You were right...rust behind inner panels, what do I do to fix it?

[ilyafish]

do I remove the rusted frame pieces and weld new ones on in the same place, or weld diagonal braces and keep the rusted ones in place, or just weld horizontal pieces about 6 inches above the existing pieces. Sorry may seem like an obvious answer but I have never dealt with something like this so I'm quite a bit in the dark here. Thanks guys!

[Sojourner]

iminaccess...could you please attach 1 or 2 photos for us to give the direct to the point of "how to"? We can get the idea of exactly what part is rusted and how bad it is.

I can give you a made up drawing via cad and show you the choices to correct the problem...free.

I am a retired fabricator of prototype cars at GM Tech Center, Warren, Mi. I rebuild my MCI-8 into 102" by 43.5 foot. Before I retired I was not able to do good welding any more do to my hand shaking. What I am saying is my bus project does not have the weld beads I likes but it will hold.

FWIW

Sojourn for Christ, Gerald

[Songman]

Others know more than me, but I have always been told that if you don't get rid of the rust that it will continue to eat away at the material. I would cut it out and replace it personally.

[JohnEd]

What Songman said!!!!

I think Gumpy's site has a lot of pics of the before and after of rebuilding the bottom of the vert braces.  The vert segment that is rusted is cut off above the rust.  The plate that is welded over the vert and hor joint is reman and replaced. 

The diag braces that I have sen were of smaller size than the rest of the orig metal. The piece was put in with the outside surface in contact with the exterior skin.  That left a space where the spray foam could cover all metal and isolate it from the interior surface.  Unless you remove the exterior skin you will not be able to weld the outside seam on the new material.  I think the diag makes up for that slight reduction in structural integrity of the original stuff that can't be welded all the way around the bottom.

And again, what Songman said!!!  Something like Rust Bullet is a must. Everything should get a good rust inhibitor coating before you spray foam.

HTH,

John

[ilyafish]

here are some pictures of the rust

[buswarrior]

Where's the rust?

I see metal with brown dust on it.

Clean 'er up and spray with the rust paint of your choice?

But, then, I'm all for minimalist....

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[JohnEd]

cut out all the rusty steel and weld in new pieces of square tubing.  At the bottom weld a plate over the junction so it will be stronger than new.

Sorry to see all that rust in there.  I guess you can understand why some of us were adament about your inspecting that area.  your on the right track now.  check gumpy's site for how he fixed it.

good luck,

john

[niles500]

That'll buff right out

[Dallas]

Jeeez,

I couldn't sleep at night knowing you were in such an unsafe machine.

So, I'll tell ya what I'm gonna do....

You sign that nasty ol' bus over to me, and I'm sure I can find you a nice clean school bus that will fit your budget, and keep mama really happy by the beauty of it's yaller paint!



On the serious side, ALL buses rust, even our venerable GMC's, as much as we hate to admit it.

Yours isn't as bad as some I've seen and shouldn't be too hard to fix.

Cut out the bad, weld in the new, making sure you replace everything that needs it.

Dallas

[gyrocrasher]

That'll buff right out

Thanks Niles. I just spit adult beverage on my keyboard!

[Jriddle]

Sorry to see so much rust in this section you have uncovered. I assume you need to take more panels off and will find more rust. Looks like time to get a good buy on some metal tubing and start welding in new bracing. The best way will be by taking off the outside panels so you can weld all the way around the new braces. If you remove the outside panels you will need to support the bus to keep it from sagging. Gumpy has a good section how he did it on his site.
John

[ilyafish]

what is the link to gumpy's site?

[wvanative]

Here is the link to grumpys site.
http://www.gumpydog.com/bus/

WvaNative

[ilyafish]

I am having problems accessing gumpy's site...anyone else having this issue or is it just me?

[Paladin]

Works for me:

http://www.gumpydog.com/bus/site_map.htm