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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: gr8njt on April 26, 2007, 04:48:01 PM

Title: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: gr8njt on April 26, 2007, 04:48:01 PM
The work Bruce & Ross (and Co) of Diamond State is phenomenal. The re-skinning. smooth siding, rear kit installation and the light sage metallic paint job they did on my MCI is superb.
These pictures would "paint" a thousand words: Before and After
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: TomC on April 26, 2007, 10:04:53 PM
A great paint job is always great!  Good Luck, TomC
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: Nick Badame Refrig/ACC on April 27, 2007, 05:11:12 AM
Hi Ray,

I have been stopping in at Bruce's to see your bus the past couple of weeks and Ross and Bruce really did a nice job.

Wish you lots of luck with your new look!

Nick-
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: Ednj on April 27, 2007, 06:46:36 AM
Thats a little more than just a paint job.
Looks great guy's
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: gr8njt on April 27, 2007, 04:31:53 PM
Although their hourly shop rate is the least expensive in the tri-state area, the quality of their work is exceptional. Bruce Knee & Co. deserves the accolade for bringing out the "best bang for the buck".

Also installed by them is an R&M dash, fuel gauge and a new 18" steering wheel.
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: NJT5047 on April 27, 2007, 06:58:38 PM
What is the dash intended to fit?  Is that an R&M MC9 unit?  It looks like an Eagle dash.   
Do you have a larger pix of the dash? 
Thanks, JR
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: captain ron on April 27, 2007, 07:48:37 PM
Work looks great!
JR, did you click on the picture?
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: gr8njt on April 28, 2007, 04:09:58 AM
Quote from: NJT5047 on April 27, 2007, 06:58:38 PM
What is the dash intended to fit?  Is that an R&M MC9 unit?  It looks like an Eagle dash.   
Do you have a larger pix of the dash? 
Thanks, JR
Yes, it is made by R&M specifically for the MCI-9. It's a 2-piece dash
http://www.rm-fiberglass.com/bus/parts/236-210.html
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: NJT5047 on April 28, 2007, 05:41:25 PM
Yep.  That's what I thought.  That dash has a steering column cutout that I don't want.  My tilt column doesn't need the cutout.  I'm looking for a dash similar to your, but without the dash cutout.
Fred Hobe and Jack Conrad have the same dash.  Nice item, but I'm looking for something that goes straight across on the bottom. 
Looked at some Prevost and Eagle dashes that could be modified and probably made to work.   
Thanks, JR

Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: belfert on April 28, 2007, 05:57:56 PM
I wish I lived close enough to Bruce Knee to have him do a project for me. 

I need a new entry door made and nobody that has looked at the project has ever given me a price for the project except one place that wanted to install an RV door.

Brian
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: Ross on April 28, 2007, 06:53:25 PM
Quote from: belfert on April 28, 2007, 05:57:56 PM

I need a new entry door made and nobody that has looked at the project has ever given me a price for the project except one place that wanted to install an RV door.


I looked at your door at Bryces place.  It wouldn't be that big a deal to make a door.  We may be building a one-piece door for an MC9 soon.

Ross

Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: belfert on April 28, 2007, 07:56:24 PM
Quote from: Ross on April 28, 2007, 06:53:25 PM
Quote from: belfert on April 28, 2007, 05:57:56 PM

I need a new entry door made and nobody that has looked at the project has ever given me a price for the project except one place that wanted to install an RV door.


I looked at your door at Bryces place.  It wouldn't be that big a deal to make a door.  We may be building a one-piece door for an MC9 soon.


You are correct that making the door isn't that big a deal, but I don't have the skills to do it.  My plan is to have a new door made and the opening reframed for a new door. 

A local welding guy that has done work for me before said he would have a price in a week and that was over a month ago with multiple calls in between.  Bryce's friend Mark still hasn't figured out a price in six months.  Dallas has a friend about 250 miles from here that could probably do it, but he didn't want to look at it over the winter and I don't have time to drive up there for at least a month.

I'm sure you and Bruce would do it in no time, but the reality is I just don't have four days to travel to/from Delaware any time soon.

Brian Elfert
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: JackConrad on April 29, 2007, 06:33:49 AM
That dash has a steering column cutout that I don't want.  My tilt column doesn't need the cutout.  I'm looking for a dash similar to your, but without the dash cutout.
JR,
    My dash did not come R&M with with the cutout, I cut the opening for our steering column.  It was straight across the bottom until I made the cutout for our column. Our dash arrived slightly oversize, allowing me to trim to fit. This gave us an exact fit when installed.  Jack
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: NJT5047 on April 29, 2007, 07:11:10 AM
The dash I was comparing was what CIP uses...isn't that an R&M?  The CIP dash shows a steering column cut??  Maybe CIP makes their own dashes? 
Cannot find an "elevation"  pix of an R&M dash...that shows the bottom of the dash.   
I'll look further into this...that dash would work fine as long as it's not cut out for the steering column. 
Thanks, JR
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: NJT5047 on April 29, 2007, 07:29:41 AM
Well, obviously CPI and R&M are NOT the same dash castings. 
I'm gonna get R&M to send me a better pix of their dash.  It's been a couple years since I looked at panels.  I was confused. 
Anyone have a pix of a blank R&M dash as it comes from R&M?
Has anyone used one of the CIP idiot light assemblies?

