"The Italian Connection" a.k.a. "Squeezed Daily"

[skoolie_n00bie]

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!

 

[EastCoastCB]

Congrats!
I LOVE that bus, btw.
Shall we start the Florida Ward owners assaciation?

 

[skoolie_n00bie]

Thanks CB! I in for the association!

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[skoolie_n00bie]

First seat....

Gone!

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[skoolie_n00bie]

Hammer....you always need a hammer....

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[skoolie_n00bie]

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 [emoji6]

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[claydbal]

you got the dt360?

 

[skoolie_n00bie]

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!

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[EastCoastCB]

Looks like a short chunk of my bus!

 

[skoolie_n00bie]

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.... [emoji33]

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[EastCoastCB]

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.

 

[skoolie_n00bie]

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

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[EastCoastCB]

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!

 

[HolyBus]

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!

 

[EastCoastCB]

MMMMMmmmmm rivets..... :0

 

[skoolie_n00bie]

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.

 

[Dragrace-SKO]

If you paint it right, it could look very military!!!

 

[EastCoastCB]

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?

 

[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

 

[EastCoastCB]

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

Can't wait to see that!