" The bus"

[Ronnie]

Here is our bus as it arrived on Christmas Eve. 1971 International with a Wayne body. 392 gas engine, and 6 speed Allison auto. We have gutted it and, insulated, and put all new walls and window trim. Bathroom is almost complete now, just needs the toilet installed. Kitchen is rough framed. 12 volt electric is done other then the solar panels. I do have some small panels just for now. 110 volt wiring is done, with two roof top a/c units.

The bus has not run in years, although very low mileage. Engine is free and has good compression, but fuel system is a mess so basically starting over with that and converting to fuel injection. Might as well set it up as I want it to start with. As the weather warms up will be getting it running. Besides real work has slowed bus work down a bit at the moment.

Plan to paint it black other then the roof, which will stay white. My wife has drawn up pin striping and graphics she would like to put on. She is excited to get on with painting it.

No name yet, just "the bus" for now.

[Tango]

Get the engine and running gear in shape before investing too much on other stuff. Some of the "oldies" can rapidly suck a bank account dry with lots of "little things".

See my avatar for references.

[Ronnie]

Like your bus, had thought of something from the 40's myself, but this one landed in my lap so to speak, and we both like the style. Also I have had Internatoional trucks of this vintage so am familier with them. The brakes are where I expect to have to put some money into. Tires are on the way. I am an experianced mechanic and have built several hot rods, and trucks. So have a good feel for the mechanical end of things. Must say I do think it would be cheaper to buy a newer bus that is already running then to restore an oldie. I want an oldie though, and am prepared to do what it takes.

[Tango]

Ya ...I hear you. Just something about the old iron that pulls you in. Sounds like you have a good handle on things so it will be a fun build to follow.

[Ronnie]

A few more pictures. New walls and window trim. We did some repairs to the roof, so my wife is going to paint the ceiling, while I get on with mechanical stuff. Bathroom is done except for towel racks and shower curtain

[Yukon Cornelius]

Nice looking rig, and this will be a thread to watch me thinks

[Ronnie]

latest pictures of the bathroom. The shower is just off the picture to the right, the slight bit of green.

[o1marc]

Nice bathroom work.

[Ronnie]

Thanks, it is mostly my wife's work

[Yukon Cornelius]

looking pretty good

[Ronnie]

planing some ceder so my wife will be well supplied with wood to build closets, and cabinets. I made a platform for the water tank and fridge, and we sketched out a plan that she is working on now.

we did bolt the drivers seat back in.

[oricha1984]

hey ronnie,
just from the bus you bought and now this picture, I have to say that I would love to see some of your hobbies and projects.
plz, make a video or something.
Thanks for sharing.

Man, I love meeting people from a different world than mine !

[Tango]

I just gotta ask...


How old is that planer!?

[Ronnie]

It is built by "American Sawmill Machinery" and says "Pony" on the blade guard

I found an advertisment in an 1911 magazine for it. So at least that puts in the early 1900's.

A friend of mine knew about my planer and it was in a farmers field. I must have been about 18 or so at the time and I remember putting on my old Datsun pickup, and with my friend, who well loves to eat.. Poor old Datsun, how that truck survived my teenage years who knows, but I sure had fun with it.

I have taken the planer to old tractor shows and belted it to an old Hit and Miss engine from my Fathers collection.

[Tango]

Excellent find! Hard to stop some of the early machinery. Even when left out in a field for a few decades. Good on you for keeping it running and working.

[BlackJohn]

Love that pic of the planer in action ronnie.
Sure wish I has something like that myself. How wide of board will it take?
What rpm does the pto work at to plane?
I have some that are 24'wide and 20' x1 1/4" long, red cedar, over 100 years old. I can't find anything that will handle those planks.

Not too many sawmills locally and I have never seen any for sale either.

It might help if i knew how to do it also as I think there must be an art to planing. Would hate to screw up such fine wood.


John

[reedy]

Love the cedar . I lived in a 64 gmc BB for eight years in the 70s and early eightys. If you can get good gas you should be able to do 10 to 12 miles a gallon at 60 out of that Old Pontiac. engine. I wonder if mine is still around. When I sold it he was headed to Montana. I drove it to the west coast Twice and all over the south working as a pipe welder and some trips just to see some more highway. Don't give up and you can have a good time with it.

[Ronnie]

It will take 20" wide. The PTO runs at 540, so about 3000rpms on the cutter head.

I also have a 12 inch planer/table saw/band saw combo I got from an old sawmill. This one stays in my shop and runs off an antique electric motor to a line shaft. At the 1976 centennial exhibition at the Smithsonian, they had an identical one on display, and was dated about 1880. I did put ball bearings on this one as I do use it almost everyday.

[Ronnie]

Kitchen cabinets under construction. Water tank and fridge will be in these, plus pantry. Kitchen counter will get table top epoxy before it is put in to stay, just mocked up for now.

[Tango]

Mmmmmm...bet it smells nice in there!