Hello All Well, I finally got a look at this darlin' up close & personal. And I am very happy to say, it is in better shape than I had even hoped for! Sure, it needs a ton (or in this case ... a ton & a half, since that's the chassis she's on) of work. But it is a great little starter platform. Very little rust with only a couple of small replacement patches needed next to the front fenders and one "wrinkle" next to the entry door.
The latex house paint is peeling, but that's coming off anyway. Mechanically, it is surprisingly solid.
Recent brake rebuild, working parking brake (a big deal, actually) and a snazzy new custom, aluminum radiator.
The 1980's vintage 350 motor runs great but will be (hopefully) replaced with a Cummins 4BTAA. The 350 is a gas sucker. The original 4-speed tranny sounds good but hoping for an Allison auto with 5 speeds. And speaking of speed, as with nearly all these old hill climbers and house movers, tops is maybe 55. If the Allison gears won't bring that up enough, then a new rearend will be in order.
And BTW ... I am still in the process of looking for a reliable transport service to get it from Utah to Houston. So if anyone here has any recommendations, experience, horror stories ... please ... pass them along. That business is so BS intensive that it's as scary as it is annoying. So a personal reference will go a long ways with me.
I have just started laying out the interior as well as a couple of exterior mods. A little interior redo to outfit as a combo camper & mobile workshop. As you can see in the pix, it has already undergone some degree of conversion so I have a bit of a head-start there. Not much space to work with. But hey, not that much to build out either! If I can figure out how to do the drawings in Google Sketch, I'll post as I go.
Many thanks to everyone who makes this Board so very cool!
Howdy All-- just added a couple of images created with Google SketchUp. Great little free program for rendering in real 3D. Took a couple of days to figure out the basics but I have to say, for anyone doing an RV floorplan...this is the trick set up. And like I said, free to boot. The pix are in an album I just started for the purpose of keeping up with this conversion project. I did finally find a transporter so my Shorty should be here mid-June. Then I can finally get going in the real world instead of just "virtual".
Howdy Achip...the stove is a very nice little wood burner. Unfortunately, it will not work into the new floorplan in its' present location. I will definitely have to remove it to accommodate the bed, just hope I can find a spot for it somewhere else. Might come in handy if I ever decide to leave the Tropics and head North.
Howdy All --- I just snagged a clean YOM (year of manufacture) Texas license plate for my '46. Hoo-yah! And I only need one. It seems Texas only issued single plates during WWII to save on metal.
Still (anxiously) awaiting the arrival of my Shorty, but in the meantime, continue with planning. And besides all the books and literature I have been able to find on the 1-1/2 ton Chevy truck chassis, I have only ordered two parts so far. A repop of the front Chevy emblem (the original was heavily painted over)...and, the above mentioned license plate. Still on the hunt for a good 4BT Cummins engine and a 5 or 6 speed tranny. Good thing I'm in no rush, there is a lot to get done (and buy) before this dumplin' is ready for the road.
Given the very small interior I have to work with, I am now designing an enlarged roof-rack system and an extended rear bumper deck. Wondering if anyone has tried or built a slide-out style rear deck that can be extended when parked (?). Hey...if they can do it with whole bedrooms...why not a portable patio for enjoying Margaritas ?
Just a reminder that Memorial is about more than 75% off furniture sales.
Take a moment to remember those who paid for the freedoms you enjoy everyday in this country and say "Thank You" to those who paid full price on your behalf.
Every time I meet another Vet for the first time, I respond with "Thank you and Welcome Home". Try it. You might be surprised at how much it means to them. No matter how long it's been.
Well, it looks like I am going to have to get to work soon. My bus should be here in about a week and...I just did a deal for a running Cummins 4BTAA and Allison 545 tranny to re-power this little darlin'. Anyone in the Houston area in the market for a good running Chevy 350?
Tango, glad to see its happening. Be sure to drink plenty of liquid in this hot weather. I know once you start you will not want to stop!! I'd post the engine in the Parts for Sale in the Swap Meet. Surely someone would like to have it. Be sure to put a price on it.
My Cummins 4BTAA & Alison 545 combo arrived on Friday and I finally got a look. The tech at Diesel Specialists will do a full body scan for general condition, run it, then we are planning on a dyno check out. I want that puppy in top shape before the transplant. May flip the exhaust manifold & turbo since I have a lot more height than width under that old Chevy hood. Getting desperate to have my bus here though. Is there such a thing as a "reliable/no BS" transport service in this country?
