92 Thomas International Navistar

[Aflex]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Is bus conversion common in Russia?

Hello, friends!
Not many, but sometimes it is.

[EastCoastCB]

I'd love to have one of these-



Sorry for the thread drift!

[BurlKing]

no problem, so would i! lol

[Aflex]

I don't know what UAZ use as a scool bus! UAZ is micro size of russian scool bus, but Kavz was biggest. There are 24 seats in it. I want make topic about my bus later.
Iam sorry too!

[BurlKing]

well it sure would make a nice little companion vehicle to a bigger bus. lol. i'll keep a look out for your thread when you make it, i'm curios to see what your bus looks like.

[Polarweasel]

So is the subfloor glued down, with the insulation framing screwed to that? Or did you also screw down the plywood somehow?

[BurlKing]

alright so the way i have it going, i sealed up all the previous 200+ holes in the floor from the original bus seats so i didn't want to penetrate the skin of the bus again. So the first layer of plywood is wedged in the bottom pretty snug and glued pretty heavily, we put probably 200+ LBS of weights on each piece of plywood as the caulk dried, then as the weights were still there we outlined the bus in 2x4's and those are caulked and screwed to the chair rail sideways. They are solid as a rock. then the joists that run the width of the bus where the insulation is in are screwed diagonally "toe nailed" into the 2x4s that outline the bus. The other plywood will sit on top of all of the 2x'4's and then screwed from top, downwards to tie it all together.

[EricW]

Sweet build so far! Look forward to seeing the progress

[Polarweasel]

Thanks for the explanation! That totally makes sense, and I really like how you did that!

[BurlKing]

thanks guys! and no problem, this site has provided me with so much information the least i could do is try to return the favor. we will keep you updated.

[milkmania]

What is the R value of the denim insulation?
Can it be compressed?

I'm thinking 2x2 framing, rather than standing 2x4 on edge. But then again... 2x4 on edge would be perfect for running PEX plumbing & Romex wiring!

[BurlKing]

the stuff im putting in is R-13. As far as i know rolled batting and blown-in insulation can not be compressed or it does not have its proper insulating abilities. i think due to lack of air or something. not quite sure the exact science behind it, i just know not to compress it but just to make it snug.
with that being said. i was going to go with 2x2's for the longest time and they make this stuff for 2x2 framing as well. i think the R value is about 7 or so though.
i did think of running my wires in plumbing through them just like you said though lol but i figured i will leave them on the inside of everything and hiding them behind things.

[BurlKing]

Another good day for the bus, despite negative degree weather. The entire sub-floor is done, pictures will come soon.

We also put some bids in at a local auction and won. A pair of red wing work boots ($4) and 5 gallons of elastomeric white roof coating - unopened ($20)
we will use this on the roof when spring comes, pretty excited when I seen this pop up and cant believe we won it, it even says for R.V. roofs on the back. Seen it done on here a couple times, so without the research here i probably would've passed it up not knowing what it is.

[oredigger]

Awesome find! I love the auction sites. Just scored an Atwood 3 burner propane range for $70. Feels like the bus is making me money

[BurlKing]

thanks, hope your stove works out! and if it aint making us money, sure seems to be saving us money. lol. although every dollar we have pretty much goes into this thing, we don't mind because its fun and will always be ours.

well this part was kind of a hassle but at least its done. I got ahead of myself and framed up the floor without putting the passenger chair in....how could i! so we unscrewed the plywood and scraped some glue away on the front of the sub-floor to make room for the chair.
The two chairs we received for free about a year ago, both did not have a base but one had a swivel attachment. The drivers seat now has the base from the original bus seat, so I had to fabricate a new base which was fairly easy in a few hours with some scrap 11 gauge metal and angle iron I had laying around.


We fastened the new base with the swivel attachment in the same fashion the drivers seat will be and was on the original bus. It is sitting on a layer of plywood and then bolted through that and the bus body. You can see the bolts coming through here with nylock nuts and thread-lock glue on them. the other two are out of frame but they are there. (one on each corner of the base)



this is just a quick view of it. the seat will be a good 6-8 higher than its current state after we put the forward and backward adjustments on and the seat cushion. we have the upholstery guns, sewing machine, faux leather fabric, but no foam. we're waiting to purchase that and then it will be completed! The chair swivels about 140 degrees after facing forward.


Here it is pretty much to the point of just needing to bolt the chair to the pedestal. The floor is framed up around it and insulated even under the pedestal.

[BurlKing]

here's the pictures i was going to upload. almost got it topped off.


insulation sandwich complete.

now we are moving on to completing the drivers area and putting the dash and heaters back in. Then on to ripping those 2X4s in half and putting them on the wall ribs.

[BurlKing]

well starting before the sun rises today. I'm sitting here typing this as i wait for the bus to warm up. mother nature wont hold us down.

Live picture:


those $15 menard lights really brighten stuff up, had to know what wood i was grabbing.

[EastCoastCB]

[BurlKing]

Haha! man i wish. I've got two layers of long johns on my top and bottom then sweatpants over those, with jeans over those and two sweatshirts and a winter jacket. Just gotta take a layer off if i get too warm, i love the cold though, as long as i have a warm place to go back to.

[cadillackid]

I refuse to wear more than my clothes plus 1 layer... im the guy the tree-huggers hate.. I take off layers and turn up Thermostats...

having a nice crackling wood fire inside a bus does sound intruiging though.. however id still have a furnace going too..

-Christopher