Come Monday

[dwood443]

got 6th gear enabled but did not get on the highway yet to see how it runs.

Few warm days here and going to try to paint a simple silhouette mountain scene on each side to contrast the plain almond color. I'm no artist at all so this should be interesting.

[Native]

Man, I would have been out on the highway right after getting it back from the unlock session!

[dwood443]

Originally Posted by Native

Man, I would have been out on the highway right after getting it back from the unlock session!

I really wanted to but life got in the way.

I did get it on the highway yesterday and it topped out at 67 mph and 2000 rpms. This is just fine for me. Before it was 63 and 2500 rpm.

[Native]

Those are awfully sweet numbers. Congratulations!

[dwood443]

Added a little paint to break up the plain almond

[Native]

Originally Posted by dwood443

Added a little paint to break up the plain almond

Oh wow ... and here you had me believing you when you said you are not an artist!

[dwood443]

Originally Posted by Native

Oh wow ... and here you had me believing you when you said you are not an artist!

Haha. Not an artist but a pretty good problem solver. You’d be surprised what a LED projector and grease pen can do

[dwood443]

I’ve been thinking about this a while. I really do not like that I cannot see the engine with flat nose bus. I’m going to sell my bus and buy another with a dog nose.

Thinking about this bus on eBay https://www.ebay.com/itm/402478274104

Am I crazy to sell this far along?

[Oscar1]

Originally Posted by dwood443

I’ve been thinking about this a while. I really do not like that I cannot see the engine with flat nose bus. I’m going to sell my bus and buy another with a dog nose.

Thinking about this bus on eBay https://www.ebay.com/itm/402478274104

Am I crazy to sell this far along?

No not crazy at all, pack that little transit on a flatbed and ship it to me right away.
Seriously, while I do love the look of the freightliner FS65 chassis and it was on the top of my shopping list I am not regretting my transit at all. The short wheelbase and great visability get top marks for handling, it's amazing in tight campgrounds and mine is 36'
The 2004 you are looking at looks clean in pics but low spec bus? juice brakes? What trans? Do you need chair lift? Front lift door can affect build layout.
03/04 first generation C7 had suspect huei pump, weak bearing and shaft, poor oil maintenance could take them out causing major damage.
In my opinion it's a good looking bus but what you've got is pretty damn fine as well.
Stay stay and bus on.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by dwood443

I’ve been thinking about this a while. I really do not like that I cannot see the engine with flat nose bus. I’m going to sell my bus and buy another with a dog nose.

Thinking about this bus on eBay https://www.ebay.com/itm/402478274104

Am I crazy to sell this far along?

Why is it important and what do mean to"see the motor". I find the advantages to building a flat nose out weigh the fact it might be harder to work on id and when that might be needed. I would not like to make sacrifices that can be noticed daily. so I might have ease of comfort for a short period working on the engine.

[Oscar1]

*stay safe and bus on.

[dwood443]

After I posted this I’m already having second thoughts. I love the way my bus drives and so easy to see everything. And I guess when I take off the engine cover it’s fairly easy to see.

Maybe I can just rig some hinges or something to raise the cover? Anyone done anything like that?

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by dwood443

After I posted this I’m already having second thoughts. I love the way my bus drives and so easy to see everything. And I guess when I take off the engine cover it’s fairly easy to see.

Maybe I can just rig some hinges or something to raise the cover? Anyone done anything like that?

I really wouldn't worry about it for the few times I need to get under the engine cover. Mine has a hatch that opens if I need to check anything, and it's not that big of deal to remove the engine cover if needed.

[dwood443]

Originally Posted by o1marc

I really wouldn't worry about it for the few times I need to get under the engine cover. Mine has a hatch that opens if I need to check anything, and it's not that big of deal to remove the engine cover if needed.

My wife is a school bus driver and she’s always preaching to me to perform a precheck before I drive the bus. Belts fluids and connections are hard hidden underneath. I do have an access panel for oil but that’s about it.

[Oscar1]

Originally Posted by dwood443

My wife is a school bus driver and she’s always preaching to me to perform a precheck before I drive the bus. Belts fluids and connections are hard hidden underneath. I do have an access panel for oil but that’s about it.

My cover has a small hatch as well but only for fluid level check. Many bolts to remove the whole cover. How about rework the cover with some quick buckles like the type used on the old style jeep hoods?

[Native]

Originally Posted by dwood443

I’ve been thinking about this a while. I really do not like that I cannot see the engine with flat nose bus. I’m going to sell my bus and buy another with a dog nose.

Thinking about this bus on eBay https://www.ebay.com/itm/402478274104

Am I crazy to sell this far along?

Well now, the bus shows marked as sold anyway.

[cadillackid]

I wouldn’t sell at this point, you’d lose your hat, people on sites like this always slamming on the 08 plus busses means you won’t get much and the seats bring out means no church or school would want it.

Pre check is part of it, you can make yourself a camera scope or a mirror on a pole that you hold underneath to visual the belts, you should be able to reach coolant oil trans fluid from the front. , yes if you have to tear things apart an FE is sometimes tougher but you set yourself up with cribbing and jacks so you canwotk underneath.

[dwood443]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

I wouldn’t sell at this point, you’d lose your hat, people on sites like this always slamming on the 08 plus busses means you won’t get much and the seats bring out means no church or school would want it.

Pre check is part of it, you can make yourself a camera scope or a mirror on a pole that you hold underneath to visual the belts, you should be able to reach coolant oil trans fluid from the front. , yes if you have to tear things apart an FE is sometimes tougher but you set yourself up with cribbing and jacks so you canwotk underneath.

Camera scope genius idea. maybe something like this one?
https://www.amazon.com/Endoscope-Sem...ustomerReviews

[dwood443]

Got a last minute shot of the blimp after takeoff. I was trying to get it on the ground before it left for the browns Steelers game.

Got this as I pulled up to hanger

[dwood443]

Working on the placement for my wood stove. Put all the pieces together for the first burn outside the bus. I’m going to remove the window and put a spare in I have with no glass. I also have some insulator for the wall.

This will just be a part time stove. Take down when driving the bus