Thanks for all the great comments and wishes! :)
1. My highest point is the engine's air intake on the rear passenger-side roof @ 10 feet 2" tall. So maybe I can go 8-10" without too much problem?
2. Do you think it looks best to keep this retro window shape (most of my glass looks good), or change windows out to the more modern rectangular style?
3. Hope this makes sense. Do you think it looks better with all the windows in a straight line as it is now (though maybe all raised to new level), or with the window line going up with the roof raise? (See pictures below, first of my prospect bus, and second of a 1950's bus with two levels of windows.)
A few more details:
1. The factory hump on the roof line is 11.4 inches.
2. The bottom line of the current windows is 2 feet 5-1/8 inches from the inside floor.
3. While all the seats are mounted at the same level, and their floor is level, the center aisle has two steps about 5.6" each. One of the reasons I would like to raise the roof is to have a flat level floor without the center aisle channel. This center channel exists only from the roof hump towards the windshield.
Thanks in advance!
Dr. Steve, central old Mexico
Thanks for looking!
Steve,
Your coach has the perfect lines for raising just above the windows, at the roof line.
The only problem with that is all your windows will be down low.
Fine if your seated, but not when standing.
Lots of trade offs, plenty to think about. Only yours to decide!
Cliff
If it were my choice, I'd do a raise just above the windows. Keep the angled window style - it's awesome! I'd only want to raise it enough to match the distance from the bottom of the windows to the belt line. That would look factory done. Keep us posted!
Glenn
You will need to examine your windows to see exactly what can be done to make them usable as opening windows that can work well with screens. If you get that done right, then you might be able to keep them. The low height is a definite problem. You will block them with anything you put on a wall, be it a chair, table, countertop, sofa... With that information I would be thinking about a below window raise, which would be quite hard, or an above window raise and find a way to also raise the windows. I don't think windows only 2.5' off the ground will work very well.
But I do love the look of the bus! It's a honey.
Brian
on the aisle subject you could build your couch, dinette, or what ever on the raised part at a level where no one would notice the aisle! Just a thought.
;D BK ;D
Thanks for all the input, my friends!
Here is a PIX of the aisle, so you get an idea. it is quite narrow.
I might be way out in left field here as I dont know anything about your bus except I really think it looks cool! BUT on my rts I had an aisle like yours with platforms on the side that the seats were on like yours. THe floor was actually flat all the way across and the seats were set on removable platforms.... I would imagine yours is the same?
Quote from: happycamperbrat on September 14, 2010, 05:10:55 PM
BUT on my rts I had an aisle like yours with platforms on the side that the seats were on like yours. THe floor was actually flat all the way across and the seats were set on removable platforms.... I would imagine yours is the same?
The floor is level all the way back. The aisle drops down for the floor level to compensate for the lower roof toward the front. The floor under the seats is the top of the outside luggage compartments.
keep the bus as is and buy a mc9. you will save a lot of $$ and time and work.
good luck
chris
mci5c
Chris has a point but think how cool over/under slides would look ::)
M&C Hargis
I think keeping the look, not changing the windows, would look fantastic. It always has been a good looker.
Thanks again to all for your kind replies and ideas.
The rectangular windows instead of the trapezoidal retro design would indeed look UATD (ugly as the dickens!) for my old bus. I found one of my model buses for sale online with the windows changed out to rectangular style, as well as the front cap changed to Dina Olímpico (the Mexican version of the Flxible.). Very ugly. See the attached picture.
Personally-I don't like the looks of slanted windows. I like that redesigned bus with rectangular windows-there bigger, and would most likely be stronger in the event of a roll over (you can see by my but picture I like big rectangular windows). Good Luck, TomC
Thanks a million to each one who has posted!