The Albatross

[steampunkbus]

Hello everyone! We've been reading this forum for a while, and we recently started work on our own bus. We purchased a 38' 1993 Blue Bird on Ebay which was a retired Lake Tahoe ski bus. We then brought it into Canada, and right now we are removing the seats and heaters and ski racks and getting it ready for inspection. We will be taking pictures soon and post them here, but for now we started a YouTube channel: steampunkbus

We've decided to do something unique and make it a steampunk bus,and once it's done we are going to dress to match it and travel around with our three kids. I'm not quite sure how to explain what steampunk is, but some example are that we are going to have a Victorian sofa, the finishings will be brass and copper, we'll have hanging oil lanterns along with the electric lights, and lots of wood and red velvet.

We're excited! It took a lot of work just to get it here so we are just relieved to get started.

 

[Diesel Dan]

Sounds like fun! You might check out this guy's bus for ideas: http://steampunkworkshop.com/bus1.shtml

 

[madpsalmer]

Welcome!! I'll be looking up steam punk.... LOL

 

[Redbear]

Jake's bus has got to have one of my favorite interior styles. I just wish it had higher ceilings. Jake stoops a lot in the videos.

 

[steampunkbus]

Luckily both me and my wife are short

 

[steampunkbus]

Hey,

Just a question to anyone able to answer. The speedometer, as well as a few of the other gauges are not working. What is the first step in troubleshooting something of like that? The speedometer does go up to around 5mph when its running at around 55mph if thats any help. The temp gauge, and fuel gauge are the other two not working. Those two are integrated in the main gauge cluster.

Any ideas where to start troubleshooting that would be great.

Thx.
John

 

[steampunkbus]

Here are some pictures.

 

[steampunkbus]

Some more.

 

[Eric von Kleist]

Ah...spending the day in the yard working on the bus... It's such a specialized-generalized hobby! Nice bus!

 

[cheezypsnookle]

awesome........

 

[madpsalmer]

I had a cluster issue on my International. Half the gauges didn't work. It turned out to be a ground wire under the dash. I found the issue by having my wife watch the gauges while i lightly moved and pulled on the wiring until there was movement. That's how I figured out my issue but check your speedometer cluster to see if you have an electronic or cable style speedometer. If it's electronic it could be a ground or it could be a sensor. If she has a cable I'm out of suggestions. I bet since yours is a pusher (motor in rear) its a sensor style.

 

[timbuk]

ah yes working in the mild weather in canada next to those big trees......wheres the igloos and the snowplows? welcome and have fun with your conversion! Timbuk,vanisle

 

[Seeria]

Love the blue! Pro done or ??

 

[cheezypsnookle]

Nice bus sir, we too are planning some steampunk elements into our bus with like a gypsy wagon, forest (and ships's )cabin, hearse thing going on as well. Are you going to be full timing it or vacationing? Really excited to see what you get up to, good luck!

 

[BUSBOZO]

On your instrument cluster... Is it a one piece electronic unit that has speedo on left, RPM on right and you can push a button to see all the functions? (oil, fuel etc..) Or are you gauges all seperate units on the dash?

Could you post a pic of your dash? Blue Bird had an electronic dash that had all sorts of problems and I could tell you if you have that particular cluster or not.

 

[steampunkbus]

@madpsalmer - I'll find out if its electronic or cable style this weekend. It isn't a pusher though.

@timbuk - I noticed you're on Vancouver Island... so are we. You mid island?

@seeria - The blue was professionally done by the ski hill that owned it before me. I don't know if we will be leaving it blue... it tends to stand out a bit in weird ways. On the drive up from the US I got questioned by cops 3 times although a steampunk bus might stand out as well...

@cheezypsnookle - Your bus is really similar to ours. Its gotta be almost the exact model. We're at almost the same stages too. You're a little further, but I am pretty confident I can catch up

@BUSBOZO - It is not an electronic instrument. There are no buttons. I will grab a pic when I can. My camera is away for repair.

 

[BUSBOZO]

Ok. I saw a picture of your dash setup and its not the electronic version. They look all mechanical.

 

[timbuk]

yes mid island in the qb area,20 years here,island boy almost all my life!I know what you mean when you import from the us-alot of crap! see ya around!

 

[steampunkbus]

Hey, I took apart the dash today and the speedometer is electronic. Testing it is difficult since I do not know the frequency or information on what the sending unit is supposed to be sending up to the speedo.

Does anyone here have any of the wiring information for these Blue Bird buses? I have a call in with the local dealer but haven't heard back whether or not they can get them.

 

[timbuk]

call the bus barns in nanaimo and aska mechanic there maybe pretty helpfull up here have given me lots of advice and even a few parts!