ALT-1 Restoration of a Single Deck Bus
Torestore a single deck busone will ideally need a large workshop to get the entire vehicle under cover. This is fairly essential when it come to restoring the paintwork.
Otherwise at a push most restoration came be done out in the open, but one will still need to put components under cover especially seats and other items that might spoil with the sun, rain or frost.
Restoration should begin with the vehicle being stripped of all interior fittings. This will allow the restorer to see and identity rust problems. Also a stripped vehicle is in suitable condition when it comes to welding.
The engine will need to be removed for overhaul. The exhaust system will also need to be removed for repair or replacement. Don’t overlook the braking system, as the brakes will probably need new components like brake shoes and pads. If the vehicle has been standing any length of time most rubber components will need to be renewed. This will include flexible brake pipes, coolant hoses, and road tyres.
Often with vehicles that have been standing some time the clutch or gearbox will be frozen. The vehicle then may have to be towed to the place of restoration and these components too will need individual attention.
If the bus is quite old, no doubt the paintwork and fabrics will need to be replaced. If you are looking for an original finish, you might need to consult the Internet to see what the original livery is for the model you have. The same will be true of any new fabrics you use for seating.
Bumpers or chrome fittings can be re-plated. One shouldn’t find too much difficulty in finding a specialist company who can do nickel plating. Again the Internet is an excellent resource for finding a suitable company for the job.
You might also need to look around to find a company to provide new tyres as the size and width of tyres change with time and your normal supplier will only keep tyres for current cars and trucks.
Some engine components can be rebuilt or restored by specialist companies. Ebay.com or the Internet can be very useful for finding difficult to find spares.
If the vehicle runs on leaded petrol you need to use a lead substitute to run the vehicle when the restoration is complete. The good news is in most countries the annual safety tests will be more lenient on older vehicles especially when it comes to emission controls.
