Hi, Lost my mind and bought a bus.

[ldmccain]

A few pictures.

[ldmccain]

The fluid filters I've found so far.


Baldwin BF1214 1 ea
Baldwin BF7629 1 ea
Baldwin BT261 2 ea
Baldwin BT839-10 1 ea
Baldwin BW5071 1 ea
Racor 2040sm 1 ea


This is the first diesel I've owned, but on everything I buy used a full filter and fluid service is one of the first things performed.


The air filter looks new, still have to figure out the transmission filter.

[EastCoastCB]

I'm jealous of you folks out in the southwest. Your buses don't age!

[JeZzEBeL420]

something must be going around.. i've just done the same...

[ldmccain]

A little work done and rust found so far.
Most of this rust appears to be from the heaters and hoses leaking... of course all hidden by the covers over the hoses.

[ldmccain]

Thinking I should have searched for silicone.

Whoever did all this did not fix any issues just covered them up.
Yes they put silicone on the inside under the radio and above the mirror to keep the leak from dripping on the driver...


The last picture is of the removed wall from beside the stairway. The silicone was on so thick it removed the rubber from the floor.

[HazMatt]

Looks like out-takes from some extremely cut-rate porno...

[ldmccain]

Heater hose removal for the back heaters was easier than expected.. Just cut and flipped the top hose when I removed the hose running to the back. What a mess of antifreeze.


Last picture is the air control for the stop sign, thinking to reuse it when I install an air ride seat. Will see how the seat is hooked up in the donor bus.

[ldmccain]

Hmmm, should I be putting all of this in a build thread?

[HazMatt]

At this point, I'd say it's safe to say,

Originally Posted by ldmccain

Hmmm, should I be putting all of this in a build thread?

This is your build thread...

[ldmccain]

Can't for the life of me figure out why the wiring isn't run through the wire holes...
Wasn't going to pull the ceiling or the insulation, until I was up on the roof and saw threads of a bolt sticking up through the roof.. The bolt is near the rear vent and the head is between the ceiling and roof???
Glad I've started as all of the fiberglass has to go.

[WARGEAR]

Good progress so far! Keep the pictures and updates regular and you’ll have hundreds of people watching your build!

What drivetrain (details please!) do you have in your rig? Everyone will be eager to know specifics

[CHEESE_WAGON]

Originally Posted by ldmccain

Can't for the life of me figure out why the wiring isn't run through the wire holes...
Wasn't going to pull the ceiling or the insulation, until I was up on the roof and saw threads of a bolt sticking up through the roof..

The trim holding the speakers served as a channel to cover the wiring, hence it was not fished through the inner frame structure.

The bolt going through the roof from the inside is no bueno, and not factory. You should see nothing but rivets on a factory bus, especially on the outside, and on the roof.

Sounds like a jack-leg attempt to put something back together the easy way to me... I like that style, though. Nice bus, if it isn't eaten up with rust. Looks to be worth saving.

[ldmccain]

Originally Posted by CHEESE_WAGON

You should see nothing but rivets on a factory bus.

This one is mostly screws and bolts, even on the roof...

Nice bus, if it isn't eaten up with rust.
.... .

So far the rust appears to be all in the floor where I'm guessing the heaters leaked for many years

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by ldmccain

So far the rust appears to be all in the floor where I'm guessing the heaters leaked for many years

It's from 1000's of kids tracking in rain and snow that melts and finds it's way under the floor. Many times the floor will be rusty everywhere except the heater area.

[CHEESE_WAGON]

Originally Posted by ldmccain

This one is mostly screws and bolts, even on the roof...
So far the rust appears to be all in the floor where I'm guessing the heaters leaked for many years

Interesting... I've not heard of these being screwed and bolted together. But it IS an older bus, so maybe someone else here has a similar rig that can chime in on this one.

[WARGEAR]

Originally Posted by CHEESE_WAGON

Interesting... I've not heard of these being screwed and bolted together. But it IS an older bus, so maybe someone else here has a similar rig that can chime in on this one.

My entire bus interior (ceiling and walls) was all screws. Not a rivet in sight. I have an AMTRAN bodied bus.

[PNW_Steve]

My 2005 Thomas was almost entirely screws. Much easier to remove than rivets.

[CHEESE_WAGON]

Interesting. My 1989 Blue Bird was entirely riveted, as with many others I've seen. Even the Thomas bodies I rode to school on. Must depend on where they're built, I guess. Maybe some plants uses screws/bolts, some use rivets? *shrugs* Learn something new every day. I've never seen one that didn't use rivets. Rest assured, though, that none should be pushing the threads through the outer roof skin...

Originally Posted by ldmccain

Wasn't going to pull the ceiling or the insulation, until I was up on the roof and saw threads of a bolt sticking up through the roof..

[ldmccain]

Woo-hoo no rust in the back wall above the E-door



A screw every 1-1/2 inches right down the middle..



I am drilling out the rivets in the above windshield area. Going to extend the center area for radio, CB, storage ......



Wall panels are screwed, the metal between the windows on the inside are rivets with screws on the outside.