Thanks, JR
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: JackConrad on April 29, 2007, 03:39:39 PM
JR,
  Here are a couple photos of the 2 pieces that make up the complete R&M dash for the MC-8/9. You just have to picture the drivers side without the notch I cut out for the steering column.  These photos are as received from R&M, after a little triming.  Jack
PS: the OEM door handle on the dash has to be removed prior to installing the dash.
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: Nick Badame Refrig/ACC on April 29, 2007, 03:48:31 PM
Hi Jack,

Nice Pic...

I like the senicruiser on the seat in the 2nd pic..

What bus line is that?

Nick-
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: JackConrad on April 29, 2007, 03:58:50 PM
Nick,
    The Scenicruiser model is lettered SE Cruisers and is passed from fron the outgoing chapter president to the incoming president (along with the gavel). This tradition started 26 years ago when the chapter was formed. After 25 years of being hauled around in Chapter Presidents buses, it is a little worse for were with a tire or 2 missing.  Jack
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: Dallas on April 29, 2007, 04:32:52 PM
Quote from: JackConrad on April 29, 2007, 03:58:50 PM
Nick,
    The Scenicruiser model is lettered SE Cruisers and is passed from fron the outgoing chapter president to the incoming president (along with the gavel). This tradition started 26 years ago when the chapter was formed. After 25 years of being hauled around in Chapter Presidents buses, it is a little worse for were with a tire or 2 missing.  Jack

Jack,
Depending on the original mfg of your little 'cruiser, I may have some replacement parts for it.

I have a bunch of those Japanese cruisers, including one with a changeable destination sign.

Does the friction motor still work?

If you look at it closely, there may be a "brand" on either the right rear or on the tail board. There are also other places where it could have it's brand, but those are the most common.
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: JackConrad on April 30, 2007, 04:44:33 AM
Thanks, Dallas,
   My term as President ended this past Janauary. Ther bus is now in the possession of the current President.  I will look try to remember to look at it at our next rally.  Jack
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: NJT5047 on April 30, 2007, 05:10:32 AM
Thanks Jack,
The pix is helpful.    The door handle isn't a concern...NJTs don't have door handles.    Looks like a couple of switches will have to be moved?
I'm not real keen on changing out the whole LH switch panel...but the OEM dash is crap.  I can't see the guages without leaning forward and shading the dash.  See it at night OK. 
I'll look into the R&M dash.  Didn't know the lower edge had to be trimmed to fit.  That's good.
Do you saw out the guage area and make trim panels to fit?  Does R&M offer any burlwood or similar panels for that dash?  Bet it's available somewhere.
Thanks, JR
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: JackConrad on April 30, 2007, 05:58:24 AM
JR,
  The dash comes from R&M in gloss white only. I cut out the 3 gauge/switch sections leaving about  1/2" lip to attach my panels to.  This allows each panel to be removed for repairs, upgrades, changes, etc. I made my panels from 1/8" aluminum. This gave me a good ground for the gauges and lights. We planned to put a burnished finish on the aluminum for a "retro" look, but decided we might some glare off it, so we painted the panels flat black. We were also concerned about glare from the gloss white finish on the dash. We coated the dash with a Faux granite finish in a spray can form Home Depot.
   The new dash only covers one 1 or 2 of the switches on the left side of the driver. This was not a concern for us, as were made a new side switch panel anyway.  Jack
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: Nick Badame Refrig/ACC on April 30, 2007, 07:51:04 AM
Quote from: JackConrad on April 30, 2007, 05:58:24 AM
JR,
  The dash comes from R&M in gloss white only. I cut out the 3 gauge/switch sections leaving about  1/2" lip to attach my panels to.  This allows each panel to be removed for repairs, upgrades, changes, etc. I made my panels from 1/8" aluminum. This gave me a good ground for the gauges and lights. We planned to put a burnished finish on the aluminum for a "retro" look, but decided we might some glare off it, so we painted the panels flat black. We were also concerned about glare from the gloss white finish on the dash. We coated the dash with a Faux granite finish in a spray can form Home Depot.
   The new dash only covers one 1 or 2 of the switches on the left side of the driver. This was not a concern for us, as were made a new side switch panel anyway.  Jack


Jack,

If you could only show everyone how your dash looks at night time with all thoose kool lights you installed....
Nick-
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: JackConrad on April 30, 2007, 09:17:11 AM
Nick,
   Not at night, but with all the shop doors closed. Hopefully, everyone can get a good idea of what it looks like at night. From my flying days, red does not effect your night vision and helps prevent any glare on the windshield.  Jack
Title: Re: Kudos to Bruce Knee & Co
Post by: Nick Badame Refrig/ACC on April 30, 2007, 09:22:46 AM
Now thats what I'm talking about!

Thanks for posting it Jack..

Nick-