Amelia 01' Chevy Shortie

[robbieinc]

Drove her back from Philly. She's full of rust and ready to play. haha

[Robin97396]

That's a cool little bus. Something like that is so useful because of the easy parking. Good pics too. Does the frame look compromised?

[robbieinc]

Originally Posted by Robin97396

That's a cool little bus. Something like that is so useful because of the easy parking. Good pics too. Does the frame look compromised?

The van frame itself is in good shape. The converted bus section not so much. One section of the floor is going to need some rework. I can't believe they liquid nailed the metal floor to the frame...

[Robin97396]

Well... liquid nails stops squeaking.

It's interesting to see, and hear, about some of the different techniques that were used in making these buses. That's a new one on me. Do you think it's factory, or a re-do?

[cadillackid]

Thats a nice bus.. Dual A/C too!!
the liquid nails may have bene used if ther flooring were ever replaced by anyone.. but its common to screw and glue flooring down both... even in houses its done that way..

-Christopher

[Robin97396]

I used blackjack roof repair coating to glue down the plywood and stop rust on the heavily pitted floor. That actually worked good and didn't stink. The surface of that floor isn't going to rust anymore. I was afraid it would smell like tar every hot summer day but it was fine. Still got the bus too.

[robbieinc]

Originally Posted by Robin97396

Well... liquid nails stops squeaking.

It's interesting to see, and hear, about some of the different techniques that were used in making these buses. That's a new one on me. Do you think it's factory, or a re-do?

Hard to tell. I started digging at it because it was sagging pretty badly. The plywood was wet and had pretty much disintegrated and the liquid nailed sheet metal underneath had came loose as well. It seems to be a poor design, there should of been another support somewhere for the sheet metal to sit on. Will try to get some pictures.

I was under the assumption that the sheet metal base would/should be welded in place?

[Robin97396]

As far as I know the metal floor should be fastened in securely. You're making me very curious now.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Robin97396

As far as I know the metal floor should be fastened in securely. You're making me very curious now.

I can't imagine a manufacturer using liquid nails.

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I can't imagine a manufacturer using liquid nails.

wouldnt surprise me.. Home builders do.. its quite common for houses that sit on basements to have the OSB sub floors screwed and liquid-nailed to the Main trusses or joists..

so it wouldnt surprise me that a coach builder might.. a friend of mine owns a Limo company, I typically handle all of his A/C work for his cars.. and the things i see when I take apart the partition to get to the A/C units are often surprising..

-Christopher

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

wouldnt surprise me.. Home builders do.. its quite common for houses that sit on basements to have the OSB sub floors screwed and liquid-nailed to the Main trusses or joists..

so it wouldnt surprise me that a coach builder might.. a friend of mine owns a Limo company, I typically handle all of his A/C work for his cars.. and the things i see when I take apart the partition to get to the A/C units are often surprising..

-Christopher

There are MUCH better metal adhesives out there than LN. I just can't see a school bus having the floor held together with glue.

OP post up some pics!

[robbieinc]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

There are MUCH better metal adhesives out there than LN. I just can't see a school bus having the floor held together with glue.

OP post up some pics!

I could understand using an adhesive to glue the puke mat to the plywood and the plywood to the sheet metal. The part that gets me is there where liquid nails holding the sheet metal to the frame. I suppose there is a possibility that there were screws fastening the sheet metal to the frame as well but have long disintegrated. Will have pictures this evening.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by robbieinc

I could understand using an adhesive to glue the puke mat to the plywood and the plywood to the sheet metal. The part that gets me is there where liquid nails holding the sheet metal to the frame. I suppose there is a possibility that there were screws fastening the sheet metal to the frame as well but have long disintegrated. Will have pictures this evening.

YEah, I can see the wood and puke mat being glued for sure.

[Robin97396]

Those screws don't rot off completely. After you get the wood out you'll have to deal with the rusted remains of screws. It's a tetanus nightmare without shoes. You could grind them off, but it's faster to just hit them with a hammer and drive them on through.

[robbieinc]

[EastCoastCB]

Did they use a few fasteners and then the glue to act as a sealant?

[robbieinc]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Did they use a few fasteners and then the glue to act as a sealant?

It appears so, although the fasteners are long gone. Rust is a horrible thing.

[Robin97396]

Congratulations, without the fasteners and the seats you've got a floating floor.

In my first bus the plywood was rotted to sawdust, but you couldn't shovel it because of all the rusted off screws sticking out of the metal. The rubber mats were still nicely on top of all that rotted plywood too.

[robbieinc]

Originally Posted by Robin97396

Congratulations, without the fasteners and the seats you've got a floating floor.

In my first bus the plywood was rotted to sawdust, but you couldn't shovel it because of all the rusted off screws sticking out of the metal. The rubber mats were still nicely on top of all that rotted plywood too.

haha that sounds about right. I want to keep the original floor in place as much as possible so I'll probably run some new bolts through the holes to keep things in place. Know where I can buy more puke mat?

[Jolly Roger]

Start checking some commercial flooring companies? There are companies that make the puke mats in width and length to cover the whole thing in one shot.
I salvaged quite a few pieces of the flat that were bigger than what I needed and didn't like the color so I used them to make drain pans under any chance of getting wet area.(my entire hidden kitchen area floor including the fridge and my entire bath area with drains)but I am still debating my flooring transition from dry to wet in the bath because the rubber needs to turn up to complete the pan but it conflicts with the transition between the two. my fault
I try to salvage and make decisions as I go to make it fit/work?
I am in the final stages now and the odd ends I have left are catching up? (Not to many but enough) I will probably make my own threshold out of cedar that obviously marks the line between the bath and with the right piece flashes with my bamboo floor. I didn't think it all through when I salvaged the bamboo or the rubber but it looks good and if a piece hear or there needs special attention? Then make it cause you ain't gonna find it.