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Old 09-16-2016, 08:13 AM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Colchester, VT
Posts: 23
Year: 1994
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Vista Shortie
Engine: 7.3 IDI
Rated Cap: A Man and His Dog
New Guy Based in Vermont

I've been researching converting a van for quite some time, and I'm picking up my bus today!

It's a 1990 Chevy G30 6.2 Diesel 4-window. It was previously used as a temporary living space, but it is in poor repair. I plan to gut it and start from scratch. And it comes with a steel-frame rooftop deck for storage and stargazing.

I can't wait for the next adventure!

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Old 09-16-2016, 03:42 PM   #2
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Location: Central Florida
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Chassis: GMC or Chevrolet, I hope
Engine: gasser probably
Sounds like fun. Don't forget to share pictures.

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Old 09-16-2016, 06:21 PM   #3
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Location: Richmond Virginia
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Year: 1984
Engine: 366 Big block Chevy! :) w/ Stick shift
Welcome!

Oh wow a rooftop deck will be nice! Looking forward to seeing pictures. May your trip go smoothly.
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Old 09-17-2016, 10:51 AM   #4
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Colchester, VT
Posts: 23
Year: 1994
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Vista Shortie
Engine: 7.3 IDI
Rated Cap: A Man and His Dog
It's not in great shape, but it runs and it was $50! Starting work on it today.

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Old 09-17-2016, 04:32 PM   #5
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Engine: gasser probably
50 dollars? You can't go wrong with that price !

I like that roof rack

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Old 09-17-2016, 05:12 PM   #6
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Join Date: May 2015
Location: Oklahoma aka "God's blind spot"
Posts: 2,446
Year: 1989
Coachwork: 1853FC International/Navistar
Chassis: 35' Retired Air Force Ambulance
Engine: DT466, MT643
Rated Cap: 6 souls and a driver
Quote:
Originally Posted by oricha1984 View Post
50 dollars? You can't go wrong with that price !

I like that roof rack

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I'd double his money right now!
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Old 09-17-2016, 05:18 PM   #7
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Colchester, VT
Posts: 23
Year: 1994
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Vista Shortie
Engine: 7.3 IDI
Rated Cap: A Man and His Dog
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I'd double his money right now!
It's actually a good story. It was a "camper", and she had it listed at $150- you haul. She dropped it to $50 because I want it to be livable, and she wanted it to have life again. I'm working on a floor plan right now.

I'll re-insulate everything (Vermont Winters), and completely reconfigure for tiny home life. So excited. I'll post a thread with the reconfiguration.

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Old 09-17-2016, 05:20 PM   #8
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Colchester, VT
Posts: 23
Year: 1994
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Vista Shortie
Engine: 7.3 IDI
Rated Cap: A Man and His Dog
Quote:
Originally Posted by oricha1984 View Post
50 dollars? You can't go wrong with that price !

I like that roof rack

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The roof rack/porch is prime. The ladder and frame are solid- I just need to figure out how to make it solar-friendly.

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Old 10-30-2016, 02:44 AM   #9
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Colchester, VT
Posts: 23
Year: 1994
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Vista Shortie
Engine: 7.3 IDI
Rated Cap: A Man and His Dog
So the engine wouldn't turn over after over a decade of sitting. $50 wasn't wasted though- I scrapped the beast for $120.

I bought another bus though. It is going to happen. It's a 1994 Thomas Vista International 3600 with a 7.3 IDI. The floor is rusted, but the price was right.

And it's bigger. It'll be more suited for full-time living and travel.



The previous owner painted him, and took out all of the seats. That is some rust in the body, but nothing unmanageable. The frame is solid.

I'll do a repaint, bedroom, kitchen/living space, and a wet bath. A build thread is coming!





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Old 10-30-2016, 03:41 AM   #10
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Join Date: May 2016
Location: Richmond Virginia
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Year: 1984
Engine: 366 Big block Chevy! :) w/ Stick shift
Nice, that's a tough lookin bus. Same style as the prison transport bus i bought last year.

Good luck!
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Old 11-01-2016, 07:19 AM   #11
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: NY
Posts: 774
Year: 2002
Coachwork: International
Engine: dt466
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Oooh he's handsome!! I can't wait to see what you do welcome and good luck from NY
brrrrrr! The cold weather's coming!!
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Old 11-01-2016, 07:25 AM   #12
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Colchester, VT
Posts: 23
Year: 1994
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Vista Shortie
Engine: 7.3 IDI
Rated Cap: A Man and His Dog
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Originally Posted by Carytowncat View Post
Nice, that's a tough lookin bus. Same style as the prison transport bus i bought last year.

Good luck!
I love the look of the Vista, with the snubbed nose. [emoji119]

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Old 11-01-2016, 07:27 AM   #13
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Colchester, VT
Posts: 23
Year: 1994
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Vista Shortie
Engine: 7.3 IDI
Rated Cap: A Man and His Dog
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Originally Posted by tobeamiss View Post
Oooh he's handsome!! I can't wait to see what you do welcome and good luck from NY
brrrrrr! The cold weather's coming!!
He is handsome! I'm excited, spending my nights and weekends, (and a good chunk of savings) trying to get him insulated so I can do work through the winter! The goal is to have it ready to go for a trip south in March.

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Old 11-01-2016, 07:34 AM   #14
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Looks like the little brother of the One Nation Under Goat bus.
Way better than that first heap!
Seems we all do better with our second bus purchase than the first. Go figure.
My first bus was a nightmare.
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Old 11-01-2016, 09:30 AM   #15
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,758
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
I love that Vista!! I like unique and those busses are unique!! Kudos and look forward to its transformation!!

east: sure seems like it.. and by our third bus some of us SCORE big lolol

-Christopher
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