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Old 03-16-2014, 01:44 PM   #141
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

Side note, with the insulation in and even with the bus windows, that little electric 1500 watt heater makes a significant difference in inside temp. Can't wait to see what it does once the floor foam / ply is in.

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Old 03-16-2014, 07:06 PM   #142
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

Now all you need are some alternating laser lights and a disco ball!

looking good man! Cant wait to get back to Alabama to work on mine, although I love 83 in Phoenix!
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Old 03-23-2014, 08:02 PM   #143
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

Got a bunch done this weekend.



Got about 2/3 of the subfloor and 1/2 inch insulation in (not much insul but better than nothing).



Also anchored in the walls that are made out of doors. The foremost section is the crapper, with I fabbed out a 24-and-some-change inch wide opening, and I will either make an actual door out of the rest of the solid core doors I have, or buy a bi-fold closet style door to open inward. The middle bit is going to be a closet of sorts, probably containing utilities and room for other stuff. The rearmost section is a shower.





Better shot of shower. I am going to line the walls with FRP, caulk in and all that jazz, and rivet and seal in some aluminum flashing type metal (ex in a larger sheet) to the ceiling to keep water vapor from getting into crevices. The shower is right under a emergency exit which pops up for ventilation, nice feature. So the aluminum ceiling will direct shower steam (assuming I find a water heater that works good) into the roof vent, to outside.



Got my cabinets today, also free, and placed them in to move them around. It is a convenient material but I am not 100% on using the doors as a countertop. It is too much of one color in one area. I may go with ply or OSB (both with a heavy coating of poly) instead for a lighter color to contrast the dark wood. The countertop section will be cut in front of the emergency exit door and on hinges to hinge down so the door is still usable.



It is a nice roomy layout in my opinion.



Alternate view of bathroom. I will be using trim very liberally to cover all the oddities.





I will be buying something like this to mount to the emergency exits for when the vents are popped up. Sucks in air from inside and blows it out, would be nice for cooking ventilation, to cool off at night, and just get fresh air in without opening all the windows like if its raining. I just need to find them in the right size / capacity and in 12 volt.
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Old 03-23-2014, 08:17 PM   #144
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

Great progress...everything looking real nice!!!
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Old 03-23-2014, 09:09 PM   #145
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

Did you build your stalls on top of the sub floor or directly on the metal flooring?

I am so envious! I want to work on mine so bad but now I'm at work in new hampshire....

Patience is not my best trait.

Great work dude!
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Old 03-23-2014, 09:16 PM   #146
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

Thanks everyone. I built the partitions and then laid the floor, the brackets are screwed into the doors then screwed into the metal of the floor, no wood or insulation between.
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Old 03-27-2014, 10:04 AM   #147
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

Man prokchop you are making good progress. I need to get back to my bus too, you are making me look bad.
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Old 03-30-2014, 07:57 PM   #148
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

*accidental post*
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Old 03-30-2014, 08:04 PM   #149
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

Quote:
Originally Posted by wmkbailey
Man prokchop you are making good progress. I need to get back to my bus too, you are making me look bad.
Yeah man get back to it! Let me know if you need help.

I didn't get anywhere near as much as I planned done this weekend because it was raining almost the entire time, then started wet-snowing, and got cold. Lame. So I did what I could.



Cut the countertops and cut out the sink, it is not installed but just sitting there (for now). It weighs like 100 lbs, cast iron Kohler unit. Got it for $40.





Got a fridge, 10.7 cubic foot Whirlpool from Best Buy, $404. Fits nicely, will run off the inverter when driving.



Shower in case I haven't posted a pic yet. FRP paneling will be on the sides.



Rear bed platform, right now a workbench. Wide enough to fit a "full" size mattress. Tons of storage underneath.



Originally the fridge was going to go here, but it stuck out too far, so I am using it as a closet. Once I buy a microwave I will put a shelf on the top for that and the rest will be a closet.



The crapper. With a bit of wheel well intrusion that will be taken care of.



View from the back.



View from the front.



Cabinets. Between the two I will be putting a counter section on hinges with a latch, that can hinge down so the door is still usable.

I would like to reiterate that all the walls and countertops, and the floors of the closets are made out of used solid core doors that were free. They are pretty heavy, but I highly reccommend them, it was nice to not have to frame out walls. I am planning on running wiring in exposed PVC conduit for kind of an industrial look so not being able to run wiring in it is not an issue. Some of them have a sheetrock-like center, these were fire-rated doors. Some were just particle board all the way through. They are considerably heavier but stronger.

The cabinets were also free. And the OSB is $8 a sheet (if you can deal with the smell and how easily it caves to water exposure). I think I will seal it with poly before I put the top flooring down, just to be safe.

I have been messing with designs for a booth, which will go in front of the crapper (passenger side of the bus) across from the kitchen cabinets. Here is what I have to far:



It is roughly 7' long overall, 32" wide (we are all pretty skinny, ha). The idea is the tabletop will be able to come down (remove poles) and sit on the seat bottom once cushions are removed, and be usable as a bed, a "twin" air mattress will fit over it. Thoughts?

Looking forward to 70+ degree weather for part of this week.
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Old 03-31-2014, 08:41 AM   #150
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

That is the exact table design I am going to use, however, I am going to buy a memory foam mattress for the bed, and cut the mattress so it will remain on the benches when used as a table, and then have the small part to put on the table top when it is dropped down to make the bed. That way I don't have to store an entire mattress. If you have someone who is (or if you are) handy with a sewing machine, you can create removable covers for each part so you can just strip and launder the covers. (Plus the piece that you store can be put into a vacuum bag and put underneath the bench. It will regain its shape when you open it up!)

I like the fridge. I saw one at lowes that was stainless for about the same price. Think I am going to get that one.

