Rusty 87 build thread

[musigenesis]

My new definition of "cold" has become "below 45, too cold to paint".

I'm considering driving my bus down to Florida for the winter so I can keep working on it. Obviously need to get this giant hole fixed first.

Any of you Florida guys happen to know of a place I could park and work in the Ormond / Flagler / Palm Coast area?

[musigenesis]

Left side of my door started leaking water pretty badly. Hope this seam and the missing screws was where it was coming from. Will find out tonight.







More prepping for the splint beams.





I deleted the tray thing under the exit door that allowed the heater hoses to pass underneath the sill. It wasn't structural in any way, but it was damned hard to get out because I couldn't quite figure out where it was attached and I couldn't get at the attachment points with a cutting wheel once I did. I just went with violence and anger until it was out.

[Native]

Violence and anger are two highly under-rated tools!


Did you feel you did not have enough holes in your flooring and just had to make another?

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by Native

Violence and anger are two highly under-rated tools!


Did you feel you did not have enough holes in your flooring and just had to make another?

Ha, yeah, I'm very concerned about my bus having proper drainage.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

My new definition of "cold" has become "below 45, too cold to paint".

I'm considering driving my bus down to Florida for the winter so I can keep working on it. Obviously need to get this giant hole fixed first.

Any of you Florida guys happen to know of a place I could park and work in the Ormond / Flagler / Palm Coast area?

I'd sure love to meet up for coffee.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I'd sure love to meet up for coffee.

Definitely! I'm going to be down in December as well as February (my folks are snowbirds so I drive them and their SUV filled with their luggage down in December and fly home, then fly back in February to drive them back up. If I think my bus will make it (I have like one month to finish repairing my giant hole and I'm not sure that's going to happen with the weather situation) I'll drive that down with their stuff and they'll fly down.

[Native]

Add me to the coffee kolach! (Is that how it is spelled?)

[plfking]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

I just went with violence and anger until it was out.

Always a solid plan.......but don't underestimate the power of some well-timed cuss words as well.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by Native

Add me to the coffee kolach! (Is that how it is spelled?)

I think it's "klatch" and you would be welcome.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Native

Add me to the coffee kolach! (Is that how it is spelled?)

And just like that- the Skoolie Coffee Club is born.
Skoolies n Coffee. Lets DO THIS!!

[Native]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

And just like that- the Skoolie Coffee Club is born.
Skoolies n Coffee. Lets DO THIS!!

I'm in! Timing may be an issue ... but we'll work it out.

[WLRoadScholars]

Dude, I am thoroughly enjoying reading this build thread! You've given me the confidence to consider welding in my build - I was planning to do as much of my work by bolting steel as possible (mainly just the roof deck & underhanging water tank), and I will still do those with bolts but man, now I feel more confident about my own ability to patch up holes instead of hiring somebody to come out and do it

[musigenesis]

Kitty.



These beams were a slight pain. The 3/8 holes were easy to drill, but the indents (for the factory bolt heads on the chair rail) were hard to do with a 3/4 bit, lot of vibration and wobbling. Like the post about hole drilling yesterday, I'm having a lot of difficulty drilling holes larger than 1/2" in diameter - a lot of drill-flying-out-of-hands and sprained-wrist action.





POR-15. The coating this stuff forms on such crappy pitted metal underneath is pretty remarkable. It is by far the most satisfying paint I have ever used.





All four splints beams are bolted in place now and I'm ready to start bolting and welding the rest of the new frame in place. Just when the arctic blast hits.













Good thing I never use the side door. This would be a massive tripping hazard. My eventual subfloor will come right up to this level so I will eventually be secure from any painful face-planting.



This is the corner where my tub that projects below the floor will go. I'm a bit uncertain about how much clearance I need to have here in order to leave the shock absorber accessible, but I don't think it needs to be more than enough to get the nuts off and slide the shocks off the bolts and out.

[JDSquared]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Kitty.



Attachment 39217



These beams were a slight pain. The 3/8 holes were easy to drill, but the indents (for the factory bolt heads on the chair rail) were hard to do with a 3/4 bit, lot of vibration and wobbling. Like the post about hole drilling yesterday, I'm having a lot of difficulty drilling holes larger than 1/2" in diameter - a lot of drill-flying-out-of-hands and sprained-wrist action.



