School Bus 101, long technical post

[FIGJAM]

You might find that any 82 truck steering box will exchange, maybe 3/4 to 2 ton.

[knowmad]

You might find that any 82 truck steering box will exchange, maybe 3/4 to 2 ton.

Thanks for the fast Answer Figgy.
We just discovered it is The Chevy/GMC B-Series.
Now to Find a Good one! A scraping we will go.

[unjonharley]

\

Buses baa,,
Pulled around one today on I-5 just south of the I-205 exchange south of Portland..

They were trying to enter I-5 on a slight grade.. It slowed them down.. That bus was loaded to the hilt.. At least 6 foot on the roof.. Coils of black tubing hanging on the left side.. There evap should work if that poor old bus can haul it's ass to BM..
Looked like big (empty) water tanks on the back roof..

This was about 2:00 this after noon.. They should be on the high desert heading to K Falls by now..

Gave em a toot and a wave.. Happy trails too..

[cullen]

Wow, I can't believe how long ago I was I posted here. Sadly I never got my bus, life and deployment got in the way. Now where I live there is no place for a schoolie. However I did pick up a 7x16 enclosed trailer yesterday and will put to use all the great info I've gotten from this thread into that.

Thanks again everyone.

[BAS]

That's better than nothing, cullen! My bus is still imaginary, unfortunately. (Darn apartment complex really isn't a good place to park and work on a bus, esp. with the tiny parking lot.) I think I might be making slow progress on my finances, but really need a higher income.

I want one of those huge, 83 kid school buses!

[unjonharley]

That's better than nothing, cullen! My bus is still imaginary, unfortunately. (Darn apartment complex really isn't a good place to park and work on a bus, esp. with the tiny parking lot.) I think I might be making slow progress on my finances, but really need a higher income.

I want one of those huge, 83 kid school buses!

How do you decontaminate one of those "fucking hippie" buses from all that kid snot Must take a lot of weed

[FIGJAM]

Like this!

[BAS]

That's better than nothing, cullen! My bus is still imaginary, unfortunately. (Darn apartment complex really isn't a good place to park and work on a bus, esp. with the tiny parking lot.) I think I might be making slow progress on my finances, but really need a higher income.

I want one of those huge, 83 kid school buses!

How do you decontaminate one of those "fucking hippie" buses from all that kid snot Must take a lot of weed

Take it to the playa-- the dust will dry all of that stuff out, then you blast it out with a leaf blower!

[BAS]

Like this!

What the--?!? Why isn't this movie in Madison, Wisconsin?!??? Something's wrong here!

[knowmad]

\

Buses baa,,
Pulled around one today on I-5 just south of the I-205 exchange south of Portland..

They were trying to enter I-5 on a slight grade.. It slowed them down.. That bus was loaded to the hilt.. At least 6 foot on the roof.. Coils of black tubing hanging on the left side.. There evap should work if that poor old bus can haul it's ass to BM..
Looked like big (empty) water tanks on the back roof..

This was about 2:00 this after noon.. They should be on the high desert heading to K Falls by now..

Gave em a toot and a wave.. Happy trails too..

Ha!
Those were not Burners My friend. Genuine Hippies, A Crew called the Fat Kids. I spoke with them last night as the left Cougar WA. they were just leaving the Rainbow gathering. The PVC and tanks were/are part of a water filtration for taping springs in the forest. They have been Cleaning up the Masses of shit left behind by the Masses of Asses. They travel the States Setting up Food kitchens, internet Services, and Laundry for free. They were headed to Cali, Shasta.

[BAS]

I just wanted to give this thread a bump, and to find out how things are going (or went) for people and their vehicles this year.

[knowmad]

betsy is still dead. (steering box)
really missed having her at burn this year....

[Turnip]

I found out my bus doesn't like hills.


It made me feel better, though, when I was behind huge RVs that looks to be in better shape that had problems too.


See, in Illinois we don't have hills. At all. Iowa is like the Rockies for people like me. Whenever I saw a steady incline my stomach fell out my butt and I automatically started to sweat. Shortly after Big Momma let her discomfort know, but still did her damndest.

I think that is why you see more shitty cars in flat states, because we can get away with having a transmission shrieking in agony for 50,000 miles.

[Freesponge]

Hills didn't agree too well with my bus, had to stop at the top and let it cool down a bit a few times. I would hit them doing 70 but would almost always have to downshift all the way to 2nd and crawl up the hill at 25. Mind you its a 40 year old bus and weighs 36k pounds so I just threw on the hazards and kept an eye on the temp gauge. Worst part was the crawl coming up to the gates, the transmission is an unsyncronized 4 speed and pushing the clutch down 1000 times took a toll on my left leg.

