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Old 10-02-2018, 08:44 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 40
2007 C2/MBE906 5 Window

I finally found my 5 window short bus to start a conversion. Planning to Boondock with my family of 5, for summers between school years and on long weekends. Look so forward to hearing and learning from you all! I will do my best to do a good job documenting all the mistakes I am about to make.

First mistake: I didn’t do this sooner

Let’s do this!
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Old 10-03-2018, 07:38 AM   #2
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,707
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
totally Love these short little C2's! take care with that mercedes engine.. it will last you a lifetime but be sure to keep its oil checked and not get it hot.



-Christopher
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Old 10-04-2018, 10:50 PM   #3
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 40
Current Adventure Bus Build Requirements (Do you all care about a medium budget modern build like this?) let me know

- [ ] Kick Governors @ss. Change rear to large super single to increase speed via faux axel ratio bump and soften ride; east bound and down at 80 in a shorty. These t-tops leak like a sieve!
- [ ] Tesla like minimal interior allowing modular relocation of everything, nothing is permanent anywhere except the mounting tracks and system. Copy outside van on a skoolie, those guys rock past my bedtime. Follow sprinter modular build forums on a skoolie.
- [ ] In deck storage under floor wherever possible; storage fills in every nook and cranny right after fundamentals.
- [ ] Garmin RV 770 LMTS GPS and wireless backup camera. This seems easy.
- [ ] Wood dash, funky switches, act like an idiot here.
- [ ] Install 6-8 black solar panels (LG or Canadian solar) totaling 2-2.5kw to block sun and shade panoramic skylights
- [ ] Install panoramic skylights, with power shades to give me light and headroom between splines.
- [ ] Dry flush toilet. Yucky stuff
- [ ] Mini split AC.
- [ ] Convert main space from sleeping to entertaining to relaxing quickly to create 3x utility; to match the size of a full size bus. Employ tiny house tricks.
- [ ] 100 gallons fresh and grey water
- [ ] Cool vintage steering wheel with one of those crazy person cool knobs
- [ ] LED headlights
- [ ] LED light bar; make this idiotically overkill
- [ ] Spray foam insulation everywhere for sound and cool
- [ ] Open wire raceways always
- [ ] Cork flooring (combines insulation and flooring); Find 1” more ceiling height
- [ ] Sound blocker everywhere; be obsessive about quiet
- [ ] All flat counter; pull out cooktop
- [ ] Storage, storage, storage -everything needs a place
- [ ] Haint blue ceilings
- [ ] Indoor / outdoor on demand Shower on stairwell with funky clear curtain; remove bottom step and add flip down and drain.
- [ ] Trailer hitch for attachments and/or towing
- [ ] Snorkel; ridiculous and completely worthless but vital for zombie apocalypse prep. Matte black hood and grille, matches snorkel in necessity, hides zombie guts.
- [ ] Warn winch with funky composite cable behind bumper; because I’m going to get this stuck a lot by making poor choices and then compounding them by not asking for help
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Old 10-05-2018, 12:27 AM   #4
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 171
I love the look of Thomas C2. What kind of ceiling height on that? It looks big.

It looks like you are going to do some great upgrades too. I can't wait to see how this turns out.
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BlueFish aka Todd
Seeking a Crown, Thomas, International, Blue Bird bus with DT466, Cummins 8.3, Allison trans, high roof, air brakes, and A/C.
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Old 10-05-2018, 04:10 AM   #5
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,707
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
Build it baby !! Your gauges run off computer so no you can’t temovd the senders and install Pete style wood dash and gauges , but you can do digital dash Tesla style pretty easily!

Minisplit great for parked but install dash air for driving, you’ll thank me come 100 degrees while eastbound and Down

Screw the new axle, keep the duals, you can temporarily move rims around if you run all position tires abs get a flat in the middle of nowhere .

That’s an 07, get 6th gear unlocked in the trans and you are good to go! Or skip the hassle and buy a 5th gen Tineable TCM
Christopher
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Old 10-05-2018, 09:32 AM   #6
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 40
Great comments! Unlock the 6th gear???
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Old 10-05-2018, 09:33 AM   #7
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 40
What’s the fastest way to get dash air without significant mods?
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Old 10-05-2018, 09:51 AM   #8
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,707
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
that C2 should have a full truck-like dash with dash vents and all already there... it will be very similar to a Freightliner FL60.. those could be bought (and most were) with dash air.. so you could look for dead FL60 trucks. and yank dash air pieces out and add it to yours..



the 2006 and up allison 2000s were built with the full 6 speed valve bodies in them.. typically school busses come with only 5 gears enabled, the TCM is the separate transmission computer.. in some cases people have been able to contact thomas and get a letter of Authorization to go to a dealer and have the 6th gear opened up (its simply disabled via computer)..



another option is to find a similar diesel TCM that has 6 gears enabled already...



you can snag the serial number off the side of the transmission itself.. then look it up on 'myallison' on the web and it will give you the details about it.


