Having fitted the final nearside window, I was able to properly install the waistrail beading. I am a bit unhappy with the positioning of it as it rises slightly under the last window. I may try to correct this before painting.
With the beading done I fitted the inner wheelarch cover. This required the manufacture of replacement mounting bracket from angle iron, screwed to the floor alongside the wheel opening. I also had to do some work on the beading around the border of the wheel opening which would otherwise be inaccessible after the wheelarch cover was fitted.
Rear wheelhousing repainted, step plate replaced and assembly reinstalled.
Next, I was able to install the outer wheelarch and mudwing assembly that I had made up previously (see entry for 29/4/2021). I was surprised at how well this fitted. The last couple of days have been spent in finishing the mudwing with filler and preparing the existing half-round wheelarch beading for refitting.
The cardboard template for the wheelarch opening was used to mark out some 1″ ply to create a buck to form the aluminium mudwings. I made two pieces so I could sandwich the material so that the front face would be as flat as possible. I had to use a lot of heat to fold the flange around the buck, using my panel hammer and the hand-held anvils. I completed the nearside one today, the offside having been finished earlier. The final finishing for the flange needs to be done after the lower edge had been shaped and wire beaded.
Last thing today I marked out the buck for the lower edge of the wings, I will cut this out tomorrow.
Work this week has mostly been to do with the boot. The rear doors had their inner panels fitted, primed and painted. The door lock fittings were cleaned up and painted black. The boot light has been refurbished and repainted. This all in preparation for completing the boot when the weather is a little warmer I can lay the new lino.
In parallel with this I have been preparing to make the new mudwings and inner wheelarches. The material has arrived and yesterday I made a cardboard template for the nearside opening.
Restoration diary of a 70-year old AEC single-deck bus and the trials, tribulations and adventures of our 1966 Bristol bus.
