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Old 08-20-2018, 09:40 PM   #1
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stansbury Park, Utah
Posts: 189
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: GA39530
Engine: DT466E 215hp 620tq
Rated Cap: 40
Wilma the Wondering Wagon

Hello Folks
I did an intro in the New Member Intro section a while ago and have not updated my progress for a while.

I reinstalled a few window that Im going to keep and sealed them with windshield Urethane, should be leak free.

We finally got the floor stripped, rust holes patched, and treated for rust. Then I painted it with industrial Rustoleum.

Next is filling/covering the seat mounting holes with fiberglass and fastening the wood sleepers Im gong to use to help support the OSB particle floor, its not really needed as a function of weight support but Im going to screw the OSB to the sleepers and glue the foam insulation down.

Small progress.

Ill try to keep ya'll up to day more often.
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Old 08-21-2018, 06:58 PM   #2
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stansbury Park, Utah
Posts: 189
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: GA39530
Engine: DT466E 215hp 620tq
Rated Cap: 40
Floor Sleepers

I cut the floor sleepers for the insulation today.
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Old 08-24-2018, 06:59 PM   #3
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stansbury Park, Utah
Posts: 189
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: GA39530
Engine: DT466E 215hp 620tq
Rated Cap: 40
Floor Plan, sleeping 6 and a cat

Here is a drawing of the floor plan and some of the support systems.
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Old 08-27-2018, 07:30 PM   #4
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stansbury Park, Utah
Posts: 189
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: GA39530
Engine: DT466E 215hp 620tq
Rated Cap: 40
Got the windows covered.

Finally got 8 of the 10 windows blocked off and making slow but steady progress.
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Old 08-28-2018, 07:42 AM   #5
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 334
Got a little bit better picture of the plans?
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Old 08-30-2018, 09:55 PM   #6
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stansbury Park, Utah
Posts: 189
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: GA39530
Engine: DT466E 215hp 620tq
Rated Cap: 40
I will have to redraw my floor plan soon, new ideas. Ill post it when Im done
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Old 09-04-2018, 04:10 PM   #7
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stansbury Park, Utah
Posts: 189
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: GA39530
Engine: DT466E 215hp 620tq
Rated Cap: 40
Made some progress this weekend.
Got the mounting rails for the 6 solar panels installed in the roof and the junction box. Got all 10 extra windows sealed up and glued to prevent water intrusion. Got all the wood sleepers screwed to the floor, and covered the extra high mount lights covered for bondo fill in after the fill in glue hardens.

Went shopping to, got a 25 gallon AMSE propane tank, new for 150, my 4 water barrels for 10 each, 20" camper oven/range for 40 and the on demand water heater for 75. Also got 150' of white 3/4" pex and fittings for 20.

Next step is roughing in the electrical and water runs.
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Old 09-05-2018, 10:35 PM   #8
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stansbury Park, Utah
Posts: 189
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: GA39530
Engine: DT466E 215hp 620tq
Rated Cap: 40
Plans

Perhaps a better picture of the floor plan
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Old 09-10-2018, 04:25 PM   #9
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stansbury Park, Utah
Posts: 189
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: GA39530
Engine: DT466E 215hp 620tq
Rated Cap: 40
A Little more progress

Made a little more progress, got the electrical roughed in and the ceiling furring strips in as well. Got the holes for the roof mounted flasher lights covered as well.

Next step is cutting and fitting the floor insulation and OSB. Still waiting for some fiberglass cloth that I am going to use to fill the seat holes.
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Old 09-24-2018, 06:45 PM   #10
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stansbury Park, Utah
Posts: 189
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: GA39530
Engine: DT466E 215hp 620tq
Rated Cap: 40
Some more progress

For those that are interested. I made some more progress Sunday. Got the holes in the floor covered with fiberglass and resin, then installed my 1 inch polyiso insulation and finally the OSB wood on top of that and screwed it all down to the sleepers i laid previously.

It was loads of work but very satisfying to see the floor.

Next is the insulation of the ceiling and the walls with the wiring secured.

Slow and steady.
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Old 09-24-2018, 08:00 PM   #11
Skoolie
 
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Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 233
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: Genesis
Engine: DT466
Rated Cap: 84lug
Quote:
Originally Posted by FamilyCircus View Post
For those that are interested. I made some more progress Sunday. Got the holes in the floor covered with fiberglass and resin, then installed my 1 inch polyiso insulation and finally the OSB wood on top of that and screwed it all down to the sleepers i laid previously.

It was loads of work but very satisfying to see the floor.

Next is the insulation of the ceiling and the walls with the wiring secured.

