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Old 03-17-2017, 06:24 AM   #21
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Gotta love progress!

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Old 03-17-2017, 07:47 AM   #22
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Question: The following photo is of the remote engine control panel/box located in the engine compartment. Can anyone tell me exactly how the switches should be labeled?

I found a number of images on the web but I cannot read the labels on them...

Thank you!!

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Old 03-17-2017, 08:21 AM   #23
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thats one kickass bus project!!! lots of room inside that kind of bus!
-Christopher
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Old 03-17-2017, 08:51 AM   #24
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Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
thats one kickass bus project!!! lots of room inside that kind of bus!
-Christopher
Thanks!! I kinda like her too!
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Old 03-20-2017, 12:46 AM   #25
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Quote:
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Can anyone tell me exactly how the switches should be labeled?
Yours is fancier than mine.
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Old 03-20-2017, 06:22 AM   #26
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Yours is fancier than mine.
Thanks Marceps.
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Old 03-20-2017, 06:28 AM   #27
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This weekend was fairly successful.

A great deal of cleaning and the interior is looking pretty empty and pretty good! Finally!



I was going to replace the entire floor but the existing plywood is in good shape so I'm leaving it in place and installing 7/16" OSB over the top. I wanted to take Offgr1d's advice and use MLV but didn't for two reasons. The first is that I would be sandwiching it between layers of plywood and it does not seem to excel in that mode (it likes to be loose/float, as I understand it). The second is that it is expensive! Yes, I am a cheapskate. Instead, I have ordered 1/4" cork to sandwich between the two layers. Fingers crossed that I'm happy with the results.

I was able to get a Duratex coated plywood panel up in the basement and started installing house electrical components. Lots to go there.

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Old 03-20-2017, 11:17 AM   #28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JDOnTheGo View Post
The air ducts are out!!

These are a large aluminum extrusion that are held in place by a bunch of allen/hex head bolts. The bolt goes thru a special fitting that is welded to the frame and a very thin nut is on the other side. One can almost get a wrench on the nut but so much force is required to turn the bolt that the allen/hex key strips. There is not enough room to get anything else on the head of the bolt so, grinder to the rescue. The heads of all the bolts were ground off and then the extrusion pops off.




Nice job! Clean bus. When we did this part, ours looked like a junk yard rat had taken up residence. Congratulations on having a clean and safe workplace!
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Old 03-20-2017, 11:23 AM   #29
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Nice job! Clean bus. When we did this part, ours looked like a junk yard rat had taken up residence. Congratulations on having a clean and safe workplace!
That is exactly right - it gets ugly!! I think I may next invest in a table so I don't have to bend over a million times a day to reach my tools!!
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Old 03-20-2017, 12:18 PM   #30
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That is exactly right - it gets ugly!! I think I may next invest in a table so I don't have to bend over a million times a day to reach my tools!!
We put in a set of metal shelves to keep the power tools on and a set of cheap plastic drawers to keep the small tools in and the inevitable drill bits, rivets, screws of 1,000 different sizes and every other little thing that has to be purchased to do a conversion the right way! I got tired of tripping over the power tools while looking for them!
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Old 03-21-2017, 06:03 AM   #31
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Originally Posted by Whims and Wishes View Post
We put in a set of metal shelves to keep the power tools on and a set of cheap plastic drawers to keep the small tools in and the inevitable drill bits, rivets, screws of 1,000 different sizes and every other little thing that has to be purchased to do a conversion the right way! I got tired of tripping over the power tools while looking for them!
An excellent idea! Thank you!

I need to do some traveling this coming weekend in my coach so I've been trying to get it ready for that. It won't be, of course.
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Old 03-21-2017, 07:49 PM   #32
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Hey you asked about seats. I got a bunch I need to sell I am in GA. Will do all I can to...Love this bus.. I want to do a classy liner next
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Old 03-23-2017, 10:17 AM   #33
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Some progress on the water tanks.



