Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 08-18-2015, 12:02 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
LRflip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 67
Year: 1994
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: B700
Engine: 5.9L 12V Cummins
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger
Abominable Snowbus

I'm sure you guys have all seen it, so I won't bore you with a lot of dialogue.

1994 Ford B700, Cummins 5.9L 12v, Allison Trans probably.

Oh yea, and I bought it for $1000.00 USD. Suckers.

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://s541.photobucket.com/user/msh0207/embed/story"></iframe>
Attached Thumbnails
IMG_0914.jpg   IMG_0916.jpg   IMG_0917.jpg   IMG_0931.jpg   IMG_0932.jpg  


__________________
I don't negotiate with terrorists...or Canadians.
LRflip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2015, 12:11 PM   #2
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Nice bus, I'm jealous of your location though.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2015, 12:19 PM   #3
Mini-Skoolie
 
LRflip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 67
Year: 1994
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: B700
Engine: 5.9L 12V Cummins
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger
Here's a few more for substance.



__________________
I don't negotiate with terrorists...or Canadians.
LRflip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2015, 12:23 PM   #4
Mini-Skoolie
 
LRflip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 67
Year: 1994
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: B700
Engine: 5.9L 12V Cummins
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger


__________________
I don't negotiate with terrorists...or Canadians.
LRflip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2015, 12:43 PM   #5
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Stony Plain Alberta Canada
Posts: 2,937
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: 190hp 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
Great bus.

I loved my Ford B700.

Well built bus.

Nat
__________________
"Don't argue with stupid people. They will just drag you down to their level, and beat you up with experience."

Patently waiting for the apocalypses to level the playing field in this physiological game of life commonly known as Civilization
nat_ster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2015, 04:45 PM   #6
Mini-Skoolie
 
LRflip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 67
Year: 1994
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: B700
Engine: 5.9L 12V Cummins
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger
more destruction, of the bus and my lungs:





This is the point where I decided to use my brain:




Also, those rivets get pretty hot when you've been grinding on them...beware:



Damn thing got into my glove and it took me a while to get it out.

until next time, cheers!
__________________
I don't negotiate with terrorists...or Canadians.
LRflip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2015, 06:54 PM   #7
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 100
Is this mold in the insultation?

If so, your mask isn't enough, you need a respirator like this: http://lghttp.28308.nexcesscdn.net/8...rator-mask.jpg

Or something similar. Of not, you're ok! ;)
mrblah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2015, 07:01 PM   #8
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Stony Plain Alberta Canada
Posts: 2,937
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: 190hp 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
And lots of air flow.

Nat
__________________
"Don't argue with stupid people. They will just drag you down to their level, and beat you up with experience."

Patently waiting for the apocalypses to level the playing field in this physiological game of life commonly known as Civilization
nat_ster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2015, 08:35 PM   #9
Mini-Skoolie
 
LRflip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 67
Year: 1994
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: B700
Engine: 5.9L 12V Cummins
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger
Doesn't appear to be mold. Fortunately, I have the bus parked and am doing the renovation at my buddy's shop. He happens to own and operate a carpet care and fire, water, mold restoration company.

So, on top of my mechanic/woodworking tools that I have stored here, I have free reign access to dehu's, a ton of chemicals, an enormous air compressor (I have my own air tools), and a media blaster/ hvlp sprayer....along with top of the line resperators should I require.

I'll have him put his eyes on it to be sure, but this is a high mountain Colorado bus via west Texas, so I think I'm probably good.

Cheers,

Matt
__________________
I don't negotiate with terrorists...or Canadians.
LRflip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2015, 03:33 PM   #10
Mini-Skoolie
 
LRflip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 67
Year: 1994
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: B700
Engine: 5.9L 12V Cummins
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger
So, the dance of 1,000 rivets is nearly over. Got the roof ceiling down this weekend.

And about half of the rivets on the walls are ground out. I'll take the cold chisel to those this week in the evenings.

But, before all the work...play time:



I was pissed, I broke my flyrod right before we got into the boat...

But, this made it better:



Alright, on to the work:





Potter was not thrilled with the noise:





Until next time, Cheers!

Matt
__________________
I don't negotiate with terrorists...or Canadians.
LRflip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2015, 11:15 PM   #11
Mini-Skoolie
 
LRflip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 67
Year: 1994
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: B700
Engine: 5.9L 12V Cummins
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger
anyone remove the "lower" panels of the walls? the part with the chair rail on it?

I've removed a couple of the rivets and gotten it to flex, but I'm having trouble figuring out where it comes out...

I don't want to tear out unnecessary structure but, I'd really like to not need to contend with the chair rail along during the rebuild.

I've searched and found nothing, any insight would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Matt
__________________
I don't negotiate with terrorists...or Canadians.
LRflip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2015, 11:26 PM   #12
Moderator
 
crazycal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NUNYA
Posts: 4,236
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: 3800
Engine: DT408, AT545
Rated Cap: 23 500 gvw
I don't think you want to remove the lower part. Nat has had a bus apart to that level and I am pretty sure he would say the same thing.
__________________
I'm hungry!

You Gotta Let Me Fly
crazycal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2015, 12:21 AM   #13
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Stony Plain Alberta Canada
Posts: 2,937
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: 190hp 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
Yes, do not remove the chair rail.

