Future thinking

BigDougInOregon · February 27, 2009, 10:45:05 AM

Quote from: Dreamscape on February 24, 2009, 10:03:29 PM
Doug,

Not sure if Coach Maintenance just north of Sacramento would have what you need or not, he's got lots of buses and parts. He is just off I-5, one, 503.four 7 three, 5544. Let it ring cause he's always working on something. Best to get him in the afternoons if I remember correctly.

~Paul~

I just sent Ted an email We will see what he comes up with. Thanks for the suggestion.

Doug

Chopper Scott · February 28, 2009, 02:23:41 PM

I've used both the eraser and the heat gun. The heat gun is a lot better and faster if the decal is not all cracked up and deteriorated. If it comes off in little pieces then the eraser works better. Just be careful with either method as they both can damage the paint. As far as glue residue nothing beats plain ole lacquer thinner. You can probably be sure that a ghost of the decal will still remain because of the difference in the sunlight fading it. A bit of wet sanding and buffing may help but depending on how long it has been there it will always show somewhat. You could always have another decal made and cover it up somewhat. Later Doug

Hi yo silver · February 28, 2009, 05:12:52 PM

Jack, I love the way you think! LOL
Dennis

Airbag · February 28, 2009, 05:28:48 PM

Quote from: BigDougInOregon on February 24, 2009, 12:52:13 PM
Okay folks, just thinking into the future and I know of a part I will need to fix (I broke it in El Paso) so I thought I would post a picture of the rear tail light assembly and see who has one that they want to sell or knows of where I can get one.

Also, I will need to remove all of the graphics the PO put on the bus. What is the best way to remove vinyl lettering and not harm the paint?

Ok big Doug I think I might have one of those "maybe". If you can wait until tomorrow I will go into the parts room and look. I have some big thingy that I got in a big batch of bus parts and I did not reconize it until I saw your picture. If it matches the price will be right.

BigDougInOregon · February 28, 2009, 05:34:34 PM

Quote from: Airbag on February 28, 2009, 05:28:48 PM
Quote from: BigDougInOregon on February 24, 2009, 12:52:13 PM
Okay folks, just thinking into the future and I know of a part I will need to fix (I broke it in El Paso) so I thought I would post a picture of the rear tail light assembly and see who has one that they want to sell or knows of where I can get one.

Also, I will need to remove all of the graphics the PO put on the bus. What is the best way to remove vinyl lettering and not harm the paint?

Ok big Doug I think I might have one of those "maybe". If you can wait until tomorrow I will go into the parts room and look. I have some big thingy that I got in a big batch of bus parts and I did not reconize it until I saw your picture. If it matches the price will be right.

Sounds good. Just let me know.

Thanks

Doug

Airbag · March 01, 2009, 08:23:51 AM

Quote from: BigDougInOregon on February 24, 2009, 12:52:13 PM
Okay folks, just thinking into the future and I know of a part I will need to fix (I broke it in El Paso) so I thought I would post a picture of the rear tail light assembly and see who has one that they want to sell or knows of where I can get one.

Also, I will need to remove all of the graphics the PO put on the bus. What is the best way to remove vinyl lettering and not harm the paint?

Good news I have one. Bad news it's a Cats Eye 92L meaning L/H. I have lots of lenses. If you are interested in the L/H part I will take a picture of it and post. If these things turn out to be rare and you can't find a R/H and you end up fixing yours. I have three words for you. Make a mold.

My spares came from a company that ran a fleet of those buses. I bought the stuff for the engine parts.

pvcces · March 01, 2009, 09:01:00 PM

Airbag, if Doug doesn't need it, we would be interested. Let me know if you are willing to let it go.

Thanks.

Tom Caffrey

Airbag · March 02, 2009, 04:38:36 AM

Quote from: pvcces on March 01, 2009, 09:01:00 PM
Airbag, if Doug doesn't need it, we would be interested. Let me know if you are willing to let it go.

Thanks.

Tom Caffrey

Tom
It won't fit my bus so if Doug does not want it you can have it. We'll wait for him to chime in here.

gm4106 · March 02, 2009, 05:06:30 AM

Doug
If your talking about the fiberglass tail light assembly. I might have what your looking for. Let me double check to see, give me a few days

BigDougInOregon · March 02, 2009, 06:34:36 AM

Hey folks. Ted with Coach Maintenance in California has the tail light assembly and stop light rings so I will just purchase it from him when I stop and get the fan parts. Thanks for trying to help though, I appreciate it.

Doug

BG6 · March 02, 2009, 08:01:35 AM

Quote from: BigDougInOregon on February 24, 2009, 01:28:25 PM

We thought about that and then traveling under those psuedo-names, but the singing part will be hard to fake for both of us.

I've heard some of the traveling acts that use coaches. The singing part is hard for them to fake, too, so you will fit right in.

The best way to remove vinyl lettering is with a heat gun (hair dryer on steroids). Heat the decal and the glue gets soft.

garhawk · March 02, 2009, 08:03:24 AM

hi doug

here's a method which has worked well for me in removing old decals.

get enough of the plastic loose so that you can hold it away from the surface with your fingers. begin to pull on the plastic to the point where you believe any more pressure would cause it to tear. with an adjustable sprayer nozzle on you garden hose, direct the water jet to the point where the plastic and surface meet and continue to apply pressure as the plastic pulls away.

the water droplets will get under the plastic and lift it from the surface as opposed to attempting to pulling it up and loose. obviously, this method works best with the surface, plastic and, water all being warm (the warmer the better). adjust the water stream (pressure) for best results.

gary t'berry
'89 rts 102 40er

BigDougInOregon · March 02, 2009, 08:13:14 AM

All good suggestions and I will try a combination of them all (as well as some of that miracle decal remover I found on that website). I will post the results once I actually get to the point that I am removing the decals.

Doug

RJ · March 02, 2009, 03:33:40 PM

Doug -

I suggest that you get both LH & RH taillight housings from Ted, and then modify them with LED lights like Tony did on his 4106. Sort of "Modern Retro". . . PM me at my email addy, not MAK's, for more info. Here's a photo of Tony's installation:

FloridaCliff · March 02, 2009, 03:59:26 PM

Doug,

A heat gun and a bodyfiller spreader works good to start it.

Normally we park a vehicle in the sun and heat up the edge with a heat gun, then use the body spreader to start the hot edge and then pull off leading our pull area with the heat gun.

With that dark color a few hours in the sun on a warmer day should really help.

All our vehicles are white, and you can still read the shadow on 3-4 year old decals.

Good luck on your project

Cliff