I have been pining for a Scenicruiser for years and yesterday I got one. #149 is now mine. 
It will need a fair amount of work but There are so few of them left that I couldn't walk away. Now I just have to convince the wife that I am not an idiot and still useful.
Could be I just bought my new home.
Oh well, could be worse, I could have had the hots for a corvette.
It will need a fair amount of work but There are so few of them left that I couldn't walk away. Now I just have to convince the wife that I am not an idiot and still useful.Could be I just bought my new home.
Oh well, could be worse, I could have had the hots for a corvette.
I removed the engine cradle from the bus and had it sandblasted by a friend. I knew that there was going to be a lot of repair, but I was surprised by the amount of rust damage on the underside.
The old joints between aluminium and steel were riveted. The rivets were almost dissolved away so was the steel and the Aluminium rail was gone at the end.
The worst damage is at the very back where the motor mount is located. The metal here is now paper thin. I will have to rebuild this whole area.
I will be rebuilding this area to fit my current engine but also hope to allow for future engine upgrades. Maybe an 8V92 Detroit someday.
The old joints between aluminium and steel were riveted. The rivets were almost dissolved away so was the steel and the Aluminium rail was gone at the end.
The worst damage is at the very back where the motor mount is located. The metal here is now paper thin. I will have to rebuild this whole area.
I will be rebuilding this area to fit my current engine but also hope to allow for future engine upgrades. Maybe an 8V92 Detroit someday.
Started working on the suspension of the bus before I do the engine and transmission install. The bushings in the radius rods are shot and are hard to find. I did find a California supplier, but I decided to try to make my own first. The California supplier uses my old metal parts so this won't keep me from using the commercial bushings later if this doesn't work.
I am pouring my own Polyurethane bushings in place. The factory bushings were rubber, these will be a little harder but I note that lots of modern semi trucks are using poly in their bushings.
First step was to remove and clean up the old metal parts. I used a paint stripper wheel on a drill to clean the inside of the radius rod and a belt grinder to clean the old rubber off the center piece. I needed to center the middle piece in the end of the rod so I used the right thickness of cardboard to shim the radius rod up the right amount.
I used plastic wrap to make sure that the bottom of the rod was sealed so none of the liquid would leak out.
The Polyurethane rubber is a two part mix that you mix by weight. I have a new scale that I used to measure the stuff. Just mix and pour till you have the gap filled.
Now just wait. The rubber starts to get stiff after a couple of hours but takes several days to reach full cure.
It will be some time before I will be able to install these rods and even longer before I can road test them, but I will update as I go.
I am pouring my own Polyurethane bushings in place. The factory bushings were rubber, these will be a little harder but I note that lots of modern semi trucks are using poly in their bushings.
First step was to remove and clean up the old metal parts. I used a paint stripper wheel on a drill to clean the inside of the radius rod and a belt grinder to clean the old rubber off the center piece. I needed to center the middle piece in the end of the rod so I used the right thickness of cardboard to shim the radius rod up the right amount.
I used plastic wrap to make sure that the bottom of the rod was sealed so none of the liquid would leak out.
The Polyurethane rubber is a two part mix that you mix by weight. I have a new scale that I used to measure the stuff. Just mix and pour till you have the gap filled.
Now just wait. The rubber starts to get stiff after a couple of hours but takes several days to reach full cure.
It will be some time before I will be able to install these rods and even longer before I can road test them, but I will update as I go.
Steven,
I like your project and love the old style buses like that.
I’ve had to deal with logistics getting these much smaller RVs transported. ggg
I cannot fathom what it took for you to get that one transported!
I look forward to seeing your project come together as you envision it.
Please post more pictures and info when you can.
Sincerely,Tony
Delivered spring of 2008.
Delivered summer of 2008.
Delivered November 14th, 2012.
I like your project and love the old style buses like that.
I’ve had to deal with logistics getting these much smaller RVs transported. ggg
I cannot fathom what it took for you to get that one transported!
I look forward to seeing your project come together as you envision it.
Please post more pictures and info when you can.
Sincerely,Tony
Delivered spring of 2008.
Delivered summer of 2008.
Delivered November 14th, 2012.
