MC9 Interior Panels Structural?

[Lumpy]

Hi Gents, I know this has been hashed out a few times here but I have to ask. I am
at that point were I pull them or not. Looking through the search here on this forum
has left me unsure what to do. The panels in my MC9 are riveted with pop rivets and the
aluminum seems a bit thin. I would think the seat rail would have been more structural
then the panels. I have seen so many pictures of conversions were the panels have been removed.
Anyhow.....how many of you MCI owners have removed them in your conversion?
Have your coaches shown any kind of problems? 

[grantgoold]

I did not take mine off after reading all the opinions!

Grant

[Jriddle]

I removed mine. I did put bracing back to make ME FEEL GOOD about doing this. I have had no problems with the structure of my bus. I would say that as a coach the loading and use of ones bus is more controlled. I am not giving any advise on what you should do but just telling you what I did.

John

[artvonne]

  I never took an MCI apart, but on GMC's I would argue the interior paneling offers structural strength. While an MCI is made as a self supporting steel tube structure, the outer skin does add stiffness. It can only be assumed the interior paneling does as well. How much gain it offers would have to be analysed.

  As all conversions have plywood paneling on the walls in place of the original masonite material, the stuctural integrity is probably a wash, or possibly even stronger. If it were any real issue everyone would be complaining of squeaks. 

[John316]

Also, if you spray foam, you are putting huge amounts of support into the frame.

That foam makes the coach SO much stiffer.

FWIW

God bless,

John

[jmblake]

I removed all mine and added diagonal bracing and sprayfoamed then glued and screwed plywood to the framing, I have had no problems and I would say it's stronger then before. Jason

[Lumpy]

Thanks for the replies. I will probably leave them in....just was thinking
of possible rust and getting the stink out.

[Tom Y]

Lump, I took mine off. Insulated, fixed rust areas and reinstalled. Then put 1/2 plywood on the sides.  Tom Y

[mike802]

I am in the process of removing the interior panels, removing the old insulation, repairing any rust and insulating with pink board.  So far I have been lucky and found little rust, that which I did find was caused by small cracks in the window frames that let moisture into the wall.  I will have to repair the cracks, or move windows around once I decide on which ones to keep and which ones to pull.  I went with pink board insulation because it was much less expensive than foam.  The foam has a higher R value, but for what I am planing to use the bus for, I think the pink board will be fine.  I will reinstall the interior panels when finished insulating and will have a total R value of 9 in the walls.  Taking off the panels is also a good time to fill the frame members with expanding foam, all that frame work is a huge uninsulated area if left empty.