seats, floors, bodies in a 110

They do that in the high-cap 110 so...

The seat boxes contribute a lot of the strength and rigidity to the rear tub, but this could be replaced by suitable reinforcing - would need to build a completely new floor, and the reinforcing underneath would need to be stronger. You would probably want to put a reinforcing rail along where the seat box edge joins the body. But I question how much footroom you would gain from this - the front of the seatbox is nearly as close as you can get to the wheel on the wagon, and what you gain at the back would not be much use for footroom unless you have rearward facing seats, which is, of course possible.

However, looking at mine, the seat boxes could be narrowed out to about the outside of the spring upper mount. Remember that the size of the seat box and floor width is actually inherited from the Series 1, which had a much narrower track.

JD

On or around Wed, 30 May 2007 06:35:02 +1000, JD enlightened us thusly:

Good point. This is in fact what they've done inside the newer Santanas, with the added bonus of a wider door as well. That'd probably work, in terms of space. I'll have to have a look. Floor could do with coming out anyway to repair the back end of the chassis.

Austin Shackles uttered summat worrerz funny about:

Get the rear tub off and sort it properly then. Should be straight forward enough.

Lee

On or around Wed, 30 May 2007 17:02:16 +0100, "Lee_D" enlightened us thusly:

that's a lot of hassle on a CSW though - roof lining to remove etc. etc. If I'm going to be modifying the floor/wheelboxes anyway, there's not much to be gained, might as well get the floor out.

However, on the basis of conversation with the contracts bloke in the council, I might end up doing none of it. Apparently there's imminent legislation which will force all councils to use licensed vehicles. Chances of the authorities looking with favour on any of mine is slender, but more worryingly, I'd have to shell for the licences and much more expensive insurance in advance of tendering for any route that might be available, and no guarantee of getting the route I've got now.

Frankly, I like the bit I do now, I'm not that keen on putting in for something like transporting special needs pupils to special needs units which is what the majority of the small contracts are. I'd be quite inclined to tell 'em thanks-but-no-thanks. This would mean I'd have to seek other work, either more self-employed or an actual real job. Alternatively and possibly just as lucratively, I could sign on...

In such case, I'd probably sell the minibus and Edward II and do up the 110 as everyday transport, to which end I'd not need to faff with modifying the body, which would of course make it all much easier.

Of course, this new plan will gain nothing in the way of safety or accountability in the school transport, it'll just make it all cost a lot more, which will come out of taxation one way or another. Typical increase in bureaucracy for the sake of it. But I'm not bitter. not much. not more than that stuff for putting on anklebiters' thumbs to stop them sucking same.

F*ck the lot of 'em, I say.