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Old 06-23-2009, 07:11 PM   #1
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Duckf00t's DONE!! Final Piece in... "Day-by-Day"

Well we finally started the conversion process. It will be a long one, first the bus is going to be a moving van. Then the plan is to make her into a self sufficent solar/wind veggie powered boondocker/ live aboard.

Started a blog for all to check on our progress- thanks for looking.
http://duckf00tbus.blogspot.com

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Old 06-24-2009, 10:15 AM   #2
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Re: Duckf00t's Bus

Actually the tanks are from good 'ol e-bay. picked up the two of them for 138 bucks. I'll have o do a little modification to one- the other couldn't have been more pefect.

I found quite a few a few good sites and places to get anything you can imgine.
http://www.plccenter.com/default.aspx
http://www.cepex.com/ this a good place for valves for all your fluid needs
http://www.stcvalve.com/ This a good place to find air valves

The engine is the T444E, taking it to the interational place soon to get the governor taken out, amoung othe things I want done. Does anyone know if you can get a spacer to take out the clutch in te fan? I do not intend to run it in cold, so I want the fan to run all the time.
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Old 06-24-2009, 11:46 AM   #3
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Re: Duckf00t's Bus

Same here case-I ran it home without seats half tank of fuel- still 220... whats going to happen fully loaded in mountains.

yep 60 is all he's got- not that I want to run fast, but I do want the full potential of the engine if I need it.
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Old 06-24-2009, 02:02 PM   #4
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Re: Duckf00t's Bus

your temp. issues are probably more related to the thermostats than the fan, most modern engines are set up to run 210/220 degrees to help keep the emissions clean and maximize fuel burn. clutch fans are temp sensitive and only operate when needed to minimize parasitic power loss, operating the fan uses a lot of power and are usually needed only at slower speeds when airflow is minimal. the most efficient cooling systems use thermostatically controlled electric fans, on pusher model busses you can eliminate all of the inefficient mechanical drive system and install electric fans at the radiator.

case with your reference to painting, I'm assuming that you are involved in automotive collision repair, start looking at the different fan setups used on cars and find something that will fit your radiator, I'm running a 2 fan unit off a taurus in my jeep, no problems in 10k miles of wheeling. I aquired it because the plastic shroud/mounting was damaged in an accident, the shroud had to be customized to fit my application, so the damaged/junk/free fan was a bonus for me and if it ever fails, replacement fans are available at salvage yards and parts houses. the only other modification that may be needed would be a larger or second alternater and that would probably be a good thing in a conversion anyhow.
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Old 06-25-2009, 04:58 AM   #5
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Re: Duckf00t's Bus

Thanks Paul!!

I was going to ask at the international place what normal temp was- I drive a semi with the Detriot motor. It's nomal operating temp is 180, however it is equipt with a regen system to post- burn emissions. Makes total sense about the higher temp.

This is why I like this place, you get such knowledge- Thank again.

Painting is something I know plenty about done it all. Houses, fine furniture, cars, airbrushing... had my own coatings business for years- until.
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Old 07-11-2009, 07:53 PM   #6
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Re: Duckf00t's Bus

Hey all did some work one the dash and wiring. It was exhausting, but worth it.







Check out the post on blogspot formore details
http://duckf00tbus.blogspot.com/

Had some fun working on the beast.
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Old 07-12-2009, 03:42 AM   #7
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Re: Duckf00t's Bus

Good luck!! RE the wind, my goal has been to locate a crank up light plant with a dead engine. I plan to take the crank-up mast and mount it on the rear of my bus, use it to attach my wind generator. The masts for the crank up towers seem to be much lighter than the hydraulic ones. Hope you find this idea useful!! A bit hard to find, but I think the concept is worth the effort and wait!
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Old 07-12-2009, 08:29 AM   #8
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Re: Duckf00t's Bus

That sounds like a great idea. We have a mast I plan to use, my sons old basketball pole. Th neat thing is it folds up, and raises easy to set up. Now to find a cheap reliable generator to go on the mast. So many choices out there hard to figure which one is the best. Anyone out there have any advice?
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Old 07-12-2009, 05:35 PM   #9
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Re: Duckf00t's Bus

Did up the interior today.

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Old 07-13-2009, 08:13 PM   #10
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Re: Duckf00t's Bus (more progress)

Got the floor installed today- check out the blog for all the details http://duckf00tbus.blogspot.com/
The finished color is this:

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Old 07-15-2009, 06:54 PM   #11
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Re: Duckf00t's Bus (Tanks R In Floor done)



Made some progress today. Got the fresh and black water tanks in. Check out the rest of the pics at the bog. Ended with a no-welding solution.
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Old 07-22-2009, 08:55 AM   #12
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Re: Duckf00t's Bus

Got the toilet installed. Reminds me of Basic training sitting there all out in the open.

