How do you find the beams or struts in the roof of Merc Bus

[weezanickinoff]

We'd really appreciate someone helping to tell us how to find the beams or struts in the roof of a 84 Merc Bus?? We want to mount a TV to the ceiling but don't want to pull down the ceiling lining and batting to do it, we've tried running a magnet along but doesnt work (precisely anyway) So any constructive advise would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[Dot]

Hi Ash & Wendy plus the girls, What about trying a stud finder?? but then there is the issue of the steel construction, some are U shaped with 2 flanges either side at the bottom. I guess the best thing about doing a build yourself is that you know where and what everything is. What about on a very cold night can you see the condensation along where the steel beams are situated?? You will have to be very strong to do that one and have warm PJ's on.. worth a try maybe

[weezanickinoff]

stud finder didn't work either Dotty, mmmmm rather taking easier option than getting that cold....brrrrr!!

[T1 Terry]

It depends who the body builder was. Smithfield/Custom Coaches use a pressed folded 3mm steel sheet, if yo drew an W, put a flat wing facing out on the two outer legs, cut the V out of the middle and made it flat across the 2 points, then turn it over, that's the shape of the beams that go from one side to the other, folded and bent to create the curve each side. The pieces between the roof beams are more bits of 3mm sheet folded into a Z shape but with the long stand up bit straight. It is a very strong but very light weight construction, it you have 2 lines of rivets parallel from one side to the other, where those rivets are is the strongest spot.

5.jpg

Hopefully the photo makes my wierd description make a bit more sense.

[weezanickinoff]

Yep the 'boss' figured out what you meant, so thank you he'll have a look at that.
Our builder was Custom Coaches Guildford NSW. I have emailed them and hoping to get some info back.
Cheers

[BruceS]

Wendy I can't remember what material your ceiling was made out of but I'd be surprised if you put a couple of thick wooly socks over a hammer handle & gently tap, tapped along a line an inch apart, that you'd hear the more dull thud where the support is behind. You might even get pretty close indication by just 'springing' the ceiling up. You should get a little movement where there is no support?
It is surprising how light those LCD LED TV's are now so if you get those screws that pop through a hole & spring open behind the sheet material it would probably do the job. (half a dozen?)
http://elraco.com.au/index.php?cPath=11_746_750

[T1 Terry]

If you give Custom coaches the vehicle number, should be stamped on the vehicle builders ID plate, but it's also welded into the bottom front body member generally, they could be able to give you a blue print of the body build design, they probably also know every part that went into the build, including the felt strips that the sliding windows sit in as I found out, a truely amazing stock history on file, the spares dept may be the best bet to do the tracking.

Is your ceiling aluminium sheeting over lapped? If so, the 2 lines of rivets running from one side to the other at the overlap is the strongest point, the ribs running long ways don't have a lot of strength at all, the area in between is just aluminium sheet, virtually no strength at all except from the tight radius bend at the sides, even hanging heavy magnet speakers in the unsupported area will cause the ceiling to sag, the aluminium sheet just stretches under the weight.

[weezanickinoff]

All your wonderful suggestions taken in, thank you. We are so much farther onto a solution than we were before.
Ash is not too keen on fastening the TV directly to the lining......not over some of the roads we take!!!
As for the stud finders metal or timber, with a metal roof that comes into the equation, you have metal beams and roof then the ceiling lining is extremely tough "stuff". 1/4" thick, it's not plaster or ply.
Cheers

[Dot]

Wendy Wendy Wendy, TV's in the bedroom you sound like you have joined the "Old farts club" put a mirror on the ceiling and forget the tv.

[weezanickinoff]

Wendy Wendy Wendy, TV's in the bedroom you sound like you have joined the "Old farts club" put a mirror on the ceiling and forget the tv.

EEEEEEOOOOOOOWWWWWW Dotty Dotty Dotty!!!

Nah We haven't watched Tele in bed ever but there was one in there and we got a freeby from Ash's Mum's estate and it doesn't fit the hole where the analogue one was.........it's a pure luxury item that we'll have "just in case!!!"
You're a bad girl Dotty! God can you imagine them coming crashing down on one of those corrugated roads, nuk! means housework!
Cheers