| Author |
Message |
Telestar (142.59.79.109)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 3:39 pm: | |
Hi everyone. What a great place to be! I have been reading and reading. Now, I am overwhelmed to say the least. I have just aquired a GMC Transit bus 40' 6v71 detroit diesel with V730 3spd trans. Now, since I am going to convert Her I need a little help(mentally as well!) Is there a single source arround that can take me from start to finish on this project?? (I said I need mental help). If there is, coul someone enlighten me on where I can get it? (allready got info on the mental part) Non cureable! Thanks in advance. What a great site! |
jim mci-9 (209.240.205.60)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 4:47 pm: | |
first you need to figure out what you plan on doing with your conversion..... full time??... travel once a month... a year??? stay in rv parks?? boondock??.. tailgate parties???... each application has diferent needs... need a generator?/ battery bank???...how many people are going to stay in it?...after you answer some of these questions, then you'll know more about where you need to head.... |
Emery Lagace (Telestar) (142.59.79.109)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 7:02 pm: | |
Thanks Jim, This unit will be used extensively for travel and full time at a later date. I have looked at what others have done and I like it! hopefully I can find information on how about doing it right the first time. Cheers, Emery
BTW "Telestar" is the Units given name |
jim mci-9 (209.240.205.60)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 8:06 pm: | |
the transits makenice conversions.... ive got a 1954 gm 5105.... it was converted by somebody that had to be an aircraft mechanic.. the aluminum job is fantastic... the interior is not so good... so i'm tearing it all out, salvaging as much as i can, and starting over.... if your'e planning on long distance traveling, you ned to look close at the rear end ratio... i think with what you've got, you'll have a 45-50 mph bus.... i do...to get faster, you'll need different rear end gearing.... and then you'll find that the 6v71 lacks the power to get you up to speed....not trying to dissapoint you, but it'll be a great, slow way to tour....i'm also building a mci-9, that i intend to make a cross-country cruiser out of.... lots of difference in the 2.... not to mention the 27 yrs.....good luck!!!! jim |
Bill 340 (166.153.106.151)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 8:25 pm: | |
Here is a good resource Page http://n6ecv.net/bus.htm Hope this helps. Bill 340 |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell) (66.81.208.215)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 11:07 pm: | |
Emery: I would have to say that there is no single source around that can take u start to finish and I'm not so sure that that would be the best in the end anyway. There are many that could give u their best idea on what to do on just about any aspect of the conversion. Indeed, some of those ideas may well be the best, but for sure, some of their ideas would not be the best, and especially for your purposes.
I would suggest that you develop as many sources for materials and ideas as you can, consider them carefully, and select the ones that you finally conclude best serve your purposes. One of the most valuable resources that you can develop is getting to know as many people as u can that have been down that road; they've built one, or maybe several.
As an example, I live in an area that has a fairly high population of conversions; about 24 of them within a 20 mi. radius of my home and we all know each other and many of us meet on a regular basis. We exchange ideas, we discuss the latest gadget that we know of, we exchange "wisdom", we borrow specialty tools from each other, and even shop for each other for parts and accessory items; yes, even major $$ items. I'm currently well into my 2nd conversion and this local network has been invaluable. Among the group, 3 retired mechanics(1 retired from Greyhound), a retired pipe-fitter, 2 retired industrial electricians, a machinist, a retired instrument technician, a semi-retired cabinet maker, and various other retired craftsmen. This past summer there were at least a dozen of us involved in working on 5 different buses undergoing conversion or updating. Each of us has our strong area and together we come up with close to the best if not the best.
As you develop questions more specifically, throw them on here, you will most likely get several very good answers to chose from. |
Hondo Joe04 (66.74.50.33)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 11:25 pm: | |
James,
Where do you live?? I think I want to move there & join your crowd!!!!! I admire & envy you guys!
What a great thing you have. Enjoy, Joe |
Telestar (142.59.79.109)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 11:40 pm: | |
What a great site and what a wonderful group of hepfull and kind people! I would like to thank each and every one of you for your input. I will post my progress and of course if I can be of help in posting some advice relating to my skills, I will. Thanks all! |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell) (66.81.208.215)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 12:07 am: | |
Joe: Redding/Anderson, Ca. For a sparsely populated area, we have a large concentration of bus owners and all of them have done at least 1 conversion and all have done various parts of many. About the only problem is, were all members of "The over-the-hill gang". Were all so damn decrepit that it often takes 5 or 6 of us just to change a tire: But we can damn well tell u how to do it and where the tools are! |
Telestar (142.59.79.109)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 12:44 am: | |
Hi James,
I resemble that remark (over the hill) I am 61&3/4 but I'm gonna do this conversion thing! |
FAST FRED (65.154.177.31)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 5:30 am: | |
The hardest part of the conversion is being honest with your self about how much Boondockin ( remote independant camping) and how much PP (Power Pole) at a campground may be in your future,
Many folks think a bed, sink, shower and a couple of lockers make a camper.
Instead its the systems that provide heat , cold beer , cool air and juice for your Tv and toys that detirmine the sucess of the unit.
Only you can figure the desireability of creating a great boondock machine (big $$$) or a great PP camper (far fewer $$$).
FAST FRED |
Tony (64.215.196.110)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 5:39 am: | |
FF
Where are you from, I have not heard that expression since leaveing Tennessee,I was In a little place that when they first had juce It was strung on Trees Instead of telephone poles.
Tony
Instead its the systems that provide heat , cold beer , cool air and juice for your Tv and toys that detirmine the sucess of the unit. |
john w. roan (Chessie4905) (69.162.16.88)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 9:35 am: | |
Going to an RV show can be a big help. Look at all sizes as some of the short ones have some ingenious ideas. Take a tape measure, pad and pencil along. Also a camera and get lots of brochures to look at later as some of what you've seen will start to fade from memory in a few weeks or months. (or minutes in my case) Noticing the consistency of the layouts can be helpful when laying out plumbing and heating.Just remember that a lot of the models are now 102" wide, so keep this in mind. Going to a conversion get-together is extremely helpful.Also RV sales dealers if you don't use the same one a lot as you aren't going to buy one from him.When you have a general idea of what you want; make a floor plan up then draw out locations on floor of coach. If you have the energy and interest, make a full scale mockup out of cardboard (cheap). You'll be amazed how helpful this can be.If you can't do this, you might be able to find or have someone else help with this part. The more accurate you are, the better this will come out in the end as inches count in a conversion. |