MCI Discussion > MCI Bus Projects

Accesory air tank compartment

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lostagain:
My 5C is pretty well rust free. However, I have known about some surface rust on the accessory tank and all over in that compartment under the driver's seat. That has been bugging me for a couple of years. I just got to it the last few days, and I should be done this afternoon putting everything back together. It was going to be a two day job I thought... now about 6 days later...

That compartment gets wet driving in the rain. Water gets in from the left front wheel well through the hole for the steering rod, from behind the bumper as well, and in my case through the aluminum floor pan which was rotten with lots of holes in it.

The tank, once removed looked pretty solid. I wire brushed it really good and applied two coats of black POR15. That is a really tough paint for vehicle frames. I have used it on a motorcycle I built, and it is very durable.

I ripped out the alum. floor pan and made a new one, and rivetted that.

I reinstalled the winshield washer container with new hoop to hold it on the floor.

Had to remove the air horns, so they got cleaned up and painted.

Also had to remove the box containing the solenoid valves for the levelling system, and the 120V outlet for the portable air compressor.

All the framing is stainless steel, so is all good.

Wire brushed everywhere I could reach and sprayed 2 coats of rattle can anti rust grey paint.

Oh and the door. 2 out of the 3 bolts holding the hinge to the stainless steel upright broke, so I spent half the day yesterday, trying to drill them out, without success, and ending up drilling new holes and tapping threads. Fun...

Anyway, a good feeling of accomplishment. I'll take a picture of the finished project and post it. Of course, I should have taken pics before and during, but didn't...

I suspect most MCIs will have the same susceptibility to rust in that area because of the inevitable moisture in there. So a good idea to look in there.

JC

artvonne:
  I need to do that to mine for all the same reasons. Yes, please post pics for encouragement/denial. 

  There is supposed to be a rubber flap/baffle around the fore aft steering rod/drag link to keep water out. Perhaps a heavy nylon brush would be a better choice.

Tikvah:
Mine needs that as well.  There are more air lines in there than I can count, I've been afraid to touch too much.  Someday I just need to put my mind to it and go to work on it like you have.

Never thought of removing the floor.  That might make everything a little more accessible. 

Thanks for the encouragement.

Dave

artvonne:
  My floor is soft ahead of the drivers front wheel well, and behind the passenger front wheel well. Im going to have to replace the floor from just over the HVAC all the way forward. I thought about trying to piece it in in sections but that just doesnt seem like the proper way to start off the project.

  Once I get the battery cables back im going to move the Bus to a new spot, block it up and pull the wheels. And its going to sit there until its 100% road worthy, tires, brakes and bearings....

  I didnt think about cleaning up that forward compartment from above, but that would sure make it a much easier project.

  I must admit I am not impressed with the amount of structure in the nose. It looks rather flimsy, like it wouldnt take much impact to shove it all back into the axle bay, taking me with it. The front bumper, if you can call it that, has no real support behind it at all. Has anyone thought of beefing it up under there, adding some heavy steel beams or anything??

 

lostagain:
I did not remove the floor that the driver's seat sits on. I removed the aluminum floor pan at the bottom of the accessory tank compartment because it was corroded. I cut a new one an riveted it onto the stainless framing.

There is a rubber flap around the steering rod, but it is not water proof. Water does get in from the wheel well when driving in rain. I don't know how you would water proof that.

The frame structure below and around the driver is very solid and stiff IMO. It would withstand an impact with a small car at city speed. I have seen buses come in after hitting deer or elk at highway speed, and the damage was usually not too deep. Of course, you are not protected in case of a head on with a semi truck. I see Volvo buses advertise driver protection now.

I took pictures last night, but had difficulty uploading them. I am suspecting Kaspersky anti virus is blocking them out. Will try again today.

JC

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