~~ Succubus ~~ 2003 Bluebird 40' Talltop STFE 4800

[Rusty]

I don't hang out in bars, but I do like to go to Home Depot/Lowes on Saturday nights.

Found this stuff:

Not cheap, but has primer, paint and clear-coat. I bot one, will give it a shot.





Genius. Someone is making virgin pallet wood and selling it to the Millennials.

[david.dgeorge07]

I must've had my head under a rock somewhere not to notice all of your great research and posting on your paint job. Looks really good and I think you were right to use a spraygun instead of rolling. Great find on the rest oleum automotive paint. I wonder what the formulation differences between that and the gloss white oil based that they sell under their professional badge.


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[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Rusty

I don't hang out in bars, but I do like to go to Home Depot/Lowes on Saturday nights.

Found this stuff:

Not cheap, but has primer, paint and clear-coat. I bot one, will give it a shot.

Attachment 16581

Attachment 16580

Genius. Someone is making virgin pallet wood and selling it to the Millennials.

Attachment 16582

Man, that was a helluva deal!
I wanna try some of that stuff!

[ACamper]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Maybe you could make one of those hitch receiver steps so you could remove it and tow something???

Thanks Rusty, it is only a ball so I didn't think they made one. They do. I am getting one.
I still want a porch but have 20 other things I want to do first.

Originally Posted by Rusty

Genius. Someone is making virgin pallet wood and selling it to the Millennials.

That's awesome. Better then the candy bars that save blue wales.

I will have to pick up a few for my Prius I case I ever have to drive over a downed tree or something.

[Rusty]

I'll let you guys know how that paint looks- I have fleet white truck that needs touch-up.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Entire bus was spray foamed- underside and wheelwells - from factory. Except just this one panel in the rear, had that crappy fiberglass. They were pretty liberal about cutting the foam for tail lights, so will be spot-filling.

Damn, wish mine was.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

Damn, wish mine was.

I'll trade you my foam for your engine.

[Brewerbob]

ISX15 tied to an MD3060*.

* I dunno if that engine actually mates with the MD3060 but I wouldn't be stuck at 35mph uphill.

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

ISX15 tied to an MD3060*.

* I dunno if that engine actually mates with the MD3060 but I wouldn't be stuck at 35mph uphill.

can an 8.3 like yours be "turned up" even if you could get to that 300 HP threshold you'd probably be able to getting a good running start on hills and maintain.. seems to me I read somewhere that even though 643 isnt rated for it people have run it hard with no issues..

ie back in the day me with my 454HD cammed and intaked and carbed in front of an AT545 that I never trashed... iit was rated way low but seemed to handle whatever I tossed at it. and the 643 is one BEEFY MoFo of a transmission..

-Christopher

[Brewerbob]

It weighs 600 lbs, there had better be some beef to it!! As for turning up the 8.3 L, I've no idea. My paperwork from BB says I have the 260hp engine as it is. Would 15% increase be noticeable?

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

ISX15 tied to an MD3060*.

* I dunno if that engine actually mates with the MD3060 but I wouldn't be stuck at 35mph uphill.

I have MD3060 trans. I also have a extra Cummins 6CTA sitting here. I know they had them in the FE All-Amercian, but can't see how it'd ever fit in a TC2000. I would like to measure AA frame spread....

Anyway, I'm in no hurry, my bus has - I forget- 26,000 miles on it? I can turn-up the smoke if need be, she'll take it.

[Brewerbob]

28" between frame rails on mine.

[PNW_Steve]

I have seen the 8.3 in RV applications at 350-400hp. I am sure that comes at the expense of longevity but it shows that it can be done.

I was reading on Wikipediea the other day and IIRC: Bluebird did NOT put the 8.3 in the TC2000FE but they DID put them in the AAFE.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

I have seen the 8.3 in RV applications at 350-400hp. I am sure that comes at the expense of longevity but it shows that it can be done.

I was reading on Wikipediea the other day and IIRC: Bluebird did NOT put the 8.3 in the TC2000FE but they DID put them in the AAFE.

Boat people get 600 HP out of them, for awhile.

I've heard same thing, BUT....Blue Bird blurred the lines on some of their custom orders- Some TC's are beefed-up to AA standards.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

I was reading on Wikipediea the other day and IIRC: Bluebird did NOT put the 8.3 in the TC2000FE but they DID put them in the AAFE.

I'm an RE for what it's worth.

[cadillackid]

im interested to know what hills you go 35 and what your actual weight is.. Ive driven my DEV bus that has a GVWR of 27500 (I havent weighed its actual weight).. with a DT-360(185 HP) and an AT545 all over the eastern US hills and havent hit any that I didnt go at least 42 - 45... makes me wonder if its just s simple as your fuel pressure is low, turbo waste gate stuck open, or such that causes you to not make the rated power ofyour engine..
-Christopher

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

I'm an RE for what it's worth.

RE's rule....

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

RE's rule....

My bus is an RE.... when I back down the driveway !!!!

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

im interested to know what hills you go 35 and what your actual weight is.. Ive driven my DEV bus that has a GVWR of 27500 (I havent weighed its actual weight).. with a DT-360(185 HP) and an AT545 all over the eastern US hills and havent hit any that I didnt go at least 42 - 45... makes me wonder if its just s simple as your fuel pressure is low, turbo waste gate stuck open, or such that causes you to not make the rated power ofyour engine..
-Christopher

The hills are 7~9% grade per the signs. My actual weight was 20,600 per the scrap yard scale. For what it's worth, the land fill scale said the same. I'm now up a little with the new sheet metal. Weighed at 1/4 fuel tho.

At 38mph, it finally drops to 2nd gear and I've had that happen a few times.

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

RE's rule....

Indeed.

Originally Posted by Rusty

My bus is an RE.... when I back down the driveway !!!!

That doesn't count unless you are steering from the other end. A set of pulleys and a cables like an old outboard and you can fix that.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

28" between frame rails on mine.

Got me thinking, Bob... Never a good thing.

Here is my frame: