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Old 11-08-2004, 09:40 AM   #1
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1984 Chevy / Wayne conversion

Well I took the plunge. A friend and I just bought a bus on ebay and will be working on it this winter.

first things first, did I get a decent bus? I would have preferred Diesel but $810 seemed like a pretty good deal. ebay link below.

I have a digital camera so as soon as I go get the bus the pictures will start to flow in.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWN%3AIT

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Old 11-08-2004, 09:50 AM   #2
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I payed more than what you did for yours and my bus is over 10 years older.
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Old 11-09-2004, 01:07 AM   #3
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I paid more for mine also and mine is a lot shorter
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Old 11-22-2004, 09:32 AM   #4
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I finally picked up the bus. I have some photos on my website and the rest will be added later today.

One question for everyone, can steel transmission cooler lines be replacced with standard hydraulic hoses?

view photos and trip comments here:

http://siebrecht.us/skoolie
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Old 11-22-2004, 10:54 AM   #5
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Steel lines would probably be cheaper. You can usually cut off the old line near the fitting and attach the new ones with rubber hose and clamps. Otherwise, the best fix is to just replace them with new lines and fittings. Not terribly expensive. We run long lines in my stock car to place a cooler up front and we attach them to the cooler using rubber fuel line and clamps and I have never had one come off or fail.
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Old 11-25-2004, 08:25 PM   #6
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1989 Chevy Bus

I picked up my 1989 Chevy Thomas bus for 800
It has a 8.2L detroit deisel
Alison at545 auto trans
70k miles
66 passenger.
IT runs and drives great
I bought it from Chicagobussales.com
Jon
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Old 11-26-2004, 06:02 AM   #7
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I had one set up like that last year....great bus for traveling....we made a 5000 mile trip out west and averaged 8.5 mpg...course it was a slow trip...
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Old 11-27-2004, 10:20 AM   #8
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With an AT545 Allison (and you have my sympathies), get the biggest trans cooler that will fit behind the grille. This trans is ALWAYS slipping--it never locks up.

And a Detroit 8.2 litre? Again, you have my sympathies.
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Old 11-29-2004, 07:12 PM   #9
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Jarlaxle where did you get your info.

Where do you get your info on the Chevroelt bus powertrain.

I have heard nothing but good reveiws for the at545 from guys at the truck shops that I know. They say that this trans always shifts firm and almost never slips. As for the 8.2L detroit it does have its problems as in headgaskets and other minor problems but that engine has been in marine aplications for years.

I was just wondering if you had experieance with this powertrain or if your just a die hard Ford fan.
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Old 11-29-2004, 08:59 PM   #10
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Quote:
This trans is ALWAYS slipping--it never locks up

I think he is refering to the torque converter which in that allison trans is designed not to lockup. Just get a BIG trans cooler since slipping torque converters create heat. Lots of people are iffy on the 8.2 but the only bad thing I have heard from bus mechs is the head gaskets going. What kind of speed will it do on the highway?
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Old 11-29-2004, 10:46 PM   #11
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I've heard NOTHING good about the 8.2 other than "it's cheap to replace when it lets go". The higher-HP turbos (over 200) are complete disasters; the low-power versions are...well, better. Don't overheat it, don't run the oil low, & DON'T OVERREV IT!

Edit: No experience with an 8.2/545, but plenty of miles in shuttles with the Allison 545 (behind Cummins B's & IH T444E's). Reasonably durable, but a huge power hog.

And my favorite bus is International.
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Old 11-30-2004, 05:26 PM   #12
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Read this post about the 8.2 in a Chevy. Now you can't say you have never heard anything good about the 8.2.


http://www.schoolbusfleet.com/forum/top ... IC_ID=9365
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Old 12-01-2004, 01:08 AM   #13
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chicago bus

Het JonCBrand, I live in the Chicago area and am looking for a bus. I checked out Chicagobussales.com and saw their prices. I am wondering how you got your bus so cheap? Thanks in advance
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Old 12-01-2004, 09:28 PM   #14
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Have you checked out http://www.422sales.com/ they have had auctions in Chicago before so I check with them.
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Old 12-14-2004, 01:45 PM   #15
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Today I went to the courthouse to re-title as a motorhome and get the bus registered. Way easier than I thought. The hardest part was waiting for the staff to figure out how much to charge me. All I had to do was fill out this paper saying what modifications i did, 110V power, alternate heat or air source, etc. No pictures required. $102.50 later I have a new title that says I have a motorhome and new plates to but on the bus. Sweet day. All thats left is getting it insured. Going to put that off for a while since its winter, if I decide to take a trip its a simple phone call to the insurance agent.
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Old 02-02-2005, 11:23 AM   #16
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Here are a few pictures of our recent quick mods and trip to the Iowa winter games.



After power washing



putting carpet in



We just had to go for a road trip to the winter games in Okoboji
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Old 02-03-2005, 11:34 AM   #17
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Restraunt booths

I just got 2 booths out of the local KFC for $20 each. This should be pretty sweet for playing cards and drinking games on the bus. I'll post some pics as soon as I install them.
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Old 04-25-2005, 08:41 AM   #18
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The bus is Painted

Its finally painted, tonight we will be painting on the graphics and lettering, I'll have more pictures when I'm done with that.



There are more pictures if you follow this link

http://getleid.us/modules.php?name=N...article&sid=25
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Old 04-25-2005, 09:54 AM   #19
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great photos!

wish i had an indoor place to paint my skoolie !

we just got several inches of snow........it was 80 degrees last week....that's michigan for ya!
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Old 04-25-2005, 05:43 PM   #20
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Re: The bus is Painted

Quote:
Originally Posted by glock17
Its finally painted, tonight we will be painting on the graphics and lettering, I'll have more pictures when I'm done with that.
Lookin pretty good. Can you share with us more on how you painted your ride... did you have professional equip, or a pro there to help... what type of paint/primer did you use, did you have a small portable air compressor? Things like that. I am about to paint mine and I have been back and forth on either spreying it, or rolling it...
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