Transforming The Fugly Duckling to Mr. W. Wallace.

[Mannix]

My wife and I purchased a 1998 AmTran Genesis with a DT466 coupled with an Allison MT643. We bought it off of Ebay based on pictures and the description from the seller. We flew out to Georgia and spent 7 days driving it back. It performed flawlessly. Phew!

The previous owner had already started the conversion. He removed the seats, painted the floor, and added a few pieces of furniture. Pictures to follow.

Over the next several months, I hope, we will convert (transform) our Fugly Duckling to Mr. W. Wallace. Once completed, I hope to transition into full time travelling, with a bit of work in between. I'm really looking forward to the 5-day weekend, and the 2-day work week.

Cheers,
Mike

[Mannix]

What she looked like when we picked her up.

[Tango]

Welcome guys!



" DT466 coupled with an Allison MT643"


Great combination you hooked up with. Please do keep the pix coming.

[EastCoastCB]

By the title I thought you'd bought a Vista.
Not fugly at all, imo.

[Mannix]

Before we started the cross country journey, we KNEW (a cerebral understanding) that anything not bolted down might move. Now, after nearly 2500 miles, we KNOW that EVERYTHING not bolted down moves. Period.

So, after a couple of days of fighting the mess of migrating furniture, we gave up. We just stepped over it or on it.

Lesson learned... Bolt everything down, even the dishes.

Before and after, below.

[jazty]

Haha those pictures are great!! Very surprising that the shelf didn't topple over.

[Mannix]

Originally Posted by jazty

Haha those pictures are great!! Very surprising that the shelf didn't topple over.

We were surprised too. That shelf didn't move at all.

[o1marc]

Imagine what will happen in a panic stop?

[Mannix]

Originally Posted by o1marc

Imagine what will happen in a panic stop?

That much unbolted steel flying at me at 60mph? I imagine that would be my end. Crunch.

[Mannix]

I spent some time removing the factory A/C units. They came out easily enough.

What's nice is that the 2 external fan locations will make a nice area for 2 small storage boxes.

Heck, I even convinced my wife to get under the bus and help me pull the old wiring out.

[Mannix]

A/C, including all the wiring is out.

The wiring at the panel was interesting. I spent an hour removing each wire from the panel and documenting where it went. My concern was that I would disconnect something vital to bus operation and the bus wouldn't start.

However, my fears were unjustified. In fact, the A/C system had it's own panel. In hindsight, I could have just removed the hot lines and pulled the panels and wires in one go.

On the plus side. I gained 3, 40 foot runs of excellent condition braided 12 gauge wire.

On the plus plus side. Any opportunity that I have for family take part in the bus build is excellent. I'm hoping that with enough involvement and project ownership, the idea of bus living will settle in nicely. Below is my son helping me with those pesky A/C units.

[cadillackid]

those were some nice A/C units to just destroy like that... those fans are handy to use for various purposes...



I need another set or 2 of those AC units but not in pieces..
-Christopher

[Mannix]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

those were some nice A/C units to just destroy like that... those fans are handy to use for various purposes...



I need another set or 2 of those AC units but not in pieces..
-Christopher

Good to know. I hadn't considered that someone else may want those. I'll keep that in mind for the futher.

Thanks,
Mike