Refinishing interior plastic panels………

……The front and rear caps, front side panels and dash are made of 45 year old ABS plastic.  Back then, there wasn’t as many UV blocking chemicals in the plastic which by now we find brittle, cracked panels.  Chances are you have some of this going on.

How to fix this?  I mean a fully restored coach can’t have cracked interior panels.  So removing the panels, we have a jig to secure the panelsThe cracks are reinforced from the back with a slurry of ABS/PVC glue mixed with fiberglass mat.  Polyester fiberglass resin will not stick to ABS plastic……..the ABS/PVC glue will!

Now with the crack arrested, we retexture the outside of the panel with an epoxy texture material using a variable pitch gunthis textured finish offers a clean, consistent surface in any color needed.  Harder than woodpecker lips…..waterproof non porous finish….it looks “new”we also texture finish interior wall panels as well……a nice way to reuse old partsA small thing that makes a big difference……..

Not what everyone wants but if you want your candy blue sapphire powder coated suspension needs to match your forced induction (blown) motor and Monster Transmission……..yep, we can do that too…….a hi temp base/clear finish………..  Stay tuned for THIS project coming back into the Frey…….Aligning your steering………..there have been volumes written and there have been gurus who have made this a very complicated to even a “black hole” event.

Guys, go back to basics……theres even a section in the manual that tells you all this but here’s a quick, accurate way to do it:

Installing a fresh steering box, connect an inch/pound torque wrench (or anything that will restate the box input shaft).  This is usually the thing that stops everyone…….keep going!

Turn the shaft side to side marking where the shaft starts on each sidethis green tape is at 1 side stop…..the other is to the right.  The shaft will usually turn @ 4 turns.  Now bring the shaft back 2 turns, you should find that flat on the shaft faced between the 2 lock to lock tape marks as above.

To verify the steering box is at straight ahead, the shaft flat will be in line with this cover on the steering boxOf course if your steering box is mounted in the coach do the same process.  With that shaft flat aligned with the plate the box is centered.

Now pull the horn button off and find the groove cut in the top of the steering shaft at the top.  Sorry,  no pic but you’ll see it.  Now align the steering wheel to be straight to that notch.  Now….the steering wheel, column and notched spline on the bottom of the steering column.

NOW, set up the steering shaft however you need to allowing the flats on the steering box input shaft and the output splints shaft with its flat to connect together.

The blue slipshaft gives you 90 degree movement and @ 15 degree adjustment on the upper steering shaft CV 6 bolt plate pattern.

Now you need a 3 piece adjustable drag link to make the coach go straight when the now straight steering wheel and gear box are also going straight

YOUR DONE!  N black hole, no manic and no white lab jacket needed! ?line up the steering box on center, center the steering wheel to the steering column then connect the 2…….thats it.

You may need a wheel alignment if it doesn’t drive well after centering everything but this always must be done first.  Sometime just doing this will clear up steering issues……try it.

Ok,………see ya tomorrowComing up…..stay tuned………

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