 |
|
12-27-2017, 01:55 PM
|
#121
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Essex, MD
Posts: 3,738
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: Blue Bird TC RE 3904, Flat Nose, 40', 277" wh base
Engine: 8.3L Cummins ISC 260hp, MT643, 4.44 rear
Rated Cap: 84 pax or 1 RV; 33,000lbs
|
The surface rust cleaned up fairly well before treating. With the floor painted you can't tell. Of course not having any in the first place is a lot less work. I still need to do the stairs.
|
|
|
12-27-2017, 02:10 PM
|
#122
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 20,046
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
|
thats funny 2 random bus seats...
floor looks good... are you definitely raising the roof too?
|
|
|
12-27-2017, 02:50 PM
|
#123
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
|
That don't look so bad Bob. Instead of patching your floor with pennies like most people, you just need to use some silver dollars and lots of JB Weld.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
|
|
|
12-27-2017, 02:52 PM
|
#124
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Essex, MD
Posts: 3,738
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: Blue Bird TC RE 3904, Flat Nose, 40', 277" wh base
Engine: 8.3L Cummins ISC 260hp, MT643, 4.44 rear
Rated Cap: 84 pax or 1 RV; 33,000lbs
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid
thats funny 2 random bus seats...
floor looks good... are you definitely raising the roof too?
|
I have 3 random seats thank you very much!!  I kept two regular seats and the "jump seat" from the emergency door row. The seat cushion folds up like the movie seats. The two regular ones I kept as benches. And the jump seat has teh fancy little hydraulic lift arms so I kept it "just in case".
Damn, I hope so. Would be a shame to put all those damn rivets back without raising the roof first.  And then there is the wasted money on tubing and sheet metal. I've already got all of my supplies for the lift itself. I still have to figure out what and where to get stuff for leveling the bus. They are replacing a bunch of telephone poles on base. I might "steal" an old one and chain saw it into stumps. Then wedge from there. The cross arms up top are 4x4s. I could steal those.
|
|
|
12-27-2017, 03:06 PM
|
#125
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Essex, MD
Posts: 3,738
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: Blue Bird TC RE 3904, Flat Nose, 40', 277" wh base
Engine: 8.3L Cummins ISC 260hp, MT643, 4.44 rear
Rated Cap: 84 pax or 1 RV; 33,000lbs
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin97396
That don't look so bad Bob. Instead of patching your floor with pennies like most people, you just need to use some silver dollars and lots of JB Weld.
|
The nickels are only for scale. Some of the holes I cut out and patched. The others I did nothing but treat and paint. I'm going to spray foam the floor at the very least. If I could get that midwest pricing I'd do the entire bus and even under the bus. Dudes on the internet are getting quoted $500. Here on the east coast it's $4,000. What the hell???
|
|
|
12-27-2017, 03:55 PM
|
#126
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
|
They wouldn't be charging that much if someone wasn't actually paying that much for spray foam. Also there are different levels of service with the professional spray foam guys. Some do all the masking and cleanup included with the price. Know exactly what you're getting. Honestly I'd suggest reconsidering the spray foam on the floor insulation. Rigid insulation would be easier to work with.
If I ever insulate another bus I will use rigid foam panels as much as possible, possibly followed by an application of spray foam for the gaps where rigid simply would not fit.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
|
|
|
12-27-2017, 03:58 PM
|
#127
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin97396
They wouldn't be charging that much if someone wasn't actually paying that much for spray foam. Also there are different levels of service with the professional spray foam guys. Some do all the masking and cleanup included with the price. Know exactly what you're getting. Honestly I'd suggest reconsidering the spray foam on the floor insulation. Rigid insulation would be easier to work with.
If I ever insulate another bus I will use rigid foam panels as much as possible, possibly followed by an application of spray foam for the gaps where rigid simply would not fit.
|
If I could afford spray foam, I'd do it. As it is I'll simply be very careful to fit the foamboard tightly. I have a table saw and can interlock the edges around the curves.
Even then I would foamboard the floor. I just think it's a product more suited to floors. They do put it under concrete slab flooring.
|
|
|
12-27-2017, 06:26 PM
|
#128
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
|
Twigg,
I know we both were under the bus when I was there. The only rusty areas I witnessed were the leaf springs and the axles. Those are an easy clean-and-repaint. She looks more like a California bus than a Nebraska bus!
Most excellent score!
M
__________________
Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence. — George Washington
|
|
|
12-27-2017, 11:14 PM
|
#129
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 1,413
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Thomas
Engine: CAT 3126
|
Just got caught up on your whole thread! Super nice bus! Looks like things are coming along well! Have you thought more about 6th gear? Been down that road myself.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
|
|
|
12-27-2017, 11:25 PM
|
#130
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by david.dgeorge07
Just got caught up on your whole thread! Super nice bus! Looks like things are coming along well! Have you thought more about 6th gear? Been down that road myself.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
|
I know someone with almost an identical bus. The only difference is that he has a FD ratio of 6.14 and mine is 5.38.
Thomas authorized his 6th gear. Unlocking 6th on mine would give a top speed of 80 mph at the rev limit, so I'm fairly confident Thomas will be okay with that. It's right on the speed rating of most of our tires.
|
|
|
12-28-2017, 08:59 AM
|
#131
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Essex, MD
Posts: 3,738
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: Blue Bird TC RE 3904, Flat Nose, 40', 277" wh base
Engine: 8.3L Cummins ISC 260hp, MT643, 4.44 rear
Rated Cap: 84 pax or 1 RV; 33,000lbs
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin97396
Honestly I'd suggest reconsidering the spray foam on the floor insulation. Rigid insulation would be easier to work with.
