Bus door build job

[Brainsparks30]

I am still looking for a competent engineer/welder to make my minibus door and frame.
Pretty straightforward for a pro.
I would like to replace the double non working electric power doors with manual for simplicity.
I know it's probably easy for you, but whilst it might be simple, health prohibits my physically doing this even though I find it interesting.
I put a lot of money and effort into tools and gas cylinders before I discovered I could not do it.

I would like this as my 'car' soon to keep mobility scooter in.

VW T5 Tucana.
Measure/design door and frame.
Fabricate.
Install and finish.
Use something along the lines of an American RV door lock which could be imported. It will need a latch building.

It is an easy standing up job working box steel, right now could run power outside to do it though it may be moving soon. That's part of the problem, as to MOT again it needs working doors!

Minibus is hot zinc dipped branded box steel, I presume similar section is enough. I thought maybe plexiglass to cover instead of glass for security.

It might be possible to bring to you as a place of repair if not to far. It is quite big though for the weight.
I would need to remove the solar to bring to you to be on the safe side, which would be an ****.
I made custom brackets bonded onto the roof. I would like that finishing too actually, but needs ladders.
Currently at South Norfolk.

I would need to do remove the old doors on the passenger side, covering with a tarp overnight ready for the new door. Don't want it like that for too long.

So I would like quotes please of what to expect for measuring, design, fabrication and installation.

There are some facebook builds that can give an idea, one option is to make frame and fit RV door.

I can post some pictures here soon.

 

[Erie Fred]

That young guy "snowball engineering" might be able to tackle it.

 

[MetalMonkey]

I think you need to take some pictures of what you have, and find some of what you want to give people an idea of what is required.

No offence intended, but what may appear to be an easy job, in my experience, usually turns out to be far more involved than the customer realises.

Best to show exactly what you need.

 

[johnik]

No offence intended, but what may appear to be an easy job, in my experience, usually turns out to be far more involved than the customer realises.


agreed, place i once worked at had someone who thought he could put a side door in a converted transit crewcab, perfectly good van got scrapped as i stood at a safe distance shaking my head

 

[gaz1]

something like this

 

[minimutly]

Lol @ gaztube vid I'm never sure if you just don't bother reading posts, or are you just having a laugh at our expense...

 

[gaz1]

lol

but no lock is needed if they change to a spiral gear as that door wont open unless its disenguaged

on another note due to it being a spiral gear a winding handle would be enough to open or close it

bicycle gears could then be used so it opens faster and that can be controlled from the drivers seat by a winding bar

 

[Brad93]

Find a good coachbuilders.

This is not in the realm of standard welder/fabricator work.

 

[Wozzaaah]

something like this

"All aboard!!"

 

[colnerov]

Find a good coachbuilders.

This is not in the realm of standard welder/fabricator work.

I agree, it will need limit switches at the end of operation to switch the motor off and a 'sensitive edge' to reverse the operation if the doors are obstructed by a foreign body. Which could be either a contact strip on the edge of the door or a load sensor on the motor.

 

[MetalMonkey]

He's said he wants to replace the electric doors with a manual door - so no switches, mechanisms or extra complication needed.
However, I would suggest detailed pictures are needed before anybody would consider looking at the job unless it is something they are very familiar with doing.

I'd also imagine having some sort of budget in mind - the scope for mission creep on this sort of project has the potential to be quite large.
Fixed price has a huge risk for the fabricator and hourly rate is likely to be prohibitively expensive.

 

[colnerov]

He's said he wants to replace the electric doors with a manual door - so no switches, mechanisms or extra complication needed.
However, I would suggest detailed pictures are needed before anybody would consider looking at the job unless it is something they are very familiar with doing.

I'd also imagine having some sort of budget in mind - the scope for mission creep on this sort of project has the potential to be quite large.
Fixed price has a huge risk for the fabricator and hourly rate is likely to be prohibitively expensive.

ahh, yes, my mistake. As my teacher use to say 'must try harder' It could be straightforward but making it look anything other than a dogs dinner is going to be the hard part.

 

[gaz1]

if you use the gearing say from a grinder you can make the wheels turn fast or slow

milling machines use gearing and a bar to raise and lower the knee by hand cranking them the door way can be opened or closed the same way

 

[Brainsparks30]

This is not mine.
It does show how the doors are.
I need to take more pics of mine, this will do for for now.

The plastic and rubber bits come off to expose the steel frame.
The slight recess for the ramp on the side the side can be removed, it's screwed down.

And another one, with a motor home door and the original LH glass.

As for budget, to make a door and frame with some sort of weather proofing similar to original, hundreds or thousands? I am preparing to spend on this rather that get another used car that will only last a few years at best. I have until Sep before day car it likely to fail on rust, but glass fiber bus beast is strong.
I am putting coin aside for this.

I have a suspicion about a rattle from engine timing bearing, but will get mechanics opinion on this.

Got to know if this can be done as others have, as I need good functioning transport that I can continue to work on or bring to converter soon.