting up the addition with a 4"-6" overlap, like shingling a roof, and seam seal as I go. There's a great sheet metal place in my neighborhood that will sell me a 4'x10' 20ga sheet of galvanized for around $50, and they can do all the brake work I need on it.
Any suggestions where to find good riveting tools/materials?

[Robin97396]

Some people have been using harbor freight riveters.

[Koreed]

Do I want 1/4" x 1/2" rivets for outer skin?

[Robin97396]

I didn't know they made 1/2" rivets. If it's a choice between the two I'd say 1/4", but then I've not done any riveting yet. There are several people that have recently done riveting with actual experience in their threads but I don't remember who it was.

[BurlKing]

I used 3/16 rivets with a pneumatic air riveter. get yours from wherever you can find it, those all do the same function so don't get fancy.

IF I were to do it again...id skip pop rivet type and go with solid steel bucked rivets. I have only seen this done though, never did it myself. its not bad for the sides but if you use them but if they are on top where rain might drop, you will need to do a ton of caulking.

[Koreed]

So would that be a 2 man rivet job with the bucking bar operator inside the bus?

[Koreed]

Originally Posted by Koreed

So would that be a 2 man rivet job with the bucking bar operator inside the bus?

Never mind. I found the answer to be yes. It is a 2 man job.

[superdave]

I used self tapping screws and there holding great. you pop rivet guys are nutts

[EastCoastCB]

I have 1/4" and 3/16" rivets on mine.
You'll need at least some blind rivets as there are places on a bus you can't get a bucking bar behind.
Closed-end blind rivets are what you'll want for exterior pop rivets.

[joeblack5]

I like the idea and looks of diner train cars, could you use mini bus roofs, I believe they are less wide , cut those and save some construction time?
Later J

[Tango]

The technical term is...a "Trolley Top". Very popular solution in very early camp cars/RV's as well as actual trolleys.