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Old 07-23-2009, 08:13 AM   #13
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Re: Duckf00t's Bus (Toilet in...)

Marine toilet- hand operated. There is a selector swich on the side, one positin brings in fresh water , the other position empties the bowl. I have to admit the thing looked a bit dubious when I first saw it. It has four 90deree bends in the out flow line, plus it is only 1 1/2" seemed kinda small to me. Not to be crude, seemed like a "big hairy" would get jammed in there first use.

My co-builder/ son and I had to test it. So we bench mounted it, figured out which way the selector switch worked. WOW we were blown away by the force this thing has- pretty soon we were trying to clog it. 6 cans of play dough in a larger than humanly posible "simulaturd" wouldn't do it- neither would 8. Should have made a video of us firing our test turd across the yard....

We eventually wound up clogging it- it took newspaper, and 5 cans of playdough. In the end I think it will be fine, wishing I had a larger black tank now- takes more water than I had hoped. Makes sence, marine applications have no water limitations. Something to keep in mind.
We still have our port-a-pot, we'll be keeping. With six of us we may need it. If our fresh water supply starts to get low we can switch.

The bathroom walls are in the works, I am a former interior house builder- I have something wild in mind.
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Old 07-23-2009, 12:07 PM   #14
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Re: Duckf00t's Bus (Toilet in...)

OK, now...which is it...a marine toilet, or a Marine toilet!?!

I thought at first you meant marine,as in - used in watercraft/ocean-going vessels...but from the tests you describe, now I'm wondering if the 'Corps could use 'em in their campaigns to demoralize the enemy...

...hm-m-m...I don't know though...hand operated...single-shot...maybe if we could make it an automatic...or does the 'selector switch' on the side change it from semi- to auto-?

Ditto the YouTube demo's...
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Old 07-23-2009, 03:30 PM   #15
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Re: Duckf00t's Bus (Toilet in...)

Toilet and floor look good.
However I would have my concerns with your tank mounting, it looks like a fairly big tank that is only supported by a couple 2x4's. I understand the issue regarding its easier to work with wood then metal, but metal does not rot and split like wood does. did you fill your tanks and did a test? I could see the weight of the water pulling those rods and washer straight through your 2x4 specially when driving down a bumpy road. Use at least way bigger washers and mount a 3rd support that if one brakes at least 2 are still holding up. But in reality you should switch those 2x4's with something more durable. I also would put a sheet of plywood under the tank to disperse the weight of the water. Those tanks can bulge a bit when full with water.
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Old 07-23-2009, 09:24 PM   #16
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Re: Duckf00t's Bus (Toilet in...)

Good advice- I just came upon some 3/4 ply- I did a fill test. 42 gallons is pretty heavy. I do have some angle iron, that might replace he 2x4's.

Actually as things have transpired, we are forced to step up our plans. Due to the way things are, we are going to live-aboard in the next week or so.
We have to leave this place before New Jersey drives us nuts... with no time to perpare the way we'd like. So, with that said We're looking to our friends here for advice. I'll dig out the shelves and salvage the iron out of that for water tank supports.

Got the basic walls in for the bathroom. Not what I was hoping to do, but a least there are walls.
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Old 07-28-2009, 06:56 AM   #17
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Re: Duckf00t's Bus (Paint Day today)

Well today is paint, have a clear forecast all my supplies collected. Will post pics later... off to start masking thats the hard part
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Old 07-28-2009, 04:35 PM   #18
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Paint

Alrighty got 50% paint done-- the blog has all the pics. http://duckf00tbus.blogspot.com/ We got the sides done- roof is the next project- possibly tomorow. Thats what we ae shooting for.







Now that we have the paint on we have a name- Day-by-Day. As in how we'll be living for a time.
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Old 07-28-2009, 06:54 PM   #19
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Re: Duckf00t's Bus (Paint!!!) "Day-by-Day"

Sweet shiny paint job! Did you have to apply a clear coat/sealant, or is that a one-step paint?

Very nice! And I love your floor. Where did you buy the gymcoat sealant?
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Old 07-28-2009, 08:33 PM   #20
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Re: Duckf00t's Bus (Paint!!!) "Day-by-Day"

Haven't put the clearcoat on yet... standard automotive black- black being our favorite color and the cheapest.

Ah yes forgot, gymseal might be hard to come by for DIYers. I got it when I was doing wood working for a living. I know they have a website http://www.valsparglobal.com/val/resident/gymseal.jsp Maybe a Ben Moore store would have it. Sherwin williams might be worth a try.
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