Sunday, August 24, 2008

Air cleaner mounted in its new location


Here's the new mount all welded in. All thats left is to weld in some diagonals in the box to give it some mega strength to hold up another 40 years or so ...lol... Later, when I get done welding on the frame I will make some new strap mounts and then send them and the original air cleaner and the intake duct work all to the powder coater for some bling bling.

Here one welded onto the new bracket


This picture was take right after the bracket weld was cleaned up, corners rounded, the top cut off at a 40 degree angle, and all ground out and wire brushed.

Two halves

Air filter bracket


I then split that tube on a diagonal to make two brackets, a left and right.

Moving the location for the breather


I built this "box" to push the breather out to the back of the bus to match the stretch of the motor compartment. Here it is on its back. I then cut a length of one and half by one eight of box steel and bored a hole at each end to match the holes in the circle clamps to make both brackets.

Air cleaner original location


I started by putting back the vertical supports exactly where they were, in their stock location.

Air filter bracket


Heres whats left of the original air filter "breather" bracket. Since I have stretched the back of the bus I will have to also stretch the bracket.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Beams for engine in the bus


I thought I had a better pic but this is it. You can see I have the radius tubes for the bumper support in too.

Main engine cradle beam ready to go into the bus

Taper all ground out and cleaned up.


It was pretty much an all day job cutting and tapering the two main beams for the cradle but they turned out to be worthy of the effort. Later I will add the skids about center ways of the taper.

Taper cut into main beams


I didnt want to be draging the butt end of the bus aroung so, I taper cut the main beams to 2 inches on the end. I then clamped the steel up tight (no simple task...lol...) and ground out a channel almost through with the edge of my grinding wheel and seal welded them together.

Drivers side start of front of engine cradle

Passenger side front of engine cradle


I started by getting the front of the engine cradle and down tube supports in to give it some stableness will I tack in the main beams running front to back.

Steel for the engine cradle


I beefed up the engine cradle to 1/4 inch thick steel. I didnt want any problems towing a heavy (if needed in the future) trailer. I for sure wont have any problems towing a toad four down. I am using 3 and a half by 3 and a half for all of the cradle.