Latest update...Finally found an owner/operator with the right gear and he is on his way to Utah to pick up my bus!!! Should be here in about a week or so. HooRah!
Well, after dealing with transport broker bozos for two months I finally found a fully insured independent who got my bus here in short order and for a lot less than the so called "Pros". Great guy by the name of Okie Newton. He works out of Texas City near Houston, but pretty much covers the country. If anyone is looking for a hauler, I'll be more than happy to pass along his contact info.
Here are a few pix of "Bringing Home Baby"...
I immediately started gutting the interior, but with the heat index here way over 110 in the shade, I didn't last too long.
Just spent the last few days gutting the interior and checking things out. Below are a few pix as the rip out continues. The only serious rust I have found was right where I expected it...around the wheel wells. But the big surprise was that this Wayne body is 100% screwed together, inside and out...no rivets! So far I've only had to grind a few, most have yielded to a hand impact driver. And the old galvanized floor is in rock-solid shape. Pretty amazing condition overall. Especially when you consider that at 65...it is old enough to qualify for Medicare!
And if anyone knows what (if any) colors were used on the Wayne body tag, I would appreciate the sharing. I want to try and restore it as well.
Tango, thanks for sharing some pics. I must congratulate you on your efforts to do a first class job. At least you have some "room" to move around in the bus!!! Thanks for keeping us posted and keep up the good work.
Thanks AChip --- I figure anything under two years on this project will qualify for "miracle" status. This old gal deserves decent treatment and given her excellent condition, she should still be going strong long after I am gone. Long live Art Deco!
Made the run out to Diesel Specialists yesterday for the first look at my FleaBay engine assembled and running. It was the old "We got good news...& we got bad news" story.
Bad news first.
The turbo is toast. Ain't no "cheap fix". Then there is the exhaust manifold...rusted away to junk and has to go (not much of a surprise since it looked that way) . Next...the idler pulley needs replacing, then there is the fuel pump solenoid that still needs testing and a few other items to go on the shopping list.
So, the good news?
The basic engine (the really expensive stuff) appears very tight and solid. Zero blow-by, no smoke and tight compression. All in all, not too bad a day.
I want to get the engine & tranny as bullet proof as possible before the install. Example: New main seals are a piece of cake (and cheap) sitting on a work stand...but a real PITA (and $$$) after it's in. I'm in no rush to get it rolling as I have the entire bus to rebuild before launching anyway.
Tore out the lower interior sheet metal and will replace it with new + insulation...been welding up a couple of hundred old screw holes in the floor and building the new entry door frame. A couple of very small angles are complicating that process. It wasn't until I was fitting some 1-1/2" square tube in place that I even noticed the angles.
Still moving ahead (slowly). Gotta' do the work that pays for the fun stuff. Have sourced a variety of items including a big ol' aluminum fuel tank, a holding tank, giant chromed brass hinges for the door, replacement body spacers, new body sheet metal panels and some other odds 'n ends. Below is a pic of one of the vintage turn signals I just got off Ebay. Way better than the aftermarket plastic hockey pucks it came with.
Howdy All --- been away for awhile (computer croaked) but just added a few more pix to the "progress" album. About ready to begin the engine & tranny transplant, which is gonna' be interesting. Trying to stuff a Cummins 4BTAA & Allison 6-speed auto into that Art Deco front end is going to be a challenge. In fact, if I can find a good custom builder in these parts, I will gladly pay for some expertise.
Edit by Peggy M :: We added the link to Tango's 1946 Chevy "Skoolie" Project in your signature line so you don't have to keep referencing it. Plus, when you post in other spots in the forums, everyone can see what you've got.
Tango, you've definitely come a long way. I don't think an engine problem will stop you know. I'm sure you will go from "can't to Can" !! I have a friend that was told he couldn't put a mercede's disel in a 71 model truck. Well, he did. He chopped and cut and welded and in a few days he drove it around the block!
Dangnabbit! I had a zero-mile, 2012 Allison 2200HS 6-speed auto lined up and a different salesman at the dealership sold it out from under me! Oh well, the Allison tech I'm, working said he found one with 100 miles on it. We'll see if this one makes it home. I really need to get started on the engine & tranny install.
Just gave away the good running 350 Chevy today to make room for the Cummins 4BT. Gave it to a friend who runs the Art Car Museum here in exchange for some labor & installation assistance. The rebuilt diesel is ready for pickup. Still waiting to hear the price on a new Allison, double overdrive, six-speed tranny. Got a feeling it's gonna be scary. Will try and post some updated pix this weekend.