-Christopher
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Old 10-08-2018, 07:56 PM   #9
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 40
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueFish View Post
I love the look of Thomas C2. What kind of ceiling height on that? It looks big.

It looks like you are going to do some great upgrades too. I can't wait to see how this turns out.
6’6” exact; I need to insulate well but keep all of it as I am almost 6’6” myself.
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Old 10-09-2018, 06:25 PM   #10
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 40
Making good progress and the bus is not in my possession yet. I got the full build sheet and cad from Freightliner, the 2007 MBE 900 operators manual and am submitting the paperwork to get 6th unlocked; which is now a quarterly process at Daimler.

Currently focusing on adding factory in dash air(I have the dash vents) in the cheapest way possible using original components.
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Old 10-09-2018, 06:37 PM   #11
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 40
Confirmed I am going INSANE on a mac’s versatie system on floor, sides and top of bus so that nothing in the bus is hard mounted. Any opinion on the Mac’s versatie system?

Used by outside van and I really like the system details and strength vs competitors. Beds, seats, cabinets, lights, everything will connect to the Mac system.
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Old 10-09-2018, 06:57 PM   #12
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 40
Build sheet; does any of this seem like good news or bad news to anyone?? I was super surprised by the 158” wheelbase, shorter wheelbase than a sprinter 170 but 35% more volume, unique and better departure angle. Win. I don’t know if this build sheet is good bad or normal. You all have been awesome; minimizing the chance I mess this all up!

Sales Options for BodyNo# 662814


BODY: CERTIFICATION/SAFETY
1 REFLECTTAPE-RR END WHT 1"
1 REFLECTIVE TAPE-EMERGENCY DOOR REAR YELLOW
1 REFLECTTAPE-SIDE 2" @ FLR YEL
1 FIRE EXTINGUISHER-5 3A-40BC
1 REFLECTORS-AMBER(2) MID BDY 3"
1 REFLECTORS-RED (4) RR/RR SI 3"
1 HATCH-ROOF ESCAPE MODEL 1900 ENGLISH (1)
1 KIT,FIRST AID 24 UNIT ARIZONA
1 KIT,BODY FLUID CLEAN UP AZ
1 LOC-O/H STOR LS 10 UNIT B.F.C
1 LOCATION-VESTIBULE FLOOR PLATE LEFT 5LB FE
1 DUOSTYLE, NON-HTD, BLK BKTS
1 MIRROR-SYSTEM B EXTERIOR CROSSVIEW BLACK BRACKET 1 SIGN-STOP, ELECTRIC FRONT #E11 INCANDESCENT
1 MIRROR-INTERIOR 6"X30" WITH RUBBER EDGE

BODY: Doors
STEP-RS ALUMINUM ENTRANCE DOOR 8.75" RISER LATCH-DOOR INTERIOR STORAGE OVER WINDSHIELD VANDALOCK-REAR DOOR W/BOLT VANDALOCK-ALUM.ENT.DR.CYLINDER W/KEY PULL-ENTRANCE DOOR, EXTERNAL ALUMINUM PAD-DR HEADER, RR EMER 36"W
RAIL-ASSIST FRT ENT DR 41"H 39"W

BODY: ELECTRICAL - BODY
1 RADIO-AM/FM WITH CASSETTE
1 SWITCH-ROCKER PANEL LAMPS DIMMER
1 OPERATION-STEPWELL LAMPS WITH IGNITION/DOME SWITCH(S) 1 LAMPS-STEPWELL WITHOUT HOOD (1)
1 LAMPS-WARNING HALOGEN (
1 OPERATION-LAMPS WARNING ( PACKAGE 7
1 OPERATION-LAMPS REVERSE WITH REAR EMERGENCY DOOR OPEN 1 LAMPS-ID FRT AMBER REAR RED BULB
1 LAMPS-MARKER ROOF FRONT/REAR RECTANGLE
1 LAMPS-STOP/TAIL 4" FLUSH MOUNT INCANDESCENT
1 ELEC-SEM POWER RH SWITCHES
1 SPEAKERS-INT. 30 WAT.(4) 161T

