Finally Getting started

[Tdi-337]

So two years ago My wife and I purchased a Thomas Saf t liner c2 with the intent of getting the project started. I was able to pull out all of the seats within the first two months but then life got busy.
Over the last weekend we were able to finally get the floor up and almost prepped to "prep". the floors were definitely daunting but now that they are all up and it is down to bare metal it feels like we can move forward with actually building. we are pulling the ceiling down and though of pulling the walls but after watching a few videos it looks like a process and I am not sure that I would want to do this especially since it would require removing the seat rails. which I have read are structural support. does anyone have any insight?
I will upload some photos soon.

[yugogypsy]

I know how it goes. I've had Pit Stop for YEARS now and I'm only getting down to REALLY working on her this year. She's been a storage shed for too long

[Hutchy]

people don't remove the seat rails just the upper part of the lower walls from the seat rail to the windows

[BarnYardCamp]

and not everybody removes that sheet metal. (between the windows and seat rails)
depends on circumstances related to your specific build.

[Tdi-337]

Ya I think we are going to leave the sheet metal and build up on top of it. It seems easier and the space gain would be zero if we leave the rails

[BarnYardCamp]

TDi-337--- what do you plan to do with your bus? Stationary use, travel?
If you plan to drive your bus, I think I'd make sure it runs, and drives now. Sitting for 2 years can create a lot of mechanical problems. Some would be more head ache inducing, others could be quite hard on your wallet.
Not much point in spending time and money on the build until you address this.

[Clouse House]

Originally Posted by Tdi-337

Ya I think we are going to leave the sheet metal and build up on top of it. It seems easier and the space gain would be zero if we leave the rails

Just throwing this out there in case it might help your decision.

https://www.harborfreight.com/power-...ars-64609.html

For metal cutting shears they are pretty cheap and would make the job simpler. Unscrew all the metal panels under the window (hopefully yours are screws). Then use the shears to cut the metal an inch or two below the window all the way down the bus. That way you remove a majority of the metal without messing with anything structural.
You're right about it not giving any floor space. But putting insulation on the outer skin and removing the inner skin will help a lot with heat transfer to keep the inside more comfortable.

It's what I'm doing to my bus right now.