DanFrazoo’s Conversion

[cadillackid]

in one of my Busses I replaced it wit ha Jegs heater.. justr because the factory underseat heater was Noisy and really didmnt move alot of air.. the Jegs heater is ductable so you could mount it inside something and then run nicer looking round vents into finish walls...

[DanFrazoo]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

in one of my Busses I replaced it wit ha Jegs heater.. justr because the factory underseat heater was Noisy and really didmnt move alot of air.. the Jegs heater is ductable so you could mount it inside something and then run nicer looking round vents into finish walls...

Started researching these today, thanks for the tip!

[DanFrazoo]

Working in cold conditions means I can’t always work in the order and sequence of things I’d like to do. Finding myself having to leave the floor for a week of unseasonably warm weather to get started on that.

It also means I have to be very careful about making permanent installations in such a way that might negatively affect the work flow later. Therefore, everything is mocked up first, much like the ceiling work was done. A little more work today and a lot of staring and thinking.

[musigenesis]

Man, you are cranking on stuff, nice pace. Is that my beloved RevolutionPly® I see on your walls?

[DanFrazoo]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Man, you are cranking on stuff, nice pace. Is that my beloved RevolutionPly® I see on your walls?

Lol, good eye on the RevolutionPly!
I decided to give it a shot once I saw what passes as 1/4” plywood today. Love how it looks, cuts, and fastens up. I’m going to use it for cabinet carcasses in the near future.

[musigenesis]

It's definitely good that you're not using it for the most-curved portion of your ceiling, because it most definitely cannot handle that much curvature. I cracked a couple of pieces there before giving up and using a different variety of 5mm underlayment that could take the curve (with a bit of persuasion). I don't think steaming would have worked because RevolutionPly really can't handle any kind of exposure to water without badly delaminating.

[DanFrazoo]

Starting window trim.

[cadillackid]

make sure all your windows work before putting in permanent trim.. if you break a clip on a bus window, the only way to fix it is top remove and disassemble the window..

[DanFrazoo]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

make sure all your windows work before putting in permanent trim.. if you break a clip on a bus window, the only way to fix it is top remove and disassemble the window..

All are good except two on the opposite side I will be taking out permanently.
Starting the search for a different tranny from the At545 (you sir, are a bad influence, lol).

[DanFrazoo]

With regard to speed and torque.
I get a whopping 52 mph on a flat level surface, 55 on a downhill grade. I understand that the 545 is sucky (a proper word I am sure). Speed may be related to the way it was set up (governed, for lack of a more correct word), it may be gear ratio, or, it may be the tranny suckiness.
My question is; have a dealer reset the parameters prescribed by the original purchaser, or think about re-gearing first? Weather is such this week that I can’t get under it to determine exactly what the gear ration is. I’m thinking that THAT is where I need to begin?
Thanks

[cadillackid]

What tires and what rpm at 50 MPH? If you are maxing out rpm at like 2600 then it’s gears

[DanFrazoo]

10x22.5 tires and the day I drove it home, IF I recall correctly, rpm’s were in the mid-2k range. The day I take it for it’s state inspection I’ll check that to be certain.

[DanFrazoo]

Mock up of window skins.

[indigo_k]

Window trim looks great! A good clean style. Are you going to be painting or staining the wood?

[indigo_k]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

make sure all your windows work before putting in permanent trim.. if you break a clip on a bus window, the only way to fix it is top remove and disassemble the window..

I'm trying to keep this in mind myself as I work on my windows and starting to think about how I want to finish them. Making sure that if I need to pull one out I don't have to pull out half the wall first.

[DanFrazoo]

Originally Posted by indigo_k

Window trim looks great! A good clean style. Are you going to be painting or staining the wood?

Right at this moment all I know for sure (maybe, lol), is the ceiling will have a natural semi-gloss finish. The hanging cabinets faces will be the same with the cabinet carcass being a solid color. Walls and window trim will be decided once we see what it looks like when everything is in place.
We love the look of natural wood with/without stains but too much of a good thing can be overbearing.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by DanFrazoo

We love the look of natural wood with/without stains but too much of a good thing can be overbearing.

I agree with that - I wouldn't want to be surrounded on all six sides by natural (looking) wood. My butcher block countertops, teak desk and faux oak floor is plenty for me.

My dad and brother thought I should just stain my walls and ceiling, but I think the RevolutionPly would look bizarre with anything but paint. As I'm sure you've noticed, it's very unnatural-looking up close.

[DanFrazoo]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

I agree with that - I wouldn't want to be surrounded on all six sides by natural (looking) wood. My butcher block countertops, teak desk and faux oak floor is plenty for me.

My dad and brother thought I should just stain my walls and ceiling, but I think the RevolutionPly would look bizarre with anything but paint. As I'm sure you've noticed, it's very unnatural-looking up close.

Agreed, I like the stiffness of the RevPly and the lack of voids but that faux grain ain’t gonna cut it, lol.

Winter is here but we had an unseasonably warm day so I got my front door lock finished and the skin over the passenger side windows. Calling for mild temps the rest of the week so I should be able to get a little done inside.

[La Camioneta]

Originally Posted by DanFrazoo

With regard to speed and torque.
I get a whopping 52 mph on a flat level surface, 55 on a downhill grade. I understand that the 545 is sucky (a proper word I am sure). Speed may be related to the way it was set up (governed, for lack of a more correct word), it may be gear ratio, or, it may be the tranny suckiness.
My question is; have a dealer reset the parameters prescribed by the original purchaser, or think about re-gearing first? Weather is such this week that I can’t get under it to determine exactly what the gear ration is. I’m thinking that THAT is where I need to begin?
Thanks

The shop has my AT545 out and swapped for a 2500 from another bus. Can advise on the swap when I get back and can drive it. I went up from 10/22.5 to 11/22.5 tires with little appreciable gain in top speed due to no lockup converter.

You'd need a trans w/harness and TCM. Good source is 6.0 busses being scrapped. A manual to electronic TPS, some work with the TCM by https://www.transmissiontuner.com/Allison-Swap.html and possibly a custom torque converter by https://www.transmissionslongisland.com/

Take your current top speed and divide by .74 for a rough idea of the OD benefit from the 5 speed swap.

Trans was $1200, TC $900, misc electrics and tach/pyro $200? TCM bench check and program $150? Fluid $300(way on sale) and add labor for swap and electrical install. My shop wouldn't do the swap, so I paid a friend to do the TCM part before the swap so it was plug and play for the mechanics.

We intend to use the bus for travel, not living in, so getting there at speed is mission critical. That extra 100-150 miles over a driving day seems well worth it.




https://spicerparts.com/calculators/...rpm-calculator

[DanFrazoo]

Been a while since I made any real headway. Temps and weather were conducive today to working on the exterior light removals. I used 4 discs on the rear and two ovals on the front lights. Might redo the rears to match but the jury is still out on that one.

Need a couple weeks of nice, warm days to get back on the inside. I don’t trust the construction adhesive to set well with the wide temp swings from morning to night.

Will try to get pics soon of the light covers, but calling for more rain today.