Hole in the Floor

[bubblerboy64]

Just finished installing my air seats. Big improvement in ride quality
and especially considering that my bus does not have air suspension
(steel springs). In the process I found a hole (covered by a obviously
previous owner installed aluminum cover) this hole is right next to the
dog house actually between the dog house and the drivers seat. I would
have to assume it was for a shift lever of some type. Now this bus had
originally the 391 ford industrial motor and I think maybe there was a
second larger ford motor in there before the 3208 was used. I am just
curious about this hole and am wondering if it would have been made for
some other reason then for a shift lever? Would if have been a manual
transmission? Any guesses or speculation welcome. The hole is about
six inches wide and perhaps ten inches long oval in shape.
John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC

[Harold Prescott]

John, What make and model seat did you decide on? I can't help with
the reason for the hole in the floor.

Harold Prescott
'85 FC35
Smokey California



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
wrote:
>
> Just finished installing my air seats. Big improvement in ride quality
> and especially considering that my bus does not have air suspension
> (steel springs). In the process I found a hole (covered by a obviously
> previous owner installed aluminum cover) this hole is right next to the
> dog house actually between the dog house and the drivers seat. I would
> have to assume it was for a shift lever of some type. Now this bus had
> originally the 391 ford industrial motor and I think maybe there was a
> second larger ford motor in there before the 3208 was used. I am just
> curious about this hole and am wondering if it would have been made for
> some other reason then for a shift lever? Would if have been a manual
> transmission? Any guesses or speculation welcome. The hole is about
> six inches wide and perhaps ten inches long oval in shape.
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
>

[pattypape]

Some FC's had a panel to access the steering box....???...

Bill 88 FC Michigan

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
wrote:
>
> Just finished installing my air seats. Big improvement in ride
quality
> and especially considering that my bus does not have air suspension
> (steel springs). In the process I found a hole (covered by a
obviously
> previous owner installed aluminum cover) this hole is right next to
the
> dog house actually between the dog house and the drivers seat. I
would
> have to assume it was for a shift lever of some type. Now this bus
had
> originally the 391 ford industrial motor and I think maybe there
was a
> second larger ford motor in there before the 3208 was used. I am
just
> curious about this hole and am wondering if it would have been made
for
> some other reason then for a shift lever? Would if have been a
manual
> transmission? Any guesses or speculation welcome. The hole is
about
> six inches wide and perhaps ten inches long oval in shape.
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
>

[bubblerboy64]

Hi Bill, I thought about the steering box but I believe that that
access would have been more to the center front of the drivers seat.
This is hole is under the drivers seat right arm rest so I have to
assume that it was a shift lever, but I didn't think the buses ever
had manual shift levers which would have been what I would guess is
the reason for the hole. But who knows it could have been made to
get one of the engines in place. Just wondered if anyone had seen
similar. The seats? I had a fellow custom make the seats using
National seat stuff. He matched the upholstery to my material that I
had used on the front couches. I don't have the information at my
fingers but I can get it for anyone interested. Shane and I worked
together on this project and he also had seats made for is PT. I'll
see if I can get the information and I will post it. I am pleased
with the job and I also saved a little money.

John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC
>
> Some FC's had a panel to access the steering box....???...
>
> Bill 88 FC Michigan
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
> wrote:
> >
> > Just finished installing my air seats. Big improvement in ride
> quality
> > and especially considering that my bus does not have air
suspension
> > (steel springs). In the process I found a hole (covered by a
> obviously
> > previous owner installed aluminum cover) this hole is right next
to
> the
> > dog house actually between the dog house and the drivers seat. I
> would
> > have to assume it was for a shift lever of some type. Now this
bus
> had
> > originally the 391 ford industrial motor and I think maybe there
> was a
> > second larger ford motor in there before the 3208 was used. I am
> just
> > curious about this hole and am wondering if it would have been
made
> for
> > some other reason then for a shift lever? Would if have been a
> manual
> > transmission? Any guesses or speculation welcome. The hole is
> about
> > six inches wide and perhaps ten inches long oval in shape.
> > John Heckman
> > central Pa
> > 1973 FC
> >
>

[bubblerboy64]

Harold, I used Union County Seating & Supply, Inc for the seats.
Located in Kenilworth New Jersey. They do a lot of work for the
local and I guess not so local bus companies and they matched the
existing materials I had used on the couches. They can do about any
thing a person would want and they were also a little cheaper. I
paid $1400 total for the two seats. Shane picked them up so I also
saved shipping.
John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC
>
> John, What make and model seat did you decide on? I can't help with
> the reason for the hole in the floor.
>
> Harold Prescott
> '85 FC35
> Smokey California
>
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
> wrote:
> >
> > Just finished installing my air seats. Big improvement in ride
quality
> > and especially considering that my bus does not have air
suspension
> > (steel springs). In the process I found a hole (covered by a
obviously
> > previous owner installed aluminum cover) this hole is right next
to the
> > dog house actually between the dog house and the drivers seat. I
would
> > have to assume it was for a shift lever of some type. Now this
bus had
> > originally the 391 ford industrial motor and I think maybe there
was a
> > second larger ford motor in there before the 3208 was used. I am
just
> > curious about this hole and am wondering if it would have been
made for
> > some other reason then for a shift lever? Would if have been a
manual
> > transmission? Any guesses or speculation welcome. The hole is
about
> > six inches wide and perhaps ten inches long oval in shape.
> > John Heckman
> > central Pa
> > 1973 FC
> >
>