| Author | Message | ||
| Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
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Since I’ve been busy maintaining and vacationing in my ’06, I never had time to write up the happy ending to my half-done Fishbowl conversion quandary. The original thread where I was asking the Board whether to part it out or sell it is here: http://www.busnut.com/bbs/messages/11/10021.html Prior to that post, I was contacted by a busnut about the Fishbowl when he saw my reference to the sale on the Yahoo GMC Busnut forum. He was on the fence about using my bus as parts for his own Fishbowl conversion. His name is Paul Collyer from Saskatoon, SK, and he’s also a BNO member. After my failed eBay auction and posting of that thread on BNO, he became convinced of its value and agreed to buy it from me for my eBay reserve price. Now Paul is a real stand-up guy, and even couriered me the check over a week before he was scheduled to make the trek to Colorado from Canada. Amidst snow, freezing rain and unseasonably frigid weather, Paul made it down on May 12th to pick up the bus. I had moved it about sixty miles north and right off the Interstate to make for an easy pick-up. That is, except for the weather… Since there was no block heater in the Fishbowl, and it had sat for a few days in the 30-ish degree temps, she did not want to start that morning. We had a 100A charger on the batts, and Paul even brought in a new pair of 8Ds, for a four-batt starting bank!. Even then, we had to use the exhaust from his diesel truck, piped in though an RV sewer hose (you just can’t make this stuff up, folks) to warm the heads for almost an hour before she’d fire up. And when she did, it looked like the campground was on fire. Soon enough, Paul and the old Bowl were heading north on I-25 and that’s the last I saw them.  I did hear from Paul a few times since, and he told me he had a relatively uneventful trip back up and across the border. He can add anything to the story here, of course. I should mention that I made good on my promise to send BNO the $50 for an ad, since I believe the replies to my posts convinced Paul to purchase the bus from me. So, like usual, I have you all (and Ian) to thank. I’m now again a one-bus man, and have learned a lot from my experiences with the three busses I’ve owned in the past 18 months. It’s been an expen$ive lesson, as many are, but I’m likely a wiser person for it. We just got back from a 2,000 mile trip to the Dallas area in the ’06, and are preparing to take it to Chicago this Saturday. She’s been a great lady to me so far, and I intend to treat her right. Good old ChuckMC9 started calling me “Blue Velvet” based on the fabric prevalent in my ’06, so he thought it fitting I lose the FishBowl Brian moniker and go with it. Sounds good to me. Brian “Blue Velvet” Brown Longmont, CO USA PD4106-1175 My Bus Page My Dallas Vacation pics | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks)
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I'll bet your better half is glad that you're busomonogamous again! | ||
| PAUL COLLYER (Paso_1)
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opps Brian I forgot to share with you I'm on the witness protection program. I may have to contact two dogs for his help hiding myself. | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
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Paul: Should not be a problem. Out there where 2 dogs lives, half the population is hiding out from someone. | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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yeah...went into town the other day...& there was this guy,kept runnin' round & round the park...told him to come over where we were & we would hide him | ||
| Brian Brown (Fishbowlbrian)
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 Edited by the RCMP, WPP division. | ||
| Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
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oops | ||
| Brian Brown (Fishbowlbrian)
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 | ||
| PAUL COLLYER (Paso_1)
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The rest of the story. Yes Brian's fishbowl was a good score for conversion items. My plans from the outset was to use it as a donor. Following Brians posts on the various boards it was easily determined by me that he was a very honest guy. The bus was everthing he said it was and more. Driving it back was a real treat. 75 mph was easily reach on the flats and it cruised along very nicely. Climbing some of the grades proved to be not a problem. The trip has many funny stories that I'm sure will be remembered for years to come. Brian thought I was crazy I'm sure when I dragged out the sewer drain hose and hooked it to the exhaust of my Power stroke. But coming from the frozen north you learn many tricks in warming cold engines. Good thing I couldn't see a hub cap that I could fill with diesel and light it with a match to heat the oil pan. I was well prepared I thought for everything. The funniest story is the only question I never asked Brian was is the serial # plate still on the front panel of the bus. Heck why would somebody ask such a stupid question. Well it wasn't there. I just about threw up as Having imported / exported my share of collector vehicles I know both US customs and sometimes Canadian customs inspect the serial # plate. Most of the times the US customs are the toughest as once the vehicle leaves the States its gone. Luckily I had all the paperwork in order long before appearing at the border. I got a very stern looking older gent that went over the paperwork and stamped it and said Okay lets go out and make sure this bus is the bus you say it is. Well I just about died again. He got in the bus and was looking around and then said where's the serial # I walked to the front of the bus and said its right here pointing to where it was suppose to be. He then said "read that puppy to me" Well from memory I recited the serial # he responded " thats it" Your free to go. I drove the 60 feet to my country's inspection station and paid all the duties and taxes and then the agent says lets check the serial # plate. I responded the US customs just did that. He said I should check it as well. I said it's up under the front fender on the frame you'll need a flash lite and something to cover your uniform from the dirty tires. Well knowing our Gov't employees zest for work he bailed on the serial number inspection. ( I'm leaving one detail out brian that I told you because I enjoy my freedom and the eaze of my border crossings  ) Once I got into Canada on our roads I shook the P#ss out of the bus and it held together. well except for the small door glass that blew out One of lifes stories. | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
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Uhh - Paul - that "...one detail..." wouldn't have involved a currency 'exchange' at the border - would it? LOL - Niles | ||
| PAUL COLLYER (Paso_1)
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niles no I would have declared even more value if I didn't have to sweat over the lack of a visable serial # I still can't believe I attempted the crossing with the obvious lack of the ID plate. Must have been suffering from the disease (gethomeitis) | ||
| PlumCrazy (Mike_m)
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Paul, I'm in B.C. doing a fishbowl conversion myself. I'd like to see what you're doing with your conversion. e-mail me mike AT plumcrazy DOT ca |