GM Futurliner Progress Photos
GM Futurliner Restoration Project
National Automotive and Truck Museum of the United States

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Previously we reported that the upper doors were at Sparta Sheet metal for the purpose of making new ones. Ed has been working with Don at Sparta and they discovered that the 16' piano hinge used to attached the door to the roof had a bind. This bind was causing the door to sag in the up position.
    Because of space limitations in the work bay, all the work has to be done outside. Fortunately it was not raining or snowing but it was blowing and the temperature was 45 F.

Don at Sparta Sheet Metal, and Ed DeVries designed and built four new large hinges with which to mount the door to the roof of the Futurliner. Dick Saddler points to problem hinge. They mounted the left door on the Futurliner and at the end of the day it was operating without any sag. 

While the left door was being mounted onto the Futurliner the right door was being prepared to be mounted. Last spring, using everyone's ideas to eliminate door sag, we added all kinds of braces. Today all this metal was removed by cutting, burning, and grinding it off. This job was done by Jerry, Paul, Wayne, Connie, and Don. Next week we will tackle installing this door, assuming we have decent weather.

Howard welds the new hinge in place.

Close up of the new hinge.

Ed DeVries positions his high-low for lifting the door off the trailer.

The door is wheeled into the work bay on a dolly.

Final preparations before lifting the door into place.

The door is hung back on the Futurliner with care. Next week the door on the other side will be installed.

This picture shows the ventilation hatch in the ceiling of the cockpit.

The cockpit dash is finished and looking great!

Wayne and Jerry do some wood crafting.

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