Carpenter Body Interior Ripout

[skoolie_grease]

Hey there folks,

Got a 1992 Carpenter Navistar International that I'm gutting.

There are the shiny metallic 'mid-panels' that are part of the interior wall of the Carpenter bus and I'm trying to get them out. After unscrewing the 40 or so screws that hold one of them in, I'm starting to try to pry it out.

It looks like part of this interior shiny panel has a horizontal part that goes out towards the outside of the bus. I don't have to remove the windows to get this interior wall off, right?

It looks kinda like this --> |-

The vertical piece is the shiny metal interior mid-panel that stretches from the front of the bus to the back.

It looks like it's gonna come off if I keep prying on it but I just wanted to check w/ any Carpenter buffs to see if this might be part of the structure of the bus.

I really don't think it is, but just want to see if anyone's already done this. I figure it's gotta come off cause it looks like it was the last thing the factory put in before the seats.

Thanks for any tips!

[skoolie_grease]

Actually, scratch that idea.

After closer inspection, it seems this horizontal 'lip' or whatever it is that is just about 2 inches below the top of the shiny metal interior panel somehow is related to the windows.

So, simplification again wins me over. I'm gonna leave it how it is.

[Bullwinkle]

You do have to remove the windows to get the interior side panels off. The windows go in and out easily (busses are vandalized a lot...). Take the six screws out of the window frame and pull from the top. This will expose a row of pop rivets attaching the exterior skin to the interior panels. If they are rusty it is best to just grind them off -- since this surface isn't normally visible.

Avoid bending the sheet metal lip when you seperate the skins -- it is the weather-sealing surface for the bottom of the windows. With a bit of care, the interior panels can be removed and the windows can go back in just like they were.

A. Moose