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01-20-2016, 07:00 PM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
Posts: 17
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
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The Ritz Slackjaw
This is the beginning of my project. Codename - The Ritz Slackjaw. It will be made into a utilitarian camper with room for at least 6 people. It will have no bathroom or bedroom. Open floorplan with beds, counters, and a stove. I bought this bus from Midwest Transit in Swansea, IL. 2001 International with an Amtran body. T444 with a 5 speed and air brakes. 136,722 miles on it when I picked it up from the dealership. How much??? I think I got a smokin deal. I got them down from $2,600 to $2,250. I have yet to find a lightbulb that is burned out.
__________________
My pappy said son you're gonna make people fuss if you don't stop drivin' that hot rod bus.
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01-20-2016, 07:22 PM
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#2
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
Posts: 17
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
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It won't let me upload pics.
__________________
My pappy said son you're gonna make people fuss if you don't stop drivin' that hot rod bus.
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01-20-2016, 07:38 PM
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#3
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,830
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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... so it never happened!
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01-20-2016, 07:39 PM
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#4
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
Posts: 17
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
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See the Album "The Ritz Slackjaw" for pictures.
__________________
My pappy said son you're gonna make people fuss if you don't stop drivin' that hot rod bus.
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01-21-2016, 01:55 AM
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#5
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Skoolie
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: St Louis Metro
Posts: 110
Year: 1978
Coachwork: Wayne
Chassis: Lifeguard
Engine: 366 Chevy
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Quote:
Originally Posted by D.J. Burnett
I bought this bus from Midwest Transit in Swansea, IL.
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That place knows me well. They're just up the road from me. When I buy new parts, I start there first.
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11-24-2016, 02:15 PM
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#6
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
Posts: 17
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
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__________________
My pappy said son you're gonna make people fuss if you don't stop drivin' that hot rod bus.
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11-24-2016, 02:21 PM
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#7
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
Posts: 17
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
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__________________
My pappy said son you're gonna make people fuss if you don't stop drivin' that hot rod bus.
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11-24-2016, 02:23 PM
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#8
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
Posts: 17
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
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After the seats were gone.
After seat removal, i wanted to protect the metal from rusting anymore so i painstakingly wire wheeled the entire floor. This took hours but I feel was well worth it.
__________________
My pappy said son you're gonna make people fuss if you don't stop drivin' that hot rod bus.
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11-24-2016, 02:36 PM
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#9
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
Posts: 17
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
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Painting the floor
Rustoleum paint that bonds to the metal. Actually leaves a decent finish.
__________________
My pappy said son you're gonna make people fuss if you don't stop drivin' that hot rod bus.
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11-24-2016, 02:41 PM
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#10
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
Posts: 17
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
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Patching the floor
On each side of the fender well, the floor was rotted thru. Not a huge area but enough that I wanted to put more metal down so the finished floor would not sag in these areas. I painted over the welds with the same paint as on the floor.
__________________
My pappy said son you're gonna make people fuss if you don't stop drivin' that hot rod bus.
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11-24-2016, 02:55 PM
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#11
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Pensacola and Crystal River, FL
Posts: 647
Year: 1998
Coachwork: AmTran International
Chassis: 3800
Engine: Navistar 7.6L
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I like how you eliminated the rusted out joint between the floor and the wheel well.
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11-24-2016, 03:03 PM
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#12
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
Posts: 17
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
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Insulating/framing the inside
I decided to take the metal off the inside after a bit of water showed up on the floor after a rain storm. I didn't want to chance mold in the yellow bat insulation from the factory. I took out most of the screws normally and ground off the ones that were stuck. Turns out, it's a 1.5 inch pocket behind there...perfect fit for the 1.5 inch hard insulation (mold resistant) that i was going to use anyhow.

As you can see, I painted all the windows black, except the four emergency windows that swing out. I figured I don't need that many windows on the inside, especially these since they are about as energy inefficient as it gets. From the outside, it looks like a full tint and is a clean look. I was gonna blank out the windows with sheet metal, but this was so much work and material that just the thought was daunting.

I screwed 2x2's directly to the ribs of the bus, pre-drilling holes and using #10x2" sheet metal screws. I ran one piece of blocking between each upright. The 1.5" hard insulation is just 'friction fitted' between the framing. The finished wall will hold it in just fine.
__________________
My pappy said son you're gonna make people fuss if you don't stop drivin' that hot rod bus.
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11-24-2016, 03:06 PM
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#13
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
Posts: 17
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
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Thank you. Just some sheet metal (maybe 3/16" thick) from some old commercial printers waiting for scrap. I bent it with a 2x4 on the side of a work bench. Nothing too technical but well worth the time. I will be spraying it with undercoating spray before the bus goes anywhere.
__________________
My pappy said son you're gonna make people fuss if you don't stop drivin' that hot rod bus.
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11-24-2016, 03:07 PM
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#14
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: DeSoto, MO
Posts: 17
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar t444
Rated Cap: 71 miserable kids
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DoubleO7
I like how you eliminated the rusted out joint between the floor and the wheel well.
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Thank you. Just some sheet metal (maybe 3/16" thick) from some old commercial printers waiting for scrap. I bent it with a 2x4 on the side of a work bench. Nothing too technical but well worth the time. I will be spraying it with undercoating spray before the bus goes anywhere
__________________
My pappy said son you're gonna make people fuss if you don't stop drivin' that hot rod bus.
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