Rebuilding the Fuso Szulc 6

Friday June 5th at 12.30 pm Eric Ferguson arrived at Kearny Mesa Truck Centre in San Diego with the Fuso Szulc.

The second time in one week.

The first time, three days earlier, inspection revealed that the part of the sub frame on the upper part of the truck chassis, carrying about 40 % of the weight, was not resting on the truck frame but was carried by only four bolts to the side of the truck chassis.
And that parts of the subframe on the lower part of the truck chassis, were not resting on the truck frame.
At several places it was possible to put a sheet of paper through.


These problems had been noticed several days before, on Sunday, at the workplace of Eric Ferguson in El Cajon.

About which Ron Lucero of Kearny Mesa Truck Centre was immediately informed.
But obviously, this was not addressed.

This first time the Fuso Szulc was delivered from El Cajon to Kearny Mesa it was also discovered that the bushings were not correctly mounted in their brackets.
And that a fresh watertank was touching the subframe.
Last thing was that the camperbox on the sub frame was at an angle lengthwise.
Lower on the front site.
Higher on the backside.

When the Fuso Szulc returned from El Cajon for the second time, the bushings were correctly installed.
The fresh water tank had enough room.
The front part of the sub frame was now well supported.

But the spaces between the subframe and the truck chassis were still there.
Sheets of paper can be put through as the images show.

The angle of the camper box also was still there.
Exact measurements reveal that the front is one inch higher than the back.

These issues were discussed.
Eric Ferguson explained that usually wood is put between subframes and frames.
Wood is softer and makes the subframe fit perfectly to the frame.

But that he had decided to use tarred metal strips because of wood rotting eventually.
The metal strips obviously do not fit as well as wood; having no vertical flexibility like wood has.
Hence, this issue was left behind as it is.

The angle of the camper box is not very obvious.
Because the front of the truck, since an extra leaf was added to the front left springs, is higher than the back.
The inch of the camper box being lower to the truck frame is compensated by the front of the truck being higher.
This results in the whole unit being level.

So, this issue could also be left behind.

Next, there was a one on one conversation between Eric Ferguson and Ron Lucero of Kearny Mesa Truck Centre.
About the price the job was costing.
That it should be reduced due to the serious delay in completing the work.
But Eric Ferguson was not in for any gesture.
He wanted the full price.


This was contrary to Kearny Mesa Truck Centre.
They generously compensated the hotel and rental car costs.
And eliminated several other costs concerning servicing the Fuso Szulc.
On top they donated and installed new mud flaps.

The rebuilding of the Fuso Szulc has been completed and the future will show how effective the new system will be.
It has been a difficult procedure though and it must be made very clear this has only been caused by the work planning of Eric Ferguson.
Kearny Mesa Truck Centre, in particular Ron Lucero and Bill Constantine, have been doing everything what they could for the customer.
Proving once more that they are the place for excellent service.