Norms Restoration - 31 Seater Projects

1952 AEC Regal III [2547]

2017

August Body

Norman Julian
31 August
I know you have seen this before but I mentioned last week I wasn't happy because the rubber that I used was a bit small and it only just covered the glass by 5mm or so.
When I went to Sydney last week I picked up the right size.
You can see in the other photo the size difference.
Putting this rubber in wasn't an easy job. Not having the room to move like the smaller size made things tougher. On top of that this rubber is a lot firmer.
After about an hour or so on either side it finally went in.
Anyway, now I am happy.


Brian Blunt
Sometimes helps to put the rubber into a bucket of hot water with a bit of detergent.
Softens it up and makes it a bit more slippery for getting the glass in.
Norman Julian
23 August
$500 doesn't go too far these days but I just about sorted out eveything on the old girl (bus).
Going to Sydney was a good idea afterall.
The second photo has this channel that is ideal for the sliding glass windows and also doubles for sealing the fixed glass all over the bus.
I also got the right size rubber for the back emergency door.
Rubber for sealing the 2 front push-out main windows.
I also got the rubber for the destination and route number glass.
Also got the rubber for sealing the battery box.Very pleasing actually.

Andrew Blacklock
So your all rubbered up now lol
Scott Wilson
Bob Gioia
Norman Julian
I am really glad that 2547 isn't a little older because in those days prewars had channel that had channel liner in it. That's like a metal channel and you had to glue a felt stuff like suede into it so the window would slide and not rattle the glass.
The one off mine is more or less exactly the same as what I bought today.
Norman Julian
21 August
I'm off to Sydney on Wednesday to see what rubber seals etc I can get for the project.
Looking at on line catalogues can only provide so much information.
One thing is I'm not happy with the rear emergency door glass seal.
Frank Jefferies
So true. Enjoy the trip.
Norman Julian
17 August
Had a bit of time today so I tried my hand at the back emergency door.
I made the glass a little larger all the way round because the rubber is a touch smaller then the original.
The original glass was pitted and scratched so I replaced it with new glass.

Norman Julian This method of glazing is really simple and effective.
Charles Shipway
Great idea Norman should be no problems with water leakes
Norman Julian
Thanks Charles but I can't take the credit for this. I just replaced the rubber and glass that was already there.
Gary Russell
The extent of detail that you are undertaking will result in a fine result that you will be proud of.
Norman Julian
Thanks Gary. I have to admit I wasn't looking forward to this job but it isn't going too badly.
Catherine Norman
Norm where do you order your rubber from and also I need to locate the rubber channeling for the sliding windows
Greg Scott
Yes great job norm you're doing very we'll. ! And great detail and thorough ! Check with norm Catherine Norman and I can give you some contacts as we'll !
Catherine Norman
Thanks Greg if you can PM me with the details as I have some rubber seals to do as well around some windows
Greg Scott
Will do
Catherine Norman
I will be using toughned glass only Norm apart from being what was originally used.
Norman Julian
I can't speak for all buses but on 2547 it looks like they have used toughened glass on everything except the destination and route number glass.
Norman Julian
You guys have suppliers down there. You would be better off trying yourself. So far for me it has be luck.
Norman Julian
This rubber on the left is the original for the back emergency door. The one on the right is the new one. It looks similar but no quite.
There are at least 12 different profiles in this type of rubber that I have seen.
When you see it in a catologue they don't give you much in the way of information.
You basically just have to try some for size.
What is important is the size of the glass (thickness) and the thickness of the material that you are putting it on. Also the gap in the middle of that rubber.
If the rubber is too small it wont cover enough of the glass.
If it is too big then the glass will bind and the rubber will warp
Norman Julian
18 August ·
This rubber on the left is the original for the back emergency door.
The one on the right is the new one.
It looks similar but no quite.
There are at least 12 different profiles in this type of rubber that I have seen.
When you see it in a catologue they don't give you much in the way of information.
You basically just have to try some for size.
What is important is the size of the glass (thickness) and the thickness of the material that you are putting it on. Also the gap in the middle of that rubber.
If the rubber is too small it wont cover enough of the glass.
If it is too big then the glass will bind and the rubber will warp

Norman Julian
The other side is now done.

