I can’t believe it’s a month since I last recorded any progress. However, there has been progress; lots of rusty screws have been winkled out of the offside framing, several rust-eaten flitch plates have been removed and the first three replacements manufactured. The emergency door hinges have been freed up, de-rusted and prepared for painting. The frame around the emergency door opening has had all the rusty screw and nail remains removed and the holes dowelled. A new steel plate for the top right corner of the door opening has been manufactured and is ready for installation.
More lower side panels have been removed and the fuel tank exposed, this will need to be dropped and cleaned ready for treating any rust and repainting.
Most recent work (today and yesterday) has been cutting out rotten timber framing above windows 3 and 4 apertures. I cut some Iroko this afternoon in preparation for repairing this section.
Heavily-corroded flitch plate at joint between wast rail and cab door frame vertical.
This week work has returned to the boot. I made a template for the boot floor and then cut a piece of new lino for it. Rebecca helped to glue down the lino, however we didn’t quite get it in exactly the correct position so some remedial work is needed. I was annoyed to find the new lino had some cuts and scratches in it that were not done by us! Having fitted the lino, I was able to fit the new steel sill (after painting the underside) that I made a while ago, then I hung the doors. This revealed several fitting problems that hopefully I can overcome by shimming the hinges.
In between doing the above, I found time to paint the step light inside with some white paint and cut two rubber gaskets, one for mounting against the body and the other for sealing the lid to the base. I also found some thin clear acrylic so I cut two pieces to form one thick piece for the small window in the light. Still waiting for the brass hinge split pins to arrive.
The wheelarch mudwing is now painted (first coat of madder red) and Abigail and I installed the flexible black piping that seals the joint between the wing and the body at the wheel arch. This enabled me to refit the curved beading.
Nearside rear mudwing replaced.
view looking towards the rear.
Whilst this work was in progress I refurbished the entrance step light. This involved making a new base (complete with lampholder bracket) for the light unit as the original cast alloy one had corroded to the point of being unusable. This is now finished in red undercoat and awaiting the final paint, white inside and DG red outside. I also drilled and tapped the mounting holes for the assembly in the step bay. I’m also waiting for a replacement for the small piece of glass through which the bulb shines.
Restoration diary of a 70-year old AEC single-deck bus and the trials, tribulations and adventures of our 1966 Bristol bus.
