For those of you that remember my Prevost 1998 H3-45VIP restoration job, here's the "as received" picture.
This is being done for a customer in Houston, he's planning to fulltime, we're going to put in 2 slides.
Next few replies are of it's current condition...
Paint still showing, but smooth as glass.
Engine, tranny and bus had 17k miles on it...
...
B-500 Tranny, 17k miles, back from the Dyno, all checked out
One of five crates of new Fiberglass, cost more than the bus!!!
Big job! I'll look forward to seeing the progress.
Wow, thanks for posting those picsd. I'm very interested in your progress. Keep up the posts and the good work.
Man-o-man! I saw the first pic and thought it was a joke. :o What happened to that poor bus to begin with? It looks like things are coming together nicely though.
This looks like the site to watch, good luck! It looks like your headed in the right direction.
"We're not worthy!, We're not worthy!" -Movie "Wayne's World". Wow! Please tell us the story behind that fire!
very impressive. How many manhours are you ibnto it at this point
Personally would have just replaced those expensive fiberglass panels with aluminum sheeting with 3M VHB (very high bonding) tape. Still-going to be a nice bus when done with a good modern drivetrain. Good Luck, TomC
Manhours, hmm, probably close to 1300 by now. We took 2 semi length dumpsters of debris out of it and off the frame.
As for the panels, I agree that aluminum is a good alternative but we found an OEM supplier and bought at 60% of mfr. price.
It's a HUGE project, obviously, probably another 6 months in restoring it to a shell, then on to the interior. We're planning at least 2 slides, perhaps a 3rd.
It's a 98 with 17k original miles. It was parked in a storage yard next to a semitruck that caught fire. The attendant tried to move it, but it caught fire before it could air up!
Thanks
Todd
That was a brave attendant!
wow, and 6 months yet to go till a shell. then still do the interior.
seems like alot of work...will be nice to have a low mile coach
Todd has the best package to make a do-it-your-way bus conversion with the state of the art engine and transmission with an all stainless steel frame and low mileage at a reasonable price. I do not know much you pay for it, but I am sure it is very reasonable. Of course there is a lot of work but therre is no more than converting old buses up to date for power and fuel economy and more rust resistant. It also comes with a wide stance air suspension system and perhaps it even comes with front disc brakes
If I had to start all over again, this is what I would be looking for if I could be fortunate enough to find a burned-out bus. By the way, the warped or crystalized from cold water hardened metal can be replaced. Most all metals on new state of the art coaches are using off-the-shelf tubing ... no custom formed sheet metal framing like the older MCIs and Prevosts. They use off shelf items to cut down production costs.
I admire Todd for taking on a challenging project to be able to build a beautiful coach at lowest cost and be able to enjoy it forever.
Thank you for sharing your project report with photos.
FWIW
Sojourn for Christ
Jerry
"As for the panels, I agree that aluminum is a good alternative but we found an OEM supplier and bought at 60% of mfr. price."
Todd,
Can you share who you got the fiberglass panels, doors, etc.. from. We've got a '95 that's in the same condition, maybe a little better, but not much? Just like yours it was stationary when the fire took it, only ours was self inflicted (Vantare' said it was the battery equalizer). I really don't want to pony up to Prevost to get the parts that are needed.
Jim