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09-29-2015, 07:44 PM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Marshfield, WI
Posts: 26
Year: 1997
Coachwork: El Dorado Aerotech 220
Chassis: Ford E-350
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
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It's finally all falling into place !
So, after many years of deliberation, I'm pulling the trigger on my first bus build.
It's a paratransit rig, but I have logged over three hundred thousand miles behind the wheel of these rigs (in city traffic), so I am extremely familiar with the amount of space that they occupy and maneuverability, etc.
The rig itself is a 1997 ElDorado Aerotech 220 built on a Ford E-350 chassis. The rig is powered by the DT444E Navistar engine (I'm gonna have to get some IHC logos to replace the Fjord markings, lol.) And I am unsure of the transmission, although given the age I am assuming that it's the E40D.
I have lurked around here long enough to know how most of us feel about the "van" buses, but like I said, it's a starter bus. The next one will be a proper Skoolie.
I'm curious as to how to attach to the fiberglass panels. Roach, I may be looking for advice on this build. I've been through your entire build thread a few times, and it blows me away!
Anyhow, that's all I got for now.
Hank
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09-29-2015, 08:11 PM
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#2
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 53
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Champion
Chassis: Ford E-350
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What's wrong with "van" buses?
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09-29-2015, 08:39 PM
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#3
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Moodus, Ct.
Posts: 1,062
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Champion
Chassis: Ford e-450
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 14
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They work for me!
Yes-E4OD. (sorry)
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09-29-2015, 08:53 PM
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#4
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: So Cal
Posts: 3,227
Year: 1935
Coachwork: Superior
Chassis: Chevy
Engine: 317 ci/tid / Isuzu
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Lots of room there. You do it right and you'll never need to go to a bigger bus. I have a 22 footer and a 40 footer and the 22 footer is the hands down favorite--but then I'm not trying to full time in it.
OK, lets see some pics and hear what you have planned. Jack
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09-29-2015, 09:15 PM
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#5
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
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Some of us are a bit partial to the van buses.
Assuming your body is the same fiberglass sandwich as mine, you'll have no trouble attaching stuff with sheet metal screws. If I didn't drill my pilot holes large enough it was common to twist off the head of the screws.
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10-01-2015, 10:58 AM
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#6
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Marshfield, WI
Posts: 26
Year: 1997
Coachwork: El Dorado Aerotech 220
Chassis: Ford E-350
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
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Personally, I kinda like like the van buses, but I'm partial because I've logged so many miles in them over the years for work. One thing I've learned : Starcraft should be avoided like the plague. 50,000 miles and she was shaking herself to pieces ! My other rig was a single rear wheel E-350 with a Shepard Brothers Coach & Equipment chassis on her. She's retired now due to mileage and a warped (plastic) intake manifold, but the coach work is SOLID on that bus. I was going to bid on it when it went to auction, but I've always wanted a diesel so when the ElDo was found, I jumped on it.
Roach, how thick are your walls? Just trying to figure out how long the screws need to be.
I take delivery of her sometime next week, so I'll throw some pictures up. There will be another thread for the build, but it will be sporadic as I have many irons in the fire.
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10-01-2015, 12:30 PM
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#7
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Yes avoid the "starcrap".
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10-01-2015, 02:43 PM
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#8
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Marshfield, WI
Posts: 26
Year: 1997
Coachwork: El Dorado Aerotech 220
Chassis: Ford E-350
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
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10-01-2015, 06:54 PM
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#9
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CDHenry6
Roach, how thick are your walls? Just trying to figure out how long the screws need to be.
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There's no "meat" between the two skins so you only have to penetrate a few threads deep to get a good hold. It's a lot like screwing into sheet metal, and probably more secure.
The total wall thickness, at least in the side walls, is 1 3/16". The inner skin is 1/16" thick, the outer skin is 3/16" thick and there is a 15/16 gap between the two walls. There is some kind of cardboard-like corrugation between the two skins. Here's a shot of the cross section with the thinner inner skin facing forward. The pic below that is my water heater cut out.
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10-01-2015, 07:42 PM
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#10
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Stony Plain Alberta Canada
Posts: 2,937
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: 190hp 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
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Interesting info Roach.
Nat
__________________
"Don't argue with stupid people. They will just drag you down to their level, and beat you up with experience."
