Building Comfort Eagle (1986 Gillig Phantom)

[cowlitzcoach]

Please forgive me as I must have missed something along the way. Either that or I was looking at the photos on my phone and not on the big monitor of the desk top.

What is the appliance in the curbside rear corner with what looks like an exhaust stack going out the back wall of the bus?

[~Pat~]

I think you see his marine type heater

[ComfortEagle]

Originally Posted by cowlitzcoach

What is the appliance in the curbside rear corner with what looks like an exhaust stack going out the back wall of the bus?

Originally Posted by ~Pat~

I think you see his marine type heater

Pat is right; it’s our Dickinson P9000 propane heater.

[cowlitzcoach]

Originally Posted by ComfortEagle

Pat is right; it’s our Dickinson P9000 propane heater.

I was wondering if that is what it was.

Is there any particular reason why you mounted it so high? I would think it would never get the floor very warm with it mounted up so high.

[ComfortEagle]

Originally Posted by cowlitzcoach

Is there any particular reason why you mounted it so high? I would think it would never get the floor very warm with it mounted up so high.

If I were going to sleep on the floor that would be a concern. The Dickinson’s primary responsibility will be overnight auxiliary heat in the bedroom area.

Speaking of the bedroom area, over the weekend I did a fit check on the hinged bunkie board...

[Beirdo]

Hey, you can almost fit a surveillance room under there like in Meet The Fockers...

Looks like a nice storage area at least.

[ComfortEagle]

Originally Posted by Beirdo

Hey, you can almost fit a surveillance room under there like in Meet The Fockers...

Looks like a nice storage area at least.

The Fockers surveillance room, funny.

And yes, we hope to have ample storage, although the bay alone is likely enough...

[ComfortEagle]

Here are a couple in process pics of the “bedroom”. The bunkie board (minus the slats) is sitting on top of the base.


A bookcase(-ish) headboard is in work; hopefully done today...

[EastCoastCB]

Great to see you going the distance!

[ComfortEagle]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Great to see you going the distance!

My prowess is potent, and secretly stern...

Good to hear from you ECCB.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by ComfortEagle

My prowess is potent, and secretly stern...

Good to hear from you ECCB.

Likewise!

Great to see progress on that beast of a bus.

Still jealous of that engine!

[rossvtaylor]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Still jealous of that engine!

I had to go back to page one to see what engine he's got...and it's the same one we have in our 1974 Gillig school bus (pre-Phantom). We've been very happy with that, paired in our older bus with a 10-speed Eaton Fuller manual...it's fun to drive.


My daughter and I just got back from picking up our second Phantom transit. They're great buses! These came with the Detroit Series 50 and they move right along. But that old 3208 is just plain fun.


ComfortEagle, your build looks super classy!

[ComfortEagle]

Originally Posted by rossvtaylor

I had to go back to page one to see what engine he's got...and it's the same one we have in our 1974 Gillig school bus (pre-Phantom). We've been very happy with that, paired in our older bus with a 10-speed Eaton Fuller manual...it's fun to drive.

My daughter and I just got back from picking up our second Phantom transit. They're great buses! These came with the Detroit Series 50 and they move right along. But that old 3208 is just plain fun.

ComfortEagle, your build looks super classy!

Wish I had a manual; I like to shift... And of course with a manual you know your bus will never be stolen. So you have 2 Gilligs?

Thank you for the “super classy” comment. My dear wife does not do manual labor but let’s just say she is “very involved” with design and finish decisions... And I am always wrong...

Here are a couple pics showing the latest status of the bed with the headboard mocked up.


I am finishing up the paint/stain on a few pieces (like that big yummy piece of oak on the bed rail) and I hope to finish it all up today and move on...

[rossvtaylor]

Originally Posted by ComfortEagle

Wish I had a manual; I like to shift... And of course with a manual you know your bus will never be stolen. So you have 2 Gilligs?

Thank you for the “super classy” comment. My dear wife does not do manual labor but let’s just say she is “very involved” with design and finish decisions... And I am always wrong...

Well, please tell your wife that I've shared your build photos with my wife. We both think the combination of colors and wood you've chosen is very tasteful - nicely done!


My 13-year-old daughter and I actually just returned from picking up Gillig #3...but we're not in your typical situation. The two Phantoms we recently purchased will become wheelchair-accessible rental RVs. The old Gillig school bus we've got (with the 3208 and the 10-speed) will remain our personal "keeper" mobile home on wheels. And like you said...nobody will ever steal her!

[ComfortEagle]

So,the bed is basically done. I will still need to finish a few items under the bed and add some struts to keep it open but otherwise I’m calling it done. The air mattress is of course temporary.

[Bus'n it]

Beautiful workmanship!

[ComfortEagle]

As I mentioned, at some point I will be installing some struts to help with the opening and closing of the bed.

Because of the close location of the propane heater I thought it would be a good to wait until the heater cooled down before raising the bed...

[rossvtaylor]

How are you set for manuals? I don't know if they'll be totally applicable, but I'm happy to send you digital copies of our Phantom transit operator's and service manuals.

[RamRod4]

Originally Posted by ComfortEagle

Thank you for the “super classy” comment. My dear wife does not do manual labor but let’s just say she is “very involved” with design and finish decisions... And I am always wrong...

if you only knew how much I can relate to this comment...

[ComfortEagle]

Originally Posted by RamRod4

if you only knew how much I can relate to this comment...

Every once in a while Lisa (wife) will come out on the bus and take a selfie of herself “working” so she can post it to Instagram, so cute...

I read thru your build thread; great work so far. Doing the the demo & refurb work is a thankless and not decidedly unsexy job, but the high quality work you are doing is laying such a great foundation for your build.

I see you are in PA and your bus is from Fairfax Co. schools. I am not too far here in southern Maryland (20637). I’m curious, from whom specifically did you buy your bus?