The Dirtybus...

dirtygoat · 07-28-2010, 08:38 PM

Picked me up a Shorty Bus...

'93 Genesis, 30', International DT466, Allison 4sp, 97,000 miles, frame like a dump truck, automatic tire chains and a wheel chair lift...

Plan to convert into an RV/hauler...

M1031 · 07-28-2010, 08:56 PM

I see they siped the caps. Be very careful with those siped caps. They can come off easy. That's 1.8 million miles of truck driving experience talkin'. (Ask me how I know.......)

But otherwise, WELCOME!!!!!!

dirtygoat · 07-28-2010, 09:21 PM

Thanks for the heads up... Total newbie here...

Diesel Dan · 07-29-2010, 08:59 AM

I don't think I've ever seen a bus that short with a flat nose. It will be great for parking and turning radius! I was originally looking for something similar but they are rare. Welcome!

Seeria · 07-29-2010, 09:31 AM

Nice stocky bus, looks like it can go rough roading. Overall length is as much as 30'? Sure looks smaller.

Locutus · 07-29-2010, 12:14 PM

Congrats on your purchase and welcome. Good engine in your rig by all accounts. To my eyes the bus does have an unusual look to it with that short rear end behind the rear wheels and longer front end. With a front engine it seems to me that the steer wheels might be more heavily weighted than the rear wheels, at least when empty.

dirtygoat · 07-29-2010, 02:19 PM

Thanks for the welcomes guys...

I've been wanting to do a bus conversion for a while, just never got real serious about looking for one...

Went and checked out one that had the body cut in half and a deck built on the frame to haul a care on the back and decided I needed to start looking for one...

Need it to tow a car trailer with my Blazer on it... Also wanted a diesel... Didn't want something really long because of the places we go... Started talking to the previous owner of this bus about two weeks ago and finally nailed down a time to go look at it... I Think it'll be perfect for us...

Here's the Blazer...

He advertised it as a 30' bus... I measured it this morning and it's 25'... It's got 20' of usable space behind the drive seat...

He also thought it had a 266 engine...

Couple of windows are broke out, some rust at the bottom of the chair lift door and the front driver brake started locking up half way home...

I'm pretty excited about getting this out and using it...

M1031 · 07-29-2010, 02:41 PM

That's an early '70s Blazer. Ever think of putting in a 6.2L so you're diesel all the way (and get better fuel milage/torque range to boot)? Just a thought.....

dirtygoat · 07-29-2010, 03:03 PM

Yep, '79... I have a mild 350 in it that runs on propane... Nothing on it is stock any more...

Jarlaxle · 07-29-2010, 07:08 PM

Nice bus. Kinda weird to see hydraulic brakes on a Genesis.

dirtygoat · 07-29-2010, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarrenDriven

Hey Dirtygoat, where are you located? Laidlaw sounds familiar and I am curious if you are in the Portland area.

I'm in Washington, just south of Tacoma...

busdriver_phil · 08-01-2010, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarrenDriven

Hey Dirtygoat, where are you located? Laidlaw sounds familiar and I am curious if you are in the Portland area.

Laidlaw has been bought out by First Student (2007), but at one time, they were the largest school bus contractor in North America. They had over 40,000 buses across the US and Canada - I'm on the east coast and I rode Laidlaw buses in high school.

Stuff · 08-01-2010, 12:45 PM

welcome aboard!

this picture scares me!! someone care to explain it?

dirtygoat · 08-01-2010, 04:20 PM

What scares you???

Those are automatic tire chains...

Stuff · 08-01-2010, 06:07 PM

wow.. never actually seem them before. heard of them yes but wow.. how do they work? i would assume what ever the things below them are attached to would be in the way...

dirtygoat · 08-01-2010, 06:36 PM

Here's a video of how they work...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEsSCcnSoiY

This is the company that makes them... Installed $2200...

http://www.onspot.com/indhisfr.htm

I tested them and they work...

dirtygoat · 08-01-2010, 06:42 PM

OK, so I went and picked up a new grinder... Burned up the last one building the Blazer...

Now I can get on taking out the seats... The boys tried the other day and the bolts just spun... Funny listening to them with one under the bus and one inside... Yelling back and forth, "Are you sure you're on the right one???"... "Yeah, I'm sure..."

I went out and took a look at what was going on and yep, every one I tried was stripped... So, I'll just zip them off with a cut off wheel...

dirtygoat · 08-01-2010, 06:55 PM

Here's a couple things I've been tossing around in my head...

I want to skin the back 4 windows on each side... That wont be an issue, I'm pretty good with metal...

But, I want to do something about the other windows... I was thinking about rv windows, then I noticed the Chevy parts truck I have in the yard... I might cut out the back window and install it as a side window in the bus... I could cut the cab so I'll have the factory opening that I could weld onto the bus in place of the existing windows... Then I started looking at the neighbors canopy...

I could pick up a canopy for cheap the has side windows that could be used... Anyone ever do this???

Next thing is the flooring... I was considering the shop rubber mat that Harbor Freight carries... It's 24"x24" and goes together like a puzzle... 1/2" thick and has a nice shock absorbing feel... It could help with dampening road noise as well as insulate... It can be cut to any shape and would also be removable for cleaning or replacement if wore out... My brother has some in his garage on the concrete floor and it helps a lot in the winter keeping your feet from freezing like the concrete does...

dirtygoat · 08-02-2010, 05:05 AM

So, here's what I'm thinking...

Stuff · 08-02-2010, 02:29 PM

wow so thats how they work!

scored a 2200$ bonus there man!

floor plan looks good. is it to scale?

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