A few things I can’t identify on my Skoolie.

[meyermobile]

Well, it’s another warm day in PA and I’m under the bus today. There are a few rusted boxes to remove from underneath. One down... The second is a little more complicated.

It has fuel lines, coolant lines (bypassed before I got it, and electric lines. Need a little help here before I drop this thing out and start cutting ;-)

1989 Thomas GMC 60 military bus in progress.

I’ll be posting again with some more coolant components I can’t identify. I guess one issue per post. Thanks for any light you can put on this thing.

First picture is from the back (fuel on the right [at least what the tubes say], electric on the right), second picture is the bottom. The third picture is the side where the coolant is coming in and out.

 

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

For everything going into that box it has to have an access door to work on everything.
Show us some pics of the inside of the box.
On your other post I can answer either but I would clean it up and look for numbers cast into/onto the body or there should be a steel tag on it somewhere?
The military does some strange stuff sometimes but hiding/erasing part numbers wasn't one of them unless you bought there super secret technology nuclear bus or something?
Wish I could help more?
Will climb under my 86 b700 and look but so far I haven't seen that piece.

 

[meyermobile]

Hey Jolly!

I didn’t mention this before but this box is completely welded shut. The box was then welded on some brackets onto the main frame. I’ll take a look around and see if there are some bolts that maybe I could grind off and find an access door. I appreciate your input!

I’ll let you know if I find any secret technology

 

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

I would definitely be cutting an access door into.
One to see what it is all about and two is to have access for when not if there is a problem.
Preferably from the side panel?
That looks like my battery box which has a hinged access door.
I am curious so when you get into it and figure out the other thingy please let us know
Welded shut for something with so many working items in and out doesn't JIVE for any vehicle military or other wise? It could be bolted up to the frame and not knowing how heavy it is I would put a board and jack under it to drop it if that's your approach you use?
Do you have physical/visual access to your batteries?
The other cylinder piece you show pictures of the 3/4"-1" hoses and fitting onto and off of the top but what other lines are connected to it or at least a pic of the other ports that were supposed to have lines connected?
The purpose of that question is that I think it was BlackJohn referenced a heat exchanger so in that aspect a heat exchanger will use 4 pipes/tubes.
I don't understand using the coolant to heat the fuel idea because the engine has to start and warm up to temp before its any good?
For a heat exchanger example in that aspect.
The fuel is pushed into and out of a coil that is inside the cylinder thing buy a pump and the coolant is pushed hottest in and a little cooler out back to the radiator.
The idea of a heat exchanger is that even though in the same shell using your picture as example if you have four different pipes then you could have an exchanger that is heating the tranny fluid buy the tranny being pumped through the HEX coil inside the shell and the coolant being pumped around it to keep it warm.
Just a thought?
Good luck

 

[meyermobile]

Hey Jolly,
I’m going to scope it on Friday.

There are two coolant lines running to it. Both cut before I got it. Also has those fuel lines and electric going to it.

I’ll post when I get those pics.

 

[meyermobile]

Hello Jolly,

I forgot to answer your other questions. Yes, it has a double set of batteries up behind the driver seat down low. This box you’re looking at is near the rear bumper.

To make sure you have the aspect correct. The first picture showing the gas lines on the left and the electric lines on the right. The third picture the whole you see is the same hole on the first picture on the left-hand side. Just closer and from a little different angle so you can see the coolant lines that come in from the side. The top is blank, the bottom has that rusted rusted hole.

As far as the weight it’s not real heavy, maybe 50 pounds? There’s only one bolt holding it and I’m able to shift it around.

 

[jazty]

Could it be a Webasto style coolant heater? Weird that there wouldn't be an access hatch, though, since they need occasional maintenance...

 

[meyermobile]

I'm going to investigate this when my camera arrives tomorrow. Very curious indeed. BTW, the black wire going in is actually multiple wires, not just a ground. Hmmm.

 

[Rusty-SKO]

I'm going to investigate this when my camera arrives tomorrow. Very curious indeed. BTW, the black wire going in is actually multiple wires, not just a ground. Hmmm.

It's Jimmy Hoffa.

 

[meyermobile]

That would be interesting!

 

[meyermobile]

Advanced pictures... no Jimmy Hoffa, dang!

Update. I got my probe in the mail to take interior pictures. I drew a rough diagram, then pictures. Keep in mind the coolant lines were cut some time ago.

Those are two small diesel lines that run 30ft to top of the diesel tank.

The electric line has about 6 wires in it. I think it runs the motor.

From the bottom, the rust hole looks like it goes into the tank in the metal box.

Questions I have.

Why would there be diesel lines running 30 feet to warm up? They are insulated the whole way.

Antifreeze lines bypassed due to compromise?

Any clues to those with more experience?

Thanks!

 

[meyermobile]

Pics from the bottom and side

Ok, pics through the rust hole and the front facing panel. No access door to be found!

 

[Tango-SKO]

Pandora's Box?

 

[Robin97396]

If it looks like a small heat exchanger with the fuel lines running through it, perhaps that cycled fuel from the tank specifically to warm the tank.

Where was the bus from originally?

In Korea in the winter we could scoop a big handful of diesel fuel like a handful of grease. I can see the use for fuel warming in the tank in certain colder areas. You won't find me in those areas in the winter.

 

[Rusty-SKO]

My guess is Arctic Kit.

Your best bet is go over to Steel Soldiers and join/ask. There is a guy who will run your VIN and tell where your vehicle was stationed. Pretty cool, historically.


Either that or it was the Fleetwood Bounder prototype for Breaking Bad.

 

[cadillackid]

maybe it was a webasto coolant heater? used to pre-heat the coolant andfor supplementary heat
-Christopher

 

[Robin97396]

I don't think it had an exhaust, but that's a good thought.

I'm wanting something like that. If I loose my umbilical cord to the grid I'm going to be SOL. The installation instructions are loosely translated causing caution.

 

[meyermobile]

Well, I'm going to cut the fuel line back by about 30 feet and loop them together closer to the tank, cut and cap the cords an drop this tank. I'll cut it open and take pics!

 

[meyermobile]

I found out what this is... I think.

Well, I cut the box of and opened it. No access panel.

Contains a webesto heater that I believe runs off diesel fuel. The heater hearts up the coolant that heats inside the bus. I understand these things are designed for the artic and northern Canada?!

Bus was built in Quebec... So..

Here are the pics and labels. I believe the exhaust came out the bottom. So... My artist rendition seemed to be somewhat rough, but hey, it was done through a peephole.

 

[Twigg-SKO]

If that works you hit the jackpot:

https://www.webasto.com/fileadmin/w.../Data-Sheet/usa-heavy-duty-datasheet-2020.pdf