| Author | Message | ||
| H3 (Ace)
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Don't know what happened or why but my desktop pc decided it was time to go back to work so it now works! Just when the laptop took a major dump and no longer boots up. What timing! Anyway FWIW, I have updated the pics of our H3 and you can see pics on 5 pages from purchase day to present! Constructive criticism is always welcomed... but try not to be TOO hard on me! $usan and I are learning as we go! LOL http://groups.msn.com/AceRossiMotorsports/foolsgold.msnw?Page=1 | ||
| Robert Wood (Bobwoodsocal)
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That is really nice work Ace. Wish you lived closer, I would ask you to help with mine! Your machine is beautiful. Bob | ||
| Don fairchild
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Looks good Ace, You do nice work. You and susan will injoy for years to come. Don | ||
| Jim Stewart (H3jim)
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Very nice work Ace. Its very interesting to me to see what you have done with your bus since its so similar to mine. While I have a floor plan, I have not really started on the interior, I am still struggling with jamming the utilities into small spaces. On one of the last pictures of the bedroom, I can see your table saw and your legs in the mirror. | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
I thought my monitor flipped upside down until I realized you mounted a tank on your bay ceiling! (har har) Beautiful work, man!! You done good! | ||
| H3 (Ace)
Rating: N/A |
Jim we had "A" floor plan but "A" has turned into MANY! We have found it to be easier to just buy what you want in the coach and build around it! That way it's sure to work! Biggest dilema thus far has been the bathroom. Seems they don't make 36 inch neo angle showers in kit form. Everything I have found is 38 inch. Must be everyone is getting fatter!  Tossed between building my own or going with a kit and modifying it to fit! Both would be about the same price! So far our original floor plan has worked for the most part but tweaking here and there. You better get started on the insode soon because it's like picking paint. Too many choices will only confuse you more. Pick one and paint it! Same goes with the conversion. Get started and do it. You can always change what you don't like later! Works for me! Ace | ||
| niles Rating: N/A |
Ace - quite impressive - well planned - tastefull design , superior craftsmanship and finish - you will give some newbies quite a heads up when they are looking for an example to pattern their conversion after - quite honestly , now that i have finally seen your tank installation - I find it to be a nice piece of work (and I'm being serious here Ace - no BS)- no doubt you've learned a lot from your previous conversion projects and it shows - Niles | ||
| Lynn Holbrook (Redlabel)
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Neo-angles do only come 38" or larger but you can get a 36"x36" base, walls, and doors that are square Both doors slide back for the opening. They are made by Sterling Plumbing which is a division of Kohler and available at most home centers. | ||
| Bob Oakman (Bobsbus)
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Very very nice Ace! Thanks for sharing! It is inspirational to see the classy job you are doing. It has inspired me to take more care on my bus project. I sometimes settle for "good enough", when faced with solving a problem. You just raised the "good enough" bar for me. | ||
| James Stacy (Jimstacy)
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Ace, A local Kitchen/Bath store sells cultured marble shower bases and vanity tops. When I was moaning about the 38 inch size, he asked "what size do you want?" They not only ordered by pattern and color, they could change size as well. In about a week I had a 36" neo angle base and matching vanity top. Five years ago and still looks like new. FWIW JIm Stacy | ||
| H3 (Ace)
Rating: N/A |
Ok just finished installing the ^%&$#^% neo-angle shower kit! I think I should have built my own from scratch instead even though I feel like I did anyway, but... boy have these things gotten cheap since I last bought one for our Eagle! Anyway, it's in and only thing needed to complete it is caulking! There are a couple new pics at: http://groups.msn.com/AceRossiMotorsports/foolsgold.msnw?Page=Last I finally got Susan to do something and caught her in action! Also got more wall laminating complete and purchased the china sink and brass/chrome sink fixtures (lavatory I'm told) for the bathroom. The cabinet that will hold the sink along with flat screen on opposite side in Br will be started this week and that will start to close in the bedroom. Guess I need to order some floor material to cover up the plywood too! We opted to do away with the factory plastic window trim and just box it in with more laminate. Never knew that stuff was $44.00+ a sheet. Also looked at refers and micro's. Anyone see the 10 cf refer at HD? Kind of small but looks and price are worth noting, say like $279.00 and that's a SS and black combo! Good thing about it is, it will fit thru the door very easy! Sealand toilet came in and that too was parked where it will call home. Wasn't exactly where I planned but it will work just fine, which reminds me. All the planning in the world is worth just about 2 cents. Once you get the items that you will use you will see that design changes are almost a must. Like my friend told me once. "you buy the item/s and we'll build around it"! That couldn't be truer and it works without converting the bus 2,3,4,5 times! Bus and us will be in Arcadia though far from complete, we hope to have it comfortable! Hope is the KEY word! Ace & $usan | ||
| Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary)
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Really looking good Ace. I'm planning on the HD special refer too, the stainless-looking one. Gary | ||
| Robert Wood (Bobwoodsocal)
