Interior Remodel 1992WB

[MrBlueSky]

Finally finished with an interior remodel that has been ongoing this past year. What follows are pics and explanation of various parts of the project in no particular order.

We didn't start with the entry area, but this is what it looked like when we started. Monotone. Bird emblem worn almost invisible. Wood scratched and dinged. Wanted to update yet keep things practical. Like floors...take bird to the beach a lot, so didn't want anything easily scratched. Also didn't like the air operated step-well cover so converted to manual operation. Left all the guts in just in case.

Began by striping the door and windows panels. Also ripped out the door lock button (locked out one too many times).

[MrBlueSky]

Changes:
Repainted wood panels gloss black : Filled lock hole with epoxy, filled and sanded down scratches and dings, 2 coats of primer, and 3 coats of oil-based enamel...wet-sanding between coats. Followed with machine polish.

Bird emblem: Carved out higher relief; repainted gold metallic and gloss black.

New carpet: Used a good commercial grade carpet squares with a releasable glue, which allows us to change out any squares that get stained. Sub floor was in pristine shape. Can't say enough about the quality materials Blue Bird used in these coaches. Only problem is carpet was laid with about a million staples (only slight exaggeration). My dad got job pulling those out.

Rebuilt step-well area: Rebuilt certain areas with plywood and solids so slide-out cover fit a little better, and moved smoother. Added a stainless handle for the stairwell cover. Wrapped all carpet edges in aluminum with stainless screws. Machined polished all the metals. Also replaced step light with LED.

Still yet to do...replace the rubber on stairs.

[Turbokitty]

Bill, you had it right the first time, one million staples is about right. Nice work too!

[MrBlueSky]

Also made some changes to the controls / switch plate on the dash facing the stairs. Replaced the CB and don't use the volume controls, so took it out. Also wrinkled black finish on switch plate peeling. So made a new plate with only three holes for the switches, and added a Blue Bird logo.

Used a company called Front Panel Express. Very easy to use. Simply download their software and design whatever you want. Price adjusts as you use options. Price very reasonable.
http://www.frontpanelexpress.com/pro...rument-panels/
Made it out of black anodized aluminum. Also made new switch plates for the stairwell cover control by the passenger seat, and the air/water switch in the back bedroom (both were cracked being made out of plastic). Cost very reasonable. Will probably be using them again for some custom panels for the Webasto project.

[White Hat Guy]

Bill:

Your mods to the entry really look good. While my 94 entry looks like your pre-mods, it has always seemed very "Utilitarian" to me. It really adds a nice updated appearance, but not too glitzy.

[White Hat Guy]

Bill:

An afterthought - I reviewed your pics again and noticed the stainless handle on the stepwell cover.

My stepwell became schizophrenic a year or so ago. Air operation just quit working. John Boy Hughes and 'em at CoachCraft opined the air valve is dead. Many $$$$ to tear it open and replace.

How did you disable your cover and convert it to manual?

[Ernest Ekberg]

Tommy, extend your cover and while you are outside sitting on the outside step, look up- there is a small flat black plate that has 6 Philips head screws. Remove those and activate the control. The air cylinder will retract that plate and now your cover is manual.

[isp2952]

Originally Posted by MrBlueSky

Also made some changes to the controls / switch plate on the dash facing the stairs. Replaced the CB and don't use the volume controls, so took it out. Also wrinkled black finish on switch plate peeling. So made a new plate with only three holes for the switches, and added a Blue Bird logo.

Used a company called Front Panel Express. Very easy to use. Simply download their software and design whatever you want. Price adjusts as you use options. Price very reasonable.
http://www.frontpanelexpress.com/pro...rument-panels/
Made it out of black anodized aluminum. Also made new switch plates for the stairwell cover control by the passenger seat, and the air/water switch in the back bedroom (both were cracked being made out of plastic). Cost very reasonable. Will probably be using them again for some custom panels for the Webasto project.

Bill thanks for the information on the plate. That is a good option for replacement of some of mine. After 20 years they are starting to show their age.

[White Hat Guy]

Thanks to Ernie Ekberg and Bill/Karen Anthony, I have "altered" my stepwell cover to manual.

I unscrewed the small plate underneath the cover then activated the air switch and the plate retracted. Next to Homey Lowes and a nice stainless shower/bathtub grab and bolted it to the front of the cover.

Now, just a pull back to the retract position or a push to the closed position.

The air valve, buried in the bowels of the bird below the passenger seat was going bad. Cover would not always open nor close using the air switch. Sometimes it would close then retract on its own. I was fearful the cover's schizophrenic behavior could present a potential safety issue. And, I didn't want to pay $$$$ to get it fixed.

[JamesR]

My hands were sore for a week from pulling staples........nice job. Feels like a new car when you are done.