1997 Ford - Thomas shorty 5.9l Diesel Cummins

[Billsman]

Originally Posted by oldog12

For heating... Check these guys out, they have a few "other" perspectives...

http://cruisingresources.com/Heating_the_Boat__p3

Thank you.

[Billsman]

Whew what a day.....
I got all the seats out, what a pain in the arse! Each one took about 30 minutes, there were 10 so @ 5+ hours removing the seats. Down the isle I used my angle grinder and unbolted the 4 bolts that were connecting each seat to the wall. I felt like I played twister all day, I was hanging off seats with my grinder trying to reach the bolts, lol, glad no one saw me.

I also found that my emergency roof hatch leaked water when it rained so I went up to inspect it, I found that the caulking was cracked and missing. So I re caulked around it as a temp. fix. Later I will peel all the old caulk off and do it right. I will also make it a sky light, but that will come later.

I got to tearing out the floor and all the trim that held it in. I had to grind off most of the screw heads as they were rusted and stripped out easily. The top floor came up in long strips which exposed the plywood floor. It's a good thing that In planned on removing everything right down to the metal floor as the wood looked a bit wet.

Tomorrow I'll be removing the drivers seat to get to the rest of the flooring and access to the plywood, I'll also pull the plywood in the back. Once I get all the wood removed I'll wire wheel the floor to get any rust out and if I have time I'll pull off a few side skins and check out the walls. If the walls and insulation is ok I'll start coating the metal with Por-15 or another rust preventer, I'll poke around Lowes and Home Depot in the next day or so.

Here's a photo diary:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Lynnie.Buff ... BillsBusII

[Train-train]

Billsman, we have a lot in common.

My bus is twenty feet from the back of the driver's seat to the back door. It is a '95' Ford/Thomas with a 5.9 Cummins.

As far as heat, I use a propane plaque heater that has a thermostat control. I usually crack a front and back window for air venting and have been very comfortable. I can remove it and use it in my pole barn when tinkering as well.

I have been reading about turning up the governor for more horse power, a bit better fuel economy and a little higher top end speed. I am also looking to convert it so it will run straight veggie.

My bus has a 6'6" interior height. Yours looks like it is taller as well.

[Billsman]

Nice. Yours is 5' longer as I have 15'. I love the head space, it measures 6'6" with the original floor in it.

So you like the propane heater? I'll have to do some reading on that, maybe it's more feasible for me.

Let me know what you find on the governor I'd always welcome an increase in fuel economy and speed.

Originally Posted by Train-train

Billsman, we have a lot in common.

My bus is twenty feet from the back of the driver's seat to the back door. It is a '95' Ford/Thomas with a 5.9 Cummins.

As far as heat, I use a propane plaque heater that has a thermostat control. I usually crack a front and back window for air venting and have been very comfortable. I can remove it and use it in my pole barn when tinkering as well.

I have been reading about turning up the governor for more horse power, a bit better fuel economy and a little higher top end speed. I am also looking to convert it so it will run straight veggie.

My bus has a 6'6" interior height. Yours looks like it is taller as well.

[Train-train]

I have been following this thread in the Everything Else category:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=588

[Billsman]

Day 2 done. I removed all the plywood flooring and started sanding the metal floor. I took some of the skin off from under the windows and all was good, thank God.

Tomorrow will be more sanding of the floors and maybe I'll be able to wash it down in preparation for the rust coating.

[Billsman]

http://picasaweb.google.com/Lynnie.Buff ... BillsBusII (Day 1)
http://picasaweb.google.com/Lynnie.Buff ... sBusIIDay2 (Day 2)

[Billsman]

http://picasaweb.google.com/Lynnie.Buff ... BillsBusII
http://picasaweb.google.com/Lynnie.Buff ... sBusIIDay2
http://picasaweb.google.com/Lynnie.Buff ... Days3Thru8
http://picasaweb.google.com/Lynnie.Buff ... ays9Thru11

[Billsman]

Thanks SB. I really took my time with the OSB, I didn't want to do it twice.
I haven't and coating of the OSB yet, I'm going to lumber liquidators and talk to the flooring people later today, I want to see what they recommend. But either way I'll probably coat it with something to retard water absorption.

Rainy day today so I didn't mess with anything, this weekend I'll hit it hard.

[Billsman]

Much thanks.

[timbuk]

cant be wasting that beer on foam bill ... looks mgood lots of work done there keep it up timbuk!

[quizbus]

The bus is looking great! As far as the keg tap, be sure to keep the line running to the tap cold or it will foam like crazy. I built one in my house and wanted a brass bar style tap on the bar with the fridge in the next room. I ran a 1" PVC from the inside of the fridge to about 6in short of the tap. Then from the tap to the edge of the fridge ran 2"PVC over the 1" so there is a barrier inbetween them. Attatched to the 1" PVC is a computer cooling fan. This circulates cold air through the tubes. Beer at the tap 10' away from the fridge is only 2degrees warmer than fridge temp. The beer line runs inside the 1" PVC, and the whole thing is then insulated. Hope this helps if you can't put it out the back of the fridge through the wall.

[Billsman]

Great info, much thanks.

[jarly]

How long is your shorty, overall length AND the interior length from behind the driver's seat to the end wall? I'm looking for a shorty that has 16 feet behind the driver's seat, don't eve know if such things exist. Thanks, jarly

[putterspitt]

for some reason I cant see you pics, really want to, I have 89 thomas same size, except for 6' height. just looking for ideas also injector pump and injectors set me back 1000 bucks though will keep track of your progress good luck