I was really happy I didn't have to deal with any brake fade problems with the airbrakes though. Also averaged 10 mpg doing 65-70 . The gate staff were very helpful stopping flow of over anxious traffic so I could articulate my bus in and out of the will call lot.

[tamarakay]

Elliott, I miss you. Come out and play.

[Elliot]

Hey, Tamarakay and everybody! As some of you know, I missed this year's burn, but my bus "MIllicent" is in fine shape. Still unfinished, but we have used her on a couple of good trips this year.

I'll try to "come out and play" more.

[ygmir]

:D
Hey, Tamarakay and everybody! As some of you know, I missed this year's burn, but my bus "MIllicent" is in fine shape. Still unfinished, but we have used her on a couple of good trips this year.

I'll try to "come out and play" more.

yeah, dang it Elliot, pop on in here more often.........

I'm still hoping to make it over there sometime.

[tamarakay]

Yeah for trips! We are planning a few more trips this year too. Millicent sounds like so much fun all on her own lol

[Bay Bridge Sue]

Gee, Elliot, Please??? Pretty please??!!

We missed you!!! We need a heroic figure to chronicle the exploits of 2012. It just ain't the same without you!

(and, oh yeah, the Kantina needs a peyanner for next year... giggles...)

Serious, tho... love to have you. With Fava Beans and a nice Chianti!

---smooch---
bb

[Elliot]

Hey Sue, thanks for the kind words!
I still have "St. Willard" (a piano), so let's shoot for 2012, yes.

Yes, "Millicent" the bus is a good project all by herself. She's been to four burns, and the only thing I really miss is a water heater. But if we shower in the late afternoon, we get some solar heating effect, plus cold water feels more acceptable when it is very hot out.

[MyDearFriend]

(((Elliot))) good to see you again.

[knowmad]

After a long and drawn out triage I have decided to decomission Betsy Duck.
I wanted to make an art car with her but the cost of replacing her and the cost of building the car project is just to mutch. I live year round in the bus as part of work, so I need the cash value for the scrap, to buy the replacement bus. I'll be salvaging all the RV fittings out of her and the other goodies as well to biuld in to the new one.
Does any one have any Idea (experiance) with how mutch I should be able to get Scrap wise for her?


I also have decided to look for a Thomas Built coach. my thinking is I'd salvage the windows and sutch for backups. I do however want to get a Diesel. My thinking on the Windows is to use them to make an extended height like Elliot has with Milly.

Keep yall posted. ( <---- ooops wrong thread)

[MyDearFriend]

Goodbye to your old friend Betsy, (((Knowmad)))? At least you can donate her organs, so to speak. I have no skill or knowledge to offer, but you have my best wishes.

[knowmad]

Goodbye to your old friend Betsy, (((Knowmad)))? At least you can donate her organs, so to speak. I have no skill or knowledge to offer, but you have my best wishes.

+1

but then agian you are always full of compassion. luv!

[MyDearFriend]

(((Knowmad))) I was sorry to hear that Betsy got beat up by random haters while she was waiting patiently to be disassembled.



Deep sympathy and best wishes to you.

[knowmad]

Well Elliot I rember your modification of Millicent (sp?) to make her taller.

Check this one out!

[Elliot]

That shorty must have been built strictly on a lark, or to tow a rather long trailer.

Yes, you spelled Millicent correctly. (She is named after a lady we met in BRC, driving a similar bus.) Here is the most recent shot of Millicent. The extra two feet above the windshield should be obvious.

[delle]

Bumping for accessibility.

Always one of my favourite threads -- it was getting just too darn hard to find!!!

[MyDearFriend]

Just read through this whole thing again, from the beginning... (((Eliott))) thank you. Lots of food for daydreams here.

It occurs to me to wonder, though, why Goathead's double rainbow bus is not enshrined here. I would like to see the story of how that thing came to be. I got a tour last year and was completely impressed.

[SquirrelHead]

This thread definitely fans the flames of my dreams to buy, design, and build a schoolie. I did make me cringe to figure out it would be about $2400 in gas to get from NC to BRC and back. I figure I just need to have a few travel companions and that would make the numbers work for that trip. The real problem is deciding what to put into the bus. I don't think all of the fun things will fit so I will have to trim down the list.