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Old 07-06-2019, 06:14 AM   #1
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Rusty 87 build thread

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Hi everybody. I've been active here for a few months now, but hadn't really gotten far enough on my bus to have anything worth posting. Week before last I finally attached a new piece of metal to my bus (a 7" metal disk riveted where a flasher light used to be) so I think that counts as finally starting.

The source of the "Rusty" part of the name will be obvious; 87 was the number on the bus and I have a little brass keychain disk with 87 stamped on it that came along with the keys. It's also the year that I lost my virginity which I suppose is fitting.

Summary to this point: bought the bus in January on eBay because it had the right drivetrain (DT466 and 2000-series tran) and the seller was offering to have the bus driven to me (from Syracuse to Philly) for $300. Found a working spot for it in a bad part of Philly and had some fun tearing out the seats and floor in the middle of February.

While the bus was kept up there I got robbed/burgled/whatever three times. First time they stole my power tools and hand tools and a generator which I later recovered. Second time I had nothing worthwhile in there but they stole a bunch of sponges and masking tape. Third time they made off with the seats and ceiling panels I had stacked outside the bus - leaving me with about 1/4 as much garbage to haul off to the dump. I feel like I was just getting good at getting robbed - if I'd been burgled a fourth time they would have just left rolls of $20 bills behind.

Moved my bus to a new spot last week which is safe and 10 minutes from where I live (instead of 40) and is actually kind of bucolic with shade trees and a little stream running behind my bus. I rent the spot from a crazy old man who actually negotiated me down from my offer of $100 a month to $75. He apparently rented a spot to one skoolier previously who had dumped all his removed seats in one of the guy's outbuildings and split without paying, so he was somewhat reluctant to deal with me initially. My first day here I weed-whacked his whole lot and picked up all the trash so now he loves me.

I'm looking forward to finally posting some progress.

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Old 07-06-2019, 06:21 AM   #2
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Here is why my bus is named Rusty (from an earlier post of mine):

https://imgur.com/a/yisoA9i
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Old 07-06-2019, 06:24 AM   #3
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My boy in his new home: https://imgur.com/a/a1bHnsD
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Old 07-06-2019, 06:31 AM   #4
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Here is why my bus is named Rusty (from an earlier post of mine):

https://imgur.com/a/yisoA9i
Ah, now I remember!
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Old 07-06-2019, 06:41 AM   #5
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A good recap for thems thats not read of the progress to date. I'd typically welcome you to the asylum at this point, but you're already an inmate in good standing!
'87 was the year you "lost" your virginity? Retrace your steps, I'm sure you'll remember where you laid it down...
(I didn't lose mine, I hurled it away to the first willing, acceptable candidate!)
I'm uncertain as to the connotation and significance of first losing your virginity in 87, and now popping your Skoolie cherry on 87. [emoji848]
Aside from proximity and security, Rusty's new pastoral parking spot sounds idyllic, a totally serene scene. Just watch out not to stomp in a Moo Pie!
Bucolic: Derived from the Latin word, bucolicus, which originated from the Greek, boukolos, meaning "cowherd."
At least you no longer have to worry about being ripped off by those cowherdly junkies. But keep a wary eye open for Amish on amphetamines...
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Old 07-06-2019, 06:42 AM   #6
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My first fabrication - covering a flasher hole

https://imgur.com/a/FkYLTXz

I was proud of myself for this solution which costs $4 a hole (the cost of one metal disk on eBay). Then I realized the rivets are $0.50 each which doubles the cost - oh well, still less than new lights would be.

Also, notice the spoiler on the back! I didn't even realize my bus had a spoiler until someone mentioned it after seeing a pic. I'm not sure why a bus would need a spoiler, but there it is.
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Old 07-06-2019, 06:43 AM   #7
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Rusty's new pastoral parking spot sounds idyllic, a totally serene scene. Just watch out not to stomp in a Moo Pie!
Bucolic: Of Greek origins, from the word, Boukolos, meaning "cowherd."
You got me this time!
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Old 07-06-2019, 07:01 AM   #8
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A la Ron Popiel, "But wait, there's more!"
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You got me this time! [emoji144]
Ya beat my time with your quote to permit me completion of my etymology edit to include the Latin root.
Ut animam...
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Old 07-06-2019, 07:29 AM   #9
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My SCHOOL BUS sign replacement

My current project is covering the holes left when I removed the SCHOOL BUS signs front and back:

https://imgur.com/a/FiJrAav

Definitely over-complicated for the task of covering a hole, but it's a learning experience. Like learning that it's not easy to paint zinc-plated steel, even if it is easier to work with because of how thin it typically is.
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Old 07-06-2019, 07:48 AM   #10
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Yup, it is a learn as you go process! Too much is better than too little.
Click image for larger version

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Gotta wonder why you don't just attach the images here? Some of us are on a data budget...
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Old 07-06-2019, 07:51 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by musigenesis View Post
My current project is covering the holes left when I removed the SCHOOL BUS signs front and back:

https://imgur.com/a/FiJrAav

Definitely over-complicated for the task of covering a hole, but it's a learning experience. Like learning that it's not easy to paint zinc-plated steel, even if it is easier to work with because of how thin it typically is.
Hey man- sell me that rad spoiler!?
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Old 07-06-2019, 09:39 AM   #12
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Yup, it is a learn as you go process! Too much is better than too little.
Attachment 35317
Gotta wonder why you don't just attach the images here? Some of us are on a data budget...
Well, like you say, it's a learn and go process - imgur isn't a good place for hosting photos? I've tried adding pics here, but it seems like you have to do them one at a time, or maybe I'm missing something.
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Old 07-06-2019, 09:40 AM   #13
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Hey man- sell me that rad spoiler!?
I would, but I'm worried that given my tendencies to overcomplicate, I would probably replace it with functional helicopter blades or something.
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Old 07-06-2019, 09:41 AM   #14
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If you download the Tapatalk app, you can post pics directly from your phone.
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Old 07-06-2019, 09:56 AM   #15
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If you download the Tapatalk app, you can post pics directly from your phone.
^
Agreed. It works very well on my Andriod. IOS, not so certain...
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I would, but I'm worried that given my tendencies to overcomplicate, I would probably replace it with functional helicopter blades or something.
I like it! Get you even more lift!!!
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Old 07-08-2019, 04:45 PM   #16
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Temporary scaffolding so I can access the top front.

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The horizontal supports rest on the little corner ledges and the 4x4s in front. Planks on top are screwed to the horizontal supports so they can't move out or in, and ties and blocks screwed to the bottom keep the structure from moving forward or back. 4x4s are bolted to the bumper (not to hold them up but to keep them from slipping). All with crap I had around the house. Should be easy to disassemble and reassemble (although I haven't tried yet).
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Old 07-08-2019, 04:57 PM   #17
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As an OSHA-trained inspector, I'm afraid I'll have to fail the support structure for not meeting code.
Good thing you aren't on a job site.
Or that you're working at a >6' height...
Clever use of what you had to work with, and readily available. [emoji106]
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Old 07-08-2019, 05:37 PM   #18
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I'm always amazed, look how pretty the outside is compared to the steel floors. Really wild contrast of conditions.
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Old 07-08-2019, 06:50 PM   #19
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I'm always amazed, look how pretty the outside is compared to the steel floors. Really wild contrast of conditions.
I was thinking the same thing.
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Old 07-08-2019, 06:55 PM   #20
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I was thinking the same thing.
Even the outside of my bus looks prettier in pictures than it does in real life. Rusty rivets with bubbly paint on them don't show up in pics. That's why I kind of laugh when people try to evaluate the rustiness of buses just from the pics.
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