Norms Restoration - 31 Seater Projects

1952 AEC Regal III [2547]

2019

Body March

Norman Julian 1 Mar
I have just about finished stripping all the small bits for the off side.
I have put a few shots of parts and their relative position numbers up to show you they were thinking when they were building these buses.
When I originally stripped apart this bus I put each window in bundles and numbered them but as it happens I didn't need to.
Once I understood how the system works I understand exactly where each part goes.




Norman Julian
Nearside window 6
Gregor Neil Robertson
Excellent - most considerate of the factory.

Norman Julian
This means "offside back".


Norman Julian
There are little clues here that these steel parts were plated.
On the edges you can see, because I used a wire brush to get the rust and paint off it has taken the zinc coating off around the edges.
Where the hole is you can see it peeling off.



Norman Julian
Obvious parts they only put an "N" or a "O"
Norman Julian 3 Mar
Part 3:
This first picture shows the new bailey channel alongside the old.
This is used for the top and bottom of the window glass to run in.
The middle channel is just a metal channel that has been covered with felt.
You can see that the felt has deteriorated some what.
The reason they didn't use bailey channel on the verticle is because of the chrome strip which goes over the side edge of the glass.
It has the finger pull on it so as to open the window.
These days there is wider and thinner walled internal bailey channel around.
I hope to find one that will fit over the top of the chrome strip and then hopefully fit in the current metal channel, otherwise I will form up a new channel to fit it in.
There is a little bit of play on the side panels to go a little wider.
I know it's not original but who cares.
I challenge anyone to pick it up.
When it is done it will look factory.

Norman Julian 3 Mar
Part 1:
All but a very few trim bits around the drivers side of the cabin area done.
A lot of time was spent on them.
The next fun job is to measure up the last of the glass for the passenger saloon area.
Here I have taken off all the chrome edging.
The far piece has been polished up to see how it would look.
Not too bad actually.


Norman Julian 5 Mar
Today I organised both the new glass for the passenger area and the channel to sit them in.
There are 2 pieces of different size glass.
One piece is fixed and the other smaller piece slides and there are 10 sliding windows.
I also organised 40 metres of what they call "flocked bailey channel"; around $700 just for the channel for the passenger area.
The glass will come unhardened for now.
I want to make sure it fits properly.
Once it is hardened you can't do anything with it.
Each piece of glass is a special size.
Once I'm happy I will get them hardened.
The factory glass is all the same size, 15 1/2" x 24" and 18" x 24".
Because the frame sizes vary anywhere between + or - 5mm there is a certain amount of sloppyness.
These windows wont be like that.
Andrew Blacklock
Fit fixed windows and coach air conditioning lol
Gregor Neil Robertson
I like the name... Flocked Bailey Channel!
Who was Bailey?
It's just U Channel isn't it?
Or does it have a specific cross-section?
Norman Julian
There are lots of different variations or profiles of this channel.
This is an English term.
Have no idea where this term comes from
Stuart Brown
Down here at Norm's Show Busses... ��
In truth I appreciate the effort and attention to detail..
I do similar things and find these things you are doing very inspirational !
Norman Julian 6 Mar
These trims are off the very back windows on the side.
Talk about making sure the windows were never going to leak.



Norman Julian
There is one on either side
The only function that this quad does is hold the glass in position.
If you have to put a ton of bog like this on there then the job wasn't done right in the first place.
Norman Julian 6 Mar
Think I may have found a suitable replacement for the old felt.
The flat black piece in one of the pictures has 2 folds or deforations in it so as to fold into a channel shape.
It fits perfectly into the metal channel that carried the old felt.
It fits snuggly over the top of the stainless strip that goes onto the end of the glass.
Greg Scott here you go.
Norman Julian 11 Mar
I received the passenger saloon glass today, it isn't toughened yet.
I want to make sure that each individual panel will fit the way I have allowed for, then I will do something.
That's nearly all the glass now.
Just the drivers sliding for both sides and the fixed front passenger odd shaped glass.
Charles Shipway
Here we see the need for being cautious (again ) Norm I hope all is well with the glass trial fitting another step forward for you
Phil Steele
Norman Julian 15 Mar
The rubber for the verticle strip and bumpers arrived today.
I also had new strip made up.
It is a little bigger on the inside for the rubber flocked strip to sit in.
Now the chrome edging for the window will sit a little better.
Now that everything is here, I can start making the new windows.
The rubber buffers are for the adjacent window frame so when you slide the window open fully it stops on the buffers.