BODY: EXTERIOR
FLAPS-MUD, REAR 22.5"W/O LOGO
BODY ADJUSTMENT-FREIGHTLINER, BTR RS FUEL FILL LOCATION BUMPER-RR 2 BRACES LS EXH HOLE
LATCH-FUEL FILL ACCESS (THUMB)
HTR-U/S LS 50,000 BTU LOC 5
HOSE-HTR HIMILER W/ W/H POS 5 CLAMPS-UNDERSEAT HEATER CONSTANT TORQUE
VISOR-WINDSHIELD SUN 6"X30" TINTED
STRIPS - AISLE, ALUMINUM 161T
FLR-BLK VINYL W/13" CTR AISLE 161T
FLR-PLYWOOD 5/8" 161T
TRIM-STEPWELL HORIZONTAL WITH DIAMONETTE NOSE
MANUAL-DRVR'S/MAINT.ENGLISH
PRICE ADJ - IN COMB W/101-13P
PRICE ADJUSTMENT - IN COMBINATION WITH 545-402 158" WB PRICE ADJUSTMENT-IN COMBINATION WITH 545-402 158" WB

BODY: HVAC
Hot as Sh@t your scr@wed dude

BODY: PAINT/LETTERING
1 LETTERING-EMERGENCY DOOR 2' HIGH
1 LETTER - OVERHEAD STORAGE BOX "SAFETY EQUIP" 1 PAINT-EXT HNDLE(S) BLACK
1 DECAL-FRT CAP "SCHOOL BUS"
1 DECAL-REAR CAP "SCHOOL BUS"
1 PAINT-EXT WINDOW AREA BLACK
1 PAINT-EXT GRD RAIL @ WDO BLK
1 PAINT-EXT GRD RAIL @ SEAT BLK
1 PAINT-EXT GRD RAIL @ FLOOR BLK
1 PAINT-EXT GRD RAIL @ SKRT BLK
1 PAINT-BLACK TRIM-FRONT/REAR ROOF CAPS
1 PAINT-SOLID COLOR YELLOW
1 YELLOW - N5898H IMRON 5000
1 GRILLE: SILVER N3388H IMRON 5000

BODY: SEATS
BELT-ELR SHOULDER/PUSH BUTTON LAP
39"8-DEGREE REVERSE WALL-MOUNT 41"H BARRIER W/RECESSED BK,LT 39"8-DEGREE REVERSE WALL-MOUNT 41"H BARRIER W/RECESSED BK,RT 39" FMVSS PASSENGER SEAT
SPANISH GRAY UPHOLSTERY-41" HIGH FMVSS SEAT
SPANISH GRAY UPHOLSTERY-41"HIGH RECESSED BARRIER
BACK,DRVR'S SEAT ADJ.
UPH DR.ST.WOLF BLK
PEDASTAL-DRIVER SEAT BOX TYPE
KICKPLATE-MOD.PANEL RS 39"
KICKPLATE-MOD.PANEL LS 39"
BODY: WARRANTY

BODY: WINDOWS/GLASS
GLASS-WINDSHIELD ONE PIECE WITH TINTED BAND GLASS-WDO TINT TEMP 30"
GLASS-WDO TINT TEMP 40"
GLS-LWR RR DR TEMP TNT BONDED
GLS-UPR RR DR TEMP TNT BONDED WDO-DRIVER'S TEMP CLR
LOGO-FRT RS & RR
ARM ASSEMBLY-WINDSHIELD WIPER (2) LOCATION-OVERHEAD STORAGE CENTER 24 F.A.K. ANTENNA - RADIO SWIVEL BASE
LPS-DOME PASS MIN (4) 161T
LAMPS-LICENSE PLATE ILLUMINATION DOOR-UNDERBODY LEFT FRONT BATTERY 106BBC TREAD-STEP ALUMINUM ENTRANCE DOOR BLACK PANEL-ACCESSORY MOUNTING SAFTEY EQUIPMENT HEADLINING TYPE - ALL SMOOTH

CHASSIS: AXLES AND SUSPENSIONS
1 16T MERITOR MAIN DRIVELINE WITH HALF-ROUND YOKES
1 DA-F-8-2 8,000# FC1 72.0 KPI/3.74 DROP SINGLE FRONT AXLE
1 FRONT OIL SEALS
1 DA-RS-19-2 19,000# L-SRS SINGLE REAR AXLE
1 5.71 REAR AXLE RATIO
1 CHICAGO RAWHIDE (SCOT) REAR OIL SEALS
1 8,000 LB. TAPERLEAF FRONT SUSPENSION
1 M2 18K 60" 2-STAGE TAPERLEAF SPRING RR SUSP W/RUBBER HELPER

CHASSIS: BRAKES
1 BOSCH HYDRAULIC BRAKE PACKAGE
1 BOSCH HYDRAULIC PIN-SLIDE DISC FRONT
1 DISC BRAKE FRONT ROTORS FOR HYDRAULIC BRAKES
1 BOSCH HYDRAULIC PIN-SLIDE DISC REAR
1 REAR AXLE MOUNTED DRUM PARK BRAKE
1 WABCO HYDRAULIC ABS (4) CHANNEL WITHOUT TRACTION CONTROL
1 FOOT OPERATED PARK BRAKE & WARNING INDICATOR FOR HYDRAULIC

