crown articulated, time for a paint job.... er, no paint job

mumeo · May 16, 2011, 04:00:57 PM

Getting into the remodel of the 58 articulated.

the registration in california is proving to be quite an ordeal. apparently 45 feet is the maximum for an rv (length) and 400 sq ft. interior living space. the crown is over in both categories. still working on this element....

but that's another story entirely.

meanwhile, i'm plotting the rebuild. the exterior is all aluminum, as far as i can tell, painted. the paint is in horrid condition, peeling off in most places, discolored in the rest.

my thought at present is to either soda blast the rest off, or remove it with airplane stripper, and then i hope to polish the aluminum out and finish it with a clear coat.

that would certainly be the most gorgeous finish... but am i shooting for the moon here? just how much work will it be to polish out all of that aluminum?

has anyone done a project like this?

demodriver · May 16, 2011, 04:16:51 PM

I have no advice to give ya but I would like to see a pic of this beast!

mumeo · May 16, 2011, 05:01:20 PM

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150305913474852&set=a.10150305913354852.415124.659644851&type=1&theater

here you go!

demodriver · May 16, 2011, 06:29:18 PM

I like it

eddiepotts · May 16, 2011, 07:10:25 PM

I don't know if polishing the whole thing would be legal but who knows. I have heard Some about registering it in Montana even if you do not live there. May be something to look into. It would be sad to invest any amount to find out it just won't work.

Iceni John · May 16, 2011, 08:22:57 PM

Quote from: eddiepotts on May 16, 2011, 07:10:25 PMI have heard Some about registering it in Montana even if you do not live there. May be something to look into.

A few of the RVs in the yard where I keep my bus are registered in Montana. Isn't there some loophole for registering a vehicle to a Montana corporation? I've wondered about this - presumably the benefits are worth it for those who do it.

John

happycamperbrat · May 16, 2011, 08:26:46 PM

I always heard you can register them as RVs and a trailor..... no?

TomC · May 16, 2011, 09:35:11 PM

As HappyCamperBrat said-since the engine is in the front of the bus, measure the front part and register it as a say 30ft motorhome, pulling a permanently attached 25ft (for a total of 60ft-still under California's 65ft overall). There is always a way around it. I don't know what the joint is like-if you could disconnect the two halves-I'm guessing it would be a big pain.

I would try the permanently attached trailer-not much different then a Fire Dept hook and ladder-or a tiller truck. They are also pretty much permanently attached. Good Luck, TomC

P.S: I'm glad someone bought this bus rather then it going to the dump!

boxcarOkie · May 17, 2011, 04:02:56 AM

Quote from: demodriver on May 16, 2011, 06:29:18 PM

I like it

That is absolutely stunning! I WANT ONE.

(Right after my divorce of course)

Here is something you might try, go up to Oregon, buy a cemetary plot (this would make you a property owner in the state of Oregon) and then you might be able to tag it that way? The thing in Montana is a limited liability corporation registry some have labeled it a tax dodge, you register as a limited liability corporation and then you tag it there and it is reasonable and cheap. The most expensive part is the money you pay the local lawyer to set it up.

That is the good news.

The bad news is that a lot of states are now aware of it and will stop you and check your lic. residency and if you do NOT live in Montana, you will have a problem. Kind of like Calif. looking for the fuel stickers not long ago.

Not long ago Colorado and Mississippi both cracked down on RV's registered out of state by owners who lived in those states.

It's a nice project, good luck.

BCO

chuckd · May 17, 2011, 04:26:30 AM

As has been suggested, a bus towing a trailer may be the best way. I own a Volvo class 8, converted to single axle to pull a fifth wheel. The same set up cannot be used in California, they view a truck as a truck not a motor home. People have tried to set up a LLC in Montana and California has found out about this and now check registration vs drivers lic. On the escapee web site, under HDT (heavy duty truck) are posts about this issue ad nauseum. Bottom line, do not use another state for ownership purposes. You can also move to Minnesota, where we do not have those kind of draconian laws

Chuckd

jjrbus · May 17, 2011, 05:21:42 AM

For many years I used a Florida based mail forwarding service. It gave me a physical address in FL and made me a resident of FL. I also had a FL license and registered my vehicles in FL.

Not knowing your situation it may be possible to do this in the mentioned states?

Having no permanent home when I purchased my bus in Washington I rented an RV site in Salem Oregon, got a Oregon license and registered the bus in Oregon and saved the sales tax! I saved some $$$$$ on car insurance to sweeten the deal. OR DMV easy to change from a bus to RV registration also!

HTH JIm

Busted Knuckle · May 17, 2011, 07:11:36 AM

Quote from: boxcarOkie

That is absolutely stunning! I WANT ONE.

(Right after my divorce of course)

Here is something you might try, go up to Oregon, buy a cemetary plot (this would make you a property owner in the state of Oregon) and then you might be able to tag it that way?
BCO

Do they allow you to put up a mail box? And if so will the mailman deliver mail too it?

Now one way to beat the out of state registration / drivers license issue is to make the "limited liability corporation" a rental or leasing company and then just say it's leased from them. (we have several of our buses that actually belong to mom, dad, or I and leased to the company, our insurance company told us they don't care who's name is on the title as long as it's registered to the company & has the company name and DOT #'s on the side of it!)

BK

opus · May 17, 2011, 07:52:56 AM

The MT thing is coming to an end pretty soon I am told. A lot of LLC's are registered here. Not sure if that is part of doing it or not. I know my tags were $245 for permanent plates.

Chaz · May 17, 2011, 08:33:48 AM

Back to the original question...........

If you are going to blast it, which is the easiest and best way, soda has been found to be a P.I.T.A. down the road if you do not get ALL, and I do mean ALL the soda out of the metal. It's great that it is biodegradable but there is that drawback.
If you have it shot with most kinds of "media" your surface would be rough and VERY hard to polish. (walnut shells may be an alternative) If you use sand or glass beads, you would then need to paint it. That is what I just did last Fall.
Good luck!!!!!!! That is an awesome project!!
Chaz

mumeo · June 10, 2011, 01:51:38 PM

thanks all, still figuring out the licensing issues... ungggg....

as for the paint, seems like painting might be the way to go... when i look at some of the joints i see that there is some rust...

leading me to believe that at least some of the panels are steel? for sure the window housing in the front is steel.

just starting to look like it will be more manageable to paint it.

maybe just paint it a solid color and then use vinyl sign material for the deco bits.

thanks for the input!