covering up the stock side windows with ether alum,or fiberglass

[johnjem]

do i go right over the stock rivets that go oround the stock windows or shave them down? i want the new fiberglass to lay flat.when i rerivet it down not having random bumps going down the sides??any ideas?? john ps its on my 4905 the 8 long windows going down the side and i do plan out removing them i am just reshaping the windows,

[TomC]

From experience, you should remove all windows, skin over them with aluminum (.075 at least) and then recut the ones you want for RV windows.  Good Luck, TomC

[JackConrad]

I think all body rivets on a GM are considered structural.  I would not be grinding off the heads.  Jack

[johnjem]

so should i go right over the old rivets and hope i dont creat bends in the metal or fiber,when i rivet the new panel down??has any 1 done  this type of work if so e-mail me your# so we can chat please  john

[Dallas]

so should i go right over the old rivets and hope i dont creat bends in the metal or fiber,when i rivet the new panel down??has any 1 done  this type of work if so e-mail me your# so we can chat please  john

Grind off the old rivets, place the new sheet against the [lace you want it, making certain that is where you want it, drill out the remaining rivet carcass from the inside and use the holes to index the new piece.

You can use either Shave head rivets, (not my first choice), or Bulb Tight rivets, (probably one of the better choices), Bucked Rivets, (which were original to the coach), or standard pull type rivets, (blind, POP, pull, etc.),
If using the last option, make sure you use either the umbrella caps with a seal of Dichor or Sikaflex or PL Polyurethane sealer. If you don't want to use the caps, cover the hole on each rivet with bondo or JB Weld or an Epoxy to stop leaks.

Good Luck.

Dallas

[johnjem]

i talk for a long time to r&m fiberglass very nice people of there,he said to grind just alittle of the head not enough to damage it just to flaten alittle and the lay fiberglass resin or bondo  in a strait line 1inch wide covering all rivets in a line and sand smooth till the stock rivets head were u ground down  just appear and there is ur new base to lay down the sheet?!!sounds like alot of work!!

[Tenor]

Re-skinning parts of the bus is one of the hardest things to do if you don't have patience or tools.  If you have the patience, the tools are easy to get.  I did a lot of research on re-skinning my 4905 so here are some links to picturs/sites:

http://gmc4905.blogspot.com/

http://www.utbiz.com/4905/capsoff.html

http://www.utbiz.com/4905/sidesoff.html

Good Luck!

Glenn