Meanwhile, for anyone not familiar with the Art Car thing here in Houston...
New and slightly narrower intercooler arrived yesterday. Working out the piping is going to be interesting. Needs to be routed through the inner grill panels, into the wheel wells, then back into the engine compartment via the inner fender panels. Biggest concern is engine movement. These little Cummins "Paintshakers" are notorious for thrashing side to side on start-up & shutdown by several inches and can pull any fixed electrical, fuel or air lines loose as they do it. Even considering mounting a couple of shock absorbers to the motor to limit the movement. We'll see. The Chevy comes out this weekend...and then the fun begins.
Well Crap --- the new intercooler is actually wider than the stock set up. The angles are all wrong and won't work. Now to deal wit the dreaded "return" and get the right sized unit.
OK --- the 350 Chevy is out of the way. I just hope the hole that's left is big enough for the Cummins. Gonna' be tight, especially with the Allison six speed hanging off the back. BTW...I gave up on finding a used one and called Stewart & Stevenson to price a new one from the factory built to my specs. Guess what...the new one should actually be cheaper in the long run. By the time I bought a used (unknown) unit, had it gone through and set up to work with my two-wire motor, it would very likely have been at least a grand more! And the brand new unit will come fully tweaked from the factory set up exactly for my rig. S & S uses a computer modeling system called "iSCAAN" that analyzes tons of input (weight, drag coefficient, gearing, tire size, various road surfaces & on & on) then spits out a 17 page print out that predicts performance across the board. Even the fluid temperature at various RPM's in different gears. Best part is that my original personal calcs had indicated a need for something around 4.11 gears in the rear. Turns out my stock 5.43 gearing is perfect with the double overdrive so I won't have the ha$$le of swapping the whole rearend! Outstanding!
It will take a month to build but I still have a lot to do before I drop it in. Will get a few updated pix tomorrow.
Oh yeah...and if anyone is looking for a nice, tight original 4-speed tranny, I will be putting a note about it over in the classifieds shortly.
If you want to pitch your rolling classroom near the DC area, let us know. We are 90 minutes south ... but have family closer up. Plenty of Bolters in the Washington - Baltimore - Annapolis area.
The work you do looks awesome ... both the art and the truck! You head this way with the bus, we'll bring the gang!
Plus, we've got you and the bus in the Gallery now! HERE IT IS and it's in your signature line.
Peggy M Stovebolt HQ
Last edited by Peggy M; 10/21/202312:24 AM.
~ Peggy M 1949 Chevrolet 3804 "Charlie" - The Stovebolt Flagship In the Gallery "We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give." -- Winston Churchill
Thanks for the invite & kind words Peggy --- can't wait to get this old girl rollin' and covering ground. I teach one of my classes near Nashville and I'm talking to some folks right now about starting up another in the Catskills. You'd be right on the route and I'd love to drop in and say Howdy.
And many thanks for all the hard work that makes this such a great forum & gathering place. It has been a terrific source of both inspiration and hard to find information. Just outstanding. Can't imagine what rebuilding this rig would be like without it and the many fine folks who gather here. Thank you.
The Adventure Continues... Just discovered that my ring & pinion are NOT the 5.43 I was told they were, but rather the #@!&% 6.17. Oh great...back to the drawing board.
Dropped off several projects at the local sheetmetal shop including a big ol' odd shaped box that will go in the big ol' hole I cut in the roof. It will eventually house the A/C as well as form the base for part of the roof deck.
Put a bunch of new pix on my Flickr Album for any who've never seen a vintage school bus with a "moonroof".
Spent the last couple of days patching the wheel wells. Like a lot of older rigs, they were rusted through in a number of places. Discovered that welding fresh metal onto old, thin, nearly rusted through stuff is a bear. Dialing my mig down low helped but it was still a royal PITA trying to avoid blowouts. Hope the rest of the metal repair work goes better. There's still a lot to do.
Picked up several pieces from the sheetmetal shop and have begun installing the A/C housing in the rear of the roof. Had to reinforce all around the big hole I cut since the upper portion of the A/C box will also serve as the base for part of the roof deck and needs to be very solid. Also had a couple of window deletes fabbed and got my entry door frame skinned. Unfortunately, the welding they did on it appears to have warped it slightly out of shape so now I'll have to make some critical "adjustments". The shape is so complex (thanks to a lot of little compound curves) that it was a bear to build. The older buses don't seem to have any straight lines or right angles. As I told a friend..."I don't need an RV builder to assist me, what I need is a master ship builder builder".