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Beauty, Ace! You inspire me. Bob | ||
| H3 (Ace)
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Monday night and took an early evening off. Today I got the bathroom vanity set in place, and bedroom door that serves two purposes roughed in. It not only closes off the bedroom from the bathroom, it closes in the floor to ceiling closet in bathroom. When the bedroom door is open which will be most of the time, the closet will be closed. When the bedroom door is closed, the closet door will be open, but by that time I'm in bed anyway and who cares if the closet is open. It's in the bathroom! I also have the sliding pocket door seperating the kitchen from bath roughed in but caused yet another design change leading into the bathroom. So far, even with the changes, it's coming along pretty good! It was too dark tonight to get pics but will get them posted Tuesday evening! Stay tuned! Ace | ||
| Niles Rating: N/A |
Ace - your my hero - keep it coming - Niles | ||
| H3 (Ace)
Rating: N/A |
Couple of new pics of things that got done since last posting. Gets dark early and pics are last to get done but I did get a couple of them posted. Started to rough in the home made pocket door. Built closet in bathroom that serves two purposes. Roughed in the vanity. Ordered the pure vinyl flooring for the kitchen and bath today. It should be here Tuesday. Picked out wallpaper but haven't got the final approval from $usan YET! Carpet for Br is in, (in the garage) but not installed! Started to dry fit some plumbing tonight but will start to do final plumbing this weekend. Purchased the 10 inch thick pillow top mattress today. Oh yea! Now we can relax while we work! More to come http://groups.msn.com/AceRossiMotorsports/foolsgold.msnw?Page=5 Don't forget, there is now a page 6 Arcadia rally is nearing fast... gotta get er done! Ace | ||
| Robert Wood (Bobwoodsocal)
Rating: N/A |
GO MAN GO! You are not wasting any time! Bob | ||
| H3 (Ace)
Rating: N/A |
Yea Bob seems like it but there is still sooo much to do! I MIGHT get the BR and bathroom done enough for it's first rally in Arcadia but trying to get kitchen and LR done too in about another 23 or so days is asking a little too much! I wish it would happen but I know better! Tonight I got off work a little late and only had time to dry fit the shower, bath sink, and kitchen sink drains into the infamous tank! So far so good I think! I still need to change out the drivers side window but just to get to Arcadia I think that might have to wait until I get home! Ace | ||
| Bob Oakman (Bobsbus)
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Ace, You're doing an incredible job and working fast. Thanks for keeping up with the photos. | ||
| Robert Wood (Bobwoodsocal)
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Heck for now use a campstove, you can do the dishes in the shower. Hell you are making good progress. I have been showing pics of your conversion progress to one of my girlfriends, now she has a better idea what mine could look like. Before she thought I was crazy, now she can't wait to take a ride! Have fun Ace, Bob | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
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Hey Ace - don't be in such a hurry that you end up rushing what appears to be a 'great job' - no sense in having to redo a hurry up job - please don't mistake this boards enthusiasm for your hard work as a demand for our 'instantaneous gratification' - its YOUR COACH - and as much as we enjoy watching your expedient conversion of your fine coach - we can wait and see it completed when YOU are ready - I will enjoy seeing it in Arcadia finished or not - NIles | ||
| H3 (Ace)
Rating: N/A |
For those that have inquired, I picked up our H3 from Arcadia just today from when we were at the rally. I left it there for Horizon to do some work and hopefully find my electrical problem that was allowing the coach to shut down and also find and fix the shifting problem. So far so good as it ran like a dream, NO lights that said check engine, or auto shut down. Turned out to be, (they think)a bad sending unit connected to the ddec that then goes to the dash water temp gauge. The old one worked but was loose inside itself which was very hard to find and locate. Changed it to be on the safe side. The shifting problem turned out to be a bad skinner valve that is connected to an electrical relay that communicates witht he auto trans. Changed it and it now shifts like brand new, UP and DOWN! What a difference that made in acceleration! It moves out now! They told me that because of this faulty valve, the motor wasn't able to produce the 475 hp it is rated at, when needed, as it seemed to always lug thru the gears. Smokes black when you nail it now, but they tell me that is normal. It soon clears out when the load lessens. Passing is NOT a problem now and confidence in this coach is once again regained. They spent about 20 hours total looking over and fixing things and said this coach was in one of the better conditions for this age that they have seen. Might just be buttering me up but what the heck! It runs good now and everything they did seems to be ok. Although thier obtaning (from Prevost) the necessary parts was a little slow, I would recommend them to anyone! Now to get back to the converting...and less sleep! Ace Ps thanks to all the people that stopped by at the rally, that took a look at our work in progress, (25% done) and chatted and shared some quality time with us. (You TOO Niles) It was definitely a plus to both Susan and I and with each and every positive comment everyone gave us, it has given us more inspiration than one can imagine to move ahead! We feel, after using it, being done right or wrong, it will work for us, as it should be! To all those that showed up without their conversion... get er' done! It doesn't really have to be done, just make it comfortable! Special thanks to Jack for hosting the event, I@n for finally getting to meet him, Ewan for letting me bend his ear, and Bob... the TV news guy! What a surprise! |