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Old 12-06-2019, 04:22 PM   #21
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 1,349
Year: 1990
Coachwork: Thomas 4 window w/lift
Chassis: G30~Chevy cutaway
Engine: 5.7/350 Chevy Vortec
Rated Cap: Just me and my "stuff"?
Anything can be done in vehicle modification/creation with enough Benjamins. It's getting the best bang for your buck without having to completely re-engineer a bus to accomplish your ultimate goal, that you're likely searching for.

As a further idea, a gas powered car/truck V6 or V8 drivetrain could be used if space is needed but it sounds like the bus in dialog might still be utilizing the original bus drivetrain?

Anyhoo, good luck in your pursuit, and post build pics if you actually get into such a project...

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Old 12-07-2019, 06:23 AM   #22
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Join Date: May 2009
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Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
im all about custom builds like this.. ive built my fair share of custom cars over the years.. and my red-bus is my Custom of my bus world.. while ive kept the body and chassis the same.. my trans / electronic upgrades.. the glass-cockpit im building for it, etc.. when I go to car cruise-ins. I typically walk past alot of the 57 chevies and 69 Camaros to see that unusual crazy-ass build someone has come up with out of an unsuspecting grocery-getter or old fire-truck..



-Christopher
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Old 12-07-2019, 12:52 PM   #23
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Join Date: Dec 2019
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Year: 1776
Coachwork: Merican Made
Engine: George Washington
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
im all about custom builds like this.. ive built my fair share of custom cars over the years.. and my red-bus is my Custom of my bus world.. while ive kept the body and chassis the same.. my trans / electronic upgrades.. the glass-cockpit im building for it, etc.. when I go to car cruise-ins. I typically walk past alot of the 57 chevies and 69 Camaros to see that unusual crazy-ass build someone has come up with out of an unsuspecting grocery-getter or old fire-truck..



-Christopher
In your eyes, what have some of the more unique and coolest crazy-ass builds that you have come across?
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Old 12-07-2019, 03:24 PM   #24
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
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Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
some of the Cool stuff ive seen..



a 1970s kenworth Long-hood Cab remounted to a Chevy 1 ton truck chassis.. and made into a custom pickup.


a fully functional Smart car with a Built 275 HP Hayabusa engine in it and everything worked.. dash, A/C, stereo.


an Airplane fuselage (3 wheeled) on a modern and hidden drivetrin.. no wings for obvious reasons. but rear wheels looked like close-in landing gear.. plane was fully street legal as a custom vehicle.. (limo)..


a Shorty Superior GMC school bus cut down to 2 windows and turned into a fully functional and used-every-day tow-truck (not a roll back).. they had custom'd in a detroit 6V71 2 cycle engine.. 7 speed stick.. complete with rockin Stereo.. Air-seats for driver and all passengers ... dash and Rear A/C..



and of course every variation of engine / drivetrain swap in numerous hotrods streetrods.. the Built 500cid Cadillac engine in a T-bucket was a realy hoot to drive!.. that thing was insanely torquey and squirly but fun as hell.. that guy still drive that thing all over ohio as far as i know..



School busses at Car shows - in non-Camper form really bring attention.. all the little kids (and their parents) seem to love them..



while bus conversions are by far the most popular use of old busses.. there are gatherings for people into Seated-busses as well... evansville indiana in 2017 was a huge bus gathering.. everything from original greyhound scenicruisers to perfectly restored school busses to converted Prevosts was there.. id say 80-90% seated busses.. we had close to 100 busses at that gathering...


regional gatherings exist all the time for custom and original busses.. a good friend of mine held one at his property this summer where we had close to 20 busses.. a few of us caravanned from indiana to the gathering in western wisconsin..



what an awesome fun time these busses are.. I drive my red one around like its my daily driver.. I typically log more miles on my busses each year than i do on my regular car or truck...

-Christopher
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Old 12-07-2019, 04:15 PM   #25
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Join Date: May 2018
Location: topeka kansas
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Year: 1954
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Chassis: old f500- new 2005 f-450
Engine: cummins 12 valve
Rated Cap: 20? five rows of 4?
drive shaft..

umm I have seen this a couple of times now.... used in for f550 f450 use a 4wd truck set up...... use only the front axle as a driven axle. the rear axle can then be an air ride tag axle, an when that is done, the floor can be lowered because the frame rails can be widened or lowered. drive shaft angles are then kept normal an stock...... with a divorce transfer case, a tag axle and driven front axle I think you have room for fuel tank between the frame rails, wont be a cheap set up, but can be done, an a front drive should do decent off road too.

william
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Old 12-11-2019, 06:21 PM   #26
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Chassis: G30 Bluebird Microbird, E350 Shuttle Bus
Engine: 1995 Chevrolet 350, 1992 Ford 460
If it was economy and reliability I was looking for I’d consider using the Isuzu 4BT1-t turbo diesel. It’s used in a lot of conversions. I wonder if a entire Isuzu NPR chassis could be used.
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Old 12-11-2019, 07:06 PM   #27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by magnakansas View Post
umm I have seen this a couple of times now.... used in for f550 f450 use a 4wd truck set up...... use only the front axle as a driven axle. the rear axle can then be an air ride tag axle, an when that is done, the floor can be lowered because the frame rails can be widened or lowered. drive shaft angles are then kept normal an stock...... with a divorce transfer case, a tag axle and driven front axle I think you have room for fuel tank between the frame rails, wont be a cheap set up, but can be done, an a front drive should do decent off road too.

william



Thats a cool idea
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Old 12-11-2019, 07:13 PM   #28
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Chassis: International Loadstar 1700
Engine: 345 international V-8
Neat project. The International gas engines are shorter then most diesels, ones that would be in a bus that is, and would do well for a short shorty.

