Rear engine seats

[olivemartini]

What is this thing in the middle of these seats? I would like to keep everything the way it is, except this stupid middle thing. What’s underneath that part?

 

[Sehnsucht-SKO]

Probably the transmission bell housing. Although I suppose it is possible that only certain engine/transmission combinations need that clearance and instead of having some with and some without they standardized the body to accommodate the largest option. If you can get a look from underneath you might be able to judge whether that bump out is required or not.

 

[skoontz]

Engine hump

I have the same hump in my bus with a dt466. The head of the engine is slightly in that hump. The dt444 may not have that problem.

 

[DeMac]

Interesting responses. I also have a 466 RE. I chose to remove the plastic shroud, to discover the truth, prior to posting my response.

The transmission is directly beneath the access cover, however, no mechanicals intrude upon the space (see pics). Our county transportation service kindly removed the square tube safety cage.

I used a section of wall steel to hand hammer a new cover, which sits flush with the remaining square tube. Currently, a work in progress, with more pics in this album:
https://www.skoolie.net/forums/members/39257-albums2067-picture26593.jpg

 

[Bus'n it]

Nice solution!
My bus had a "V" metal in the center. I think it was more to keep the kids from sitting in the middle. Figure they'd not have the seatback of the front seat to protect them in a crash. The kid sitting there would slide down the aisle and crack their head somewhere down the line. I know, I know, quite graphic, but thats what I think it was for on my bus

 

[olivemartini]

This is exactly what I’m hoping to do! Mine is a dt466 also. Thank you for the pics, I’ll check out the rest

 

[DeMac]

Nice solution!
My bus had a "V" metal in the center. I think it was more to keep the kids from sitting in the middle. Figure they'd not have the seatback of the front seat to protect them in a crash. The kid sitting there would slide down the aisle and crack their head somewhere down the line. I know, I know, quite graphic, but thats what I think it was for on my bus

That is my belief. Made up in own my head, though. It does seem logical to me, too.

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OliveMartini, I used a piece of angle iron, two C-clamps and a ball pein hammer to fold the wall steel. All clamped to a picnic table. Tin snips to cut it. (Paper pattern first). Good luck & post pics.

 

[nickagliano]

Had a similar question w/ my rear engine. Thanks

 

[olivemartini]

So I got the cover off and here’s what’s underneath. Demac, is this the cage you were talking about? Wondering if that’s a little too close for my skill level to mess with

 

[DeMac]

So I got the cover off and here’s what’s underneath. Demac, is this the cage you were talking about? Wondering if that’s a little too close for my skill level to mess with

That's it (mine was already gone). Our county transportation service removed the cage, at some point, while it was still transporting students. They did a sloppy job, too. I re-cut the remaining tube stubs, to be more flush, using a Lenox, Bi-Metal blade & Sawzall (drop cloth in the hole). Cuts quickly.

While this is surely a safety design, the county felt it was ok for students to be transported this way. I also consulted the NHRA rulebook, concerning driveline loops. Any street car faster than 13.99 (8.59 1/8th) with slicks must have a driveline loop, as well as a helmet. I'm ok with that. Also, not willing to replace the loop that was already removed (presumably to service the tranny) until Freddy D can exceed 13.99 in the 1/4 mile, with slicks.

 

[olivemartini]

That's it (mine was already gone). Our county transportation service removed the cage, at some point, while it was still transporting students. They did a sloppy job, too. I re-cut the remaining tube stubs, to be more flush, using a Lenox, Bi-Metal blade & Sawzall (drop cloth in the hole). Cuts quickly.

Ok. And those flat pieces you cut out as the new cover are far enough away from everything that it won’t cause any issues? Yours looks great, I’d really like to turn that space into a couch

 

[DeMac]

Ok. And those flat pieces you cut out as the new cover are far enough away from everything that it won’t cause any issues? Yours looks great, I’d really like to turn that space into a couch

There's about five or six inches of clearance above the tranny, at its nearest point, on the horizontal panel. A foot or more on the vertical panel.

We intend to build up the bench 1.5 inches, to be flush, when we insulate and frame this area.