'93 E350 Goshen - Adventure bus build...

[cadillackid]

nice way to do the windows!! on afyer the interior skin.. makes a nice finished look!
-Christopher

[Mr4btTahoe]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

nice way to do the windows!! on afyer the interior skin.. makes a nice finished look!
-Christopher

It worked out pretty nice. I pulled all the windows... hung the skins loosely.. then marked the window openings from the outside. Pulled them down, cut them out, and rehung. Everything fit nice n' snug that way.

Still need to finish the other side... but my buddy is coming out hopefully this week to start on the driver's side cabinets and such.

[Mr4btTahoe]

Rain and cold weather have been hanging around for the last few days.. so progress has halted. Need to pull the passenger side windows and dont want to do that in the rain. Maybe tomorrow evening...

On that note, so far, still no leaks. Doesn't appear to be any leaking around the windows that we resealed either. Still need to get some foam tape to re-seal the emergency swing out windows though.

Anyways... perhaps more work will get done tomorrow.

[Mr4btTahoe]

Out in the driveway pretty late last night... got a bit done though. Ordered in 4 rolls of 1" butyl tape to reinstall the gutters and to install some trim on the lower wall seams.

IMG_20171025_195230015 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

The first gutter is back up and it was a PITA to get back on. 2 strips of butyl tape overlapped in the center... and self tapping screws every 8" or so.

IMG_20171025_225928623_HDR by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

IMG_20171025_225932336 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

IMG_20171025_225945215 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

I'm going to run a bead of through the roof along the top edge of the gutter but not the bottom.. that way if any moisture does end up behind it, it can still drain instead of push its way into the wall.

I should have the other side done tonight. My buddy is coming up Saturday to start laying out the cabinets and such. More soon to come!

[Mr4btTahoe]

Good progress today.. walls are done. All windows are resealed... and the roof has been skinned (which will more then likely be covered with T&G planks in the future).

On another note... we completely changed the layout of the bus again to better suit it's intended use. It'll probably be tweaked a bit more as we go but I think we are set on this plan now.

Anyways... here are the pics from today.

IMG_20171028_160958957_HDR by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

IMG_20171028_161004743_HDR by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

IMG_20171028_161009019 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

IMG_20171028_161015366 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

More to come as we finalize the layout. I am strongly leaning towards a portable indoor shower and permanent outdoor shower to conserve space (only have 12' front to back of useable floor space).. and a permanent water closet that will be on the small side. I'm also debating on going with a portable style toilet vs one that would require a black tank... not sure there yet.

Oh well... more to come soon.

[spenceronehalf]

Oh boy, I have window envy now!

[Mr4btTahoe]

Well.. I've been dragging my feet a bit as the weather has all but gone to crap here the last couple weeks. Cold and rain for days... blah.

Anyways... went out tonight to try and get a bit done. Got a good start on the framing for the bench that will support the couch/bed. Should be solid. Under the couch, the fresh water tank and solar battery bank will be mounted.

IMG_20171108_221503986 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

And the couch/bed... another goodie saved from the truck camper.

IMG_20171108_221508380 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

Its a slick little couch that can be placed flat against the wall and still pull out without hitting. It folds out to nearly a twin sized bed. Should be plenty for the kid. I'll be having my mom reupholster it (she runs an upholstery shop... basically retired now but still does odds and ends).

I'm hoping to head out to the junkyard soon to see if I can scrounge up some decent captains chairs for the driver/passenger. Anyways.. should finish framing this up tomorrow night.

[Mr4btTahoe]

Finished framing up the couch base...

IMG_20171112_125254133 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

IMG_20171112_125304440 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

Couch isn't bolted down yet.. still need to drop the water tank in and skin it. Also anchored down the support boards for the 55 gallon drum transfer tank. Hopefully the water tank and batteries will offset the weight of the drum nicely.

IMG_20171112_130952494_HDR by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

Plenty of walking space with the couch folded up... and plenty of room for the cabinets and such. Should work out decently.

IMG_20171112_131131347 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

More to come soon hopefully.

[dopamine16]

What is the 55 gallon transfer drum going to hold.?

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by dopamine16

what is the 55 gallon transfer drum going to hold.?

.

[Mr4btTahoe]

Originally Posted by dopamine16

What is the 55 gallon transfer drum going to hold.?

Processed waste oil for fuel. Wish I had room under the body for a 50+ gallon additional tank but just don't have the space. Need the capacity for some of the trips we have in mind. It will be valved and plumbed into the filler neck of the main tank. It will be vented properly and secured to the frame via load carrying eye bolts (3k lb WLL each) and 1" nylon straps (breaking strength of over 3k lbs each).

[Mr4btTahoe]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Attachment 17275








.

lol... I'd take the cash.

[dopamine16]

Make like a bob cat & throw a tank on top. plumbing in the main filler neck so you can fill it from the outside.? i imagine bringin all that veggie oil inside would to fill would get messy.!

I think they lowerd that barrel price since when i first seen it over ten years ago in the store by maybe 1 hundred dollers. ill keep my cash but wonder who acually buys that.?

[Mr4btTahoe]

Originally Posted by dopamine16

Make like a bob cat & throw a tank on top. plumbing in the main filler neck so you can fill it from the outside.? i imagine bringin all that veggie oil inside would to fill would get messy.!

