Thread: '51 suburban school bus to show burb

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Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

That is awesome! I totally hear ya on the frame holes thing! I welded up all the holes in my frame on my 72 and maybe one person noticed. Was your lower steering column mount part of the column you used or is it an aftermarket piece? I really like it. Great work, I can't wait to see more.

Ryan, the mount is from Flaming River.. you can see them on their web site.. i think we ordered it from Summit and saved a little money

Thanks for posting and the story, I am enjoying the journey. I agree with the owner, it did need the extra seat to finish the interior correctly. I didn't realize how destructive rat urine can be but heck, that floor was in a state.

Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Thanks for posting and the story, I am enjoying the journey. I agree with the owner, it did need the extra seat to finish the interior correctly. I didn't realize how destructive rat urine can be but heck, that floor was in a state.

You're right Mark about the seats.. i even tried to talk them out of the stock seats all together but they would't go there and in the end as you'll see when i get them posted it all looked right.. and for floors yes they could have been in another state but the smell did go away...

Thanks for the info sir!

At the same time we were doing the floors we also started replacing the cowls on both sides. The pass side was rusted out more than the driver side..

Well not only did the frame have a lot of holes the fire wall was like swiss cheese, i think i welded up over 75 holes in the fire wall.. My miller got a work out on this baby..

The suburban didn't come with a sun visor but the owners (mostly the wife) wanted one bad.. me i wasn't so sure but we fought one and finial got it to fit... every heard the word "easy bolt on" don't use it in my shop because it isn't the case with most stuff...

Getting the A/C in was next and needed to run the lines from out front to the inside of the motor dept. ended up cutting a tunnel in the inter fender to pass the hose's thru.

WOW, what a pile of work that was!! Amazing the amount of work to get the details right. I love the visor also, it seems to fit the vehicle era and was worth the added effort.

Thanks again for sharing all the pics, it's much appreciated!

Originally Posted by 34_40

WOW, what a pile of work that was!! Amazing the amount of work to get the details right. I love the visor also, it seems to fit the vehicle era and was worth the added effort.

Thanks again for sharing all the pics, it's much appreciated!

Glad you like it, and yes it was a ton of work but you forget all that when you first drive it.. And the sun visor did look right on the car after it was all done and fits the car theme

Thank's for the great pictorial on the door fitment. I love the finish color,
really sets it apart from the norm!

Rich

Originally Posted by RichB

Thank's for the great pictorial on the door fitment. I love the finish color,
really sets it apart from the norm!

Rich

Rich it took the owners over 6 months to pick out a color, must have changed their minds a dozen times but in the end it looks good.. it's a '36 ford color believe it or not..

Mate, you nailed it with the sun visor and I just struggle to visualize the bus without it. I chuckled to myself reading and looking at all those pictures of the door alignment. When I was a apprentice panelbeater I was taught all those fine adjustment skills by an elderly craftsman who I thought was been a bit anal on the finishing but when all done and dusted with a good paint job, you appreciate the extra time it takes. You tell the owners that they did absolutely brilliantly with the choice of colour too please.

Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Mate, you nailed it with the sun visor and I just struggle to visualize the bus without it. I chuckled to myself reading and looking at all those pictures of the door alignment. When I was a apprentice panelbeater I was taught all those fine adjustment skills by an elderly craftsman who I thought was been a bit anal on the finishing but when all done and dusted with a good paint job, you appreciate the extra time it takes. You tell the owners that they did absolutely brilliantly with the choice of colour too please.

Anal it is Mark for sure, I'm glad you got taught by a old timer with skills... someday you'll pass all that along and it will never get lost.. Glad you also liked the visor and now i could see it without it.. I'll be sure and let them know what you said about the color..

The part that really scared me the most were the two rear lower corners of the body. Both sides looked the same all rusted out and at the time i couldn't find anyone who made an after market sheet metal part to repair them.. surfing on stove bolts.com one night and there was a man back east who was making them for his suburban, and as luck would have it i was able to get a hold of him and he sold me a pair... whew!!