Is is part of the structure. The chair rail carries the entire load of the walls and roof, and transfers it to the floor in a manor that allows the body to flex, preventing metal from cracking and tearing apart.

Here is a diagram I made to help folks understand how their bus is put together.



Nat
__________________
"Don't argue with stupid people. They will just drag you down to their level, and beat you up with experience."

Patently waiting for the apocalypses to level the playing field in this physiological game of life commonly known as Civilization
nat_ster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2015, 10:47 AM   #14
Mini-Skoolie
 
LRflip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 67
Year: 1994
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: B700
Engine: 5.9L 12V Cummins
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger
Quote:
Originally Posted by nat_ster View Post



Nat
Nat, very helpful!

I figured it went something like that but, could not find any definitive answers. looked at pictures and never saw them removed, but wasn't sure if that was personal preference or whatever.

unfortunately, I've already ground down several of the rivets on one side...but she's still sturdy. I may need to practice my rosette welds for my floor anyways...

Thanks for the help!
__________________
I don't negotiate with terrorists...or Canadians.
LRflip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2015, 12:37 PM   #15
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Salt Lake City Utah
Posts: 1,635
Year: 2000
Chassis: Blue Bird
Engine: ISC 8.3
I'm late to the party.. but here's a picture of the back side of the chair rail from my bus. I completely removed the exterior skin. The "chair rail" is one big Z-shape piece. It's the gray panel that fills 60% of this photo. Its top edge is just above the midpoint of the frame, about an inch down you see the folds where it bends into the bus interior and then returns (creating the "chair rail" itself), then the panel continues to the floor where it bends 90 degrees and comes horizontally out away from the bus, then another 90 degree bend to continue downward. That little ledge that the hat channel/rib/roof bow sits in is bolted to the Z-sections under the floor.


Initially I wanted to cut the chair rail away, but having understood the structure better I can see that it makes the whole assembly much more rigid. Instead of cutting it away, I'll probably insulate the walls thick enough to make the flange disappear into the wall.
family wagon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2015, 10:14 PM   #16
Mini-Skoolie
 
LRflip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 67
Year: 1994
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: B700
Engine: 5.9L 12V Cummins
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger
Thanks for the tips, guys. I'm going to leave it, and repair the rivets I've popped out. Wasn't really clear of head the last few days. I should have posted my question before when I wasn't sure.

Anyways, on to some further demo:

I just took my angle grinder along the window "drip rail?" to cut the top of the walls. This gave me access to the insulation behind and I'll go back later to cut out the little strips that are left, or maybe I'll just leave them...they'll never be seen again after I cover them...



Went ahead and decided to remove the windows while I was at it. I've got about another month before the snow starts hitting but, should be above freezing during the day well into late october. I'm going to sandblast and paint the inside, epoxy holes and mechanically patch a few rust spots that I know need work. Besides, half of the windows were inop anyways...good thing is my bus has a twin that's about to go to the local fire dept. for training. I'm pretty sure I can talk those guys into letting me gut a few of the windows before they burn it down...poor bus.

__________________
I don't negotiate with terrorists...or Canadians.
LRflip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2015, 01:56 PM   #17
Mini-Skoolie
 
LRflip's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Estes Park, CO
Posts: 67
Year: 1994
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: B700
Engine: 5.9L 12V Cummins
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger
Got the remainder of the walls out, and the last two pieces of subfloor. I think I'm going to leave everything forward of the first dividers to feel just like a schoolbus, maybe turn it into a mudroom later down the line. When I build my wall there, I'll add a pocket door with a lock just for some extra security to the main cabin.

anyways, here are the pictures after my dump run on Saturday. There is a little bit more rust than I had hoped, but overall not too bad. And I just don't have the heart to tear up under the drivers seat and all that right now.




Probably going to be my last update for a week or so. My parents are coming in from Florida this week and I haven't sorted out the paint for after its sand blasted. I may work on the wiring a bit just to straighten things out a bit. We'll see what I have the time/energy for.

Until next time, Cheers!

Matt
__________________
I don't negotiate with terrorists...or Canadians.
LRflip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2015, 02:13 PM   #18
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Thats sort of my plan too.
From my windshield back about four or five feet is going to be the cab/mud room. Keep the great pics coming.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2015, 12:10 AM   #19
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Stony Plain Alberta Canada
Posts: 2,937
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: 190hp 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
We all love pics.

Nat
__________________
"Don't argue with stupid people. They will just drag you down to their level, and beat you up with experience."

Patently waiting for the apocalypses to level the playing field in this physiological game of life commonly known as Civilization
nat_ster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2015, 08:09 PM   #20
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Gainesville. Georgia
Posts: 544
Year: 1992
Coachwork: bluebird
Rated Cap: 72
Same here with the mud room. We have kept the rubber mat up front to about a foot or so of the doghouse. At the end of the mat will be a gate that will go straight across from the entertainment center to the couch on the other side.

The gate will stay flush with the entertainment center (like a door) until we stop & need to confine the dogs inside. This will allow Clint to be able to move about and out the stairs while Prancer (who insist on being with Clint always) will be restricted (hopefully unless he learns to jump over it) to the bus when we stop for gas, emergencies etc.

I can't post pics yet cause it's still only in our heads and not built yet. I envision having it deep enough for Clint to be able to store things that he might need to grab as he was going out the door.
The-Breeze is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:05 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.