IMABUS

Pyracantha · 07-09-2011, 04:41 PM

After months of stalking the forums we have finally found our bus. 1991 International, DT466, Allison Transmission, and Amtran Chassis. A former Travis County (Austin) Sheriff's bus, it came complete with shotgun mount! We just wanted to share our excitement and say thanks for being here. Your wealth of knowledge has already been so much help.

Here are a few pics...

http://imgur.com/a/YeGrc

syke · 07-09-2011, 06:53 PM

Welcome.
Bus looks good!
If only the walls could talk.

What are the plans?

GreyEagle · 07-09-2011, 07:39 PM

Texas bus right?
I think I saw it on CL in Houston and/or surrounding areas. Had it bookmarked. Good looking bus, ready for anything..

Pyracantha · 07-09-2011, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syke

Welcome.
Bus looks good!
If only the walls could talk.

What are the plans?

I've been using sketchup to work out the plans, but we are going to try for room to sleep 6, kitchen, bathroom, etc. We want to try to use as many salvaged/recycled materials as possible and use renewable energy (solar, wind, etc.) as we can work it into the budget. We will use it for family camping trips and eventually my husband and I might try "full-timing". The whole process is exciting right now and it's just nice to get the kids outside and off the computer working on it with us.

We actually found a couple of inmate lists folded up in the dashboard. It has a broken window in the back and the kids have already decided that a fight broke out and someone "got shanked".

Very interesting though!

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreyEagle

Texas bus right?
I think I saw it on CL in Houston and/or surrounding areas. Had it bookmarked. Good looking bus, ready for anything..

Yes, it is a Texas bus, it was just outside of Austin. CL is where we found it. We had been watching it for about a month and finally decided it was the one.

somewhereinusa · 07-09-2011, 08:23 PM

Good looking bus, it even has a place to put the kids.

Pyracantha · 07-09-2011, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somewhereinusa

Good looking bus, it even has a place to put the kids.

My thoughts exactly!

Jarlaxle · 07-10-2011, 08:32 AM

Nice. Straight body, solid floor & frame, factory storage bays, tires look good...and are those things above the windows AIR CONDITIONERS?!

However: the writing on the windshield says "1990". So...is is a 1990 or a 1991? Or is it a 1990 chassis with a 1991 body? (Pretty common...)

Tango · 07-10-2011, 09:26 AM

Welcome to the funny farm! And what a great starter platform. It should make for a lot of quality family time as well as one sweet ride. My '46 Chevy Shorty should be here in Houston soon and I just wish it had a few of those storage bays already in place. Nice score!

browncrown · 07-10-2011, 09:45 AM

Nice looking bus...welcome and have some fun building

Pyracantha · 07-10-2011, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarlaxle

Nice. Straight body, solid floor & frame, factory storage bays, tires look good...and are those things above the windows AIR CONDITIONERS?!

However: the writing on the windshield says "1990". So...is is a 1990 or a 1991? Or is it a 1990 chassis with a 1991 body? (Pretty common...)

Yes, those are air conditioners. Not working at the time though. The belts are broken on the compressor, so hoping thats the only thing wrong with them. Not sure about the year, we were wondering also. The title and vin# search both say, 1991 International.

Pyracantha · 07-10-2011, 06:16 PM

Seats (well, most of them) are out! Here is what we have been doing the past couple of days...

http://imgur.com/a/siSYz
http://imgur.com/a/ZcWLA

syke · 07-11-2011, 10:23 AM

Excellent! Keep the pictures coming.

Pyracantha · 07-25-2011, 11:09 AM

A little progress this weekend. It doesn't look like much, but I think we took out about 1000 bolts and screws!

http://imgur.com/a/oy5EE

madpsalmer · 07-25-2011, 11:22 AM

You have just gotta take it one bolt at a time. Looks great! Welcome!

Been there the seat removal piece is long and painstaking.

Stuff · 07-26-2011, 04:27 PM

you so gotta keep the cage! thats just like movie horror perfect!!

madpsalmer · 07-27-2011, 08:55 AM

I was thinking the cage would be great for time out for my kids

... OK Just Kidding! Love the bus you scored it looks like a great bus!

Pyracantha · 08-08-2011, 04:38 PM

We had considered keeping the cage, but it was just too noisy going down the road.

We finished taking out the floor today. Will start wire brushing, cleaning and painting tomorrow. We plan to use Klean-Strip "Prep & Etch" first, then Rustoleum enamel, then plug holes with silicone. Any suggestions? Anything to watch out for?

Pyracantha · 08-08-2011, 04:42 PM

more pics

Pyracantha · 08-08-2011, 04:45 PM

still more...

lornaschinske · 08-08-2011, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pyracantha

... then plug holes with silicone...

Rather than silicone, try using one of the clear elastometric roof patch compounds. I used the clear Henrys in a cartridge like a caulking tube. It is NOT a latex so you will need to clean up with paint thinner.. so better to deal with clear than the black goo!

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053

Seal/coat your roof with something like this (if going cheap). I rolled on with a short nap cheap paint roller. Pour out a small amount and spread it out with the roller. I used only two coats (three would have been better). For a 40 ft bus that would have used up the whole 4.75 gallon bucket. I will roll another coat or two later when it is cooler. water clean up as it's latex. Interior of the bus is much, much cooler and I don't have to worry about any of the million rivets on the roof leaking.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053

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