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.
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.
I completed the nearside waistrail beading with the exception of the upper (half-round section) that fits under the last couple of windows and goes round to the number plate box. That section is only temporary as I will have to remove it to fit the last window when the glass arrives. The lower (flat) beading is now attached all the way from the entrance door to the rear number plate box.
Next I attached the boot door drip-rail to the body above the boot door opening.
The aluminium for the rear wheelarches and mudwings is on order.
Today I ordered the replacement glass for the last nearside window and the front destination box.
I also drilled all the holes in the right-hand boot door for all the fittings, including the missing ring-pull handle that by luck I found on eBay. I noted also that the lower budget lock on this door was very stiff because it had probably never been used, owing to the fact that the hole in door frame was out of line with the hole in the lock tongue so a carriage key could not engage with it from outside. I corrected this.
The pull handle needs a plate mounting on the inside of the door to give it something to pull on other than just the escutcheon screws.
View of NS waistrail looking forwards.
Rear end with beading and drip-rail above door opening.
Restoration diary of a 70-year old AEC single-deck bus and the trials, tribulations and adventures of our 1966 Bristol bus.