Norman Julian
Rubber buffers.
The original ones didn't want to come out without breaking.
They were hard anyway.
The whole idea is for the glass to bounce off the buffer, not to break.
Phil Steele
Norman Julian 17 Mar
I have stepped away from the windows for now.
Niggling pain I need 100% concentration, so I gathered most of the hand rails and examined them.
I took the base plates off and some came up OK with a buff but with 65 years of dents etc they are just not good enough for this bus.
I have started with the help of my linisher sanded out most of the dents of 2 bases so far.
I want to get the remainder of what needs to be rechromed and get them done over winter.
Another piece of bad news is that only 1 out of 5 of the thick post are any good.
They are bent and dented.
I will sort that out at another time.





Carle Gregory
in this pic you seem to have a spare part or three
Norman Julian
Self screwing screws in the orange boxes.
Assorted nuts and bolts and assorted bits and pieces in the white boxes
Andrew Blacklock
Norman Julian one can never have enough nuts/bolts and screws etc in the shed
Brian Blunt
That Murphy bloke tells me that no matter how many nuts and bolts you keep, you won't have the one you need when the time comes
Norman Julian
Brian Blunt it's about time he changed that bloody law.





Norman Julian 18 Mar
Had a bit of time this afternoon so continued on with this job.
With what I said yesterday, I cleaned up these base plates but as you can see they are battered and bruised so I made up a jig and put one through the mini lathe.
Because they aren't true I dare not use a cutter from the lathe on them rather I sanded most of the dents out on the linisher and then finished it off on the lathe using various grades of sandpaper and files.
This on the right is using course paper.
I will finish it with a fine and then it will be ready for chroming.
Both by the way looked very similar before I started.

Stuart Brown
Looks like a new one now.
Lovely result
Norman Julian
There is plenty of meat so to speak to sand these grooves, dents and scratches out.
Charles Shipway Time will take care of this part of the restoration after Norm works through it and does it his way as usual
Phil Steele
Norman Julian 20th Mar
I'm in wind down mode folks but not before I gathered up the remaining little things to be chromed.
The bulk of this are handrail brackets and ends.
I will go over individual pieces to see if I can remove dents and scratches like what I mentioned the other day.
If you take an item to be chromed the way it is then that is the way you get it back, just with a fresh layer of chrome.
Yes when they do the process a few of the minor scratches are filled but not the bigger ones.
You will be dissapointed.
You are better off preparing it yourself.
I'm not sending the rails themselves away to get done.
Other arrangements will be made for them.
Most of the straight ones are coming up OK with a buff.
The dented ones will be replaced.


Norman Julian
The bracket on the left is ready for chroming the other is not


Norman Julian
These are the indicator switches.
The one on the left was buff a few years ago but as you can see the chrome has all but gone up the top.
Very light chroming I'd say.
The other has rust.
Norman Julian
Scott Wilson.
Can you explain what these letters represent please.
Scott Wilson
L, Left
R, Right
X , + in
H, Hand light
S, Stop light.
Norman Julian
Basically for wiring purposes?
Scott Wilson
Norman Julian yes.


Norman Julian
Pieces like this are aluminium.
These wont be chromed just buffed up.
I made a start on it at the top.
Aluminium comes up well when polished.
The only problem is that it can deteriorate fairly quickly, as in a few years exposed to the air.
Robert Stevenson
Give them a 2k clearcoat.
Normal will do at a pinch.
Have done it to alloy parts on my bike and it lasts well.
Norman Julian
Thanks for the heads up, Robert!
Brian Blunt
Norman Julian Incralac is great for keeping the shine on brass , should work on aluminium too.
Norman Julian
Brian Blunt Yes.
Remember that from years ago.

