The Moldy Twinkie

[the_experience03]

I'm not sure what I think of a Ford without a column shifter...

[putterspitt]

you can use a product called peel n seal
it is used around patios and carports to stop leaks, around windows also, it isnt thick enough to hurt your floor layout.
roofing supplies or patio supply houses have it, it isnt expensive either.
once it is down it doesnt come up.

[bikeforthelight]

I pulled two garbage backs of trash and $1.76 in change out of mine when i took out the seats. haha.

[busdriver_phil]

Originally Posted by bikeforthelight

I pulled two garbage backs of trash and $1.76 in change out of mine when i took out the seats. haha.

That's it? I sometimes find $2.00 in a month on the bus I drive at work...I must have a bunch of rich kids.

[bikeforthelight]

Looks good man. what is the empty space next to the fridge used for?

[Seeria]

Looks good but... WHITE? Toss in some color. Pink maybe

[Doodlebug]

Pink is just a pale shade of red Smitty..... Leslie

[Diesel Dan]

Originally Posted by Leonidas

Question: What did everyone use to cover up the holes where their outside lights were?

From what I've seen many people cut a piece of sheet metal in an oval or rectangular shape and rivet it on over the holes. Other people who are more into the body work will spot weld metal behind it from the inside and bondo over it. Some people just paint the lenses of the lights the same color as the bus. I plan to leave the lights, remove the flasher box, and use them as outdoor lighting. If I can find clear lenses that would be ideal, but otherwise I will put the 4 reds in the back and the 4 ambers in the front.

[jkindt]

Originally Posted by Diesel Dan

...If I can find clear lenses that would be ideal...

I have seen some use 7" clear lenses from the reverse lights, but they diffuse the light too much unless you just want to light up the entire campground!

[Seeria]

Check with your state. Wisconsin requires they be removed Totally. Cannot leave the lens sitting there even if painted or covered.

[jkindt]

Originally Posted by Leonidas

Another question, trying to keep them all in this thread...

Does anyone know the laws about seatbelts in skoolies, esp in NC?

I found my seatbelts but theyre 35$ a pop

I pondered a similar question when I started riding mountain bikes. Are we required to wear helmets? Not here, but for $60 a good helmet could save you from living the rest of your life in a hospital bed. Same with seatbelts. They may be required, maybe not, but for $35 a piece isn't it good insurance?

[Seeria]

Keep an eye out on things like ebay or craigslist. Even check the local auto junk yards for seat belts.

[busdriver_phil]

I was planning on waiting until I'm further along with my conversion to post the "used parts for sale" stuff, but my bus came with lap belts at every seat (72 belts, minus a few that were cut off by vandals). I'm reusing 10 or so for my own, but the rest are first come, first serve. Make me an offer...

[newtoskool]

so let me get this right. you'll spend $330 for water but not $240 for seatbelts to keep yourself safe?

[M1031]

Originally Posted by Smitty

lol.....without seatbelts he's "unsafe"? I bet a person would die of dehydration long before dying from an MVA

Smitty

Smitty;

Now due to litigation (let's hear it for the f*&^%$ lawyers) it's now MVC - as in collision.

[houskou]

You probably know when you are thirsty, - - but it is hard to tell just when you might need your seatbelts.

Mother Nature is a B and her sister Physical Laws will not be denied.

[newtoskool]

id rather buy some water bottles and take up some sotrage then be plastered to the front window!

[Will]

http://www.rvhelpdesk.com/seatbelt-laws.html

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/problems/stud ... tomer.html

Those are useful links for deciding about seatbelts. They aren't required in Indiana, but it was an easy decision for me. You just need to stay attached to the bus, you do not need to be strapped in like a car. A bus wreck and a car wreck are different events. Car crashes are going to accelerate the passengers a lot more. Cars are going to collapse and passengers need to remain in the cage pocket. If you tip your bus over, it will fall on it's side and skid a bit where-as a car is less stabile on it's side and will keep rolling--and can be swatted by another car or something. A bus is big and strong and more reluctant to change directions. There are a myriad of bus accidents to study--which I did before getting rid of my styrofoam Winnebago--those dissolve in minor accidents. I would say, get belts and make sure you don't have gasoline tanks outside the frame rails and you will be able to push a lot of chips into the middle of the table. I don't like anyone's chances if they are sitting on a seat like it's a sunny day while going 60mph with hard furniture and windows all around. Packed between seats like school kids are is better, but as most bus, rv and van accidents are caused by dropping the tires off the edge and rolling, it's not good enough in my opinion.

Regearing can be done without special knowledge. The third-member is a drop-out. It's several pounds maybe, but you unbolt the axle flanges and slide the shafts out a few inches, un-bolt the driveshaft and tie it out of the way, unbolt the ring of bolts holding the third-member to the axle housing and it will come right out. You'll want to rig a jack or something if you are unsure of your ability to benchpress a 300# chunk of grease iron. I've not bothered to look anything up about it, but if you are going over any mountians you might loose 4% of your power per 1,000ft without a turbo. A the spec sheet on my engine says it doesn't derate below 10,000ft. Your motor will have lost 30hp if you are in Denver, say, and 15hp going over the Appalachians. The Eisnhower Tunnel on I70 would have a 175hp engine down to 115hp and soaring EGTs. One gear is a big jump and you don't want to gear it so you don't have a reasonable speed/rpm to sit at going up a steep grade. I would drive it a lot and note how it behaves and then select a gear.

[Redbear]

Originally Posted by slowlane

Anybody remember 'zilches'? Anybody?

I presume that;'s what my wife called them "zorches." Growing up, we called them "Zit-zits."

Get a stick or tree branch, put a plastic bag, bread wrapper, or piece of poly sheeting (visiqueen in the midwest?) on the end. Set a corner on fire with a match, lighter or campfire, and watch little flaming drops fall to the ground with an interesting noise. DO NOT let them fall on skin, or anything of value.

[lornaschinske]

Do you have the skills to rebuild a cabinet? Can you try to use the cabinet as is (may require a little planning). Otherwise, you basically need to dismantle the cabinet (remove face frame from carcass) carefully remove the angled section from the face frame, then completely rebuild the cabinet. We would do it, but David has run two cabinet building shops (1st one was at the age of 16), built bank teller systems for Diebold, built cabinets for park model RV, installed cabinets for many many years, rebuilt some of those factory cabinets (don't ask...we hated that company) and custom built many "built-in" pieces of cabinetry on remodels. But we can't tell you how to do it over the internet. If you can't make it work, than put it on crags list and get another cabinet. Otherwise you run the risk of your cabinet falling apart once you load it up with your stuff. Alternative. See if a cabinet shop or master trim carpenter is willing to rebuild it for you (it will cost you more than a new one).

It looks like a Tri-Pak cabinet... I hate Tri-Pack (don't ask). Try to match the doors at Home Depot or Lowes on one of their ready built cheapies. If you can't match the doors, the you can pull the doors off the old cab and place on new one.