Today I removed the three wooden strakes (or runners) from the boot floor and the rotten lino. I then measured up for a new lot of floor covering for the boot and for the luggage racks as the lino there needs replacing too.
I also removed the steel plate that acts as a catch for the boot doors and the steel sill cover that protects the boot floor edge. This will need to be remanufactured as it is totally rusted through in several places. I will probably have to make this in two pieces as it needs to be folded to match the floor profile and edge then welded into one piece.
Work restarted on Sunday 2nd February after a brief gap. I finished off as much of the woodwork as possible in the wheelarch over the next few days, with a break to etch-prime the last four window frames. Carpentry included sanding the wheelarch timbers to finished shape and aligning the lower perimeter rail and attaching it to the wheelarch frame. Rotten timber to the rear of the wheel arch has been removed and some parts made, however these cannot be assembled until the timber for the perimeter of the boot floor arrives. This order includes timber for repairing the lower side rods alongside the boot. Removeal of the rotten steel reinforcement revealed that the whole of the steel stress panel that closes off the forward end of the boot needed removing. This entailed work on the offside of the bus, removing the cladding panels alongside the boot which required the emergency door to be finally opened.
Removal of these panels showed that all the timbering in the same area of the boot on the offside will need replacing so this was included in the new order. The steel panel – or rather, the remains of it – was removed from the boot front today. Once out and measured for replacement, attention turned to making templates for the replacement glass for the nearside.
Offside timbering alongside the boot and below the emergency door.
