Today I started with removing the RH boot door. This once again required the screws to have their heads drilled off. Having removed the door, I was able to remove panelwork along the top of the boot opening and down the RH side. This revealed extensive wet fungal rot in the base of the two pillars at the RH side of the boot opening and this will need to be repaired by jointing new lower sections of timber.
Right-hand boot door frame timbers
RH corner of boot door frame
I started the job of replacing the rotted timber by cutting both the pillars just below the corner horizontal (with the hole) visible in the picture. I cut a step into the good wood in order to make a strong joint with the new timber.
The previous couple of days were spent in much-needed tidying of the bus shed and installation of two large cupboards at the end furthest from the big doors. This has enabled me to store all the paint safely and get a lot of other stuff off the floor.
Today I was able to assemble the steel reinforcement plates to the body frame behind the NSR wheelarch and the boot. One plate remains to be fitted, this being the one behind the boot front closing plate which will need to be drilled and fitted before this plate can be bolted up.
I ordered the floor covering for the boot and luggage racks today.
I completed the fettling of the the new timber for the nearside of the boot perimeter rail today and screwed it in place. One problem I encountered was that the timber had not been cut to width accurately by the supplier so I ended up having to take about 1/4″ of the deepest face. However the rail is now fitted and the joints with the verticals have been profiled so all is well.
New perimeter rail and repaired pillars
New wheelarch timbers and steel flitch plate
Restoration diary of a 70-year old AEC single-deck bus and the trials, tribulations and adventures of our 1966 Bristol bus.
