Removed the grab handle from the corner of the cab by the route number winders then continued stripping paint from under the canopy, a back breaking, stomach-stretching task. Started to polish the handle but it is very pitted, however after a lot of sanding it came up very well and I’m pleased with it. I also removed the main label from the spare switchbox cover and cleaned it up. It is yellower than the original but the lettering is intact. I removed the trapdoor from the canopy ceiling as it really didn’t want to close, and started to strip the paint from it. Seems in better condition than I thought but I removed a couple of mm from one edge to make sure it fits well as it was refusing to close when I took it off. The steel strips from around the edges looked rough but turned out to be saveable, which will save some time and material. The brass hinge was the likely culprit for not closing properly as it was binding and bent, so I straightened it as best I could and worked it back and forth with wd40 to free it up, then silicone lubricant. I also removed the cylinder head lifting ring from the overhead beam, stripped it and gave it a coat of red oxide. Last job of the week was to paint the grey parts of the trapdoor and its metalwork.
Fornt view after paint stripping around front canopy.
Started the week by painting the visible bit of the outerpanel at the top of the cab side window opening and preparing the triangular window glass for installing in the cab. As I had some topcoat left over I painted the emergency door step and the top and leading upright of the cab door frame. Next I started work on refurbishing the interior light switch box, removing the labels and cleaning them by knocking the awkward, tiny steel rivets. A job to do in between others! Next I fitted the fire extinguisher holder in the cab and polished up a fire extinguisher and placed it in the holder. At the end of the week I started stripping the remaining original paint from under the front canopy, a difficult, slow job but i made good progress. The last job of the work was completion of removing the labels from the switch box cover, ready for paint now.
Started the week by priming the cab ventilator after stripping the old paint and smoothing as many dents out of it as possible. Did a little work on the two remaining window divider bars, fitting the rubber and the “QuickTho” name plates. Investigated how to wire the inicator switch in the cab and decided on the following: 5-core from the switch to a box (purchased but not yet arrived) on the top frame of the cab door, where two cores can go to the flasher unit and three down to the terminal strip under the cab door for the indicators. Fleetname transfers arrived on Tuesday from Dan Shears – they look very old but hopefully will be ok as long as I take care putting them on. In order to facilitate the installation of the wiring in the cab for the indicators, I prepared and painted the the fire extinguisher holder with black engine lacquer as per the original. I also repainted the cab step kick panel as it had reacted with the lacquer. The lacquer seemed fine this time, a little dull maybe. I cleaned and polished the cab side triangular window glass, which I’m pleased to see is actually triplex, though badly scratched. I prepared the aperture for it, removing the remains of the rubber and some white filler and stripped and painted the the aluminium surround that holds it in place. I also removed the paint from adjacent panels and attended to some dents with filler so that is all ready for priming now.
Restoration diary of a 70-year old AEC single-deck bus and the trials, tribulations and adventures of our 1966 Bristol bus.
