GM Futurliner Progress Photos

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

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2002 Progress/Work Photos
The Way It Looks 1/1/2002 Marge the Buffer Lighting Fin GM Operations & Card Case Framework Roof Arrives Roof Is Prepared	Roof Is Installed Seats & Air Big Generator Big Gen. 1 Big Gen. 2 Big Gen. 3 Structural1	Structural2 Structural3 Structural4 Parts1 Parts2 Parts3 Parts4	Parts5 Parts6 Display Projects Autronic Eye Lighting Fin Installed Miscellaneous Trim

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.