Norman Julian
This is an old radiator cap that I practised on.


Norman Julian
This is the radiator cap.
It was dented quite badly.
Because it was really thick brass I was able to sand most of the scratches and dents out.
It looks brilliant after being chromed.

Norman Julian
This is the flip side and I took it apart before chroming and replaced the seal, split rings etc.
Gregor Neil Robertson
Beautifully engineered component.
Norman Julian
It is too.
I was studying it when I took it apart.
Norman Julian
How many radiator caps have you ever seen that comes completely apart for servicing.
Norman Julian
This whole system is unpressurised.
Norman Julian 26th Mar
Last job for a little while I'm affraid.
New hip tomorrow.
This front entrance upper rail bracket was very time consuming.
It was badly dented and scratched.
All these ones are now ready to be chromed.
I'm putting all of the rails back up for proper fitment before rechroming.





Jim Sharp
Good luck Norman.
I'm looking into stem cell treatment for my hip.
Norman Julian
Thanks Jim!
Gregor Neil Robertson
All my friends who have had this have been delighted with results and the speed of recovery.
I hope the surgeons make as good a job on you as you do with your bus! Keep us informed, and best of luck.
Norman Julian
Thanks Gregor!
Charles Shipway
All the best with the operation.
Tomorrow Norm
Norman Julian
Will do, Charles!
Garth Taylor
Hope it all goes well for you Norm, looking forward to seeing your post showing you are on the move again ☕����
Norman Julian
I will be glad when it's all over, Garth!
Carle Gregory
get better soon Norman Julian
Norman Julian
Thanks Carl!
Geoff Jones
Good Luck buddy.........
Norman Julian
Thanks Geoff!
Mark Ellery
All the best Norm,
Norman Julian
Will do, Markus!
Wayne Swadling
all the best.
You will better than ever in no time my neighbor had it done and reckons he should of done it ages ago
Norman Julian
Thanks everyone.
Andrew Blacklock
Best wishes for a speedy recovery mate
Norman Julian
Thanks Andrew!
Greg Scott
Bus is looking great norm !
All the best with the op !
Norman Julian
Cheers Greg!
Robert Stevenson
Good luck with the operation.
Big surgery isn't much fun.
Still recovering from a 2 level spinal fusion done in August myself.
Follow the surgeons instructions for the best recovery.
Hope to see more posts soon.
Norman Julian
Thanks Robert.
I'm happy for the break in one way.
Lots of progress in the last 12 months.
I will be planning the start of the 31 seater Leyland and also the decker.
Will be working on all 3 this year and hopfully finishing off this bus by the end of the year.
James Leonard Garrod
Best of Luck with the Op Norm, please advise when you are on the mend so I can resume hanging shit on you...
Norman Julian
Thanks James and there is no need to stop.
James Leonard Garrod
Ok then, I pity the poor bloody nurses - one more Idiot to deal with.....no wonder they all go overseas to work - they've all heard about You!
Norman Julian
I get my own room and they like to visit me.
James Leonard Garrod
Norman Julian ....then call you an idiot back at the nurses station.....
Norman Julian
That's probably the case.
Probably the case with all patients.
James Leonard Garrod
No, just the 'Special' ones.....(the wankers in private rooms.)
Stuart Brown
Really beautiful work Norman
All the best with the op...
Hope you bounce well!
Norman Julian Thanks Stuart!
Fred Holland
Fantastic work your doing there Norm. Good luck for tomorrow.
Norman Julian
Thanks Fred.
Brian LeQuesne
Good luck with the new hip Norm.
Hope all goes well.
Norman Julian
Thanks Brian!
Robert Bothwell
Best wishes for a successful operation Norman.
Norman Julian
Hope so and thanks Robert.
Phil Steele
Paul Andreatta
You'll be fine Norman.
My Dad is 84 and has recently recovered from his Hip Replacement, pain free and made a speedy recovery.
So you'll back working on the Bus in no time.
Last updated
March 2019
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