I have a 6-71 detroit to put in my 6 window shorty.
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Old 12-11-2019, 07:14 PM   #29
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Hey just for shats n giggles cause I'm very light on money these days how long is the timeframe for completion before the $100 would be sent out?
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Old 12-11-2019, 07:19 PM   #30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BusVagabond View Post
Open to whatever would be the best and most practical power platform to deliver end results I want. Whether that be diesel, electric, or plutonium. I’m game.

No need for towing. I have my truck for that.

In order of importance. I think first and foremost would simply be a cool bus to tour around and cruise with friends in. Then would come ability to go highway speeds if possible. And finally, performance would be cool so long as it doesn’t sacrifice too much reliability or so forth.



What happened to 4x4? If all you want is something "to tour around and cruise with friends in" then take a RE, cut out everything between the engine and the drivers seat of the flat nose and marry it back together and call it done. Of course the driver is sitting in front of all of the wheels, super short wheelbase.



Years ago there was craze where guys would take 2 VW buses, cut one in front of the side door and the other behind the side door the marry the 2 short pieces and the 2 long pieces. Result : 1 limo VW bus and 1 really short VW bus. This was possible because of no driveshaft rear engine concept.
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Old 12-11-2019, 08:38 PM   #31
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: So Cal
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Year: 1935
Coachwork: Superior
Chassis: Chevy
Engine: 317 ci/tid / Isuzu
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doktari View Post
If it was economy and reliability I was looking for I’d consider using the Isuzu 4BT1-t turbo diesel. It’s used in a lot of conversions. I wonder if a entire Isuzu NPR chassis could be used.


It could indeed. The frame is straight rail and stronger than dirt. It is also mild steel so lends itself to safe cutting and pasting. The little 4 banger turbo charged motor develops 204 hp and 450 ft pounds of torque. The motor has a "B" rating over 300,000 miles--what's not to love.

How do I know all this sheet? That's what my shorty has under it.
Jack

P.S. I forgot to mention the 17 mpg on the highway thing.

.
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Old 12-12-2019, 10:24 AM   #32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ol trunt View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doktari View Post
If it was economy and reliability I was looking for I’d consider using the Isuzu 4BT1-t turbo diesel. It’s used in a lot of conversions. I wonder if a entire Isuzu NPR chassis could be used.


It could indeed. The frame is straight rail and stronger than dirt. It is also mild steel so lends itself to safe cutting and pasting. The little 4 banger turbo charged motor develops 204 hp and 450 ft pounds of torque. The motor has a "B" rating over 300,000 miles--what's not to love.

How do I know all this sheet? That's what my shorty has under it.
Jack

P.S. I forgot to mention the 17 mpg on the highway thing.

.

How do you know/find out about the hardness/softness of the frame metal?
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Old 12-12-2019, 11:25 AM   #33
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Join Date: Apr 2012
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Posts: 3,227
Year: 1935
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Chassis: Chevy
Engine: 317 ci/tid / Isuzu
In the case of my Isuzu the metallurgy of the frame was mentioned in the advertising material. You can learn a lot by going to the aftermarket body upfitters. Here is an example:
https://www.gmupfitter.com/

Jack
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Old 12-12-2019, 03:05 PM   #34
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You mentioned a transit...
How about a rear engine transit?
All the driveline is in the back.
Drill the frame to remount the steer axle
Cut n Paste the front section .
A well caged small fuel cell betwixt the front frame rails. (Ya got >60" front overhang.)
You may need counter weights in the front frame channel.
You might be able to get away with a wheelbase as short at 60 inches.
Off road capability? Nope. 4x2 axle config. Too much overhang.
OAL may end up being a bit longer than the 2 row conventional.
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Old 12-12-2019, 07:07 PM   #35
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With a wheelbase that short, you wouldn't want to make any quick steering changes. I think the handling might be a bit touchy. If it can be done, it will be quite a showpiece.
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Old 12-13-2019, 01:50 AM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kidharris View Post
cut out everything between the engine and the drivers seat

Sorry meant to say "cut out everything between the engine and the front steering axle"
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Old 12-14-2019, 08:04 AM   #37
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Click image for larger version

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This pic I found doesn’t help you on your quest, but it is cool[emoji41].
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Old 12-14-2019, 12:27 PM   #38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DaHogwartsExpress View Post
In your eyes, what have some of the more unique and coolest crazy-ass builds that you have come across?





So how are you leaning, giving up? What are you going to do?
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Old 01-11-2020, 11:27 AM   #39
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Where'd the OP go? I sure am getting thirsty.


__________________
Go away. 'Baitin.

Our Build: Mr. Beefy
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Old 01-23-2020, 04:36 AM   #40
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Year: 1999
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DaHogwartsExpress View Post
Cash offer upon failure still stands. Failure is not an option here. If you ain’t first you last. We can’t let the Soviets beat us in the Short Bus race.

In duplicate/original thread, I made references to myself wanting to go “full retard” in reference to the humorous line from the movie Tropic Thunder. The post almost immediately disappeared, which I assumed because of my use of the r word. Thus I edited and made this new thread.

And Yes, I’m as cereal as Kellogg’s. This thing is happening.

Pogo-stick eh??? I wouldn’t be opposed to grabbing a little air ever now and then. Keep the ladies on their toes and remind them every now and then that Tugz McBuckets isn’t afraid to send it ��.
Hows the project?
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