the88

[willem]

Is this where I'm supposed to be?

[willem]

It's a 1995 Thomas pusher, 37' with the Cummins 8.3 and Allison MD3060 and 186k miles on it that I bought at state of Washington auction three days ago for $3k.
The plan is to raise the roof 20" or so, and make it a self contained home for the three of us. Solar panels on top, composting toilet, freezer with thermostat for a refrigerator, propane for the stove, catalytic heat, and on demand hot water.
From front to back: cabin for driving and hanging out reading/ playing guitar, that kind of thing; then the boy's bunk/playspace; next toilet/shower; then the kitchen which opens to dining/worktable/lounge/living room and bed which during the day is part of the living room.

[willem]

All the seats are out, 1/4 of the rubber flooring is out, I've started cleaning up some of the electrical and removing vinyl lettering on the outside.
The layout is changing as I knew it would once I actually had the bus and the realities made themselves apparent, but it sure is fun chalking layouts on the floor!
I have lots of questions- anyone out there with answers?

[Seeria]

This place is full of answers. Although I still don't buy Smitty's answer to why his bus isn't painted pink. *shrug*

Looks like you have great help there! Love seeing kids getting in on conversions.

[willem]

Boots is just about as excited as I am.
My first questions I cut and pasted from the other thread which is apparently in the wrong place:

I want to remove the air stop arm. Is there a "best way" to handle terminating the air line? It looks like it runs into the outside wall from the bellows. And do i follow the electrical lines and remove them at their source?
I removed one of the wall panels on the opposite wall and the insulation looks like new- it makes me think of leaving the outside walls as they are, furring out from there 1 or 1 1/2" and using rigid foam over top of existing walls. Is that a good or bad idea?
Last, can gasketed windows be removed and reused? I like the shape and size of the windows in the three emergency exit doors and would really like to use them in the new version of the88.

Thanks for any and all help!

[Diesel Dan]

Nice bus! Yes, this is the right place for your conversion thread. This "Skoolie Conversion Projects" area is specific to the progress of each individual bus, whereas the "Conversion Discussion" area is specific to topics such as "heating/cooling options" or "how to make cabinets", etc.

[willem]

Thank you, Dan!
How did you plug your air line when you removed the air stop arm from the side of your bus?

[Diesel Dan]

I have no air operated mechanisms on my bus. My stop sign was electric. Sorry I can't help with air issues.

[Hex]

When I removed the air-operated stop sign from my bus, I merely disconnected the air from the solenoid switch, then disconnecting the power from the solenoid. So there's still pressure up to it, but it becomes the terminator of the line.

[willem]

That's great information- thank you!

[willem]

We have people in Olympia!
Are you hooked up with the Knotpinebox/Heliotroupe side of the family?

[Seeria]

Can't comment to your blog. Blogger has a few issues with some of the selections in the dashboard for comments. Might try changing how the comments are set.

About the latest post...

For a little privacy, you might put curtains around the beds and turn the bed spaces into personal keepsake areas. Kids can game, read, doodle, etc without parental eyes watching--big deal for my teen daughter. Also gives adults a bit of privacy. Keep in mind that unless you are living in a cold climate inside that bus you will probably be outside a huge part of the day, we sure are when we're FT.

[willem]

We should be able to get some private space with the floorplan we have envisioned: from front to back- cabin, door to boy's bunkroom, door to shower/toilet, door to kitchen, then the dining/living/master bedroom. the bed in the back will serve as part of the living room seating with a pile of pillows, and the 4 upholstered chairs serve as both dining and living room chairs with the table 3" lower than conventional.

[willem]

We're slowly getting to the roof raising part.
More time= more thinking= more better.
He said with fingers crossed.

[yankeflyer]

Wow Great blog write up. Made me laugh out loud a couple times. Oh ya the music in the blog is a nice touch.

[Seeria]

'taint no skoolie wackos around here!

[willem]

Thanks, YankeeFlyer. I'm sure there's going to be plenty more to laugh about and at, and weeping and gnashing of teeth along the way...
And Seeria, when wacko poster child elections are held next, I'm definitely running.
I hope I'll have your vote.

[willem]

I'm afraid they , predictably, got the best of me...
(that's my ass and my feet on the left.)

[yankeflyer]

Well after all that I bet you where ready for a little quaility time with your bus project.

[willem]

I see guitar cases in one of the photos of your Thomas, Yankeeflyer... what do you play?