Attachment 39218



Attachment 39219



POR-15. The coating this stuff forms on such crappy pitted metal underneath is pretty remarkable. It is by far the most satisfying paint I have ever used.



Attachment 39220



Attachment 39221



All four splints beams are bolted in place now and I'm ready to start bolting and welding the rest of the new frame in place. Just when the arctic blast hits.



Attachment 39222



Attachment 39223



Attachment 39224



Attachment 39225



Attachment 39226



Attachment 39227



Good thing I never use the side door. This would be a massive tripping hazard. My eventual subfloor will come right up to this level so I will eventually be secure from any painful face-planting.



Attachment 39228



This is the corner where my tub that projects below the floor will go. I'm a bit uncertain about how much clearance I need to have here in order to leave the shock absorber accessible, but I don't think it needs to be more than enough to get the nuts off and slide the shocks off the bolts and out.



Attachment 39229



Attachment 39230

No drill press I take it?

You're getting closer and closer to having a floor.
I'm all in for coffee club by the way. Stop by Savannah we will caravan the rest of the way.

[kidharris]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Kitty.

These beams were a slight pain. The 3/8 holes were easy to drill, but the indents (for the factory bolt heads on the chair rail) were hard to do with a 3/4 bit, lot of vibration and wobbling. Like the post about hole drilling yesterday, I'm having a lot of difficulty drilling holes larger than 1/2" in diameter - a lot of drill-flying-out-of-hands and sprained-wrist action.

I'm not sure that I understand what you are trying to do, but would a 3/4" holesaw work for " the indents (for the factory bolt heads on the chair rail)"? if there is no material for the pilot bit, a trick that sometimes works, if you have the access, is to firmly clamp/screw a piece of wood to the back of the piece that you are trying to drill.... or use a step drill .... or plasma cutter

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by kidharris

I'm not sure that I understand what you are trying to do, but would a 3/4" holesaw work for " the indents (for the factory bolt heads on the chair rail)"?

Well, my original intent was to drill 3/4" holes all the way through to provide clearance for the bolt/screw heads already in the chair rail. I wanted my splint rails to bolt up flush with the chair rails, but those heads are maybe 1/2" in diameter and stick out maybe 3/16". My 3/4" drill bit was making it most of the way through but not all the way, but I eventually realized it didn't have to go all the way.

I used a hole saw to drill the holes for my replacement LED lights in the back (2" hole saw) and it did not go so well. I actually bent the pilot bit and sprained my hand at the same time.

Fortunately, I'm done with big holes in my bus for the time being.

[kidharris]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Well, my original intent was to drill 3/4" holes all the way through to provide clearance for the bolt/screw heads already in the chair rail. I wanted my splint rails to bolt up flush with the chair rails, but those heads are maybe 1/2" in diameter and stick out maybe 3/16". My 3/4" drill bit was making it most of the way through but not all the way, but I eventually realized it didn't have to go all the way.

I used a hole saw to drill the holes for my replacement LED lights in the back (2" hole saw) and it did not go so well. I actually bent the pilot bit and sprained my hand at the same time.

Fortunately, I'm done with big holes in my bus for the time being.

Sorry, I was editing my comment at the same time that you replied

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by JDSquared

No drill press I take it?

You're getting closer and closer to having a floor.
I'm all in for coffee club by the way. Stop by Savannah we will caravan the rest of the way.

I do have a drill press ... the arbor came off from the vibration of the 3/4" bit, so I don't have a drill press until I reset that.

I won't be able to caravan to Savannah since I'll have my parents in tow. Are you planning on bringing your bus to the thing in February?

[JDSquared]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

I do have a drill press ... the arbor came off from the vibration of the 3/4" bit, so I don't have a drill press until I reset that.



I won't be able to caravan to Savannah since I'll have my parents in tow. Are you planning on bringing your bus to the thing in February?

Probably not the bus. Unless I just drive down there and back. Or pull everything I camp with out of my van and put it in the bus. No that doesn't work either because my little fridge plugs into the cigarette lighter. The bus doesn't have one. So I'm probably just driving down in my van I can spend the night or two.

[Native]

Good progress on the floor. You've been providing inspiration to a lot of us.

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Attachment 39229

I sure hope that is not blood on those rags in the pictures!