New beginnings - My skoolie build

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by plfking

My bad.....I always do that and confuse people. Channel Lock (the company) was the first tool manufacturer to make vise grip pliers, and we always called them channel locks back in the day.

I need to get with the times.......you know the one about old dogs and new tricks.

I believe you are mistaken, Vise Grips have been marketed under that brand name since they were invented in 1924 by Peterson Manufacturing. Channel Lock, to the best of my knowledge never made, and still don't make a locking plier.

[Miles O Roads]

Awesome start just read both threads. You make me not feel so bad about one I am looking at. Its only about 50 to 60 miles from the house and I will have a temp tag. Scary part is its wrecked not bad at all but main concern is intercooler and radiator. But as a few said the cheap hf grinders are great with a cutoff wheel,also there P2000 generators can be had for less than 500 on sale. Will keep eye on the build.

[david.dgeorge07]

Originally Posted by consti2tion

Which batteries did you angle grinder have? I have the large Dewalt batteries and they work great.



You could buy an inverter for a couple hundred dollars and just idle the bus.

Excessive idling will glaze the cylinder walls. Avoid if you can.

[jjhwick119]

the surplus guy from the school district just replied to me. it appears the engine was rebuilt back in 2013, and probably only has about 5000 miles on it since the rebuild. i asked again to get a copy of that maintenance record at least since it was a major repair, but good to know that it was a recent rebuild. looks promising for having a good long life left in her

[jjhwick119]

Originally Posted by plfking

I had to do some of mine by myself too. Get a few cheap channel locks for the topside, then crawl underneath and unbolt. It's a great ab workout also.

Ok, just pulled first seat out this way, and this is how I'll be spending my night. Putting vice grips under bus, bought 4 to do 1 seat at a time, then hop in bus and break all 4 lose with socket wrench, then drill gets an out quick. Nice and easy

[consti2tion]

Originally Posted by david.dgeorge07

Excessive idling will glaze the cylinder walls. Avoid if you can.

Oh wow. Very good info to know, thank you!

[consti2tion]

Originally Posted by jjhwick119

Ok, just pulled first seat out this way, and this is how I'll be spending my night. Putting vice grips under bus, bought 4 to do 1 seat at a time, then hop in bus and break all 4 lose with socket wrench, then drill gets an out quick. Nice and easy

Heck yeah. Gotta make due with what you can! If you weren’t on the far north side of dfw I would definitely lend a hand. But I have my hands full with my own bus. Gonna update the build thread tonight.

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by jjhwick119

Well, I went through 2 fully charged 20v batteries in 3 bolts. Going right back in the box, lol. That was a fail. Couldn't even get 1 seat out to show some progress. Batteries got hot

wow!! I get about 2-3 bolts per battery... and by the time I get through those my next battery is ready... I have 3 batteries.. 1 High capacity and 2 regular.. plus a charger that can charge 2 batteries.. I never have been stopped due to waiting on batteries..

-Christopher

[jjhwick119]

Got a few seats out. Still got 2 in front and 5 in the back with stuff piled on them. I'll start moving piles after work tomorrow and try and get out the last of the seats

[consti2tion]

Where are you disposing of the seats?

[jjhwick119]

What I was planning on doing was just gutting everything I could, leaving it all inside, then drive the bus to a dump and empty.

[consti2tion]

You could recycle the metal from the seats by taking them to a scrap metal recycler, albeit it won’t be ton of money but it would be a little.

[Twigg]

Originally Posted by consti2tion

You could recycle the metal from the seats by taking them to a scrap metal recycler, albeit it won’t be ton of money but it would be a little.

It might be more than you think for a full-size bus. There is probably a quarter of a ton of steel in those seats.

[consti2tion]

Originally Posted by Twigg

It might be more than you think for a full-size bus. There is probably a quarter of a ton of steel in those seats.

That's a good point, I'm thinking short bus like mine.

[david.dgeorge07]

I recycled mine and it wasn’t a ton but way better than paying to dump. Steel prices are on the rise.

[jjhwick119]

Would I need to remove the seat backs?

Would they take the roof? Walls?

[o1marc]

Is my time well spent on what I can recoup in salvage? I'm getting old and have way more construction I want done than spending half a day taking seats apart. I'm all for putting a couple out on the curb each day and see if they disappear. But the salvage place is 5 miles from me and they have the scale and will weigh for free, so they'll probably get the seat frames.

[OldSchooler]

Can I ask where in Missouri you bought it. I live in Springfield and would like to find an auction close by.

[Twigg]

Originally Posted by OldSchooler

Can I ask where in Missouri you bought it. I live in Springfield and would like to find an auction close by.

In Missouri, purplewave.com would be a good source.

[OldSchooler]

Originally Posted by Twigg

In Missouri, purplewave.com would be a good source.

Thanks! I will keep an eye on that site.