I think they lowerd that barrel price since when i first seen it over ten years ago in the store by maybe 1 hundred dollers. ill keep my cash but wonder who acually buys that.?

Someone dedicated... lol

As far as the fuel tank goes... it will have a standard fuel fill on the outside and will be vented like a standard tank, it just won't be directly plumbed to the fuel supply line. It will be valved and plumbed into the fill neck on the main tank so when fuel gets low, open the valve and fuel will transfer from the drum to the main tank. The main tank is either 40 or 50 gallon... the drum is 55. That'll give me ~100 gallons of waste motor oil on board. I'll have a small (16 gallon) cell for pump diesel fuel to start and shutdown on.

Should give me close to 1500 mile range on full tanks.

[Mr4btTahoe]

Water tank showed up and fits nicely where I wanted it to go. Just need to figure out what I want to do for the fill. I also ordered some parts for an onboard compressed air system (for tire repair.. 5 gallon tank, Viair compressor).. and the 4 row all aluminum radiator for it. Feels good to start ordering some of the bigger stuff.

Anyways... here are some tank fitment shots..
IMG_20171117_172957295 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

IMG_20171117_173006418 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

Have enough room for the pump as well.

[Mr4btTahoe]

Well.. temperature has been dropping like a rock so haven't been making much progress... but have been ordering goodies.

New all aluminum 4 row radiator showed up. Its a mammoth! Should keep the ol' girl cool no problem.

IMG_20171122_171105975 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

IMG_20171122_171121410 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

My air compressor for the on board air system showed up as well.
IMG_20171122_171359667 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

Still waiting on hoses and such to show up. I also got our toilet ordered. After doing a lot of research and debating.. we ended up going with a large portable unit so we wouldn't be tied down to areas with dumping stations. Ordered a Thetford 550e Curve which is close to standard residential height... has a 5 gallon holding tank. It'll be for emergency use and should do the trick. I'm also ordering the locking quick release base plate which anchors it to the floor.

Weather is supposed to be nice over the long weekend so hopefully I'll be able to get a bit done... got some work to do to fit the radiator. Oh well.. more to come.

[Mr4btTahoe]

Major score today!! So I've been searching for decent seats for the front and for the rear passengers. So some family members did some checking around and called up a local body shop that they do a lot of interior work for. They had a Toyota Sienna sitting in their lot that was totaled and getting ready to head to the scrap yard. They told us to come get what ever we want out of it... free.99

Came home with front and middle row buckets. One of them has a bit of dirt on it.. otherwise, mint. Driver's seat is power everything... others are all mechanical which works out great. Front passenger will fold forward a good ways.. the rear 2 fold flat. All 4 have nice flat bottoms which will make adapting to the bases I want to use easy peasy.

IMG_20171127_165551619 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

Passenger front also has a neat little fold down tray with cup holders built in...
IMG_20171127_165643132 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

IMG_20171127_165702580 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

IMG_20171127_165448255 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

Also got some parts dropped off today...

50' of CAT (Gates blue stripe) 5/8" heater hose for $35 shipped...
IMG_20171127_171049216 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

New block heater...
IMG_20171127_171259782 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

Our Thetford Curve will be here tomorrow... and by friday, the rest of the cooling system parts will be here.

Trying to sort out what to do with the entrance door on the front. The locking mechanism and handle are in the was of the front passenger seat. I've got plenty of room for installing a home style security/storm door (opening is 82x35.5... could easily frame it out to 80x32)... or just come up with a simple way of keeping the door shut while in motion that doesn't require the big bulky handle assembly that is on it now...

Ideas?

I did finally get the old radiator out... thing weighs a ton.
IMG_20171126_143304888 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

Plugged pretty good and signs of a small leak. Glad I decided to replace it now.
IMG_20171126_143329224 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

Oh... and our future bus driver. He's got a ways to go.. but he'll get there. He's one of the main reasons for this project.
IMG_20171126_150340122_HDR by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

Anyways... more to come as parts roll in.

[Mr4btTahoe]

Our plastic throne showed up. Scored it for $100 even after a $15 voucher on ebay.

IMG_20171128_175448079 by acidburn02zts, on Flickr

Is it sad that I'm excited about a crapper? Lol

Rest of the cooling system revamp parts showed up too. In a debate on if I should replace the idler and tensioner for the serpentine belt.. idler is cheap but the tensioner isn't. The weather is supposed to be decent this weekend so hopefully I can get some of the mechanical work buttoned up.

On the list for sure is to fab up a battery mount. I cant stand the factory battery configuration on these e-350 platforms (1 g65, and 1 tiny pos...). I'll be going with a pair of deka group 31s mounted on the passenger side frame. All new 2/0 main power feeds as well. I'm also having some issues with the starter. Previous owner had it "rebuilt" but the guy didn't do a very good job apparently. I'll be swapping it out for a PowerMaster Ultra series gear reduction unit. Much smaller... produces much more torque and will spin the engine over much faster... all while taking less toll on the batteries. That and its made in the US of A.

Anyways...

[Robin97396]

You're making good progress, and a crapper is important fairly often.

[Rusty]

Wow ! You have been busy. Scrounging for deals is the only way to get a build done for reasonable money.

Little guy is ready for road trip.