| Author |
Message |
ED_NJ (67.85.224.113)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 8:18 pm: | |
Encouragement needed, please!! Today it's 88 degrees outside (humid as ----), and I'm putting the trim pieces back on (drip & side molding). A good friend stopped by who hasn't seen the coach in a few months. He looked around and said - you haven't got much done, have you? My response was, yeah, well, I'm taking my time and doing it right. When in reality I've polished the stainless, skinned over the window openings, installed 13 new Peninsula windows, sprayed the whole inside with foam insulation, installed 1/3 of the headliner, put in a new floor, new plywood walls, new shocks, airbags and bushings, and primered the outside. But in the eyes of a non-converter, I haven't done much at all. It was really a disappointing visit, because he stopped by to see a bus converion and only saw a work in progress (not understanding all the work that had already gone into it!), which to him was "NOT MUCH!" It almost made me feel as if I'm wasting my time, because nobody but my wife, can see what I am doing. I've never asked my friends for help (yet) and I'm trying to do it myself. Maybe that's the problem, no one can see the progress except me. I'm sure you know the feeling; but this is the first time it hit me so hard. I've been busting my ---, ignoring my family, missing social events, you get the idea, to do this work which others see as "not much". Will it get better? Right now I'm not using it because I have a production unit that I will use until I get this done. As I sit, staring at the bus, with the new windows, all skinned, the trim on, even thought it's just primered, it looks like a million bucks to me. I've completely stripped this MC-9 from a road-worthy coach to a skeleton, to a reskinned, rewindowed, reinsulated, motorhome - NOT MUCH DONE. Just venting!! |
Bill Gerrie (216.185.72.14)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 9:00 pm: | |
Ed
It takes a bus nut to know the sweat and tears that go into making a converted coach. All the cut fingers, bruised knuckles, sore muscles and all the other neat things that go along with creating a masterpiece. I've had our coach for 18 years and I still change or add things. Because I want to. It's fun. It's never finished till you give the keys to the new owner. Have fun Ed. It really is a labour of love. Bill |
Lee Thornton (24.237.195.184)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 9:12 pm: | |
The fun thing about buses is that all of that effort and sweat is not totally about a finished bus, but just as much about enjoying your hobby. I just finished installing a new MSD ignition system, complete with a timing control inside the cab. After sweating and scratching my brain for 3 days, I turned the key and it ran perfectly! I've only got an old gas schoolie, but I have more fun working on it then the law allows. (The law makes me quit about midnight so she doesn't have too much trouble getting me up for work the next morning).
Anyway, don't let your satisfaction come from the un-observant sidewalk superintendents -- just enjoy a good cup of coffee and smile at all of your good work.
Lee |
ED-NJ (67.85.224.113)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 9:16 pm: | |
I never thought of it that way - until you hand the keys to the new owner. I just would have thought that my friend would have appreciated all the work it took to get this far. But I guess not being there every day, it's hard for anyone else to see how much really does go into it. I hope to others it doesn't look like a piece of garbage sitting in my driveway; that's the feeling I got today, even though I've never had that feeling before! |
Brad Steward (142.177.83.203)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2003 - 9:37 pm: | |
Hi Ed
I know exactley how you feel - We have had our MCI 5B for a year and half now and I have rebuilt the engine and tranny,new air bags and plates,new leveling valves, seals and bearings on the input shaft of the drop down box,put in new floor,generator,holding tanks,plumbing etc. you get the picture 785 hrs to date.Took her in to get a safty inspection and it wouldn't pass.How long till you finish it, doesn't look like much,even my wife's vison is waning!! We are going camping this summer however as is. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder that is you, don't loose hope - I enjoy every screw I put in !!
Brad
Ps.got any pictures -would love to see them. |
two dogs (67.30.23.86)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 8:33 am: | |
"friends".....wheeew,......... sounds like you've done a bunch....I'd like to adopt you...just keep thinking, "it's not a job, it's an adventure"...all the things that you have to "invent"..all the things that won't fit,till you figure out how to "make it fit"...this is my first conversion,but have been putting v-8 s in old cars for years,just remember: "IT'S A CARACTER BUILDING EXPERIENCE".. |
CoryDane RTSIIIL (4.17.253.59)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 9:33 am: | |
Hey, as long as you feel the project is moving ahead, they can think what ever they want. Some parts of the conversion just arent visible to the casual observer but to the converter, there have been many things completed. And you know as well as I, everything needs to be completed before you can enjoy your rolling palace on the highways of America.
