Florida Build - AmTram 2003 RE

[melwade]

Here are some pictures from the build.

Finding and purchasing the bus.

[melwade]

Removing the interior.

[ewo1]

Originally Posted by melwade

Removing the interior.

Seeing you in that air damn....god am I glad got that over with...What a mission taking those things off!

While you are in that area, take a look at the pictures in posts 79 & 80 of my thread.

https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f11/b...a-26674-4.html

I feel like this air damn hole is potentially a major source for water intrusion on the RE300 busses.

Take a look at my pics and then your bus and tell me what you think.

[DeMac]

Melwade, Thanks for adding the pics. Looking good.

ewo1, When you first posted those, I studied your intake pics, then opened up mine. I wonder if IC discovered the leak. They changed from the steel mesh intake to a louvered panel after about 2006, or so.

[ewo1]

Originally Posted by DeMac

Melwade, Thanks for adding the pics. Looking good.

ewo1, When you first posted those, I studied your intake pics, then opened up mine. I wonder if IC discovered the leak. They changed from the steel mesh intake to a louvered panel after about 2006, or so.

Interesting, I have a second RE bus, also a 2006, but mine has the steel mesh too.

Fortunately since now we know, it's an easy fix...
Caused me a lot of rust repair though in the back of my '97 bus.

I could see the same rust on Mel's bus (see pic) as mine had...
Like I said, easy fix.

[Simplicity]

My 2000 has steel mesh.

I haven't dug into the air dam areas on my bus yet.

Are you replacing the dams after fixing any damage?

My passenger side air scoop got crushed. I'm thinking of making a mold of the good one, then making a replacement out of fiberglass.

I also installed a tranny cooler on the drivers side under the coolant tank. It looks like a Minnie Me radiator from the outside. It uses a 1.75" tube and fin with a 1600+cfm fan. I'm putting in a 200 on/185 off thermo switch.

Any thoughts on improving air flow and cooling is appreciated.

[EastCoastCB]

I keep my Wanderlodge out in Apopka!
Small skoolie world.

[melwade]

Originally Posted by ewo1

Seeing you in that air damn....god am I glad got that over with...What a mission taking those things off!

I feel like this air damn hole is potentially a major source for water intrusion on the RE300 busses.

We never considered the water issues that may be involved our biggest concern was the tremendous waste of space. Our bed will go on top of the engine.

Our biggest water leak issues were old windows and hatches.

Here's a video of this part... https://youtu.be/aW6Yx1bRmXM

[melwade]

Raising the roof 21"+ was an adventure but not as hard as we thought it was going to be. The key is to be sure the bus is level first. We parked it on the most level area we had and then blocked up the bus to be sure it was solid and level. We used the bracket/threaded rod method and it worked like a charm.

[melwade]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

My 2000 has steel mesh.

I haven't dug into the air dam areas on my bus yet.

Are you replacing the dams after fixing any damage?

My passenger side air scoop got crushed. I'm thinking of making a mold of the good one, then making a replacement out of fiberglass.

I also installed a tranny cooler on the drivers side under the coolant tank. It looks like a Minnie Me radiator from the outside. It uses a 1.75" tube and fin with a 1600+cfm fan. I'm putting in a 200 on/185 off thermo switch.

Any thoughts on improving air flow and cooling is appreciated.

The air dams are gone for good.

We are going to add air intakes to the engine compartment doors on each side. We will likely add fins to the outside of the mesh.

[melwade]

We are moving the main door halfway back on the bus and will be adding a passenger door by the co-captain seat. I built the stair structure and added a steel commercial door.

[musigenesis]

Some very cool fabrication happening here. Love both of the new doors!

[melwade]

Putting sheet metal on the side of the bus. We used 18ga galvaneal. Also beginning to fill in the extra rivet holes with bondo.

[LoisWade42]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I keep my Wanderlodge out in Apopka!
Small skoolie world.

DM one of us if you want to swing by sometime!

[melwade]

More progress on the bus.

• We purchased as semi cab for the door and door frame (2001 International 9100i). We added this as a passenger door.
• Finished the roof transition
• Painted the roof with elastomeric roof
• Finished the siding.
• Cut the window openings.

More on Instagram @mel.and.lois

[cadillackid]

that passenget door is just plain cool as hell! love it!!

[bridg73988]

Great job on the fabrication! The new side door gives a cool look. I was thinking about relocating the walk in door but my bus has under storage and I didn't want to compromise that. The roof transition looks familiar, that is how I did mine.

[melwade]

Primer done.

[melwade]

So, it's been a bit since I posted pictures. Here are some updates.

Painting the bus. I have about 40 hour just in the prep/primer and then a couple of hours to paint.

[melwade]

Adding the floor. Adding the framing and wiring. Then closed cell spray foam. We contracted the spray foam. This is the only thing we as contracted out on the project. Then I began trimming down the excess spray foam with a wire brush on an angle grinder. I quickly learned three things: 1)use a full face mask, 2) cover the grinder with a fine mesh to keep the foam from clogging the grinder and burning it out, and 3) don't do this in July in Florida!