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My basement rebuild

I have been busy the last few days cutting out my basement floor. I have a sister coach to JohnFitz. A while back he posted a write up of his issue and rebuild.  In 2014 when I got this coach I had issues under battery box area and made repairs to support. I had found rot then.  I have been watching it and recently noticed more separation. I opened up the bottom and after seeing what I saw I decided to go ahead and fix it for good. I have been in contact with John and am going to try and follow his footprints in this repair. I have the bottom cut out and will pick up material tomorrow. My semi is in suspension shop for more days so I'll work on coach. Anyway here are some pictures, because everybody likes pictures..

Re: My basement rebuild

Reply #1 –
WOW is all I can say.. Just Wow.. Great undertaking.... Wow.  ^.^d  ^.^d  ^.^d

Re: My basement rebuild

Reply #2 –
Mad skills Stump. Best wishes for a fast, easy fix.

Re: My basement rebuild

Reply #3 –
Quote from: stump –
I have been busy the last frew days cutting out my basement floor. I have a sister coach to JohnFitz. A while back he posted a write up of his issue and rebuild.  In 2014 when I got this coach I had issues under battery box area and made repairs to support. I had found rot then.  I have been watching it and recently noticed more separation. I opened up the bottom and after seeing what I saw I decided to go ahead and fix it for good. I have beennin contact with John and am going to try and follow his footprints in this repair. I have the bottom cut out and will pick up material tomorrow. My semi is in suspension shop for more days so I'll work on coach. Anyway here are some pictures, because everybody likes pictures..
Was gonna come up and see if you needed help.....keep in touch...

Re: My basement rebuild

Reply #4 –
I don't envy you, but I'm certainly glad that you're doing it right!

Re: My basement rebuild

Reply #5 –
Stump- another person who did a basement rebuild is Don ( Acousticart).  He is another resource for DIY rebuilds.
Best of luck buddy, that is a big project, but I know you are a big man and can handle it.              ;)

Re: My basement rebuild

Reply #6 –
Best paint I've found for rust is Rust Bullit,better then Por15,check them out.

Re: My basement rebuild

Reply #7 –
I will check it out, Thanks. I have everything covered in OSPHO now.

Re: My basement rebuild

Reply #8 –
Holy smokes!

Re: My basement rebuild

Reply #9 –
Good luck with that. I don't envy you right now, but better to do it yourself than have someone else mess it up.
I found a severely rusted bolt on one of my bay slides  the other day. My basement was done by a not to be mentioned repair facility in Nac. Not sure  why one or more of these big bolts should be fully rusting out after only a few years after the job was done. But I suspect I know why.

Re: My basement rebuild

Reply #10 –
Go Stump....  I imagine most 91 motorhomes are headed ( or in) the bone yard. Good on ya for keeping a classic alive. 

Re: My basement rebuild

Reply #11 –
Quote from: stump –
I will check it out, Thanks. I have everything covered in OSPHO now.
Yes, OSPHO has been the standard rust treatment for deep sea sailors for many years.

Re: My basement rebuild

Reply #12 –
And remember,OSPHO is good but it's a primer,it's only as good as the top coat.

Re: My basement rebuild

Reply #13 –
Really looking forward to seeing your progress on this project, Stump. You, Don and a few others set the bar pretty high! Thanks for posting the photos. In looking at the first one showing the entire structure I was reminded of my time in Nacogdoches when I got mine done by Motorhomes. I was down at the welding shop watching them work when one of the guys showed me pieces large and small of others they had worked on. Most looked much worse than yours. It will be great to have all new.
jor

Re: My basement rebuild

Reply #15 –
Quote from: jcus –
Yes, OSPHO has been the standard rust treatment for deep sea sailors for many years.
I was turned on to it by a fireman on one of the fire boats at Long Beach Harbor. Have used it for years to stop the rust and because it becomes the primer just painted over it. On my boat trailer used Rustolium epoxy after the Ospho

Re: My basement rebuild

Reply #16 –
30 + years ago when I worked at a chemical dipping company ( friend started it to clean his own 55 Chevy parts)  they used ospho to coat EVERYTHING when it came out of the  acid  Dip tank.  It immediately stopped all surface rust and I also learned how good it was for  attacking  general rust.

Re: My basement rebuild

Reply #17 –
Basement Floor
I picked up my metal today and brought it home. I started on the rear bulkhead box tube . I measured and cut it to the old one. I fitted it up and secured it with clamps  adjusted it side to side and clamped it tight. I took my hand drill with a 5/16th cobalt bit and drilled into it to mark the locations. The holes by the tires are too close to get the drill in so I marked each one I could took steel off and over to my drill press setup and drilled those holes. I then took it back to the coach and bolted it up on the backside of the bulkhead. I then drilled the remaining holes through the opposite way because now I had room for the drill and bit. Tomorrow I will pick up new 3/8 grade 8 bolts and nuts and fasten it all back in. Then I  will start on the bay divider wall stringers and get all those holes drilled. This one piece was 4.5 hours of work. It doesn't look like much progress but in this repair it is a big milestone!

Re: My basement rebuild

Reply #18 –
At my shop we use a solution that put a micro etch on the material and anywhere it touches the metal.. it has cut my rust service calls to almost nothing.. Might be worth making a plastic dipping tank with visqueen plastic roll.. with a rust inhibitor for the inside of the tube.. considering where its going... 2 2x4 on the ground with the plastic laid over it with the solution you can set the pieces of tube in to soak.. just an idea.

Re: My basement rebuild

Reply #19 –
Interesting But I  think this repair will suffice. We are looking at a 28 year old coach also. I think this will last as long as I use it.