Love the progress you are making. Maybe after this summer you, me, and wmkbailey can all get together for a "family portrait" of our rigs!

-Doc
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Old 04-04-2014, 10:26 AM   #151
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

Quote:
Originally Posted by Docsgsxr
That is the exact table design I am going to use, however, I am going to buy a memory foam mattress for the bed, and cut the mattress so it will remain on the benches when used as a table, and then have the small part to put on the table top when it is dropped down to make the bed. That way I don't have to store an entire mattress. If you have someone who is (or if you are) handy with a sewing machine, you can create removable covers for each part so you can just strip and launder the covers. (Plus the piece that you store can be put into a vacuum bag and put underneath the bench. It will regain its shape when you open it up!)

I like the fridge. I saw one at lowes that was stainless for about the same price. Think I am going to get that one.

Love the progress you are making. Maybe after this summer you, me, and wmkbailey can all get together for a "family portrait" of our rigs!

-Doc
Good idea. I am still trying to figure out good dimensions for it, height-wise. And to figure out how I will do the table removing mechanism.

I sanded, stained and cleared the OSB I have on my walls.











The photos where it looks really red I was holding a 500 watt halogen towards it while taking the photo, the ones where it looks more brown, it is just the LED ceiling lights.

I think ti turned out nice but I know the "unfinished" look of OSB isn't for everyone.

Someone suggested I put drywall in the bus *shudder*

I hate drywall.

Thoughts? I will trim it out (there is sort of a "sill" on top) with some free mahogany trim I got, I just need to rip it (8" boards) and refinish it.
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Old 04-04-2014, 12:55 PM   #152
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

I would not have considered using OSB as a finished wall surface, but actually, it looks pretty cool! Especially in that last photo.
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Old 04-04-2014, 01:10 PM   #153
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

I used OSB for my garage walls. Love it. Bus looks cool!!
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Old 04-04-2014, 01:28 PM   #154
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

Its your ride man, who cares what others think. They will hang out in it regardless because you have one and they DON'T!!!!
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Old 04-06-2014, 07:43 PM   #155
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

'Chop,

WOW! GREAT bus! I've been working on my '88 Ford B600 off-and-on while in school. You've done an AWESOME job in such a short time! I'm done with school (for now) and my bus is in storage, but with a genset given to me by a good friend I'll be back finishing it this summer with pics to follow as well. I saved some of your pics to inspire me for my next project. I'm now working as a bus driver for Katy ISD in Katy (rust-free) TX, and am in nursing too (weekend gig). I'm going to "test drive" some of these busses since I'm trying out different routes. One pusher I'll get and convert (thinking the International AmTran series with the 444E engine - 1998/99 years). You've inspired me to do it! Thanks! (Just don't tell my wife....... )

M1031
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Old 04-08-2014, 10:40 AM   #156
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

Quote:
Originally Posted by M1031
'Chop,

WOW! GREAT bus! I've been working on my '88 Ford B600 off-and-on while in school. You've done an AWESOME job in such a short time! I'm done with school (for now) and my bus is in storage, but with a genset given to me by a good friend I'll be back finishing it this summer with pics to follow as well. I saved some of your pics to inspire me for my next project. I'm now working as a bus driver for Katy ISD in Katy (rust-free) TX, and am in nursing too (weekend gig). I'm going to "test drive" some of these busses since I'm trying out different routes. One pusher I'll get and convert (thinking the International AmTran series with the 444E engine - 1998/99 years). You've inspired me to do it! Thanks! (Just don't tell my wife....... )

M1031
Thanks for the kind words! Glad my crackpot project has been inspiring.

Since I have a red sink and the wood / stain I have been using is red-ish, I picked this gem up:



only 700 watts but that means I can run it off my inverter (1000 watts). I put a kill-a-watt on my fridge, and it only pulls 98 watts!



I spent the weekend building these, they are steel seat mounts for these 3 leather comfy bucket seats I have.



They swivel too. And lock in position. Please excuse the flux-core MIG spatter, there are actually very good welds underneath



Mounted to seat



Rotated



In place...excuse the welded-in segment in the middle, I measured once and cut twice...





All facing in



And all facing forward! I will bolt them down once I put in the vinyl floor.
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Old 04-08-2014, 11:26 AM   #157
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

Beautiful work on the chairs...I really like that setup
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Old 04-08-2014, 03:36 PM   #158
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

Nice job on the seat base.

Richard
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Old 04-08-2014, 08:19 PM   #159
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

Nice job on the swivel bases. I just bought one for my passenger seat and need to install it.

Nice Retrowave, where did you get it?
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Old 04-08-2014, 11:45 PM   #160
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Re: Smells Like Teen Spirit: Conversion of 1999 Thomas MVP

Quote:
Originally Posted by browncrown
Beautiful work on the chairs...I really like that setup
Thanks!

Quote:
Originally Posted by alwaysFlOoReD
Nice job on the seat base.

Richard
And thanks!

Quote:
Originally Posted by wmkbailey
Nice job on the swivel bases. I just bought one for my passenger seat and need to install it.

Nice Retrowave, where did you get it?
And thanks!

I got it off amazon. It was $85 shipped. Amazon has been my go to for everything weird and not weird. Free 2 day shipping, almost always cheaper than buying it in store too. The microwave is alright. A bit small and it is heavy though I think a bit cheaply made (badges feel like they're gonna fall off) but it works. It pulls about 1050 watts on high power, 700 watt rated microwave. My inverter is rated for 1000 but I bet it could handle a couple minutes at 1050, the reviews of the inverter (xantrex pure sine wave) say it's a pretty ballsy unit.

The swivels I got on amazon and were much smaller than I thought they'd be but they're plenty strong. They were $22 each I think.
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