Fiberglass insulation INSIDE the frame rails??

[ilyafish]

So today i just finished up grinding all of the rust off behind the inner panels, and surprisingly, I only need to replace 2 sections, everything else was just surface rust and there is still alot of life left in the metal.  However, as I cut off the rusted frame rails to remove them, I found that there was fiberglass packed inside of them.  Obviously not the smartest move on MCI's part, but what can you do.

Needless to say, this has now raised a concern that although the outside looks fine on 90% of the frame, I am now concerned that since there is apparently fiberglass inside the frame (which i was not aware of earlier), that the inside of the frame could be rusting, but not bad enough where it is visible from the outside.

How much of a concern should this be?  I will be getting my coach professionally spray foamed, if that has anything to do of how much I should worry about structural integrity.

Thanks!

-ilya

[ilyafish]

bump


...anybody?

[busshawg]

Sorry I can't really help as my 9 didn't have fibreglass in the framing. To me this sounds strange. Have you tried pulling any of it out? I was just wondering if for some reason the frame isn't right full.

Myself I would consider how much $$ you want to spend. Personally I would think that if you bus has travelled how many miles up till now and is still in relativly good shape, why would it fall apart with the use you will give it.  I would pull out what you can at the point of your repairs and fill it back up with spray foam from you local hardware store.

Glad to hear you are having the bus spary foamed, you won't regret that.

[ilyafish]

Yeah its very strange.  I have tried pulling some of it out, but its pretty in there.  However it feels dry as opposed to the insulation that was packed in the bags, so it does give me some hope that there isn't much moisture in there

[jmblake]

Mine also had the fiberglass in the framing and it was soaked with water from the windows down. When we decided to raise the roof we replaced all the wall framing so now it should last my lifetime with no worries. Jason

[Airbag]

There sure isn't much you can do about it so just live with it. In the airplane world steel tubing is coated with hot linseed oil and sealed. Now they have discovered the linseed oil does more harm over time. If you are worried just hit it with a center punch in suspected areas and if it breaks thru fix it. Myself I would not sweat it. My MCI probably has got it too. If you drive an old bus we have to see it for what it is "an old bus".

If you must do something about it you could inject LPS-2 or 3 in a hole drilled at the top and let it soak on down and protect the metal. LPS-3 is sprayed on the inside of aircraft to protect against corrosion.

http://www.avantichem.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=257&products_id=830

[Jriddle]

I found some insulation in these areas when running some of my plumbing. It looked good and wasn't wet. I'm sure this is the area you are talking about. I have no good answer for you. Thought I would post picture and maybe if this is the area you are referring to others may chime in.

John

[buswarrior]

If it isn't rotten now...forget about it and move on.

You mess with it, you'll surely introduce evil where there is currently none.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[JohnEd]

I think the question is: is there rust inside and how bad is it.  Like it depends on what the definition of is is.

I would rap each frame sharply with a small ballpeen hammer and get a feel for what a solid member should feel like and how big a dent it makes.  I think the bottom of the frame wold be where I would be most concerned but that hammer tap costs nothing.  Play wood pecker.  I would not leave it with making "sure".

Also, thickly paint the top of the beam to seal it from water penatration.  This is exactly the kind of situation injecting foam in the beams is supposed to prevent.  Fiber glass would serve to insulate the beams and the bus.  Must be more than I imagined if they started packing them.

[ilyafish]

the insulation that i found was in the chair rails along the walls.  thanks for the input guys!

I will do some tests to see how bad it is, if its bad at all