The long gap in recording progress has been due to other commitments and some some minor illness. However work has been going on, concentrated around the cab. The following items have been removed to allow access and restoration of these items: the headlight assembly, the driver’s seat, the wiring cubicle and combined control box and main switch unit, the interior light switch bank, bell and flasher unit panel (above the driver), and the horn and cab light/step light switch. A lot of the aged wiring and redundant wiring has been stripped out of the cab, the indicator switch remains. Some replacement high-current cabling to feed the lighting switch panel has been ordered. Two new sidelight units were obtained (very expensive!) which means I have a spare now. The access panel to the destination box will need to be removed as the hing is sagging and it doesn’t close properly. The windscreen wiper motor remains to be removed too.
The plan forward now is to get the fuel tank dispatched for refurbishment, the cab floor repaired, the cab painted and the chassis painted in the area behind the fuel tank.
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.
