A late Summer - early Fall project was to repair body damage to both lower rear corners of the bus which were caused by "tail dragging". In addition, the right side had what I call the 'Swiss Cheese' problem, the aluminum skin had been replaced at least three times, resulting in overlapping rivet holes in the steel framing underneath, which were sure to cause problems when I tried to drill yet more to secure the new panels.

New metal was welded in place and the original contours of the rolled panel were restored using many layers of plastic body filler, which were carefully rasped to shape.

The respirator is required equipment when working with the ultra-toxic resin and hardener used for filler material.

Much sanding, power wire brush work, and primer paint went into preparing this area for the final covering. The new aluminum skin was completely caulked in place, so there will be no leaks.

The left side of the bus had similar damage, but it had been disguised by a thick (and lumpy) layer of body filler putty. Much of this layer had to be removed to restore the original curve of the rolled panel. This side didn't have the Swiss Cheese problem on the lower member, but the metal was more severely bent, requiring quite a bit of hammer-and-dolly work.

Both of the rear panels on this side were replaced, as the originals were short, with a louvered panel below where the muffler used to be before I moved it to the engine compartment. In all, I am quite pleased at how these areas look, and I can almost overlook the thickness of the body filler, which is three-quarters of an inch thick in some places.