Patently waiting for the apocalypses to level the playing field in this physiological game of life commonly known as Civilization
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10-01-2015, 07:48 PM
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#11
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Marshfield, WI
Posts: 26
Year: 1997
Coachwork: El Dorado Aerotech 220
Chassis: Ford E-350
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
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Roach- awesome. Thank you very much ! I will be referencing your build frequently for ideas, and you, sir, are a craftsman in every way. I know that my conversion won't be anywhere near as nice as yours, but I'm going to do the best that I can with the skills the Great Spirit gave me and learn the rest along the way.
I have just enough carpentry, Metalworking, welding and electrical skills to be dangerous. Fortunately, I'm pretty handy with automotive mechanics of the non-pesky computer type.
I have a unique problem with the floor. . . . I desperately want to remove it, but the wheelchair securement positions I need. My wife, although ambulatory with crutches, has a powerchair. Our best friend has one also, however he is completely dependant upon it for mobility.
I plan on attempting to build a wheelchair accessible camper for these reasons, and the amount crud a powerchair can drag indoors is impressive. I'm tempted to just leave the bus floor intact, but living in Wisconsin dictates insulation. Thus, the quandary.
I'm open to hearing everyone's thoughts on this.
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10-01-2015, 08:26 PM
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#12
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
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Thanks, but your metalworking and welding skills mean you're more rounded than I am. There's really nothing I did that any decent carpenter couldn't do. Pretty wood makes a pretty cabinet.
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10-01-2015, 08:46 PM
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#13
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
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Aftermarket wheelchair tie-downs are easily (but maybe not cheaply) available. My floor is 3/4" poly-iso insulation board covered by 3/4" t&g flake board.
I put 3/4" x 3/4" wood runners under the flake board to keep the insulation board from crushing but probably didn't need to. Where the passenger seat bolts to the floor I substituted plywood (not shown here) for the insulation board so the seat bolts wouldn't compress the insulation. That's what I would do where you want to install your chair tie-downs so you'll have both insulation and solid wood to bolt to.
As for keeping the floor clean, I'm not sure that's possible.
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10-01-2015, 09:31 PM
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#14
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Marshfield, WI
Posts: 26
Year: 1997
Coachwork: El Dorado Aerotech 220
Chassis: Ford E-350
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
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Ok , here's the pics I have thus far. Nothing to fancy, and partially obscured by the fact that she was sitting in a TINY used car lot. The seller is delivering it Saturday morning (BEFORE I've even paid for it ! )
I'll have better shots then.
That rear door is going to need a LOT of work . . . .
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10-01-2015, 09:32 PM
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#15
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Marshfield, WI
Posts: 26
Year: 1997
Coachwork: El Dorado Aerotech 220
Chassis: Ford E-350
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
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Edit : Nothing too fancy. . . . My finger slipped off the key too quickly.
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10-01-2015, 09:35 PM
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#16
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Looks like a nice shuttle. Except the bumper and rear door look like they were pulled from the Titanic!
I'm sure you aren't too worried about em, I'm just pokin fun...
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10-01-2015, 09:50 PM
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#17
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Marshfield, WI
Posts: 26
Year: 1997
Coachwork: El Dorado Aerotech 220
Chassis: Ford E-350
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
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EastCoast, If you think that the rear door is bad, wait until you see the front doors ! They're held closed with bungee straps, and the aft door falls off of its pedestal rather easily. The stairs are pretty much FUBAR, so that's probably going to be one the first projects: cut out the rot, find someone with a metal brake and have new stairs bent, build a frame out of square stock, and cut and weld !
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10-01-2015, 10:01 PM
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#18
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, Mi (Detroit area)
Posts: 1,968
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Eldorado Aerotech 24'
Chassis: Ford E-450 Cutaway Bus
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 19
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Your bus body looks identical to mine. Nice that you don't have a bunch of vinyl stickers to remove.
Door and bumper may look worse than they are. A little TLC and they may be just fine.
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10-01-2015, 10:21 PM
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#19
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Marshfield, WI
Posts: 26
Year: 1997
Coachwork: El Dorado Aerotech 220
Chassis: Ford E-350
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
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The bumper I'm pretty sure is just surface rust. A couple of hits with the wire wheel or grinder and some Rustoleum should take care of it nicely. One thing that I do want is a full wrap around push bumper/ grille guard for the front. Wisconsin deer are BIG !
One of my assets is the fact that half of the guys on my fire department ( including the Chief) work at a stainless steel fabrication shop that also happens to build fire trucks. If they can't point me in the direction of where to get something, they could probably fabricate it.
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10-02-2015, 01:25 PM
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#20
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Bus Geek
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
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At least the fiberglass hasn't started to rust yet.
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