CHASSIS: CHASSIS EQUIPMENT
1 EXHAUST - LS, THRU REAR BUMPER 161T
1 60 GALLON/227 LITER STEEL RECTANGULAR FUEL TANK,BETWEEN RAIL 1 RIGHT-HAND STANDARD HORIZONTAL TAILPIPE
1 FIXED STEERING COLUMN
1 TRW THP-45 POWER STEERING
1 4025MM (158") WHEELBASE
1 5/16" X 3.00" X 10 1/8" STEEL FRAME (7.94 X 76.5 X 257.2")
1 FRONT FRAME-MOUNTED TOW HOOKS

CHASSIS: ELECTRICAL - CHASSIS
1 DELCO-REMY 12V 145AMP 24-SI QUADRAMOUNT PAD ALTERNATOR 1 DELCO 12V 29MT STARTER
1 (2) ALLIANCE 1131, GROUP 31, 12 VOLT, MF, 1900 CCA BATTERIES 1 STOP SIGN PRESENT
1 ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER WITH SECONDARY KPH SCALE, NO ODOMETER 1 TRANSMISSION OIL TEMPERATURE GAUGE

CHASSIS: ENGINE AND EQUIPMENT
1 MBE900 6.4L 190 HP @ 2300 RPM, 520 LB./FT. TORQUE @ 1200 RPM
1 ANTI-FREEZE TO -34F, ETHYLENE GLYCOL PRE-CHARGED SCA COOLANT 1 MBE SPIN ON FUEL FILTER
1 AIR INTAKE WARMER
1 PROGRAMMABLE RPM CONTROL ELEC ENGINES
1 ADDL AUX LINES W/MANIFOLD PLUMBING AND COMBINED SHUTOFF
1 870 SQUARE INCH RADIATOR
1 VISCOUS FAN DRIVE
1 2004 EPA/CARB EMISSION CERTIFICATION

CHASSIS: TRANSMISSION AND EQUIPMENT
FL-342-1MJ 1 ALLISON 2500 PTS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CHASSIS: WHEELS AND TIRES
FRONT BRIDGESTONE R250F 11R22.5 14 PLY RADIAL
REAR BRIDGESTONE R250F 11R22.5 14 PLY RADIAL
ACCURIDE 28408 22.5X8.25, 10-HOLE HUB-PILOTED, 2-HAND
R WH, ACCURIDE 28408 22.5X8.25, 10-HOLE HUB-PILOTED, 2-HAND
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Old 10-13-2018, 02:17 PM   #13
Skoolie
 
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 139
Year: 2006
Coachwork: IC
Chassis: IC FE 9 Window
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 29850
With those tires @ 1800rpm will be 53mph in 5th and 62mph in 6th (if equipped).
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Old 10-13-2018, 08:04 PM   #14
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 40
I hit 67 on the way home; how do I get to 85 good sir? I believe you could get me there. She has the kick in the @ss and she was super smooth in neutral at 75...Nellie Belle needs you dude
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Old 10-14-2018, 02:55 AM   #15
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,707
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
85 in a high profile vehicle with tires rated at 70-75 is a dangerous proposition, it’s a school bus not a race car. They aren’t designed for those kinds of speeds. They generally aren’t used in highway situations at those kinds of speeds,

Your C2 does have better aerodynamics than most school busses but it takes a lot more fuel and power to go 85 vs staying at 70-75. Going 85 down a hill in neutral doesn’t suffice as a test for longevity and the stress of the vehicle under power st that speed.
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Old 10-14-2018, 08:58 AM   #16
Bus Geek
 
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
I agree with the above. And we haven't even mentioned brakes which is a whole 'nuther story.
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Old 10-14-2018, 12:02 PM   #17
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 1,001
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: International
Engine: TE 444
Rated Cap: 12
4.44 rear end ratio to replace the 5.79 in it right now
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Old 10-14-2018, 02:45 PM   #18
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 40
Does anyone know what angle slope my buses parking brake can handle? I rush ordered big chock blocks and jammed big rocks in under her front tires for now. But it doesn’t look safe to me.
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Old 10-14-2018, 07:21 PM   #19
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,707
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
how steep is your driveway? ive parked my bus on my sloped driveway with the handle-brake on and not had an issue. I chocked the wheels but the chocks were never tight so the bus never budged.

-Christopher
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Old 10-14-2018, 08:33 PM   #20
Bus Geek
 
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
Good call on chocking. Brakes get tired, cables stretch. Nice to have a backup on a grade. A school bus rolling freely down a hill could take out most of your average Wal-Mart.
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