Keeping Bus Yellow Color...

[Danjo]

Originally Posted by o1marc

Earl Shieb and MAACO, admit they spend one hour prepping your vehicle, when the timer goes off, they are ready to shoot paint. Almost always an inferior job.

I know and $4K! That’s California wages though. I remember when I was a youngster and by the time I was driving age it was $49.95, any car, any color. Those paint jobs would peel in a year.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Danjo

I know and $4K! That’s California wages though. I remember when I was a youngster and by the time I was driving age it was $49.95, any car, any color. Those paint jobs would peel in a year.

Trick is to do as much of the prep as possible yourself before taking it there.

[JDSquared]

Originally Posted by Danjo

I know and $4K! That’s California wages though. I remember when I was a youngster and by the time I was driving age it was $49.95, any car, any color. Those paint jobs would peel in a year.

I remember it at 99.99in high school. Back when Cal Worthington and his dog Spot were still alive

[Sleddgracer]

I had a truck painted in one of those cheapo places - actually the paint job was pretty good, no runs, good coverage, but they lost all the chrome badges somehow

[brokedown]

I assume I'll be doing another 20/20 paint job on my new bus. Looks great from 20 feet or at 20 mph. A few gallons and a few rollers will get you there. Probably go with Rustoleum this time instead of Majic.

[junkyardroad]

Lots of big numbers being thrown about here. It doesn't have to cost that much. I'm using U-Pol high build 20-25, 1 gallon of leftover DP-90, and TCP Desert Sand satin, and expect to have about $700 into finished paint.

The hard part is the 3 months of prep.

Or you can pay $6000 for someone to do it for you

[Danjo]

Originally Posted by junkyardroad

The hard part is the 3 months of prep.

Whoa! How long is it going to take me to prep my short bus? I was kind of thinking a week. Maybe it’s better to measure in hours? How many hours per linear foot to prep?

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by o1marc

From what I've seen a paint job on car runs these days, I don't see how you could do a proper auto paint job on a bus for less than $10K.

When I said a "proper" auto paint job, I meant using quality paint products. You couldn't cover the cost of paint for a bus for $700.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by JDSquared

I remember it at 99.99in high school. Back when Cal Worthington and his dog Spot were still alive

"Go see Cal"

I also remember Earl Achieve "We'll paint any car for $49.95"

[junkyardroad]

Originally Posted by Danjo

Whoa! How long is it going to take me to prep my short bus? I was kind of thinking a week. Maybe it’s better to measure in hours? How many hours per linear foot to prep?

If there's no body work, probably 3 ten hour days to scuff it. It sucks but you can do it. A good paint job is 98% prep.

Originally Posted by o1marc

When I said a "proper" auto paint job, I meant using quality paint products. You couldn't cover the cost of paint for a bus for $700.

I agree to some extent.. I have sprayed $1000/gallon paint many times. But a school bus is not worth it to me. I wouldn't use Rustoleum, but ready mixed acrylic urethane can be had for $140 a gallon and it works.

I'm using TCP satin desert tan, 1/2 gallon of DP90, 1/2 gallon of DP70, (both leftover therefore free,) and 1gallon of UPol 20-25 high build. Plus materials is less than $700.

[TheArgobus]

Originally Posted by JDSquared

I remember it at 99.99in high school. Back when Cal Worthington and his dog Spot were still alive

You mean this Cal Worthington???


https://youtu.be/pg8-mx4KGK8?t=7


On another note, I took my 4 window shorty in to the top rated auto body shop and they quoted me $12,000! SO then I went to Home Depot and got the rustoleum performance enamel and even though it's not my ideal color, I'll take it and do it myself.

[Brad_SwiftFur]

To this end, how many would be interested if I offered bus painting at a reasonable rate? Many body shops charge such high rates because they (theoretically, at least) offer show-quality paint jobs, and I expect many of us here will be happy with 20/20 paint jobs (looks good at 20 feet or at 20 MPH) if there's a significant savings to be had.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by Brad_SwiftFur

To this end, how many would be interested if I offered bus painting at a reasonable rate? Many body shops charge such high rates because they (theoretically, at least) offer show-quality paint jobs, and I expect many of us here will be happy with 20/20 paint jobs (looks good at 20 feet or at 20 MPH) if there's a significant savings to be had.

I asked my local body shop for a quote on painting a pickup truck that I was considering buying. His response was "you can't afford to have me do it. The insurance companies pay me top dollar and keep me busy". He told me that I would have to match what the insurance companies pay for it to be worth his time.

[BarnYardCamp]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

im allowed to keep my bus yellow in ohio as a restored classic, I just cant display the words "school bus".. so those of us with all original busses up here cover up "school bus" and put "not in service" in the back and front window and never get bothered..


I see church busses that are yellow and those must pass yearly inspections..



every state is different.. check with yours..

Ohio revised code 4511.762....you can't keep it yellow.

[Brad_SwiftFur]

Most states require a repaint, some specify a non-School Bus Yellow, a few require 'no yellow at all regardless of shade'.

[ol trunt]

Brad, somewhere I got the notion that Wisconsin was a "no yellow at all" state.

Do you happen to know which states are no yellow?

Thanks, Jack

[EastCoastCB]

The auto paint store near my pot dr has some acrylic implement paint with hardener for $60 a gallon. Only in white. I may try it out.

[Brad_SwiftFur]

Originally Posted by ol trunt

Brad, somewhere I got the notion that Wisconsin was a "no yellow at all" state.

Do you happen to know which states are no yellow?

Thanks, Jack

I have not researched this for all 50 states, some others have posted snippets of various state laws regarding this. After a brief search:


Trans 300.19 Requirements to convert a school bus. The owner of every vehicle identified as a school bus by color, signs, and lights which is converted from a school bus to some other type of vehicle shall comply with the following requirements: (1) Repaint the entire vehicle to a color other than glossy yellow or any color commonly referred to as yellow.
(2) Physically remove the flashing red lights from the vehicle; the mere disconnection, covering or repainting of the flashing red lights does not comply with this requirement.
(3) Remove the stop signal arm.
(4) Remove any sign identifying the vehicle as a school bus.
(5) Remove the crossing gate.



https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/cod...trans/300/I/16

[Native]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

The auto paint store near my pot dr has some acrylic implement paint with hardener for $60 a gallon. Only in white. I may try it out.

What brand? We are using PPG AUE-300 (series) implement paint. It is tough stuff.

[Rock-N-Ruth]

Originally Posted by o1marc

Police have threatened to impound buses that are still Yellow with some of our members. Legally I believe it must be changed in evry state. Anyone know differently? Some states say it can't be NSBCY, some say it can't be any shade of yellow.

I only know for sure about New Mexico. No problem to keep it yellow here. Also they don't even mind the School Bus. Stop lights and stop sign may be present but non functional.
My daily driver is a yellow 98 international 300. Still says School Bus on the front and back. School name is removed. Has the stop sign (in OP) and the stop lenses have been changed to yellow. Checked with th MVD and the state police. I know I drove a yellow bus in Pa for many years. They made me remove the School bus logo, stop sign and red stop lenses.