Norman Julian
18 August
Picked up the jacknife door glass today.
I was only talking the other day to you all about it.
I changed my mind on Wednesday and contacted the glazier to change the order from laminated to hardened.
Today it was ready.
I have only the passenger glass and drivers cab glass to do now.
The other thing I did was to have a go at rejuvenating the rubber that holds the glass on the door, so far I have done 2 as per picture.
A scourer to get the dirt and paint off and hot water to soften the rubber seems to have worked.

Greg Scott
I'm keeping my original glass norm ! They are all slightly scratched but I'm going to put a light tint on them ! I haven't tried to source these smaller rubbers yet ! Did you have trouble sourcing them ?
Norman Julian
To be honest I haven't tried sourcing new rubber.
I wanted to see if I could resurrect the old ones first.
Norman Julian I am also a little supicious of whats around these days.
There are lots of silicone based products that may under normal circumstances be OK but because this rubber is under a lot of undue stress because of that tight bend that cracking prematurely might be on the cards.
It has already happend with a job I did late last year on a tight bend.
The only reason I have replaced the oval rubber around the glass of the over the passenger windows is because they we cracked and weathered really badly.
Norm julian
I took one of these jackknife door glass pieces in yesterday as a sample to get the 16 remade and the glassier ask the question "what glass", hardened (the same as they are) or laminated. Because hardened is a process in which these are taken away and heat treated I decided on laminated because frankly there is no need for hardened.
It is fascinating (to me anyway) how they did things back then and completely understandable.
The only glass left to do now is the fixed and passenger sliding.
I will decide by then how I will go.

Norman Julian
If anyone that doesn't know why they hardened glass for side car windows and anything for that matter it makes perfect sense.
Edward Parker
Best not to use laminate except for windscreens as laminate delaminates and get water in lamination and goes white also is brittle and crack easily
Edward Parker
Laminate good for windscreens as if skmeting hits it like dosent shatter
Norman Julian
Just reading up on the delamination of the glass.
it normally only occurs around the edges so with what I already have had done I wont worry too much but as for the passenger windows I will use hardened glass because they don't have a frame around all 4 edges.
Thanks for the tip Edward.
The only laminated glass is the 2 front screens.
The back semi circle pieces of glass the emergency exit glass and the jacknife door glass.
Edward Parker
Yeah wont matter too much with them i just hate glass when it starts getting bubles between the layers of glas and go white all 2520 sliding glass windows are like that
Norman Julian
Just rang the glazier and he said anything that is bare edged like the passenger windows he would certainly get them hardened glass.
I asked him about the window glass for the jacknife doors and he hadn't started them so I am getting them now done in hardened glass.
Norman Julian
Still costing me the same amount per panel which is good.
Edward Parker
Yeah it best tgats what government was doing towards end making them in hardened
Edward Parker
Yeah dosent make much difference normally just 1 week wait
Norman Julian
These ones will be done by Friday.
Edward Parker
Thats good turnaround
Norman Julian
That's a pity about 2520. There is a lot of expense in those windows I'd bet. I haven't got that far yet.
Edward Parker
Yeah it is windows on it are either broken, laminate or plate glass which will all needs to be replaced
Norman Julian
One of the oval windows that came off 2818 in the snow and wind a few years ago broke in half when it fell to the ground indicating it isn't hardened glass.
Edward Parker
Yes i think they worked out that plate glass very dangerous particularly in an accident
Norman Julian
That is right and that's the reason for toughened glass, because when it breaks it is easier to manage bits around a centimetre rather then a chunk of glass that could very well cut you in half.
Norman Julian It was probably done after one of the pieces of glass was broken for whatever reason and they just used ordinary glass at the dept as a quick repair.
There was a few on 2547 like that you can tell by the rough edges they have.
Looks like they were cut with a hacksaw. LOL
Edward Parker
Yeah they were bit rough at times probably just got back from the pub for liquid lunch
Norman Julian
You can tell the hardened glass.
It has that little notch in it at one end where they used to hang them up with a clamp while being heated.
Norman Julian
After a small conversation with Edward Parker the rest of the glass for 2547 will be hardened. He brought to my attention through his own experience the potential problems with laminated glass.
I went on line and did some research myself and was surprised at what I found.
I wasn't aware of this, so in the end it is an easy decision.
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