Out The Gate (OTG)

[yellowxj]

Got the side cut and the old air tank out. My bus used to have airbags in the front suspension.

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[cadillackid]

wow front air.. interesting... where was the compressor? was it on the engine at one time?
-Christopher

[yellowxj]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

wow front air.. interesting... where was the compressor? was it on the engine at one time?
-Christopher

From what I've been able to gather it was kind of an air shock type system just with air bags in the front coils. You just adjusted the pressure with compressed air.

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[Elfie]

Wow you went pretty quick on that one. Looks good. To bad with that tank. Could have been handy.

Later j

[cowlitzcoach]

Originally Posted by yellowxj

From what I've been able to gather it was kind of an air shock type system just with air bags in the front coils. You just adjusted the pressure with compressed air.

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On most of our mini-buses with the GM chassis van/cut-away chassis that had the independent suspension we put air bags inside the coil springs to help support the front end.

Most of those buses were a lot more bus on top than there was truck underneath. We had continual problems with suspension parts wearing out and breaking. We had one rear shock mount break so spectacularly that it drove right up through the floor.

IIRC all of air bag installs had an air line that went to a tire valve under the hood or in the skirt. We filled the bags with shop air and had no way to increase the pressure from in the bus.

I don't know which state your bus saw service or what rules and regs are used. I know that here in WA state the State Patrol that does all of the school bus inspections would have required some sort of factory approval for that addition. And unless that change was some sort of factory option I doubt the factory would sign off on the change.

[yellowxj]

Pretty good for a non-craftsman like me. Going to use foam or tape to seal it then coat with bedliner or plasti coat.
Broke my drill bit making holes for the rivits. Hopefully finish my door tomorrow. 10" x 24" x 36"

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[Robin97396]

There are certain drill bit sizes that are nonexistant in three drill bit sets due to this bus.

Any storage is good storage. Was that marine grade ply by any chance?

[yellowxj]

Exterior plywood. Wife is going to spray plasti-coat or some other sealant inside and out. Not the best but good for a couple years.

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[Elfie]

Looks great, any thoughts about locks?
Later J

[Robin97396]

I made that same door on my first bus, but I had a propane tank behind it. Nice job.

[yellowxj]

Day off from working on bus. Put engine in sons jeep. For some reason the old motor wouldn't even turn over. Bought it that way for $500ish. Anyway new motor is resting with minimal bolts in.

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[yellowxj]

Newish motor in!

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[cadillackid]

yeooow!! what happened to that.. LOL..

im hoping you put a 4.0 in it!!

EDIT! - just saw ytour latest post pop up... riught quiock before mine.. lookin good!

I finally made it back to florida.. a week late for the skoolie gathering though.. Grrr
-Christopher

[joeblack5]

Nice, is that a hole in the block under the middle freeze plug?
later J

[yellowxj]

Yes. And thats the piston balled up next to the crank.

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[Tango]

I have a '95 Cherokee that is on it's 3rd engine. Came from the factory with the temp gauge disconnected. Then Chrysler warrantied a replacement...and the temp still did not read. Turns out most of the 90's 4.0's had crappy rads that were grossly undersized and barely able to keep up. Add the fact they were horizontal flow, which tend to fill across the bottom quickly with crud...and they melt down with ease.

Replaced the crappy factory rad with a larger one, added a "real" gauge and have had no problems since.

[yellowxj]

Thats right Tango. All our cooling systems are upgraded somehow. Full time fans, hood louvers, clocked spring on clutch fan, etc. We go pretty slow on the trails.

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[yellowxj]

Finally fixed the under bench storage with hinges and reinforcement so we dont have to put bunk up to get stuff from under seat. And installed my "spare" 400w inverter.

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[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Tango

I have a '95 Cherokee that is on it's 3rd engine. Came from the factory with the temp gauge disconnected. Then Chrysler warrantied a replacement...and the temp still did not read. Turns out most of the 90's 4.0's had crappy rads that were grossly undersized and barely able to keep up. Add the fact they were horizontal flow, which tend to fill across the bottom quickly with crud...and they melt down with ease.

Replaced the crappy factory rad with a larger one, added a "real" gauge and have had no problems since.

We had an 84, 88, 96, and 98 Cherokees in the family, all went MANY miles with only oil changes and fuel. The 88 is still someone's "toy" and has over 400k on it. Original engine! The 4.0's were GREAT, especially in the AMC days.

[Stewzer55]

I'm an straight 6 fan as well, mine's just DOHC and 24 valves, great torque and will rev well, not an AMC 6, GM Atlas 6.

Great work with the hinges and storage additions.