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01-26-2015, 06:39 AM
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#1
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 447
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Ward
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar 5.9 Diesel
Rated Cap: A butt-load...
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"The Italian Connection" a.k.a. "Squeezed Daily"
Hello All!
The day is finally here when I'm ready to start the conversion!
After many weeks of searching and (not so) patient waiting, we finally found our lil' bus!
Driving it home from the "dealer"....I found it at a junk yard! More on that later... 
Can you tell I'm excited?
Finally home!
That 20 minute drive must have been the funnest off all!
It was especially amuzing seeing cars getting out of the way when cutting me off, if I wouldn't slow down...i wonder why.... 
More to come!
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01-26-2015, 06:45 AM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,700
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Congrats!
I LOVE that bus, btw.
Shall we start the Florida Ward owners assaciation? 
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01-26-2015, 08:06 AM
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#3
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 447
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Ward
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar 5.9 Diesel
Rated Cap: A butt-load...
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Thanks CB! I in for the association!
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
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01-26-2015, 08:07 AM
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#4
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 447
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Ward
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar 5.9 Diesel
Rated Cap: A butt-load...
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First seat....
Gone!
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
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01-26-2015, 08:08 AM
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#5
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 447
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Ward
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar 5.9 Diesel
Rated Cap: A butt-load...
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Hammer....you always need a hammer....
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
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01-26-2015, 08:12 AM
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#6
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 447
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Ward
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar 5.9 Diesel
Rated Cap: A butt-load...
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First blood
Took me a minute to figure out...cough cough...the seats were actually bolted through...
The last 2 benches and the separator on the driver's side were a bit of a PITA, so I got a grinder+cutoff wheel 
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
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01-26-2015, 09:09 AM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: southwest lowsyana
Posts: 542
Year: 1988
Coachwork: ward
Chassis: international
Engine: dt360a
Rated Cap: 65
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you got the dt360?
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01-26-2015, 09:18 AM
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#8
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 447
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Ward
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar 5.9 Diesel
Rated Cap: A butt-load...
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You know what? Not sure.....I know the engine is navistar but haven't found the plaque to the transmission. It shifts much better than I would, I'll tell you that!
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
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01-26-2015, 09:28 AM
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#9
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,700
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Looks like a short chunk of my bus!
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01-26-2015, 10:25 AM
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#10
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 447
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Ward
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar 5.9 Diesel
Rated Cap: A butt-load...
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LOL I can't wait to finish the seats, and start on removing the interior skin! We've decided not to go with a roof raise. I'm the tallest one in the family, I'll manage.... 
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
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01-26-2015, 11:09 AM
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#11
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,700
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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I'm going to raise mine, as well.
This is pretty cool. Too bad you're so far south, we could do both at the same time.
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01-26-2015, 11:41 AM
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#12
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 447
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Ward
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar 5.9 Diesel
Rated Cap: A butt-load...
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Oh no CB, we are not raising it....I think we'll be fine. As it is I have a good 2in above my head. Remove the 1 and 3/4 inside from walls and roof (inside), then add about 1" all around... That should give us good height. I'll prob have to duck unless I'm sitting down, but I'll prob be driving or sleeping in there anyway lol
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
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01-26-2015, 11:50 AM
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#13
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,700
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Sorry, read that wrong I guess!
Yeah I see no need to raise a shorty, but having the same height I can't be ducking down for the 30+ feet of length.
If you end up needing a hand, let me know. My better half and I have become masters of rivet removal and bus demolition.
Welcome to the madness!
Even on a shortie, the rivets are a ton of work!
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01-26-2015, 12:39 PM
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#14
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 584
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: I.H.
Engine: DT360
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB
If you end up needing a hand, let me know. My better half and I have become masters of rivet removal and bus demolition.
...the rivets are a ton of work! |
Be careful what you offer. I plan to remove the bumpstrip from the outside to repair some rust. I dread the thought of all those rivets. Was thinking to grind a spot on each, then drill. Looks like 50 gazillion rivets!
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01-26-2015, 12:56 PM
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#15
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,700
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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MMMMMmmmmm rivets..... :0
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01-26-2015, 08:05 PM
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#16
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 447
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Ward
Chassis: International
Engine: Navistar 5.9 Diesel
Rated Cap: A butt-load...
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I think this is one of those projects that I want to finish on my own, but thanks for the offer! And yes, looking at all those rivets, I get a bit overwhelmed. But as many of you have always said, one small project at a time. ;)
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01-26-2015, 08:25 PM
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#17
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 23
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: E350
Engine: Ford 7.3 Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 16
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If you paint it right, it could look very military!!!
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01-26-2015, 08:33 PM
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#18
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,700
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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I can't say I relate, but I can see your line of thinking...
If ANYONE wants to help me with ANY aspect of my bus PRETTY PLEASE let me know. I'll send a ride!
Especially for this roof raise job... Starting to really look forward to that,
Looking forward to this bus YOU are building. I love the short fullsize buses. And the Wards...
What engine did you end up with?
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01-27-2015, 03:13 PM
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#19
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Stony Plain Alberta Canada
Posts: 2,937
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: 190hp 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
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I'm not a fan of short, one ton buses.
But I sure love the full size buses that short.
It reminds me of a armored bank truck. lol
eastcoastCB, your starting to sound like me. I love busting rivets with a 2.5 pound hammer and a 1 inch cold chisel, and roof raises are a blast. I'm about to reveal my method of roof raising as soon as all the pics are done uploading.
Nat
__________________
"Don't argue with stupid people. They will just drag you down to their level, and beat you up with experience."
Patently waiting for the apocalypses to level the playing field in this physiological game of life commonly known as Civilization
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01-27-2015, 04:54 PM
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#20
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,700
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nat_ster
I'm not a fan of short, one ton buses.
But I sure love the full size buses that short.
It reminds me of a armored bank truck. lol
eastcoastCB, your starting to sound like me. I love busting rivets with a 2.5 pound hammer and a 1 inch cold chisel, and roof raises are a blast. I'm about to reveal my method of roof raising as soon as all the pics are done uploading.
Nat
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Can't wait to see that!
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