'46 Chevy Shorty

[Tango]

Hey scntfc...gald you could join us!


Spent a very warm day (107 heat index) doing some more body work. I just about destroyed myself yesterday pulling all steel, 1/4" rivets by hand. Finally got my roof patch in place though. With some butyl tape, rivets and seam sealer, I am hoping it will stay dry inside. Plus...it will all get covered in white, rubberized paint. Eventually.



Had planned on welding the patch in but discovered the body has tarpaper on the inside. Not much insulation, but...it does burn really well...so no welding. At least the big gash/dent is history now.





ONWARD!

[Ronnie]

I have a few patches like this too. I feel there is enough rivets in the bus body that a few more done well are ok. I do like your color, that is going to be real classy.

[leadsled01]

What rubberized white paint are you going to use?

[Tango]

Still investigating the roof paint. There are tons of them out there. Just spoke yesterday with an A/C installer who is looking up the name of a roof coating he came across and wound up using on his big trade van. Said he was absolutely amazed at the difference it made here in Houston sun. He did say it contained what recalled as ceramic beads. Will pass along whatever I hear back.

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by Tango

Still investigating the roof paint. There are tons of them out there. Just spoke yesterday with an A/C installer who is looking up the name of a roof coating he came across and wound up using on his big trade van. Said he was absolutely amazed at the difference it made here in Houston sun. He did say it contained what recalled as ceramic beads. Will pass along whatever I hear back.

is it better than the BUS-KOTE we were talking about a couple months ago?


hey on your driver window put in a slider.. I think i read where you are going fixed glass... totally a PITA if you ever need to put your head out to back, or to talk to someone as you pull into a campground etc.. a superior Slider would likely be pretty close to fitting in the whole opening.. , otherwise an older carpenter window might fit just the area where the roll down window was...



im surprised at the number of times i need to open my driver window on my busses to speak to someone or wave someone on, etc..

-Christopher

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

is it better than the BUS-KOTE we were talking about a couple months ago?


hey on your driver window put in a slider.. I think i read where you are going fixed glass... totally a PITA if you ever need to put your head out to back, or to talk to someone as you pull into a campground etc.. a superior Slider would likely be pretty close to fitting in the whole opening.. , otherwise an older carpenter window might fit just the area where the roll down window was...



im surprised at the number of times i need to open my driver window on my busses to speak to someone or wave someone on, etc..

-Christopher

When ever backing up I find opening the front slider gives me a much better view into the side mirror. Trying to see 40' back through dirty glass just doesn't cut it.

[cowlitzcoach]

I would agree that you NEED an opening window next to the driver that is closer to hand than the vent window.

On motorcoaches that had little itty bitty windows that opened they were referred to as toll windows.

There are still some toll booths, especially unmanned toll booths, that require being able to drop some coins into the hopper. With only a vent window that is a stretch from the driver's seat it could make traveling on a toll road/bridge could be a real PITA in order to pay a toll.

[Tango]

I would LOVE to have an opening window there but the crazy Wayne construction in that area will not accommodate any of the RV windows I have seen. Would call for some really complicated playing with window channels and add on metal to get anything in there. And...I do still have that little wing vent that opens.



But...


I have been re-visiting ways to make the original crank down work and not fill the body with water. Might call for some fiberglass work (which I REALLY hate dealing with) but might be worth it.


We'll see.

[GuidoLyons]

I agree with the above. Figure out a way to get a driver's window that opens. Modify the original roll up, add a slider, something. You'll need it more than you think. Maybe you just need to add a larger more modern rubber seal that will shed water better than the original design.

[ol trunt]

Just keep an old spark plug on a string. That way after you use it to break the window to get it open you can retrieve your spark plug--just trying to help here. Jack

[Tango]

Leave it to Jack to come up with a practical solution.


Meanwhile...(as the old song goes)..."It's too damned HOT!"
At 104 and 100% humidity, I can only work for so long. Only managed to get a little painting done. Guess the up-side is...it will be a baked-on finish.



The rear passenger side interior panels (wood) are finally painted. Did get some gray Hammerite on the hatch cover for that hole but no pix. Will wait till morning when it's only 98.


Also have all the window openings prepped to install the new glass. Will probably do that sometime next week.


Still trying to figure out a water catchment/drain system for my roll-down driver window. No plan yet, but I have concluded it will not be simple.


All for now.

[GuidoLyons]

Hey Tango,
A buddy of mine in Houston told me about

https://txrxlabs.org

205 Roberts St, Houston, TX 77003

832-481-4123

It's a open DIY machine shop, CNC plasma cutter, 3D printing, mills, lathes, wood shop, etc. You take a class yo get signed off on the equipment, then you can make your own one off bus parts.

[cadillackid]

Tango I thought that you had AirCon in that shop.

Look at a school bus driver slider.. or even a Land Rover rear slider.. some of those were pretty small.
Christopher

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by GuidoLyons

Hey Tango,
A buddy of mine in Houston told me about

https://txrxlabs.org

205 Roberts St, Houston, TX 77003

832-481-4123

It's a open DIY machine shop, CNC plasma cutter, 3D printing, mills, lathes, wood shop, etc. You take a class yo get signed off on the equipment, then you can make your own one off bus parts.

These kinds of spaces are cool as heck. We have a HUgE one in Columbus Ohio called idea foundry ..
Christopher

[Tango]

Hey Guido --- Thanks...I'm very familiar with that maker space. In fact, that building is owned by the same guy that I lease my studio from. I almost rented the building myself just a few years ago. Pretty broad capabilities there and I have looked into some Cad/Cam & CNC work there but have not done anything yet.


Cadillac --- Yes...we have some A/C but don't run it often. Crazy expensive to operate and does very little. I will sometimes crank it up around noon, but by 3PM still need to bail out.

[Tango]

Just for the record...I didn't do a damned thing today.

[Ronnie]

Never going to get done slacking off like that.......

We have made some good progress on the kitchen. It has been raining a bit much to mess with outside stuff though, and I do have real work to do.

[Tango]

Roger the slacking --- Had a nasty ass summer cold for the last week or so and still have not gotten much done. Finally said screw it and went back to work. Runny nose and all.




The drivers wall panel (where the roll up window goes) was a mess. Must have been 40 non-functional holes punched/drilled into this thing. Nothing a little Bondo can't fix...right?



Also got the hatch cover installed today. Then...I realized the bolt pattern for the handle (which came with the cover) just might be the same as the super groovy Art Deco pulls I already had...


Sure enough...



...a perfect fit and WAAAAYYY cooler!






ONWARD!

[ol trunt]

Agreed, waaaaaaaay cooler. Jack

[o1marc]

X's 2, way cooler

Do you have a pic of that hatch open?