How not to convert a 09 chevy collins bus

Tjwny · 08-21-2023, 10:07 AM

Hi everyone!!
I get to start a build thread!

My church was donated a 09 chevy collins 5 dully bus with 200k on the clock. For $1800 I'm going use it as a tiny home ham radio rover.

I'm on a paycheck to paycheck budget this bus is more part of learning then a end product.

Tjwny · 08-21-2023, 01:22 PM

The underneath of this bus is so rotted out and covered in Road salt. With the photo of the broken ply floor i wanted to replace the wood like everyone else and finish of with a great laminate but nope there's nothing holding the plywood in but rust I would have to weld in a new steel subfloor so screw it I'm just going to carpet it for now.

ewo1 · 08-21-2023, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tjwny

The underneath of this bus is so rotted out and covered in Road salt. With the photo of the broken ply floor i wanted to replace the wood like everyone else and finish of with a great laminate but nope there's nothing holding the plywood in but rust I would have to weld in a new steel subfloor so screw it I'm just going to carpet it for now.

Ii would consider to at least treat the rust with some OSPHO, otherwise it will just continue to grow!
You can do it from underneath with a pump sprayer.

Tjwny · 08-22-2023, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewo1

Ii would consider to at least treat the rust with some OSPHO, otherwise it will just continue to grow!
You can do it from underneath with a pump sprayer.

Cool thanks for the info, I knever knew that exisited? I was planning on taking the bus to Krown for rust treatment.

Roadlife · 08-23-2023, 04:46 PM

Ospho works great. Powerwash all the crud off and let dry, then apply. I had to cut a lot of rust out of my rear wheel wells and repair.

Tjwny · 08-23-2023, 06:07 PM

https://www.amazon.com/2-Pack-Ospho-...54559511&psc=1 is this thw stuff?

ewo1 · 08-23-2023, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tjwny

https://www.amazon.com/2-Pack-Ospho-...54559511&psc=1 is this thw stuff?

That's the stuff!

Tjwny · 08-28-2023, 06:12 PM

Next step: fill rust holes along the top of windshield frame. All the body shops won't work on skool buses or their booked out 2 months so I wipped up a small batch of jb weld (all I had at the time) and used a hydrophobic mason sponge as a backer to fill the bigger holes let's see what happens???

Roadlife · 08-28-2023, 07:05 PM

Reach out to local community College autobody program. Rust repair was the first thing I learned. Might find a few students who know what they are doing who will lend a hand cheaper than a body shop, and better than you would be able to do by yourself.

ism minerals · 08-28-2023, 10:05 PM

welcome and awesome another ham, what the radio plan for the bus?

Tjwny · 08-30-2023, 06:30 AM

My plan is to have a small desk with a pc running my ts480 (i might replace it with a yeasu 991a) I haven't figgured out what antennas to use yet? Probably need to reserch what solor cells will play nice with the radios emf wise

ism minerals · 08-30-2023, 07:15 AM

Neat, I picked up a screwdriver pretty cheap a while back for this build larry's 6-160m standard. and will most likely just run my ic-7000 for now for hf. When funds become available I may upgrade to the ic7300. I have a kenwood d710G for the 2m/70cm. I also have a tentec herculese 420 for an HF amp that will be installed, i

Tjwny · 09-04-2023, 03:14 PM

I forget about screwdriver antennas i'm a big fan of aircannons and dipoles

Tjwny · 09-04-2023, 03:20 PM

Update: to fix the roof above the windshield i stuffed the big holes with mason sponges being their kinda hydrophobic and used jb weld epoxy to fill as i don't know how to weld. I had the windshield replaced this morning and looks like it will hold a few years?

Tjwny · 09-11-2023, 07:12 PM

Yippy bus is in primer but I'm going crazy because the bus won't start but it did a few weeks ago? Mice? There seems to be a big draw draining the battery and I never noticed the lit red light on above the back door?

Tjwny · 09-11-2023, 07:48 PM

Ok so the red light is attached to the running lights probably never noticed it the one time i drove my bus. Also found the rear door bottom latch rod support rotted out causing the door to open just enough to trigger the rear exit alarm. Charged up the battery and found my group 27 battery i use to power stuff/too big jumpbox could be the draw on the bus system? The volt meter read 14v but no crank mabe a click?

Sorry guys I am kinda venting i have a guy hopfully coming over tomorrow to spray a nice finish on my bus and i need to move the bus away from the house to spray it?

Tjwny · 09-15-2023, 07:17 PM

Its painted!

VanManDave · 09-16-2023, 10:37 AM

Great progress, you should be proud

Tjwny · 09-16-2023, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanManDave

Great progress, you should be proud

Thank you!! The light is at the end of the tunnel! I should have this livable by the end of Oct? Now that its panted now i can get a weight slip fix ehost and get NY tags!

Tjwny · 10-04-2023, 02:56 PM

Not happy but my skoolie is on the road!!
Nys dmv made me tag it commertial as its not a full rv yet. But hey! Its legal!! And also I don't think that paint is going to last?

Yea when in doubt don't!! After my mom and the paint specialist at the local ace hardwear talked me into using ben moore latex acrilic outdoor paint with ace rust stop primer. On some spots the paint is hard and tough looks great but in some spots like the fiberglass end caps you can scratch the paint off with a fingernail!?!
I knew I should have listend to the experts here that said no bueno on latex

I'm hoping i can throw I super hard car wax or clear coat just to get me through the winter??

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