Hello everyone, My Name is Doug Olson and I am new to the forum and bus conversions. I have a commercial cabinetry shop in northeastern Oklahoma. A couple of years ago a friend asked me if I would build the cabinetry in a MCI 9 that he was converting. I typically do large production jobs specializing in institutional casework for schools and hospitals and really did not have the time to do the bus cabinets but it sounded interesting so I did them and the bus turned out very nice, and of course I got the bus conversion bug.
My wife and I bought a 1992 102C3 about a year ago and have just now had the time to start working on it . So far I have gutted the interior down to the steel and last weekend cut and raised the roof 8" and am now installing new R&M front and rear caps which brings me to my first question. Does anyone have any close up pictures of their installation or experience that they could offer in the area where the front cap meets the corner posts above the windshield?
I am looking foreword to posting and all great info that is shared on this forum.
Doug, Welcome to the madness :o. We bought our bus back in September and have been working on it like crazy ever since in the hope that we can have it in good enough shape to take it out when the kids are on Spring Break next month. We have a GM 4905 so I can't give you any advice about your end caps but I am sure you will get plenty of responses from the other people on the board. ;) Let us know when you get ready to take it out. Maybe we can meet up someplace in Oklahoma or a surrounding state. We live in Norman so we like to go all over. Good luck and have fun with your conversion. Amy
Welcome to our hobby Doug,
You started out in this hobby by making a good choice of bus for a conversion of coarse and we can tell by your background that it will be meticulously done to the highest standards of any bus converter.
This forum will be beneficial to you in the future we all know, please feel free to ask any and all questions concerning your conversion and places we all meet. We have many bus rallies that you can attend and the list of places to go where we all hang out just goes on and on. Do not feel your conversion has to be completed for you to enjoy meeting with any or all of us, make it comfortable and (Self Sufficient for Bathroom facilities) in particular and sleeping and do the rest as you can with your work schedule.
We all wish you luck and again open this forum to ask absolutely "ANY" questions you wish to help you out. There is an Achieve of information here and other bulletin boards for us busnuts as well. Take your time, gather as much information for designs of converting your bus, get info for parts needed and absolutely anything you may be in question about.
Plan on attending the earliest Bus Rally nearest you that you can, with or without your bus. "Bring your Whole Family and your Camera".
Welcome Again, we look forward to your progress and frequenting this bulletin board forum. Lots & lots of great new friends for you to enjoy.
Gary
Welcome to the busnut world Doug! I know you are going to enjoy/love/agonize/hate your choice to become afflicted. But have found the best place to find the answers and help for the challenges you are undertaking. I have an RTS so I don't have those experiences to share with you. But there are so many extremely good and knowledgable people on this board, I know you will find lots of help and inspiration here.
I also seem to recall a section on Fred Hobe's (http://users.cwnet.com/~thall/fredhobe.htm) site that deals specifically with the front cap installation.
Hi Doug,
Welcome! You picked the right place to find information for your conversion...
We are here, just start asking questions. I also have a 102C3.
Good Luck
Nick-
Like the others have said, welcome to the madness, rumor has it that a cure is just down the road lol.
Welcome to the board! I too am new and you will find this to be a very helpful board filled with super nice, knowledgeable people. Ask away and they will do their best to show you both the fine points and the ones you dont want to hear!
Doug,
There are sites made by members that are TOMES of data. Roof raise is a section in all. The exact approach varies but the prep and precautions are the same. The cap issue is documented very well. Try Gumpy Dogs site for a start. Then Stewarts then..... Days of reading and then you will know where to go for the details and YOU CAN"T MISS with that much help. I guess it is your turn in the barrel so learn how to take digital pics, create a site for us to visit so we can comment and see your progress. You sure as heck have some premium acts to follow in terms of exactly what they did and how you can do it. I guess it is payback and you can always use it to sell your coach no matter when you decide to sell it down the road.
The detailed inst on installing that rear and front cap are in there. You start off attaching the cap and then fitting the entire frame to the rear with tack welds. Then you remove the cap and finish up the welding and other stuff and then install the "fitted" cap over your frame creation. A thousand pics covering every step and I wish you luck finding things to add to that discussion or a better way to do it. You sure will have the background to do both though.
Good luck and very best wishes,
John
you picked a good coach to convert. I have installed a few front and rear caps on 102s. The front cap if it has the side clearence light inset you wont be able to get it on as they will hold the cap out. I have them make the caps for me with out the inset light pods. If you want pictures or more info you can email or call. I believe i have installed more of the 102caps on raised roof than any one. Fred North Florida Bus Conversion.
Welcome to the group. Every question you ask will not only help you but will help others learn also. Remember there is no one way to do any of the work on your bus. What works for one will not work for another so lots of it is ask, then try and see what is best for you.
Tell your wife she is welcome to join also, we can always use more female input about things here.
Cat
What Fred Hobe said!
He knows his stuff. If you are looking for advice, he's The man.
Welcome, and always remember to work safe and have lots of fun!
Paul
When I took replaced the rear cap on my Buffalo, I was given some sound advice.
Only work with the fiberglass caps in the summertime when the sun is bright and hot!
Please try again. If you come back to this error screen, report the error to an administrator.
I seem to have gotten a database error on this message. So I posted again, got the same message...
But then I looked at the thread and the post was there...
WIERD!!! ???