The Bus...

The new bus construction was started last weekend. It didn't exactly go as planned, but ultimately we got it going and some work completed.

It felt like the thing just didn't wanted to go to the salvage yard! Fought us every step of the way it seemed like. Of course it didn't help that I had let the thing sit for about a year and never fired it up.

So, what happened...

Got it started after hooking up a jump box and an extra battery. That wasn't too bad and it actually fired up and ran ok. Cold blooded, but not bad.

Once it was running, tried to drop it into gear and the shifter wouldn't move. Great... WTF is wrong with this thing. Buzzer was going off too for the brakes. So, we start to diagnose and see what's up.

Find the power steering fluid is basically non-existent. The brakes on this bus use a booster off the power steering pump instead of vacumn. Trip to Autozone for some parts, fluid and actually had the brake booster working. Test the brakes and it immediately blows a steel brakeline that runs to the back of the bus. Of course it's in the worst possible spot, so we clamp it off with some vise grips.

Now remember... all this is happening in the storage lot because we still can't get the thing in gear and now it has no brakes. Once it's clamped, guess what? It breaks in another spot further up the line. So, break the line off and clamp it again. Finally got it to more or less stop leaking. Of course under the bus is now douched in flammable brake fluid... including a good chunk of the exhaust system. Luckily I planned for this and bought 3 cans of non-flammable brake clean. I'm sure the storage lot loved the quart of brake fluid on the asphalt though.

On to the trans. Pull the cable off the trans and the lever on the trans moves. Get inside and basically force the shifter to move while it's unhooked from the trans. Cable ended up being froze up and this actually freed the cable. Hooked it back up and now we have some motion... but still no brakes.

So, I decide that I'm going to drive the thing anyway. I mean, the parking brake still worked and the thing almost stops itself in first gear anyway. Hope in, fire it up (at this point I had also replaced the battery) and away we go. Dad following behind and me driving the bus with no brakes, no plate, no insurance and still titled in the name of the school that I bought it from. Really sounds safe and somehow I'm sure I would be filing for bankruptcy if I hit somebody.

Actually, it went uneventful back to the house. No panic stops needed... thankfully because there is no way in hell that thing would have stopped in a hurry.

More or less after that is was a giant PIA getting the line fixed. Ended up getting it sorted and running a new hardline. Several trips to the parts store were involved and it would be nice if the dumbasses actually would stock the shelves with some standard parts. We had to use Autozone and Murray's to get all the stuff.

I'll post up some pics of the bus in it's current state this weekend. Here's how the new paint scheme is going to look...






Went for a classic WWII Bomber theme. It'll be cheap and easy to paint since it's a flat color. Girl and the rest of the graphics can be done in vinyl.

Plans for the inside of the bus...

Bench seating and stripping all existing seats out
2 - Booths with tables
2 - 24 " HD monitors
PC that will run video/audio/TV Tuner
Speakers
Replace ceiling lights with switchable 12 volt lights
Small counters in rear with a bar sink and small fridge
2500 watt inverter and a deep cycle marine battery
Wired for 120 volt (few plugs and extra lights)
Shore hookup out of an RV when I can get juice
5% window tint on the sides

If there is anything left in the budget... Roof mounted air

This should be a good start and end up with a very usable party bus, tailgate machine and even something to use for track weekends.

We'll see how it goes...