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Old 05-20-2018, 08:54 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Tempe, AZ
Posts: 66
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Chevy Midbus
Engine: GM 6.5 Turbo Diesel
Beer Today, Gone Tomorrow Bus

After almost 2 years of research (mostly reading through threads here), viewing hundreds of auctions and other various buses for sale on line and a few in person, several heart wrenching auctions not won and a few almost as heart wrenching conversations with my wife, I am finally a proud bus owner!

I made a few compromises on this one and I'm sure it won't be the last bus I convert, but I think it's going to be a great starter bus. This one will mainly be used for camping and trips to the beach and will hopefully lead to another bus that we'll full time in for at least a few months out of the year. I am a homebrewer and plan to have a kegorator on board with at least two taps. I have a pipe dream of bringing good beer down to the beach in Rocky Point, Mexico (not to sell, just to share with others as the craft beer scene in Mexico leaves a bit to be desired). Beer Today, Gone Tomorrow is the working name of my home brewery.

The bus is a 2001 Chevy Midbus with 140k miles on a GM 6.5 Turbo Diesel. It's got 6 windows and came with a pretty slapshod conversion already done (that I have since completely gutted). The previous owner deleted a majority of the school lights, switches and the stop sign and installed rear air bags and a hitch. Registration and insurance was a breeze (I guess being a van conversion bus makes it much easier).

I got the bus about 2 months ago and have been working on it as much as time allows. Gutting the previous conversion didn't take long, and I'm currently working on patching and insulating the floor. Very excited to get this sucker ready for it's maiden voyage (shooting for July this year but that might be unrealistic).

Can anyone tell me how to identify the type of transmission on my bus? Since Midbus is no longer in business I'm assuming I'm going to have to get underneath and find a data plate rather than call a dealer. I've been under there a few times and didn't see anything obvious. All of the dataplates inside the bus were removed before I got it.
Attached Thumbnails
Bus Passenger Side.jpg   Bus Drivers Side.jpg   Back of Bus.jpg   Bus Cockpit.jpg   Bus in Yard 2.jpg  


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Old 05-20-2018, 09:07 PM   #2
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Tempe, AZ
Posts: 66
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Chevy Midbus
Engine: GM 6.5 Turbo Diesel
Original Conversion on my bus

I thought I'd post some pictures of the conversion that was done when I bought the bus. It was functional, but no insulation had been installed, no holes had been patched and many things were attached with velcro and duct tape so I had some safety concerns.

Hopefully I'll be able to re-purpose a good chunk of the materials.

Anyone think I made the wrong choice by gutting this beast?
Attached Thumbnails
Old Interior 1.jpg   Old Interior 4.jpg   Old Interior Vent.jpg   Old Interior Bathroom 2.jpg   Bus Passenger Door 2.jpg  

Old Interior 3-2.jpg  
jordan76 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-20-2018, 11:14 PM   #3
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Greater Boston
Posts: 504
Gutting was 100% the right choice.

Simple construction and a quick conversion are fine, but you don't want to hit the breaks and have the bedroom end up in the passenger seat. And who wants road gunk and water coating the floor of their camper? It's not exactly difficult to patch the holes in the floor. . do it right, and it only costs a few pennies. . . . . .
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