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Old 01-20-2016, 06:00 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
Posts: 17
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
The Ritz Slackjaw

This is the beginning of my project. Codename - The Ritz Slackjaw. It will be made into a utilitarian camper with room for at least 6 people. It will have no bathroom or bedroom. Open floorplan with beds, counters, and a stove. I bought this bus from Midwest Transit in Swansea, IL. 2001 International with an Amtran body. T444 with a 5 speed and air brakes. 136,722 miles on it when I picked it up from the dealership. How much??? I think I got a smokin deal. I got them down from $2,600 to $2,250. I have yet to find a lightbulb that is burned out.

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Old 01-20-2016, 06:22 PM   #2
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Join Date: Jan 2016
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Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
It won't let me upload pics.
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Old 01-20-2016, 06:38 PM   #3
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Location: Eustis FLORIDA
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Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
... so it never happened!
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Old 01-20-2016, 06:39 PM   #4
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
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Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
See the Album "The Ritz Slackjaw" for pictures.
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Old 01-21-2016, 12:55 AM   #5
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Location: St Louis Metro
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Year: 1978
Coachwork: Wayne
Chassis: Lifeguard
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Quote:
Originally Posted by D.J. Burnett View Post
I bought this bus from Midwest Transit in Swansea, IL.
That place knows me well. They're just up the road from me. When I buy new parts, I start there first.
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Old 11-24-2016, 01:15 PM   #6
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
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Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/...psbkhdqqh5.jpg
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Old 11-24-2016, 01:21 PM   #7
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
Posts: 17
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
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Old 11-24-2016, 01:23 PM   #8
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
Posts: 17
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
After the seats were gone.

After seat removal, i wanted to protect the metal from rusting anymore so i painstakingly wire wheeled the entire floor. This took hours but I feel was well worth it.
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Old 11-24-2016, 01:36 PM   #9
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
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Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
Painting the floor

Rustoleum paint that bonds to the metal. Actually leaves a decent finish.
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Old 11-24-2016, 01:41 PM   #10
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
Posts: 17
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
Patching the floor

On each side of the fender well, the floor was rotted thru. Not a huge area but enough that I wanted to put more metal down so the finished floor would not sag in these areas. I painted over the welds with the same paint as on the floor.
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Old 11-24-2016, 01:55 PM   #11
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Pensacola and Crystal River, FL
Posts: 647
Year: 1998
Coachwork: AmTran International
Chassis: 3800
Engine: Navistar 7.6L
I like how you eliminated the rusted out joint between the floor and the wheel well.
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Old 11-24-2016, 02:03 PM   #12
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
Posts: 17
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
Insulating/framing the inside

I decided to take the metal off the inside after a bit of water showed up on the floor after a rain storm. I didn't want to chance mold in the yellow bat insulation from the factory. I took out most of the screws normally and ground off the ones that were stuck. Turns out, it's a 1.5 inch pocket behind there...perfect fit for the 1.5 inch hard insulation (mold resistant) that i was going to use anyhow.

As you can see, I painted all the windows black, except the four emergency windows that swing out. I figured I don't need that many windows on the inside, especially these since they are about as energy inefficient as it gets. From the outside, it looks like a full tint and is a clean look. I was gonna blank out the windows with sheet metal, but this was so much work and material that just the thought was daunting.



I screwed 2x2's directly to the ribs of the bus, pre-drilling holes and using #10x2" sheet metal screws. I ran one piece of blocking between each upright. The 1.5" hard insulation is just 'friction fitted' between the framing. The finished wall will hold it in just fine.
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Old 11-24-2016, 02:06 PM   #13
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
Posts: 17
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
Thank you. Just some sheet metal (maybe 3/16" thick) from some old commercial printers waiting for scrap. I bent it with a 2x4 on the side of a work bench. Nothing too technical but well worth the time. I will be spraying it with undercoating spray before the bus goes anywhere.
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Old 11-24-2016, 02:07 PM   #14
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
Posts: 17
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
Quote:
Originally Posted by DoubleO7 View Post
I like how you eliminated the rusted out joint between the floor and the wheel well.
Thank you. Just some sheet metal (maybe 3/16" thick) from some old commercial printers waiting for scrap. I bent it with a 2x4 on the side of a work bench. Nothing too technical but well worth the time. I will be spraying it with undercoating spray before the bus goes anywhere
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