If you seen my other threads a while ago you know I'm putting a diesel generator up front where the spare tire was on my MCI 9, Well This opened up a big can of worms as far as rust issues. After removing the tire and aluminium bottom in the compartment I started poking around with a chipping hammer and what looked like some minor rust opened up into major rust through in the suspension beam where the lower radius arm attaches and the support beam that runs from there up to the front.
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi690.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv270%2Fcccabinetry%2F20171118_100039_zpse5npqqq3.jpg&hash=8bbc8128ee6f94823774f576e50584ea09890380) (http://s690.photobucket.com/user/cccabinetry/media/20171118_100039_zpse5npqqq3.jpg.html)
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I got the drivers side cut out and cleaned up back to solid steel ready to replate.
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Got the plate in and half the support up to the front installed over the weekend.
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi690.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv270%2Fcccabinetry%2F20171216_163237_zps22hxmmec.jpg&hash=b584e252e72504bc0da911c885c1e3148e2a94fc) (http://s690.photobucket.com/user/cccabinetry/media/20171216_163237_zps22hxmmec.jpg.html)
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Also got the new bracket Luke sent me for the integral power steering gear box installed.
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi690.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv270%2Fcccabinetry%2F20171216_163256_zpsbhasgam1.jpg&hash=5cd414434e4f583f64759813bf65d208a7fea3b1) (http://s690.photobucket.com/user/cccabinetry/media/20171216_163256_zpsbhasgam1.jpg.html)
Tonight I got the other half of the front support mocked up with the slides for the generator mounted.
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi690.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv270%2Fcccabinetry%2F20171218_192743_zpsqzhryspu.jpg&hash=68194af08c6f5561fd04907362aa59799b1e1038) (http://s690.photobucket.com/user/cccabinetry/media/20171218_192743_zpsqzhryspu.jpg.html)
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Next is to get this all welded up and move to the passenger side witch is going to be a little more difficult because you can't get in from the outside with the step there, and it also looks worse than the drivers side :o
I'll keep updating as we make progress, it started as a simple project and turned into a major all winter project, but at least when I'm done I should be good as new ;D
Jason
Nice work, Jason. And clear photos showing the problems and your fixes, too.
you can weld on my bus anytime you like and i wouldn't even watch or offer advice :)
Thanks for the comments, I'm not the one welding lol I'm a woodworker so I can get things cut and fit but let the welding part to my future son in law ;D
Jason
Quote from: jmblake on December 18, 2017, 07:50:47 PM
Thanks for the comments, I'm not the one welding lol I'm a woodworker so I can get things cut and fit but let the welding part to my future son in law ;D
Jason
ok...then he can, kids a keeper, he will earn a good living where ever, whenever he wants.
He better stick around, they just had a baby lol, He is a crew leader for a local company that builds locomotives, miners and streetcars http://www.brookvillecorp.com/ (http://www.brookvillecorp.com/)
Jason the Bumper drawer is coming along nicely.
Wow, how thick is that steel plate? You're going to have to drop another gear on the hills. Nice to see thorough and nice work.
Thanks Dave, I think it's going to work out very well, I will have to keep the generator off to the drivers side to clear the top step going into the bus.
Chessie, It is 1/8" plate, a little heavier than what was there, but I would rather be stronger up front to help protect the driver a little more.
Jason
Must be the angle of the picture. Holes look to be at least 1/2 inch.
Chessie, I see the picture you are looking at, that is the new plate that Luke sent me for the power steering box to mount too, and yes it is at least 1/2" maybe more ;)
Jason
Jason,
What's the weight rating on the slides? They look a bit light for a genny. Those rascals are heavy.
David
Jmblake,
Was the rusted area on the front end of the bus or inside where the spare would have sit? The reason I ask is that I'm saving up for a paint job and I'm really worried about the front end. There's already some bubbling going on and it looks like water/rain just runs right in there.
The nightmare is they tell me it's going to cost ________ more to fix that when I'm already going to spend an arm n leg for the paint job.
David, The slides are rated at 500lb and the generator is 420lb, so with the bumper and other framing steel I opted to double up the slides so I should be good. also I figured I wouldn't be opening it up as often as a drawer would be used maybe a dozen times a year for maintenance unlike a drawers daily use.
Branderson, The rust was where the spare sat and the suspension where the framing for the spare attached to each other. If you have rust showing back in the corners of the spare tire compartment I would start poking around, Mine didn't actually look that bad until I started dinging into it. That is your main support running to the front and bumper and its not that heavy of material to begin with so a little rust compromises a lot of strength. Also the tow hooks are attached there so I feel if I would have been in a accident or need a pull that area wouldn't survive. As far as the tubing up front behind the skin it is stainless steel below the belt line so no rust there.
Jason
Looks great. I used the same slides doubled up in the same way on my genny slide and they work just fine. As long as they can't twist you'll be OK. Jack
Just curious-once you put the slider in, how much height will you have? Good Luck, TomC
Tom,
I'm not sure, The generator is 420 lb and the bumper isn't much since it's aluminium and the rest is just thin tubing and the 1/8" steel for the tray. So in a nut shell I would guess no more than 600 - 650 lb that's why I doubled up the 500 lb rated slides.
