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11-29-2018, 04:51 PM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 9
Year: 2004
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: Ford E450
Engine: 6.0 Powersuk
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Shorten Bus
I'm shopping for a ~7 window conventional bus, and I'd like a mechanical DT466 or Cummins. This seems to be rare. I'm planning to do a roof raise, and I was wondering if anyone has ever bought a longer bus and cut a section out of the middle to make it shorter, such as,
1. Remove drive shaft
2. Cut bus in two, then cut some extra off of one of the halves
3. Weld the frame back together, and reinforce the weld with the "extra"
4. Splice the exhaust and wiring
5. Have a shop shorten and balance the drive shaft
6. Do the roof raise and suture the skin
I've been known to have pretty stupid ideas, so let me know if this is one of them.
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11-29-2018, 05:11 PM
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#2
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Grayson County, VA
Posts: 1,428
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466
Rated Cap: 65
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This seems overly complex. Seems it would be much easier to repower a shortie with the engine/transmission that you want.
If you were to go through with this scheme, though, the internet needs a build thread outlining how ya did it!
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11-29-2018, 07:03 PM
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#3
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Asheville, NC
Posts: 347
Year: 1999
Coachwork: American Cargo 14'L x 7'8"W x 7'H Box
Chassis: Ford E350 Cutaway
Engine: 7.3L Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 11500 lbs
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The better way to shorten a frame is to move the rear axle forward to the desired location where new bolt holes were drilled and then cut the excess frame overhang off.
On the body you want to cut the skin and internal structural members in different places to create a lap joint between the individual layers.
Personally, I would rather shorten a bus than doing a roof raise where in addition to patching and welding the raised roof will have to be blended into the un-raised front. But since I am lazy, I got a box van that is tall enough and short enough for my needs. All I need to cut is holes for door and windows.
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11-29-2018, 08:06 PM
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#4
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,753
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
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+1 on moving the axle and simply cutting the body to match the size you want
I ran across someone recently who just bought a Reefer straight truck to convert.. already super-insulated.. company got rids of it because they said the reefer unit was DOA.. i fixed it in 30 minutes.. too bad the thing ios so noisy as its a heat / cool unit.. could be his HVAC if it werent as loud as a freight train inside
-Christopher
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02-09-2019, 10:21 PM
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#5
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 32
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So why not just cut body behind the rear axle. Then remove rear door section and weld back on.
No drive shaft work at all. Now you would still have the same wheel base. Just the short body.
I wish I could or would know how to photoshop on my iPhone
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02-09-2019, 11:19 PM
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#6
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr mac
So why not just cut body behind the rear axle. Then remove rear door section and weld back on.
No drive shaft work at all. Now you would still have the same wheel base. Just the short body.
I wish I could or would know how to photoshop on my iPhone
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The last 1' of the rear of the bus is riveted on, so no need to weld. If you shorten it to an existing panel it's as easy as riveting it back together ( I used screws)
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02-10-2019, 08:35 AM
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#7
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: ...little north of Toronto Ontario
Posts: 606
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Thomsass
Chassis: FreightShaker
Engine: 5.9 Cummins 5 speed
Rated Cap: 2 ATV's and friends
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I've seen one with the frame/body cut down with the axle at the rear, can't find the pic. This is as close as I could come...picture it without the platform.
Does look a little odd....lot less work than shortening everything
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02-10-2019, 10:14 AM
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#8
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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Low tech solution.
I've seen plenty of DT_466 powered shorties. Many of them are 190hp and AT-545.
I would think that the simplest solution would be to buy a DT shorty, upgrade to 235hp and swap a 2000 series transmission.
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02-10-2019, 01:06 PM
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#9
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 32
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One in your neck of the woods
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/c...810993956.html
Buy it and repower.
If I was there I would buy it myself. Put in a 7.3 or 5.9 and a 5 speed. To far from Kansas City
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04-14-2020, 04:04 PM
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#10
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New Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Nor Cal
Posts: 9
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I'd love to cut a larger, or even mid bus down to a shorty with the axle at the very back. For pulling equipment trailers, it'd have to make the driving less hassle. Generally speaking a big bus with a 4 or 5 ton running gear, or a small 1 ton rig, are about the same price to buy. I've been driving and wrenching on some short wheelbase F650 dump trucks for the last year or so, and been really impressed by how they handle.
If anyone has, or has seen a build video of such a project I'd love to see it.
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07-21-2020, 01:15 PM
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#11
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New Member
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: MA
Posts: 7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnny5
I'd love to cut a larger, or even mid bus down to a shorty with the axle at the very back. For pulling equipment trailers, it'd have to make the driving less hassle. Generally speaking a big bus with a 4 or 5 ton running gear, or a small 1 ton rig, are about the same price to buy. I've been driving and wrenching on some short wheelbase F650 dump trucks for the last year or so, and been really impressed by how they handle.
If anyone has, or has seen a build video of such a project I'd love to see it.
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Check out this youtuber, he has a series of video to convert school bus into a flatbed:
The million dollar question though: will it pass state inspection? I'm on the fence as well since it's really difficult to find a pre-2004 shortie with desired engines. I might jump on it if someone could assure me that DMV couldn't care less on it. I'm in MA, sigh...
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