I have been surprised a few times when the owner of the property where I have the bus comes around and tells me how much I have completed and how it is looking so good. HA! I havent done much visible work but he tells me all about it, makes ya feel pretty good. He likes the sound the engine makes when it runs so smoothly and has the unique diesel sound. I admit I also enjoy the diesels' "purring" sound.
So take their comments in stride, they arent being mean, they are curious and they dont see your bus enough to compare and havent seen you working in the engine compartment or under the bus or stripping the interior. They do not see the little things that must be done. They expect to see a completed bus, Ha ha, yea, me too.
Or you could take advantage of the situation and when they comment about not much being done, just tell them that they are welcome to help with the conversion, then they would see all the wonderful changes taking place.
"Imagine Your Dreams" cd |
Craig Craddock (24.127.59.100)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 1:25 pm: | |
Ed
I have been involved in many restoration projects all of my life. With my experiences I severely under estimated the amout of time and hard work it would take to do a bus conversion. When I started I knew it would be a big job. This is a serious undertaking if you are going to do it like you you have started. Like most projects in life someone with no idea of what is really going on does not have a clue of what it takes to do even a simple job. I would have to say a bus conversion doing it like you are is just about the largest single project most of us will ever undertake in our life times. I believe even building a complete house is a much simplier job. So do not listen to your friend he really can not understand the big picture, you know what you have done and it has been a lot !!! Congradulations !
Yes, there are some conversion that only a interior job has been done in a few months with no work to the rest of the bus. I can tell that you want more that that.
I find on very large project, that settiing small goals one a time and getting the satisfaction of the completion of that project one by one is what keeps he going. Someday you will have a completed coach that will give you a life time of enjoyment. Even before it is totally finished you can start enjoying it like many of us have done. For some of us when we say it is finished, well new ideas and new things come along. In some ways it may always be a work in progress.
Keep up the good work !!!
Craig C |
FAST FRED (67.75.112.6)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 4:43 pm: | |
The worst part is after a job is well done ,
it just dissapears!
In a few days , it was "always" like !
The good news is eventually all the hard work & expenses 'Dissapear".,
and your the proud ownrer of a bus camper , that to all extents has "always " been that way.
Very frustrating , but worth it
Esp when you go on a 3 4000 mile trip with NOTHING to report.
My favorite , NO task list!!!
FAST FRED |
ktrout01 (213.42.2.14)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 14, 2003 - 3:40 am: | |
Hey all ! I just wish that I were home to work on my bus. I'm still here in the Middle East where today it's 121 degrees and about 80% humidity. My unit is scheduled for a relief sometime this fall... maybe. My bus sits patiently awaiting my return.
I'm bummed.
Ktrout01
4905A |
David & Lorna Schinske (Davidschinske) (64.24.236.174)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 14, 2003 - 8:26 am: | |
At least your "friends" aren't sitting around saying (to your face) "Why don't you just buy a Winnebago?" David just laughs at them. At least you're working on yours. David is stuck working in South GA and the bus is sitting in Southwestern NC. I guess that with all the summer time that he is losing in GA, I'm gonna end up in NC for about a month working on the bus. We have got to get that thing home! |
ED-NJ (67.85.224.113)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 - 9:19 pm: | |
I just got home from a short vacation (away from the bus) and I read all the responses to my posting. I posted the message on 2 separate boards, and the responses were overwhelming as well as encouraging. Especially Ktrout01, who's in the Middle East giving me words of encouragement, when I should be thanking him for all he's done to protect our country. It's nice to know there are others who have gone through moments of disappointment like myself. But that's why I bought the bus originally - TO BE DIFFERENT - for it to be MY OWN - not a production unit that little thought goes in to. Thanks again for your kinds words of advice. It was much appreciated. Tomorrow I start on it again!! |
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