Photo shows where the two tanks (fresh and black/grey) are going to be permanently installed. Of course, something other than foam blocks will be used under the black tank. 🙂

The fresh water tank is 130 gallons, waste tank is 105 gallons. Both were ordered from Tank-Mart.com but manufactured by two different companies. The fresh tank has better/stronger construction but the black will work fine.

The location of the black tank has significant bearing on the location of the toilet and I sure wish I could install that tank further aft in the coach but it just isn't possible with the giant fuel tank right in front of the rear axle.
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Old 03-24-2017, 06:41 AM   #34
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I struck oil!!!!

I STRUCK OIL!!!!

I failed to find anyone locally that would install a hitch, at least on short notice, so I bought a universal hitch from eTrailer.com and started doing it myself. While drilling a hole thru the passenger side frame rail (which is a boxed rail), oil started pouring out.

WHAT!?!?!

No, there are no oil lines running thru the frame rail.

So, I drilled a small hole in the bottom and out came a whole bunch of water followed by a good bit of oil. Actually, it was probably less than a quart in total but that seemed like a lot when there should not have been any liquid.

I can only guess this was years of build up in a "pocket" (of sorts).

Always something interesting!!
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Old 03-29-2017, 07:53 AM   #35
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Howdy all,

The hot water heater arrived recently. A sharp looking unit from Kuuma - eleven gallon, 110 volt heater with heat exchanger. This brand is a little less expensive than Atwood but I am hoping it is not built cheaply – time will tell.



The heat exchanger allows the unit to heat water from engine coolant which I've found to be a really nice feature. More than once I’ve been making a long drive in previous RV's and pulled over to take a nice hot shower using the heat provided by the engine. I'm also researching diesel fired hydronic heaters while boondocking - both hot water and heat. I have lots to learn on that subject!
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Old 03-30-2017, 07:34 AM   #36
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Air Leveling??

Does anyone have information on adding an air leveling 'brain' (such as HWH) to an existing air suspension?

My pea brain would like to think that it would be an easy thing to do since all the air suspension components are already in place. However; nothing is easy and the articles I've read (including HWH documentation) indicate that this is not easy either.

Maybe I'm asking if anyone was able to come up with a DIY system??

Thanks all!
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Old 03-30-2017, 09:37 AM   #37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JDOnTheGo View Post
Does anyone have information on adding an air leveling 'brain' (such as HWH) to an existing air suspension?

My pea brain would like to think that it would be an easy thing to do since all the air suspension components are already in place. However; nothing is easy and the articles I've read (including HWH documentation) indicate that this is not easy either.

Maybe I'm asking if anyone was able to come up with a DIY system??

Thanks all!
I have seen it done on MCI's and Prevost's but it wasn't "smart". There was a switch to "enable" leveling and four "up/down" controls. One for each corner of the bus. After parking you would turn on the unit then manually adjust for level.

If that is what you are looking for I will see if I can track down any details.

Thie may be a good starting point: http://www.gumpydog.com/Bus/MC9_WIP/...ing_system.htm
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Old 03-30-2017, 01:27 PM   #38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW_Steve View Post
I have seen it done on MCI's and Prevost's but it wasn't "smart". There was a switch to "enable" leveling and four "up/down" controls. One for each corner of the bus. After parking you would turn on the unit then manually adjust for level.

If that is what you are looking for I will see if I can track down any details.

Thie may be a good starting point: Leveling System
Excellent info! Thank you very much! That is a great article but I need to read it a few times to be able to absorb it all.

I had an automatic hydraulic system in my Dutch Star and it was super cool - mostly because you just pressed a button and let it take care of the rest. However; I never felt that it was a "need" or that it was accomplishing something that I could not do manually so I would be very happy with a manual system.
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Old 03-31-2017, 12:26 PM   #39
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What is the interior height of your bus?


Thanks,
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Old 03-31-2017, 12:46 PM   #40
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What is the interior height of your bus?
I measured it at 78" from the standard "bus" floor to top of ceiling with the ceiling panel removed. Once I get the flooring down, I'll lose about 1.5". I'm not sure yet how much space the new ceiling will take but certainly a couple of inches, at least.
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