Slow and steady.
Looking good! Excited to see more updates! What social media are you using? Keep the pictures coming.
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Note: I am no longer selling skoolie insurance. I sold my agency and am traveling N. America full time with my family. Wish us luck!
Serenity Bus Project: OUR NEW EBOOK. ITS A HOW-TO GUIDE. PLEASE CHECK IT OUT! --> https://www.serenitybusproject.com/store/p1/So-Your-Dream-Of-Owning-A-Skoolie.html
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Old 09-24-2018, 08:11 PM   #12
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stansbury Park, Utah
Posts: 189
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: GA39530
Engine: DT466E 215hp 620tq
Rated Cap: 40
I dont do social media, its not a high priority. Ill keep the pictures coming as we progress.
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Old 10-08-2018, 06:15 PM   #13
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stansbury Park, Utah
Posts: 189
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: GA39530
Engine: DT466E 215hp 620tq
Rated Cap: 40
Made some progress this weekend.
I attached the wood framing to the bus metal frame in side.
Bought a 50 gallon tank fro the grey water.
Started the demolition of the old battery box in preparation of the new battery box that will house the starting battery and the house batteries.
Ran the solar wires from the roof mounted junction box to where the electrical equipment will be, decided to run 3 smaller charge controllers instead of one big charge controller, some added redundancy and the three charge controllers collectively will be cheaper than the one high power unit.

Made some purchases as well, ordered the water pump, water accumulator, power meters with shunts, 12v junction blocks, solar DIN mount fuse blocks for the roof junction box and a 18 gauge nailer to do the finishing.

Slow and steady.
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Old 10-15-2018, 03:55 PM   #14
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stansbury Park, Utah
Posts: 189
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: GA39530
Engine: DT466E 215hp 620tq
Rated Cap: 40
More progress

Its starting to get cold here and I could not buy the foam before the cold has set in. So I have started on the engine issues and began the disassembly to find out why I have coolant in the oil. Most likely its a liner Oring that has failed and so the head is coming off.

I did some framing as well and taped out the floor plan to get a better idea of where everything is going to go. Found out I have more floor space than I thought. The Bunks will be a bit longer, the bathroom will be a smidgen bigger and the couches will be bigger too.

I was curious about the actual length of the bus, I always assumed it was 30' long and I wanted to confirm it. So its 30' 6" long bumper to bumper. And the wheel base is 162" long.

I cut out the tail section of the exhaust that goes over the axle and exits at the left rear corner, it will now exit just in front of the right rear wheel.

Ive started on the battery box to accommodate the 9 house batteries and the 3 starting batteries. Ill have 3 Group 31 starting batteries and 9 group GC12 flooded batteries for 1350 Ah of battery.
Slow and steady.
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Old 10-29-2018, 06:17 PM   #15
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stansbury Park, Utah
Posts: 189
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: GA39530
Engine: DT466E 215hp 620tq
Rated Cap: 40
Engine work and a battery box

Well, it looks like the interior progress is going to slow down due to the lack of insulation foam. So I thought I would investigate the coolant loss issue and build a battery box.

I removed the head, pan, pistons, rods, and found why I was getting coolant in the oil.

Piston #6 damaged and the sealing Oring for the #6 liner cracked, split and baked due to the over heating.

Not the greatest of news but not horrible, good thin this is a wet sleeve engine, easy fix, just need more money.

Also found the turbo damaged, like something got sucked in and destroyed the compressor wheel.

And found 1 exhaust valve stem damaged and work almost flat with the valve spring retainer.

So for the engine repairs I'm looking at an in frame kit, one exhaust valve, and a turbo cartridge.


Better news I welded up my battery box and about a third of the way with finishing it. I need to weld in some supports and bracing, then mount it to the body with some heavy L brackets.

Ill be housing 9 house batteries, ground GC12 150Ah 12v batteries and 3 group 31 950 CCA starting batteries.
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Old 11-05-2018, 04:37 PM   #16
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stansbury Park, Utah
Posts: 189
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: GA39530
Engine: DT466E 215hp 620tq
Rated Cap: 40
Heater and Propane Tank

A bit more progress this weekend. Mounted the 24.2 gallon Manchester propane tank and the 30kBTU heater and made some more progress on the battery box.

Still have to mount the battery box and make a door.
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Old 11-19-2018, 05:08 PM   #17
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stansbury Park, Utah
Posts: 189
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: GA39530
Engine: DT466E 215hp 620tq
Rated Cap: 40
Generator Mounted

I made a bit more progress Sunday and got the Onan 4kw generator mounted using the Onan factory mount. I had to make some brackets I welded to the floor beams but then it was a bolt up operation, easy peasy.

I got the battery box door cut and mounted to the piano hing as well, I need to install the T handles and the door seal next to finish the door. Then reinforce the installation a bit more then it too will be done.

Planning on installing the grey water tank this next weekend

I forgot to take pictures, next time.

Thank you
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Old 11-20-2018, 03:19 PM   #18
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stansbury Park, Utah
Posts: 189
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: GA39530
Engine: DT466E 215hp 620tq
Rated Cap: 40
Just some pics of the progress
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Old 11-26-2018, 07:13 PM   #19
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Stansbury Park, Utah
Posts: 189
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: GA39530
Engine: DT466E 215hp 620tq
Rated Cap: 40
Grey water tank in

Got the grey water tank mounted this weekend, may not get much done next week, we are supposed to get a bunch of snow. Im allergic to snow.
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Old 11-26-2018, 10:56 PM   #20
New Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Denver, CO USA Earth
Posts: 6
Things are coming along nicely. How many hours per week are you putting into this project?
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