Hey y'all! Just wanted to let ya know who'll be lurking around looking for hints and tips. What do I run...?
A 1963 Grumman Kurbmaster. This old beast just finished its Grand 1st Voyage with a 1400 mile trip from Charleston SC ~> Pensacola ~> Disney's Ft Wilderness ~> back home. Hopefully the fact that my grandfather was a Greyhound driver for 30+ years will offset my choice of non-standard RV!
A few pix...
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Plans....looking for ideas on improving the dinette/sleeper area, then off to the paint shop. Luckily, the paint shop is mine...!
Welcome!!! I like the way you travel. One thing that might help us out....How many of you are there traveling? If it is just one or two of you I would ask if you really need the dinette area. We did away with ours completely and it gave us lots of extra room.
Generally, 1-3 people, depending on the destination. The big trip, I carried 4...did I mention the overall length is about 22ft? It was a tight ride! Most of the time it is 1 or 2, heading out to offroad motorcycle rides/races.
Anyways, I am looking for ideas on a removable/ folding bunk over the dinette. Getting rid of the dinette isnt an option, I need the sleeping space and one of the benches is storage for the propane tank.
OB1,
Welcome, cool rig. I see ya'll are in Charleston, SC. Have ya'll thought about joining us at Palmetto Cove (near Greenville) for Kyles Non-Rally next weekend? It will be a great place to meet fellow nuts and steal borrow some neat ideas for your rig. Jack
I know a few guys who run those as race car tow vehicles. I think one of them is totally original outside, and pretty much modern drivetrain under the hood, which can be a nice balance between funky cool and reliable power! I have a friend whose business is up-fitting vehicles like building modern ambulances, police cars, specialty vehicles. He has re-chassied a few Grumman bodies! They just don't wear out.
have fun!
Brian
I had noticed that Palmetto rally while lurking yesterday, unfortunately I am going to be riding on some private trails in Chester SC that weekend. Kind of hard to tell your 7yr old daughter you are canceling her ride weekend, ya know!
But if any of you bus nuts see an ancient bread truck rolling on I-26 or I-77 on Friday/Sunday, honk as you go by! You'd better be going by, since it tops out at about 60mph.
I passed 4 vehicles on the 1400 mile trip...!
The drivetrain isnt hampered by age. The 292 I-6 Chevy engine stayed in production until the late '80's. My engine was replaced about 30K miles back, according to the PO.
I need to find a rear end with a better ratio, one that fits my strict King of Cheap guidelines.
6.17:1 leaves a useless first gear and a less than stellar cruise speed and rpm.
Would a Dana 60 out of an old ford 1 ton or 3/4 ton work? they usually had 4.10 or 3.73 gears.
Probably not, the rear axle is rated at 5.5 tons. There doesnt seem to be a whole lot of info out there about the GM 14 bolt 10.5in diff, but I think a 4.57 gear is available and a direct interchange. anything below that needs a different carrier assy. 4.57 would be a huge improvement, might be able to use 1st gear!
Just have to find that one old school bus or truck that was geared for road use, not local deliveries. Til then, about 60mph/3Krpm will have to be my cruise speed...
Before we even ever thought of a bus we were kicking around the idea of a 1930s-40s milk delivery truck to be fixed up as a small camper/toy hauler to use to go to the dunes with the kids and grandkids. Still like the idea but since we now fulltime it would not be real practical for us now.
It has all the standard amenities; heat, AC, water heater, sink, shower, toilet, stove w/oven, 3.5KW generator, 3Kw inverter {as soon as I build the battery bank}, TV w/DVD player. Full timing would be tight, even for one person, but we did do a week with 4!
But it is the perfect camp-hauler for me, can carry 2 bikes with pulling a trailer, some place to clean up, cook a meal and sleep, generally just me, but probably will be including my daughter if and when she decides to take up racing.
My older daughter raced for 12 years, we did everything from pop up campers to tents to sleeping in the Dodge B250. Good years, hope to repeat them.
Hello Ob1,
You could use a chev. overdrive automatic like a700r4 mid-80s. If I remember correctly the 292 chev. engine had the same clutch housing as a v-8 chev. You can also lock-up the torque converter with a 12v toggle switch. Check to make sure this info. is correct before you buy transmission. Just another way to bring the rpm's down.
Hope this helps,
Glen Rice
Thanks Glen! I will have a look at that idea, getting a 700R4 should be a lot easier than some mythic differential gear.
Another option is to look for a medium duty dump truck rear axle. Some had 2 speeds & weight wouldn't be a problem . . .
Another is to add an axillary transmission - My '63 International loadstar 1800 had a 5 speed transmission - short driveshaft - 3 range transmission (underdrive/straight/overdrive) - driveshaft to rear axle.
Cool camping rig! Don't worry about being accepted around here - they tolerate me & I'm using an Airstream - or, as a scruffy yankee called it, a 'Tin Turd'. ;D
There are more rallies at The Cove -
There is one in April by the SouthEast BusNuts & a 'gathering' July 4th weekend.
Hope to see you there sometime!
Here is a link to Chevy axle specs, looks like the 700R4 may be the ticket rather than mess with the differential.
http://www.chevyc60.com/the_rear_axle_page.htm (http://www.chevyc60.com/the_rear_axle_page.htm)
I would like to get to one of these meet and greets, hopefully the dates wont clash with races and rides that I have been committed to for years.
Welcome; Welcome! You will certainly enjoy both the unit you have as well as the friends on this board!!I too ,am a ex-Greyhound driver,and was probably aquaited with your Grandfather. I worked in Charleston,S.C. Before leaving there in the Late Seventies.I have many great memories,and learned all about these ole buses!So feel free to call on me,and I will get back with you. Happy Motoring!
Bill
Bill, my grandfather drove from western NY state, seems like he retired in the late '70's...
Thanks for the welcome!