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Old 02-07-2010, 09:26 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Athens, Georgia
Posts: 30
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC 2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 72
Freebird

Well after about 3 weeks of owning a bus, I finally got to get started on my new conversion.
The weather has been awful and wouldn't you know it, it rains just about every weekend now.

My bus is a 1989 Bluebird TC2000, 12 window, 72 passenger front engine bus. It has the Cummins 5.9 and Allison AT545 transmission.



With my number one son, we began removing the 24 seats.



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Old 02-07-2010, 09:48 PM   #2
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Athens, Georgia
Posts: 30
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC 2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 72
Re: Freebird

I have read all the recomendations here about using an angle grinder. But we got lucky. We used an air impact wrench and an air ratchet. We got all 144 bolts out and only had to grind about 5 or 6. I had to attach the obligatory grinder photo though.



Here I am sitting in the first seat we took out. Don't you like my school bus yellow shirt?

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Old 02-07-2010, 10:14 PM   #3
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Location: Athens, Georgia
Posts: 30
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC 2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 72
Re: Freebird

After about 4 hours, we had all of the seats out and began to clean up the amazing amount of trash that was stuffed between the seats and the walls. Nasty...





Anybody need or want any seats?

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Old 02-07-2010, 10:26 PM   #4
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Athens, Georgia
Posts: 30
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC 2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 72
Re: Freebird

It's been a great day. But the sun faded and we had to stop. I will continue to post as much as I can to show you guys how my conversion progresses. I look forward to your comments and ideas.

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Old 02-07-2010, 10:32 PM   #5
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Location: Lethbridge, AB, Canada
Posts: 637
Year: 1981
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: Ford B-600
Engine: Ford 370 Propane
Rated Cap: 48
Re: Freebird

Nice bus. I would like to convert a transit style bus, but I already have one bus and it will have to do for now. Keep the pictures coming, it is a lot easier to follow the progress and dream of my own future projects when I can see pictures of other people's projects. What are your plans with this bus? Any floorplans yet?
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Old 02-07-2010, 10:48 PM   #6
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Location: Athens, Georgia
Posts: 30
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC 2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 72
Re: Freebird

I've been working on a preliminary floorplan. This one needs to be modified. The hall way from the kitchen isn't wide enough. I've been thinking about raising the floor 10 inches and the roof 16 inches or more. If so, I won't have the wheel wells to have to work around.

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Old 02-08-2010, 12:42 AM   #7
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Re: Freebird

Looks like the tub/shower is what is taking the room. What size are you planning on putting in? Standard RV tub/showers are 24"x40", 24"x36", or 24"x32". My plans are likely going to use either the shorter 32" tub or the 36". Of course, I don't plan to use it as a tub for myself, probably just the smaller kids.
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Old 02-08-2010, 09:42 PM   #8
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Year: 1989
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC 2000 FE
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Re: Freebird

I have a bumper pull camper that I plan to gut.
It has a 24X40" tub in it, so that's what I'm working with.
I just wanted a 32" shower, but my wife wants to keep the tub.
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Old 02-08-2010, 11:13 PM   #9
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Engine: DT466/AT545
Re: Freebird

I love the name of your bus! I hold my lit bic lighter aloft to you! The TC2000 was high on my list of desireable buses, but ultimately I decided to get the dog-nosed style. I've also heard lots of positive comments about the Cummins 5.9 engine. I'm looking forward to seeing your conversion take shape!
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Old 02-09-2010, 03:15 PM   #10
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Re: Freebird

Have you considered what you plan to do with all that seat foam? Might want to throw a large tarp over it to keep it nice till you decide.
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Old 05-03-2010, 09:15 PM   #11
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Chassis: TC 2000 FE
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Re: Freebird

It's amazing how work and family can take 99.9% of your time. That leaves precious little for working on the bus.
Got to keep the family though. Now work.......hmmmmm.

Started ripping out the old plywood. The floor has a good amount of surface rust, but appears to be pretty sound.
I've got some moisture issues mainly around the rear wheel wells.

There were some nails and broken bolts that had to be ground smooth...
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Old 05-03-2010, 09:26 PM   #12
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Join Date: Jan 2010
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Year: 1989
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC 2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
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Re: Freebird

The whole family has chipped in to help. Even the ones that don't think I will ever finish my new project....

It's about ready for the roof raise....more to come.
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Old 05-04-2010, 12:15 PM   #13
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Re: Freebird

Leaving the heating system there?
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Old 05-04-2010, 03:57 PM   #14
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Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC 2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
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Re: Freebird

I haven't decided about the heating system yet. I have thought about trying to incorporate it into the floor plan to provide heat on the go without having to fire up the furnace. It appears the majority of people pull it out. Plus I don't know how much traveling I will actually do in the winter time.
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Old 06-06-2011, 10:47 PM   #15
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Re: Freebird

I'm ashamed to say that I wasn't able to work on the bus for a whole freakin year. But, I'm back on the job. Removed the inner metal panels in preparation for the roof raise. Like most of the buses on here, I found the windows were prone to leak. The inner surface panels were good and clean above the windows, but were water stained below. Alot of the old bat insulation was mildewed and/or molded. It all had to go. i will replace the insulation with solid styrofoam insulation in the future. Here are a few pics of what we accomplished.
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Old 06-06-2011, 11:44 PM   #16
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Re: Freebird

Great start! (and a buttload of work) Please do keep up the progress pix...love them Birds!
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Old 06-07-2011, 09:48 AM   #17
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Re: Freebird

I feel your pain with not getting things done. I figure, if I keep chipping away at it, someday it will be done, so keep up the good work!
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Old 06-20-2011, 09:58 PM   #18
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Location: Athens, Georgia
Posts: 30
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC 2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 72
Re: Freebird

Another productive weekend. I now have all of the inside metal panels down and out. All old nasty insulation is gone. Does anyone hate rivets anymore than I do now? I now have rivet nightmares. Time to order the steel. Next step is the roof raise. I plan on raising the roof 21 inches soon.



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Old 06-21-2011, 08:56 PM   #19
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Year: 1967
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Engine: ford 391
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Re: Freebird

how do you plan on lifting the roof ? i was thinking about doing this in my 67 bluebird but as i already have a ton of floor work to do i'm not sure if this is a great idea.
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Old 06-21-2011, 09:47 PM   #20
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Join Date: Jan 2010
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Year: 1989
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC 2000 FE
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Re: Freebird

Jolly_Rogger: If you do a search on this forum for the Millicent Chronicles, you will see a detailed description of how Elliot Naess raised his roof 24 inches using 4 hi-lift farm type jacks and square tubing as lift rams and guides. Another couple are raising their roof in a similar fashion. You can find their topic titled Sarah and Andy's Bus. It's really straight forward if you are mechanically inclined and have welding skills or access to people who do.
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