EricbSC 1973 05 Eagle
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:12 pm
This project has developed over a peroid of 10 years. I grew up playing music, and traveled in a lot of different buses. I first rode in an Eagle in 1972, at the age of eleven. It was a 1972 model 05 purchased new only a few months before. It belonged to a gospel group from Cleveland TN. The singing Echos. I fell in love with the Eagle ride!! I vowed to have one of my own one day. Little did I know that the bus and I would be over thirty years old before we met! I have built, and remodeled several rvs over the years. I bought an Eagle in 1999, and a few later. I bought this bus in 2001. I purchased it as a part bus, but after looking at the frame I decided to play with it for a while. This is the way the bus looked when I bought it. Reliabuilt 8-71n, rebuilt rear, Allison 654, new rad,. new power steering. It had seized the input shaft in the drop box. The college traded it in after spending a lot of money on it only a few months before. It had to be towed to me as it had no driveshaft.I bought the bus for the engine and power steering. There are four words that every time I use them get me in trouble. They are " while were at it"
When I bought it.
After SEVERAL years!
I decided to raise the roof as I had never done that one before. WWAI!!
I had new fender rings rolled. After welding them in, I filled them with expanding foam. Hopefully this will prevent future water damage.
I had a slight fire in the dash area with a torch. melted the fiberglass, and broke a windshield. I never liked the old style window surround as they use a pc. of aluminum to hold the rubber. They leak all over. The 15 type used a lip in the fiberglass to hold the rubber. WWAI!!. You would be amazed at how quick those old heater hoses burn when lit!!
I had the cap fabricated in two pcs. This way I could move the windshields up or down. My faithful helper Stryder was always on the job!! Every minute I worked he was under my feet. He would ride in the front seat on trips around the block. He crossed over the rainbow bridge about half way through the project, but his devotion was duly noted!! Since the dash was no more, I also added an R&M dash.
I removed the factory truss in back. Eagle had several step-ups which limit space at the rear. I reconfigured and raised the truss. This allows the bed frame to move back by almost two feet. You can see the replaced truss as well as the bed frame. Notice the aluminum used. Made use of the old skin several places.
When I bought it.
After SEVERAL years!
I decided to raise the roof as I had never done that one before. WWAI!!
I had new fender rings rolled. After welding them in, I filled them with expanding foam. Hopefully this will prevent future water damage.
I had a slight fire in the dash area with a torch. melted the fiberglass, and broke a windshield. I never liked the old style window surround as they use a pc. of aluminum to hold the rubber. They leak all over. The 15 type used a lip in the fiberglass to hold the rubber. WWAI!!. You would be amazed at how quick those old heater hoses burn when lit!!
I had the cap fabricated in two pcs. This way I could move the windshields up or down. My faithful helper Stryder was always on the job!! Every minute I worked he was under my feet. He would ride in the front seat on trips around the block. He crossed over the rainbow bridge about half way through the project, but his devotion was duly noted!! Since the dash was no more, I also added an R&M dash.
I removed the factory truss in back. Eagle had several step-ups which limit space at the rear. I reconfigured and raised the truss. This allows the bed frame to move back by almost two feet. You can see the replaced truss as well as the bed frame. Notice the aluminum used. Made use of the old skin several places.