Repairing front suspension and adding a generator slide

[jmblake]

If you seen my other threads a while ago you know I'm putting a diesel generator up front where the spare tire was on my MCI 9, Well This opened up a big can of worms as far as rust issues. After removing the tire and aluminium bottom in the compartment I started poking around with a chipping hammer and what looked like some minor rust opened up into major rust through in the suspension beam where the lower radius arm attaches and the support beam that runs from there up to the front.



I got the drivers side cut out and cleaned up back to solid steel ready to replate.

Got the plate in and half the support up to the front installed over the weekend.



Also got the new bracket Luke sent me for the integral power steering gear box installed.

Tonight I got the other half of the front support mocked up with the slides for the generator mounted.


Next is to get this all welded up and move to the passenger side witch is going to be a little more difficult because you can't get in from the outside with the step there, and it also looks worse than the drivers side 
I'll keep updating as we make progress, it started as a simple project and turned into a major all winter project, but at least when I'm done I should be good as new 
Jason

[Oonrahnjay]

    Nice work, Jason.  And clear photos showing the problems and your fixes, too. 

[eagle19952]

you can weld on my bus anytime you like and i wouldn't even watch or offer advice

[jmblake]

Thanks for the comments, I'm not the one welding lol I'm a woodworker so I can get things cut and fit but let the welding part to my future son in law
Jason

[eagle19952]

Thanks for the comments, I'm not the one welding lol I'm a woodworker so I can get things cut and fit but let the welding part to my future son in law
Jason

ok...then he can, kids a keeper, he will earn a good living where ever, whenever  he wants.

[jmblake]

He better stick around, they just had a baby lol, He is a crew leader for a local company that builds locomotives, miners and streetcars http://www.brookvillecorp.com/

[Dave5Cs]

Jason the Bumper drawer is coming along nicely.

[chessie4905]

Wow, how thick is that steel plate? You're going to have to drop another gear on the hills. Nice to see thorough and nice work.

[jmblake]

Thanks Dave, I think it's going to work out very well, I will have to keep the generator off to the drivers side to clear the top step going into the bus.

Chessie, It is 1/8" plate, a little heavier than what was there, but I would rather be stronger up front to help protect the driver a little more.

Jason

[chessie4905]

Must be the angle of the picture. Holes look to be at least 1/2 inch.

[jmblake]

Chessie, I see the picture you are looking at, that is the new plate that Luke sent me for the power steering box to mount too, and yes it is at least 1/2" maybe more
Jason

[David Anderson]

Jason,

What's the weight rating on the slides?  They look a bit light for a genny.  Those rascals are heavy.

David

[Branderson]

Jmblake,

Was the rusted area on the front end of the bus or inside where the spare would have sit?  The reason I ask is that I'm saving up for a paint job and I'm really worried about the front end.  There's already some bubbling going on and it looks like water/rain just runs right in there. 

The nightmare is they tell me it's going to cost ________ more to fix that when I'm already going to spend an arm n leg for the paint job.

[jmblake]

David, The slides are rated at 500lb and the generator is 420lb, so with the bumper and other framing steel I opted to double up the slides so I should be good. also I figured I wouldn't be opening it up as often as a drawer would be used maybe a dozen times a year for maintenance unlike a drawers daily use.

Branderson, The rust was where the spare sat and the suspension where the framing for the spare attached to each other. If you have rust showing back in the corners of the spare tire compartment I would start poking around, Mine didn't actually look that bad until I started dinging into it. That is your main support running to the front and bumper and its not that heavy of material to begin with so a little rust compromises a lot of strength. Also the tow hooks are attached there so I feel if I would have been in a accident or need a pull that area wouldn't survive. As far as the tubing up front behind the skin it is stainless steel below the belt line so no rust there.

Jason

[oltrunt]

Looks great.  I used the same slides doubled up in the same way on my genny slide and they work just fine.  As long as they can't twist you'll be OK.  Jack