My Corona

Roasting8 · 03-04-2007, 03:29 PM

Well Guys, after a couple of years, I restarted on my Crown (I actually have the money and time). It's probably going to be a slow process, but at least I restarted.

Where I originally left off (about two years ago) was with the removal of the seats and putting in the sub-floor. For the sub-floor I used 1/2 ply and plastic for the barrier.

Yesterday, I started painting the windows that I'm going to block off. To clean the windows I used windex and, afterwards, wiped down the windex ladened windows with alcohol.

You may be wondering why, I used alcohol after the windex. I found that windex leaves an oily film.

I'll let you know if the alcohol works.

Today, I'll finish the painting the windows and start putting in the insulation (1/2 blue stuff) on them.

Photos will soon follow.

Wish me luck.

Robert

http://www.skoolie.net/gallery2/v/Skoolies/1981-Crown/

Roasting8 · 12-27-2007, 11:17 AM

After a long stint of not working on my bus, I decided that it was time to start again.

This past weekend, I started insulating the bus. I installed insulation (1" blue board) on the lower part of the wall and installed 1/2" white board over the windows.

After installing the 1/2" white board, I installed 1" blue board over the windows.

Next, I'm going to install the furring and then the walls.

Robert

sauce · 12-27-2007, 12:50 PM

Looking good. Cant wait to see more.

Roasting8 · 12-27-2007, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sauce

Looking good. Cant wait to see more.

Thanks for the compliment. Hopefully, I'll be working on my bus more frequently.

I wanted to still have the appearance of a bus, but having a motorhome in the inside.

BTW, have you posted any pictures of your Crown? I noticed the two clown crowns, but I haven't seen any pictures of yours.

And welcome to the forum, you'll find this to be one of the better sites.

Robert

Roasting8 · 12-27-2007, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShortBus

What made you decide on the blue board insulation? I know at Home Depot they've got all sorts of different kinds of insulation (plain white foam, pink Foamular, blue board, etc.) I'm just wondering what would be best for a bus, or how those different kinds of insulation work for people that are using them.

Hi Short Bus,

I hope that bus, you're looking at, is the bus of your dreams

As far as the choice of insulation, I was motivated by price and value (R rating for the price and space).

I originally was looking at white board, but found that pink had more "R" value per inch (3.9 per inch for the white, 4.0 for the pink). The only thing that kept me from purchasing the pink was the price compared to the white. I then started to walk around Home Depot, trying to rationalize the expense, when I ran across the blue board (used to insulate garage doors) at a fraction of the cost as the pink and the same "R" value.

I know, I know, blue board is only 2' x 4', as compared to pink that is 2' x 8', but one panel of blue board was less than half the price of pink. Hence, cheaper per area covered. Another advantage was blue board, being half the size, saved me from having to cut the bigger board in half (I'm terrible at cutting straight lines).

For the windows, I selected white board because it was low priced (way cheaper than the pink), came in 1/2" thickness (fits nicely in the window frame), and was very easy to cut (all I used was a box cutter and snapped it on the seam). The only disadvantage was that it has a "R" value of 3.9, compared to pink that has an "R" value of 4.0 (not really that much of a difference).

ShortBus, if I was to do it over again, I would probably use the white board throughout.

BTW, I bought about 18 sheets of blue board and 2 of the white to cover what I needed for my bus.

I hope this answers your question. If you have any other question, I'll try to answer it as best as I can.

Wish you luck on your conversion.

Robert

sauce · 12-28-2007, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roasting8

Quote:

Originally Posted by sauce

Looking good. Cant wait to see more.

Thanks for the compliment. Hopefully, I'll be working on my bus more frequently.

I wanted to still have the appearance of a bus, but having a motorhome in the inside.

BTW, have you posted any pictures of your Crown? I noticed the two clown crowns, but I haven't seen any pictures of yours.

And welcome to the forum, you'll find this to be one of the better sites.

Robert

Well I dont have it quite yet, but should be picking it up within the next 2 weeks from Goldendale, WA. When I get it will make sure to post plenty of pictures.