If I ever insulate another bus I will use rigid foam panels as much as possible, possibly followed by an application of spray foam for the gaps where rigid simply would not fit.
|
Nope. I'm not sealing all of the holes in the floor. The spray foam will insulate and seal.
I'll probably just get a DYI kit and a paper suit.
|
|
|
12-28-2017, 09:00 AM
|
#132
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 20,046
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Twigg
I know someone with almost an identical bus. The only difference is that he has a FD ratio of 6.14 and mine is 5.38.
Thomas authorized his 6th gear. Unlocking 6th on mine would give a top speed of 80 mph at the rev limit, so I'm fairly confident Thomas will be okay with that. It's right on the speed rating of most of our tires.
|
75 MPH maxx speed seems to be a number that thomas is throwing around.. not sure why 75(other than tires). but some have been told no on the 6th because their bus will be faster than 75.. hopefully you can talk them into it.. from experience i can say that the engines enjoy running at lower than their high rated RPMs.. at least its sure been the case for me.. going from taching 2600 at 65 MPH down to 1600(6th). or 1850 (5th) has in some cases nearly doubled my MPG's.. I notice my oil stays cleaner longer too..
-Christopher
|
|
|
12-28-2017, 09:04 AM
|
#133
|
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
|
|
|
|
12-28-2017, 01:12 PM
|
#134
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 20,046
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
|
im not saying they dont.. but im just going on several members being told 75 MPH being a key of why they wont unlock 6th... to me i think its dumb... its my bus, it has 6 gears i should be able to use em all if I want..!!
if i had the old-style TCM wiring harness id probably see if i could unlock those gears myself...
I totally agree on tire pressure being the big key.. the numbers dont lie when it comes to heat build-up and improperly inflated tires...
-Christopher
|
|
|
12-28-2017, 01:21 PM
|
#135
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid
im not saying they dont.. but im just going on several members being told 75 MPH being a key of why they wont unlock 6th... to me i think its dumb... its my bus, it has 6 gears i should be able to use em all if I want..!!
if i had the old-style TCM wiring harness id probably see if i could unlock those gears myself...
I totally agree on tire pressure being the big key.. the numbers dont lie when it comes to heat build-up and improperly inflated tires...
-Christopher
|
I'll update the thread when I ask.
0.65 would give me a projected top speed of around 79 mph, depending on what number you use for the tire diameter.
I think it's a reasonable ask, but I don't work for Thomas.
|
|
|
12-28-2017, 01:50 PM
|
#136
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Essex, MD
Posts: 3,738
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: Blue Bird TC RE 3904, Flat Nose, 40', 277" wh base
Engine: 8.3L Cummins ISC 260hp, MT643, 4.44 rear
Rated Cap: 84 pax or 1 RV; 33,000lbs
|
1) It isn't a Thomas tranny; it's an Allison. 2) Thomas isn't goint repair it under warranty when it's 20+ yrs old. 3) It isn't a school bus any more.
Just saying!! They shouldn't be allowed to refuse.
|
|
|
12-28-2017, 01:54 PM
|
#137
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brewerbob
1) It isn't a Thomas tranny; it's an Allison. 2) Thomas isn't goint repair it under warranty when it's 20+ yrs old.
Just saying!! They shouldn't be allowed to refuse.
|
It isn't an Allison tranny either, or a Thomas bus ... It's mine!
I really should be allowed some say. I will be held responsible for anything I do, not Thomas, not Allison.
|
|
|
12-28-2017, 01:55 PM
|
#138
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 20,046
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brewerbob
1) It isn't a Thomas tranny; it's an Allison. 2) Thomas isn't goint repair it under warranty when it's 20+ yrs old.
Just saying!! They shouldn't be allowed to refuse.
|
preaching to the choir for sure...
*BUT* in a society where a drunk sues a bar for serving him too many beers causing him to crash his car killing a 9 year old passenger in the other car.. and **WINS**!! Thomas is CYA...
-Christopher
|
|
|
12-28-2017, 02:04 PM
|
#139
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid
preaching to the choir for sure...
*BUT* in a society where a drunk sues a bar for serving him too many beers causing him to crash his car killing a 9 year old passenger in the other car.. and **WINS**!! Thomas is CYA...
-Christopher
|
That would be a reasonable argument if Allison were consistent. They supply unlocked gearboxes to every vehicle manufacturer except school buses. If you buy an RV with an MD3060, it has 6 gears.
I understand the thinking, but it's deeply flawed. My vehicle will be titled as an RV. It can never again be certified as a school bus, so neither Thomas nor Allison have an argument. They merely have a policy and it's not all that consistent.
To be fair to Thomas, they do appear to be more relaxed about this than Blue Bird.
Has anyone ever managed to unlock a Blue Bird transmission?
No one will sue the manufacturer if I simply buy a different ring and pinion set.
|
|
|
12-28-2017, 02:12 PM
|
#140
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Essex, MD
Posts: 3,738
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: Blue Bird TC RE 3904, Flat Nose, 40', 277" wh base
Engine: 8.3L Cummins ISC 260hp, MT643, 4.44 rear
Rated Cap: 84 pax or 1 RV; 33,000lbs
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid
preaching to the choir for sure...
*BUT* in a society where a drunk sues a bar for serving him too many beers causing him to crash his car killing a 9 year old passenger in the other car.. and **WINS**!! Thomas is CYA...
-Christopher
|
In that case I can argue that there were zero fatalities caused by school buses at speeds in excess of 75mph. I don't know that for a fact but I'll bet money on it. They should therefore REQUIRE the bus to go faster than 75 not slower.
This is all I could find and doesn't include speeds.
https://www.nhtsa.gov/document/traff...elated-crashes
|
|
|
 |
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|