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Old 09-15-2019, 07:38 AM   #1
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Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Weeki Wachee, FL
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Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 72
Our new bus (as yet unnamed) project!

Hello everybody! As you may have seen in another thread, we've picked up another bus. Wasn't planned, but Hillary is back on the bench with hip problems and we seem to have the theme of me building a bus while she's disabled.

This one came up on an auction site and was getting no love at all, and ticked most of our boxes when we think about what an upgrade from the Wanderlounge would look like. A bit bigger, rear engine, better transmission, undercarriage storage, I'd call that a bargain.

So here is an introduction to our new bus and a walk-around going over the basic features and layout. We'll be doing move videos as we go through the process.


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Old 09-18-2019, 12:22 PM   #2
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Today I'm cutting the seats out. Well, grinding them out. Due to the fully enclosed undercarriage storage, I'm not able to get to the underside of the floor. So grind away!

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Old 09-18-2019, 12:45 PM   #3
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I had not considered that...

My A3RE has side storage compartments. I only had to grind the ones above the fuel tank and a few in the back.

IMHO: the value of full width storage compartments is WELL worth the extra work.
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Old 09-18-2019, 03:30 PM   #4
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Very interesting video. I will be paying attention to your progress. I've been wondering what the differences are between TC2000s and All-Americans, and now you are showing me details. Thanks. And I am seeing other interesting things too.

I was particulariy interested by your comment about wanting to fit a generator on the right side of the engine compartment above the exhaust pipes. That is particularly relevent to a discussion in a thread I started earlier today about someone putting propane tanks in the same place.

I have already made comments in that thread based upon impressions I formed while watching your video. Rather than copy those comments here, here's a link to that thread

http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f13/is...dea-28672.html
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Old 09-18-2019, 04:25 PM   #5
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This video was mostly for fun. I won't be using this method!

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Old 09-19-2019, 06:44 PM   #6
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Finished detaching the seats and started on the floor. This is a Pennsylvania bus and rust is a primary concern. So far, though, the floor isn't as bad as I expected. A lot of color but it's very superficial. Will take a while to get all the original floor up but I am ready with the Ospho.
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Old 09-19-2019, 07:24 PM   #7
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That looks a lot like ours did. Come on Ospho!
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Old 09-23-2019, 03:16 PM   #8
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No videos today but I officially got rid of all the seats. Next progress update should be the floor removed. Working on 2 buses at once, hopefully the other one is back together by the weekend!
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Old 09-28-2019, 08:13 AM   #9
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Yesterday's progress.. Pulling up the bus floor. I think I've found the easiest way to do the type of floor I have. That doesn't mean it's easy.

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Old 10-04-2019, 06:15 PM   #10
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No real progress update today but I pulled up the motor info from Cummins and found that I have the 260hp version of the ISB.... So that's cool.

Otherwise I'm still pulling up the floor. Hopefully get the rest of it up tomorrow, although i have a few things to do on the Wanderlounge as well.
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Old 10-04-2019, 08:43 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brokedown View Post
No real progress update today but I pulled up the motor info from Cummins and found that I have the 260hp version of the ISB.... So that's cool.

Otherwise I'm still pulling up the floor. Hopefully get the rest of it up tomorrow, although i have a few things to do on the Wanderlounge as well.
Woo-hoo!

A hotrod!

My 8.3 is only 245hp but I would bet that I may have the advantage when it comes to torque..
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Old 10-04-2019, 08:48 PM   #12
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The bigger difference is that the torque peak is at 1300 RPM on the 8.3 vs 1800 on the 5.9. Actual torque maximum is only going to be maybe 40 lb/ft different.
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Old 10-05-2019, 07:38 AM   #13
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Are you removing the rubber sheet first so you can remove the screws before prying up the wood? When I took out my floor, I used a circular saw with 3/4" depth to cut the floor into a grid of one-foot squares (still with the rubber sheet on) which I took off individually with a six-foot pry bar I had. Some squares had a screw or two but still came up easily and then I could remove the screws once the wood was up. Took just a few hours for the whole floor, if you don't count the mess I made when I knicked the heater coolant line with my saw.
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Old 10-05-2019, 11:20 AM   #14
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Yep, removing the rubber, removing any fasteners that haven't rusted the heads off, cutting the plywood into manageable sections, and prying it up. The wood is just the wrong amount of wet, and about half the screws only come out with vise grips after the wood is up.
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Old 10-05-2019, 12:00 PM   #15
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Quote:
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Yep, removing the rubber, removing any fasteners that haven't rusted the heads off, cutting the plywood into manageable sections, and prying it up. The wood is just the wrong amount of wet, and about half the screws only come out with vise grips after the wood is up.
That is a nasty job. I didn't enjoy it a bit. I did get lucky and have a buddy stop by and help. He brought with him, pry bars like I have never seen before. Kind of like an oversized claw hammer with a four foot handle. We made pretty short work of it.
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Old 10-05-2019, 12:33 PM   #16
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I'm working solo in the Florida heat so if I can get a 4x8 sheet up every time I go out I am happy.

Lots of orange color waiting to be treated!Click image for larger version

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Old 10-05-2019, 03:09 PM   #17
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That is a nasty job. I didn't enjoy it a bit. I did get lucky and have a buddy stop by and help. He brought with him, pry bars like I have never seen before. Kind of like an oversized claw hammer with a four foot handle. We made pretty short work of it.
I used this thing: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Truper-Tru-...ng-Bar/3055437. I forget which Greek Ancient said "give me a long enough lever and I can get the damned floor up."
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Old 10-06-2019, 01:15 AM   #18
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I used this thing: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Truper-Tru-...ng-Bar/3055437. I forget which Greek Ancient said "give me a long enough lever and I can get the damned floor up."

I know ... Pryus Bussious!
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Old 10-07-2019, 08:48 AM   #19
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I used to have something similar to that, affectionately known as the "f*** you bar".

Spent the weekend working on the Wanderlounge so no news on the new bus!
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Old 10-07-2019, 09:01 AM   #20
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Quote:
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Yep, removing the rubber, removing any fasteners that haven't rusted the heads off, cutting the plywood into manageable sections, and prying it up. The wood is just the wrong amount of wet, and about half the screws only come out with vise grips after the wood is up.
...........................
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