Roasting8 · 12-28-2007, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sauce

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roasting8

Quote:

Originally Posted by sauce

Looking good. Cant wait to see more.

Thanks for the compliment. Hopefully, I'll be working on my bus more frequently.

I wanted to still have the appearance of a bus, but having a motorhome in the inside.

BTW, have you posted any pictures of your Crown? I noticed the two clown crowns, but I haven't seen any pictures of yours.

And welcome to the forum, you'll find this to be one of the better sites.

Robert

Well I dont have it quite yet, but should be picking it up within the next 2 weeks from Goldendale, WA. When I get it will make sure to post plenty of pictures.

Can't wait to see it. Was it a personally owned bus or was company owned?

Roasting8 · 12-29-2007, 06:31 PM

Hi ShortBus,

I just looked at your pics and I'm impressed. That bus should make a nice conversion and it should be perfect to take to the lake.

ShortBus, I would recommend that you'd get the cheapest you can find. I lucked out and found a bunch of blue board, at a very low price.

I'll try to post more pics as I go along, but sometimes I get stuck and have to think it out (that's what happens when you plan on the fly

).

Again, good luck on your conversion and if you need some more info, I'll be happy to help.

Robert

sauce · 12-30-2007, 02:09 AM

It was just surplussed from a Washington school district in October. The guy I am buying it from bought 2 of em at the surplus auction but is just keeping one of em. It still has valid 2007 Washington school bus safety inspection tags.

Roasting8 · 12-30-2007, 06:40 AM

Hi Sauce,

I bet you can't wait to get the bus. Crowns are well built buses that are built more like stratocruisers (MCIs, GMCS, etc.), except they sit a little higher. During the time that I was driving it from Arizona to Texas, this bus was not affected by cross winds or passing semis. The only thing that affected it's performance were the hills.

Crowns aren't nicked named the Cadillac of school buses for nothing. Post some pics, as soon as you get it.

Good luck on your bus and Happy New Years to you and your family.

Robert

Roasting8 · 12-30-2007, 02:39 PM

Damn, I was going to be working on my bus, when my battery on my cordless drill went dead. I have the bus in storage and I have no power. Looks like I better buy a generator, so I can run my power equipment.

lapeer20m · 12-31-2007, 09:24 AM

other companies are probably similiar, but dewalt chargers are designed to work with "dirty power" sources like cheap generators, modified sin wave inverters ect.

you could buy a cheap inverter to run the charger for your cordless tools. Just start the bus occasionallly to keep it's batteries charged.

Roasting8 · 12-31-2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lapeer20m

other companies are probably similiar, but dewalt chargers are designed to work with "dirty power" sources like cheap generators, modified sin wave inverters ect.

you could buy a cheap inverter to run the charger for your cordless tools. Just start the bus occasionally to keep it's batteries charged.

Thanks Jason, I've been using an inverter to power my tools, but never thought of using it to charge my battery (Duh). What's really funny is that my son is a DeWalt rep and he can get me tools at a discount. Man, I'm really not thinking lately.

Thanks again Jason and Happy New Year to you and your family.

Robert

lapeer20m · 12-31-2007, 03:13 PM

thanks, you too

dont' be afraid to buy the geni though...you'll prob want one sooner or later. Do i see a honda eu in your future??

Roasting8 · 12-31-2007, 08:22 PM

I do, I do see either a 2000 or a 3000 in my future, it's just a little hazy right now (damned crystal balls). I just have to save my pennys right now and see what I can afford.

It's going to be a Honda though.

Well, I better get back to the Capt. now (Captain Morgan that is).

Happy New Years.

Robert

timbuk · 12-31-2007, 08:53 PM

Well, I better get back to the Capt. now (Captain Morgan that is).
i thought this was the corona thread! actually up here its kokanee! party on

Roasting8 · 12-31-2007, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timbuk

Well, I better get back to the Capt. now (Captain Morgan that is).
i thought this was the corona thread! actually up here its kokanee! party on

Just needed something to chase the beer

BTW, would you believe that I actually heard someone call "The Great White North" Canadia?

Sheesh, our great public school system at work.

Happy New Years.

Robert

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