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Old 11-29-2018, 04:51 PM   #1
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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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Old 11-29-2018, 05:11 PM   #2
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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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Old 11-29-2018, 07:03 PM   #3
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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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Old 11-29-2018, 08:06 PM   #4
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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
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Old 02-09-2019, 10:21 PM   #5
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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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Old 02-09-2019, 11:19 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr mac View Post
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
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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Old 02-10-2019, 08:35 AM   #7
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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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Old 02-10-2019, 10:14 AM   #8
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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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Old 02-10-2019, 01:06 PM   #9
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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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Old 04-14-2020, 04:04 PM   #10
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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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Old 07-21-2020, 01:15 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnny5 View Post
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.
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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