cover plates and belly pans...

[cunning plan]

I want to put the front pan on to protect components as other's have stated, but has anyone played with other materials to cover the centre / cargo area? It would be beneficial to have something to stop the grit, dirt and salt from sitting on the chassis rails and getting in all the nooks. But you would also want something that is easily removed for maintenance and at the same time is light-weight as all weight saving on these busses is important as we know! :shock:

I am thinking some kind of canvas material fixed in place some how? :character0036:

Any thoughts on this approach? :?

 

[gninnam]

I want to put the front pan on to protect components as other's have stated, but has anyone played with other materials to cover the centre / cargo area? It would be beneficial to have something to stop the grit, dirt and salt from sitting on the chassis rails and getting in all the nooks. But you would also want something that is easily removed for maintenance and at the same time is light-weight as all weight saving on these busses is important as we know! :shock:

I am thinking some kind of canvas material fixed in place some how? :character0036:

Any thoughts on this approach? :?

Didn't Riviera do some GRP bolt on ones?
Might be worth looking at.

 

[gninnam]

They do : http://www.riveria-roof-company.co.uk/bellypans.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(Not affiliated with them at all )

 

[cunning plan]

OooooOOoo interesting. Good find that man (you seem to be able to find anything at the moment ).

What is the difference between:

and:

I presume the big one covers the whole centre section, where as the smaller ones just cover the two chassis sections leaving the heater pipe part exposed?

:?:

I also presume as they are a fibre glass company, they are fibre glass panels? Any idea? :|

 

[gninnam]

The big one goes in the centre, covering the heater pipe.
The other two then go either side so the whole of the middle section is now covered.

Yep, they are fibreglass so they would bolt on so not very good for adding torsional rigidity but good for protecting - plus, if the bolts are stainless, then you can eailsy whip them out to see how your chassis is doing

 

[cunning plan]

Ahh I see.

Cheers Andy.

Have you got them or planning to use them? What do they bolt to, are there holes already in the chassis or is it a case of having to make and tap your own holes? - As you can tell my bus came with nothing on it at all :|

 

[gninnam]

Ahh I see.

Cheers Andy.

Have you got them or planning to use them? What do they bolt to, are there holes already in the chassis or is it a case of having to make and tap your own holes? - As you can tell my bus came with nothing on it at all :|

I haven't got them, but might go down that route (like the idea of covering those sections, plus these won't rust).

Regarding the holes, not sure as mine came with the welded ones on and I don't remember seeing any holes available.

Cheers

 

[cunning plan]

Cheers Andy. I am seriously thinking about a series of cable-ties to hold them on - they will be quick to remove and will save having to tap the chassis..

Although tap and proper bolts would be more secure.. :?

 

[Merlydog]

Do they cover the whole chassis then Andy. Including the area where the pedals & levers etc are at the front?

 

[the_troupster]

FYI: The centre plate with holes is for a late bay. I'm not sure what year the change was made. Early bays came with a solid looking item more akin to what was fitted to splits. I think you can even adapt a split item to fit? Don't quote me on this though... I did have a brief look into it for mine a while back as mine was too fecked to re-use. I'm on the look out for another to bolt back in. Not weld.

Hope this helps.

Jim

 

[sparkywig]

Do they cover the whole chassis then Andy. Including the area where the pedals & levers etc are at the front?

Unfortunately not Sarah, have you tried Graham at MEB, or Gavin at SouthWest Splitz?

 

[gninnam]

Do they cover the whole chassis then Andy. Including the area where the pedals & levers etc are at the front?

Unfortunately not Sarah, have you tried Graham at MEB, or Gavin at SouthWest Splitz?

What he said

 

[Merlydog]

Do they cover the whole chassis then Andy. Including the area where the pedals & levers etc are at the front?

Unfortunately not Sarah, have you tried Graham at MEB, or Gavin at SouthWest Splitz?

Eh up Wiggy,
I did try & persuade Graham to give me the one he had lying around, but he insisted it was Montys! :mrgreen: hehe.. I'll try the southwest splitz as you suggest thank you

 

[sparkywig]

"Eh up Wiggy,
I did try & persuade Graham to give me the one he had lying around, but he insisted it was Montys! :mrgreen: hehe.."


He's like that for some reason Sarah... :lol:
Gavin's a good bloke, hopefully he'll be able to sort you out.

 

[easy]

Just refitted my belly pans and they have been welded on as they were originally. Having had mine off for the first real time since the bus was born, i can only see what benefits they have had on protecting the underside of my bus.

New ones now been refitted and welded back on, and of course treated and seam sealed etc :mrgreen:

Underneath condition after 41 years

Sealed/treated before new centre tube and pands fitted

After new belly pans welded on and sealed/treated

8)

 

[graysummers]

My bus has a long way to go yet, but I am forward thinking all considerations. So, reading all threads. Removable, according to the guy (Paul) rebuilding the bus, allows you to get in there periodically to clean and reprotect the underlying surfaces against harmful get-ins. Paul will be altering standard belly pans to bolt on. Still not sure how he will be doing this. But it seems like the most sensible thing to do. As long as they're secure. And they will be secure.