The Summah Bus

lanegordon · 08-11-2016, 08:54 PM

(yes, that's "spelt" incorrectly)

We are delving into the Skoolie world when I finally realized that I would never be able to afford a motorhome that I would actually like everything about.... so, why not make your own!?

It's been a real fun project so far. A LOT of help from people here, which has been great. We are located in Michigan (and even though I am a Wolverines fan... I bought a bus used to shuttle students to MSU Spartans games)

Anyway, it's a "Michigan weather" bus too so it definitely has some rust (now I know why people drive down south to buy busses)... so at this point we have it almost all stripped and the floor is in pretty rough shape. I don't have the know how to fix it so this will be something I hire out for i'm sure.

She's a 1997 Blue Bird 71 passenger. 5.6 Cummins. 137k miles, so that's a bonus.
Here are some pics of our girl:

plfking · 08-11-2016, 09:35 PM

Congrats !

Quote:

Originally Posted by lanegordon

(and even though I am a Wolverines fan... I bought a bus used to shuttle students to MSU Spartans games)

As a fellow Wolverine fan, I know your biggest issues will be that ugly color and the loser smell. Instead of painting and stripping the interior, it might be better just to find a local pig waste pond and submerge the whole vehicle. Better color and much better smell.

lanegordon · 08-11-2016, 09:44 PM

haha. right!? I keep telling all my people that my ultimate goal is to "redeem" the bus from it's former life

Carytowncat · 08-11-2016, 10:02 PM

Inline six. Goodness that's a pretty engine.

plfking · 08-11-2016, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lanegordon

haha. right!? I keep telling all my people that my ultimate goal is to "redeem" the bus from it's former life

You're a good man, Charlie Brown.

lanegordon · 08-12-2016, 05:37 AM

I wish I knew more about engines.

i know it has low miles but that's about all I got for engine knowledge. What is great about an inline 6?

milkmania · 08-12-2016, 08:14 AM

why do some front engine buses have a doghouse only a foot tall, while others are 3 foot tall

I realize some engines sit lower in the frame, but isn't the drive-line geometry pretty much the same?

My doghouse is about level with my hips...

My driver's seat actually has two sliding frame rails... right to left slide and front to back slide. When you get up, you slide seat left, when you sit down you slide seat right. my right knee rests against the side of the doghouse.

EastCoastCB · 08-12-2016, 08:32 AM

Some buses have the engines sitting lower. Mine does not. I have the huge doghouse. Its actually quite comical trying to contort around it to get to the seat.

milkmania · 08-12-2016, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Some buses have the engines sitting lower. Mine does not. I have the huge doghouse. Its actually quite comical trying to contort around it to get to the seat.

dual slide rocks babay!!!

M1031A1 · 08-12-2016, 10:16 AM

Brian,

That way you have a place to keep your 2 liter bottle of Pepsi warm.......

milkmania · 08-12-2016, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M1031A1

Brian,

That way you have a place to keep your 2 liter bottle of Pepsi warm.......

No, no, no!!!
You take a 4" (preferably clean) toilet flange...
Super glue magnets to the flange, paint it with black be liner, flip it over and make a Yeti Rambler holder!

cadillackid · 08-12-2016, 01:27 PM

the colors of Scarlet and gray might really Shine on that bus......

-Christopher

lanegordon · 08-12-2016, 01:52 PM

Negative.

milkmania · 08-14-2016, 01:06 PM

Having a half-assed cup holder is better than no cup holder!
And
It works as a cup holder or a cell phone holder

Maybe Santa will bring me something purtier???
Note to self: Be Good!

WIbluebird · 08-14-2016, 01:22 PM

The reason why the doghouse is smaller in some front engine buses is because the frame dips a few inches where the engine sits.

Bluebird started doing this in 1999 with the A3 generation of the All American. Prior to this all the front engine Bluebird buses had massive doghouses that came up to the driver's hip/elbow.

The downside to the smaller doghouse means less ground clearance in the front. Our buses have slammed their front bumpers on particularly steep driveways before.

TheBodegaBus · 08-14-2016, 01:36 PM

We are in Northern Michigan near Traverse City & finished our conversion in April. Check ours out & maybe we can get a Michigan rally going! www.facebook.com/TheBodegaBus

milkmania · 08-14-2016, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WIbluebird

The reason why the doghouse is smaller in some front engine buses is because the frame dips a few inches where the engine sits.

Bluebird started doing this in 1999 with the A3 generation of the All American. Prior to this all the front engine Bluebird buses had massive doghouses that came up to the driver's hip/elbow.

The downside to the smaller doghouse means less ground clearance in the front. Our buses have slammed their front bumpers on particularly steep driveways before.

Ah... Makes perfect sense!
I thought the drivetrain centerline from the front of the engine to the transmission tailshaft should typically be the same on most configurations, but I'm Diesel engine ignorant.

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