GM - PPO operations made arrangements
to ship the center section (front to back) of the newly fabricated
roof frame today. I have been describing this as 1/3 of the roof
frame. However after it arrived it is really 1/2 of the roof
frame. There is a 1/4 on the right side and a 1/4 on the left side
that needs to be assembled yet.
|
This center section of the roof was
scheduled to arrive at 10:30 and at exactly 10:27 the truck from
Warren, Michigan rolled in the drive way. The driver advised us
the easiest and safest way to unload his truck and that was
promptly done. The trailer is positioned in front of the
garage for removal of the center section.
|
Ed DeVries used his
high-low fork lift. Ed is Chief Engineer on the roof and side
doors and he had pretty much planned today's session. Del
Carpenter and Don Mayton were there to help.
Ed's
high-low was chained to the Futurliner and the Futurliner pulled
out of the barn. It was a very windy day here in Michigan and we
had to make sure everything was done safely. Ed had his plan.
After unloading the many pieces of steel for the right and left
sides of the roof (some assembly required later), we chained the
new center roof frame to the forks of the high-low. A safety chain
was attached to the mast of the truck to prevent the chain from
slipping off the end of the forks. |
With ropes attached
to each end of the 16'-6" long center roof frame, and Del and
Don guiding, the new roof frame was lifted and placed at an angle
to be slid in between the rear bulk head and the old roof of the
Futurliner. It was a very tight fit and we had to use the porta-power
hydraulic jack to raise the old roof as well as a come-along to
slide the rear section in its place. Then with Ed maneuvering the
high-low he swung the front of the new roof frame in between the
front bulk head and the old roof section. Next, the new roof frame
had to be slid forward to be secure over the front bulk head. This
was done using the porta-power hydraulic jack and a come-along.
Both of these tools were used to center the new roof frame right
to left.
Getting the roof
in its rough location it took only three hours. We
want of thank all of GM-PPO employees for the great job that they
did and how it fit perfectly on top of the bulk heads that they
had previously fabricated and installed.
|