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Old 10-15-2013, 06:15 PM   #361
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

Finally some good weather. I got out after work and was able to get two hrs in before it got dark. I got the drivers side strap measured and drilled. Even got started riveting it on. Tomorrow I should be able to finish it and get the top strap riveted, it is all ready drilled. Then I can measure and do the final cut om the front and start welding.

I'm so looking forward to getting this done and putting in the windows.

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Old 10-15-2013, 06:16 PM   #362
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

Quote:
Originally Posted by lifeintheslowlane
I painted mine with a brush and roller in 4 hours in a Menards parking lot.
I did mine with a Wagner spray gun in two hrs in a tattoo parlor's parking lot
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Old 10-16-2013, 05:27 AM   #363
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

Well I don't know what I mean either. I do have a traumatic brain injury. Don't mind me.
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Old 10-16-2013, 07:53 AM   #364
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

Quote:
Originally Posted by ThePimentals
Well I don't know what I mean either. I do have a traumatic brain injury. Don't mind me.
I call them brain farts.

I hope to have the bus to the point where I can take trips next year. I would like to come up north next fall. If I do I will let you know, would like to meet up with you all.
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Old 10-18-2013, 05:52 AM   #365
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

I hope by next fall to be gone, but, I'm sure life won't want me to be. So I'll see you then, haha.
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Old 10-18-2013, 08:22 AM   #366
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

Quote:
Originally Posted by ThePimentals
I hope by next fall to be gone, but, I'm sure life won't want me to be. So I'll see you then, haha.

If you are, let us know where you are heading, I'm sure we can find a spot to meet. With a rolling home, the journey is the fun part.

Ha ha, did you see how I rolled that in, "the journey is the fun part", "The Journey Visvi ". I'm so clever.
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Old 10-18-2013, 06:17 PM   #367
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

Quote:
Originally Posted by wmkbailey
Quote:
Originally Posted by ThePimentals
Well I don't know what I mean either. I do have a traumatic brain injury. Don't mind me.
I call them brain farts.

I hope to have the bus to the point where I can take trips next year. I would like to come up north next fall. If I do I will let you know, would like to meet up with you all.
How far north?

Nat
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Old 10-21-2013, 10:09 AM   #368
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

Quote:
Originally Posted by nat_ster
Quote:
Originally Posted by wmkbailey
Quote:
Originally Posted by ThePimentals
Well I don't know what I mean either. I do have a traumatic brain injury. Don't mind me.
I call them brain farts.

I hope to have the bus to the point where I can take trips next year. I would like to come up north next fall. If I do I will let you know, would like to meet up with you all.
How far north?

Nat
Not sure at this point. My destination will be Indiana, more than likely will stay in the states. I need to check and see how much longer my passport is good to. I want to make it to Canada sometime, more than likely in the hot summer I will head that far north.
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Old 10-21-2013, 06:33 PM   #369
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

I'm having a hard time getting the pieces for the roof to line up. I finally decided that it does not have to be perfect, just close.

The old roof steel on the drivers side was not pull down tight to the support, so it puckers. I could not clamp it down when I was riveting it with the new straps.



I drilled out the two next to the pucker to help make it not so noticeably.



On a side note after climbing the short ladder and clambering over the front of my bus to get on the roof. I noticed that porkchopsandwiches was climbing through the emergency hatch. Duh.



Now my ladder isn't too short.

The area of the roof that puckers pushes the front piece about 1.5" out of alignment. I cut back into that area to bring the front piece back into alignment.



I was able to now weld the front piece in, Here you can see where the ol roof puckers up.



Hopefully I can hide most of it with the magic of body filler.

Now I can start on the fun pieces, the side panels. I added some extra cardboard to my old template and made a new template.



Used it to mark the steel and cut with my jig saw. Then I marked 1/2" lines parallel to the edge and scored it with my grinder. The place where I buy my sheet metal suggested this approach.



I found a place on the ground that had a nice slope and used it to form the curve.





It worked really well. Now everything is welded together.



The template is close to being the same on the passenger side. I will have to make some minor adjustments and I can do the same.
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Old 10-21-2013, 06:59 PM   #370
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

When I put the new cap on my Thomas, I had to take a ziz wheel and make a blade width cut in a couple of places to take out some of the material so it would lay down. Stitch welded it back.
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Old 10-21-2013, 07:33 PM   #371
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

I think it's coming along great...most impressive work!
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Old 10-21-2013, 07:59 PM   #372
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

No worries...looks good
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Old 10-21-2013, 08:09 PM   #373
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

Luckychow has offered some good advice--on the other hand a scared nun trying to get out of the crosswalk will probably not even notice the little hump. All kidding aside, you have done a fine job with the roof raise and it looks as though it had come from the factory that way. Jack
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Old 10-21-2013, 08:27 PM   #374
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

I'm not going to worry about it. As long as I keep people off the roof, you really can't see it from the ground.
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Old 10-21-2013, 09:21 PM   #375
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

What I often do is take my mistake as inspiration for a bit of flair.

I came across a great quote recently: "If you stumble, make it part of the dance".

I think what you have created is awesome.
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Old 10-21-2013, 09:39 PM   #376
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

Quote:
Originally Posted by wmkbailey
I'm not going to worry about it. As long as I keep people off the roof, you really can't see it from the ground.
If we make a deal on those roof hatches you won't have to worry about people on your roof
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Old 10-24-2013, 02:22 PM   #377
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

Quote:
Originally Posted by porkchopsandwiches
Quote:
Originally Posted by wmkbailey
I'm not going to worry about it. As long as I keep people off the roof, you really can't see it from the ground.
If we make a deal on those roof hatches you won't have to worry about people on your roof
Well I'm keeping at least one hatch until I finish the roof. It is easier to get up there through it.
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Old 10-24-2013, 02:26 PM   #378
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

I headed out to the bus this morning to pick up some steel to finish the roof. It was 38 outside, so I fired up the diesel heater and chatted up the folks in the tattoo parlor for 20 minutes. Then checked the bus and the coolant was already at 110. The bus started up as if it was in the heat of summer. Looks like cold weather starting won’t be an issue.

Also I had instant heat when I turned the heaters on.

Porkchop, you need to get yours fixed, they are nice to have working.
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Old 10-24-2013, 09:21 PM   #379
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

38? It was 83 out here today and folks were reaching for their jackets! Burrr
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Old 10-25-2013, 06:31 PM   #380
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Re: The Journey Visvi 1999 Thomas MVP ER

Got some time out at the bus today. Cut and bent the passenger side steel. When I started welding, somehow the bottom is off about 3/8".



I cut a 1/2" strip and welded over the gap.



I had trouble the whole evening getting the weld to penetrate the steel. While putting everything away, I realized I have my welder on the lowest setting. It is 48 degrees out, maybe I need to turn it up a little. I'm busy tomorrow, but plan to spend all day Sunday working on the bus. I will grind down the welds one at a time and re-weld.

Here is what it looks like.



For better or worst, this is how it will be.
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