Jason
How much height will you have? Most Diesel generators are at least 20" tall. The most compact one I know of is the Powertech CD8000SI at 36.75L x 19H x 25W and 424lbs. Good Luck, TomC
My generator is 23" tall, after I move some air valves and lines I'll have about 26". I will have to keep it off center towards the drivers side so it misses the top step going into the bus. I did look at the powertec compact generator and would have considered one if I wouldn't have found the used onan generator.
Jason
Today we got the drivers side all welded back up and the steering box mounted back up in there. Let me tell you that sucker is heavy, definitely a 2 man job ;)
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi690.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv270%2Fcccabinetry%2F20171223_155305_zpskc3ktlss.jpg&hash=4d0b2993398a0e64a8eb7759eadd2cb465229b2d) (http://s690.photobucket.com/user/cccabinetry/media/20171223_155305_zpskc3ktlss.jpg.html)
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Also started cutting the passenger side apart and it is worse than the drivers side, it actually is rusted out on the side also >:(
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi690.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv270%2Fcccabinetry%2F20171223_155231_zps75fzr6w9.jpg&hash=186e0989e816abdc001a49315b8f4b38fec041ce) (http://s690.photobucket.com/user/cccabinetry/media/20171223_155231_zps75fzr6w9.jpg.html)
Jason
Jason with all that rust someone must of taken those off an Eagle eh! ;D
LOL not really DaveC both my 5 and the 8 were rust buckets,Jason you are doing a good job most 8's are not as nice as yours and when people open that can of rust worms they just sell or scrap the the bus
Dave I don't know much about Eagles just heard rumors ;D
Cliff I'm in it to far and have to much $ into it to scrap it now ;D If I only knew back when I bought it what I know now I would have went another direction lol Oh well it's only time and money.
Jason
Amazing work Jason. Inspirational actually with all the shoddy work i seem to see all over the Bus conversion world right now it's refreshing to see someone with attention to detail...something I'm myself not even good at. Awesome stuff. Can't wait to see you finish this. I've never seen an MCI coach with a front genny.
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I never seen one either Scott, My motto has always been to do it write the first time or don't do it at all ;D Thanks for the encouraging words, I hope i'm doing it write, I hate to have to do things over.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Jason
Quote from: jmblake on December 24, 2017, 05:52:22 AMI never seen one either Scott, My motto has always been to do it write the first time or don't do it at all ;D Thanks for the encouraging words,
I agree -- good, solid-looking work; that should make for very easy generator service and good stowage.
Quote from: jmblake on December 24, 2017, 05:52:22 AMI hope i'm doing it write, I hate to have to do things over.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Jason
Doing things over ... yeah ... somebody asked a guy working with me "how far is he on this project?" The guy said "Oh, about 240% and he's only got about 40% left". I just take a look and say "hmm, if I do it over, I can do it better!"
And Merry Christmas to you, and yours, Jason; and to all Forum Members here, too!
Happy New Years everyone, I figured I would give a little update to this thread. The past couple weeks I took a break from the cutting and welding and decided to move all the air lines and valves that were in the way for the generator, This took quite a while to do, a lot of re routing things and many trips to the local truck parts store for fittings. I had to move the brake valve over about 3" so the generator will clear and got rid of all the old copper lines going to it.
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi690.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv270%2Fcccabinetry%2F20180101_164500_zpslgs4looz.jpg&hash=56cbf9c7b5538cd7d6a9368310f82819a0a50ec8) (http://s690.photobucket.com/user/cccabinetry/media/20180101_164500_zpslgs4looz.jpg.html)
Also got all the other little valves and switches moved up for more clearance. About all I got left is to get the lines all clamped up so they don't rub together and check for leaks.
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi690.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv270%2Fcccabinetry%2F20180101_164513_zpsymw6t2od.jpg&hash=3c43bd5089283a16d54dbb93db28b4c863c884f6) (http://s690.photobucket.com/user/cccabinetry/media/20180101_164513_zpsymw6t2od.jpg.html)
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Now I can get back to the cutting rust out and rebuilding the passenger side.
Jason
That is 1st rate metal fab. Thanks for the detailed pictures.
Update, I got the suspension all fixed up and the tray made, got everything painted and undercoated where needed. I set the generator in yesterday to make sure everything fits and so far everything looks good for clearances and the slides roll very smooth with the weight of the generator on it. Now I got to get the wiring and fuel lines run and start buttoning things up ;D
Jason
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Geez Jason, this is sexy. Do this on my 102 please!
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LOL Thanks Scott, I don't know about sexy but I think I'm going to like it up front out of the way. You know the old saying that the second one should be a breeze now that I know what I'm doing ;D
Jason
LOL I bet that son in law wonders what the hell did I get into, looks good Jason but not as good as the cabinets you build ;D
Thanks Cliff ;D He doesn't say much but I think he enjoyed it LOL Since he's foreman he doesn't get to weld and fabricate much anymore. We already have been looking next winters project over (The fuel tank compartment) probably can't believe that I found any rust issues in there :(
Jason
Well this project is pretty much done, A few small tiding things up and I'm calling it done.
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I also moved the washer fluid tank and made that compartment a place for all the new wiring components for the Series 50 and B400 and I'm also waiting for my Silverleaf to show up
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This is all the extra wire I removed from the wiring harness from the engine transplant
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Jason