Ok guys I am posting this for James the owner of the wrecked Prevost he has joined the board but ask if I would do this for him.
The 64,000 question is he came up with idea to remove the center section that is damaged and replace it with a section from a another XL he found that is were he is getting the front clip,it is a fairly easy to do that on a Eagle BTW.
I cannot give him a answer about the Prevost he thinks that would be the best and fastest way if he tries to straighten the frame he is thinking he needs to remove the siding and the roof top anyway we need some advice guys he is planning on using this bus for vacation this year in June.
He has the knowledge and skills to do this project
good luck.
I'm with you, no idea about a Prevost. But there is a GM 4106 around town that they removed a section and shortened it up. The rivet holes even lined up. I know a different construction.
wouldn't hesitate at all doing a clip would be easy with the tube type frame of the prevost. I just cut three holes in side of mine to put in the slides. Very little movement With the double tube joints it would not be hard to seperate those and make connection there. Wouldn't hesitate even with my limited skills. Only know 1st hand on XL but have seen H being towed with all skin off. Bob PS don't get spooked at a little movement when you cut it loose just remember it is stressed from wreck and is trying to go back to it's original shape.
Clifford,
I don't see why not. I know of an MCI that got T-boned by a car (done intentionally driver committed suicide) right at the drive axle & the bay in front of it. The bus was up at Sam Caylor's yard when a friend saw it and bought it to rebuild it.
They originally were just going to "straighten" the frame, but IIRC they ended up putting a section or "clip" in the middle of it.
Last I heard it was out your way in AZ. The company that bought and built it used to do a lot of biz with Desert West Bus Leasing. DW financed the purchase and rebuild project. The company that rebuilt it ran it a yr or 2 after finishing it, but went broke and DW repo'd it.
I have a # for one of the guys who did a major amount of the work on it during the rebuild if you'd like to talk to him about it. (give me a shout & I'll give ya his #)
I know it's not a Prevost, but if they can do it to an MCI, I see no reason why it couldn't be done to a Pre! ;)
;D BK ;D
Clifford, the biggest problem I see really isn't a problem but keeping it straight while doing it.....it would be time consuming many c clamps..........some large steel beams.........in the bottom of the Prevost there are two 4 inch channels which carry most of the weight in the baggage bays.........the chassis steel would just be a matter of alinement. I'm sure its doable! Would be easy inside a building!
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I came back, there are some pictures in my site........showing the steel supports and a good look of a naked Prevost......lol! The site link is below!
Clifford, call Brad at Big Rig Collision in Calgary, he will have the answers you seek. He did a 160K repair on one of our H3-45's that had a bad head on with a kid who crossed the center line. They did a good job, and have seen it all, especially with Prevost. Brad's the owner, a good guy. Tell him I refered you. Good luck.