Hey Man, Why is that bus in your driveway???

[paulrobie]

And so it began, "The Conversion".. A beautiful Saturday morning, finally got all my ducks in a row non-bus wise so I can get serious about gutting this bitc*. Got the coffee, check. Got the camera, check. Got the tools.... more or less check. After reading many posts here and other places, I went out to the bus and we had a little chat. Just me and her, nothing was going to stand between us and she needed to understand that though she may have been used and abused in the past, our relationship was going to be different, special. She just needed to know that I needed to help her out on this path with a little "tough love" but, when it was all over she'd be better for it. I think she understood.



So..... the luggage racks gotta go, that appears to be the easiest place to start.. I have read many things about taking these racks out and decided that the easiest way going to be, what, take them apart as they went in? Nah, too time consuming, I wanted these suckers out ASAP. So. what I did was divide the rack into 6 equal sections, near the support posts and while they were still attached by those supports but with all but a couple of wall screws removed (I left two in at each end) I took a sawzall with a bi-metel Diablo Steel Demon blade and cut the racks through almost to the wall, (within an inch or so, see the pics). Then I went through and removed the lower bolts from the support posts allowing the racks to swag down.








Then, it was a simple matter of carefully, (as I am working alone) removing the end screws and using a controlled drop and pull away, letting the racks fall to the floor, finishing the cuts I already made and hauling the pieces out of the bus.



On to the john! Again I want to thank this board and others for going before me, so to speak. Luckily, everything came out, in the john, like it was supposed to. I knew about the hidden screws so that was the first thing to go. I knew about the strips hiding the rivits and I knew about the flanges on the floor pan so all in all it went very well.





By the way.... I have read all over the place here and other places, about how to remove those pesky rivets. Chisel, punch, grinder, cut-off blade, etc. etc. etc. Here's my two cents: Get a Irwin (or any brand) Unibit Step Drill and life will be good! This thing takes the heads off those rivets like a hot knife through butter. Punch the pin, drill the head and there ya go. This is what it looks like:



Also, got one side of the floor ducting removed, (just as nasty as the the gunk in the bathroom), and all but two of the chair rail screws out. Plan to get those "sticky" ones out today. Oh, also got the back fiberglass panel out, and the rear three ceiling panels out and the water tank. All in all a good day.

Found VERY LITTLE rust so far, just some light surface rust right behind where the water tank was located. It looks like it may have been a case of one of the water tank fittings leaking a little bit over a long time since it (the rust) more or less just brushes off and vacs up. I will get to looking at that after the demo and take care of any issues.

Here is a final shot of my work completed yesterday:



My goal today is ceiling panels, floor ducting, chair rails and if all goes well, the front fiberglass section including the window sign.. As I am on a very aggressive schedule to demo and start the conversion, (I AM taking it camping to Garner State Park on June 13th for two possibly three weeks), I will probably only update every other day but we'll see.

So, on a beautiful Sunday morning, off I go to visit my baby and give her a little more of that tough love she so needs... wish me luck!

I am not affiliated or profit from any of the brand names mentioned here in this post and are not meant to be an advertisement.

[robertglines1]

suggestion: pressure wash floor and everything. Try to miss electrical! get gunk out it is allot nicer to build on clean surfaces. wash out toilet hole or front door.  I use Odor Ban   a disinfecting and deodorising cleaner.   Just my way

[Singing Land Cruiser]

I showed Christi your pics, Wow we had a flashback of when we started our 102a3. We are about ready to re-do our bedroom and add slides. Good luck and don't stop. All the Best, M&C

[travelingfools]

Your pics certainly bring back memories... some good, some bad..lol. Luckily we didnt have a bathroom to deal with though..Keep the pics coming !

[Van]

Great Pics, and great memories (I can't believe I just said that ) thanks!
Glad every thing came out alright (snicker! ) in the Lavatory

  More destruction Pictures
         PLEEEZ!
           Van

[TomC]

Sounds like you want to do a quick conversion.  I was not in a hurry, so once the inside was completely stripped to the metal, I wire brushed and painted the metal with Rustoleum heavy rust primer.  Then screwed 1x2 fir strips running 90 degrees to the metal supports, and had insulation sprayed in.  That gives me 1.25" of insulation.  And with blocking off the windows that are not going to be used, the insulation is so good, I can be driving in 108 degree weather (hottest I've been in) and the inside is a comfortable 75 with just two of the roof top A/C's running (I have three, but then my wife has to wear a sweater).  Good Luck, TomC

[Seville]

Wow! That's alot of progress for one day! Especially working by yourself ! Very impressive.
Great work!

[jmblake]

Yes, Very impressive for one day work, keep up the good work and don't get burned out, depending on your extent of conversion you have a lot of work ahead of you. There is always hidden things that slow you down, believe me I know if it can happen it happened to me. Keep up the good work and keep the pictures coming. Jason

[MEverard]

The Demolition can be the easiest part. Tearing things apart is fun. Don't get in too big a hurry and leave out something just for the sake of time. I hope all goes well, but even the best laid plans are flawed sometimes. If there is anything you might want to incorporate into the future conversion, make an allowance now.

Good Luck
Mike

[Stormcloud]

Your photos bring back memories.........mostly good, a couple painful ( and I have scars to prove it! ).

Most of all, be careful!

Mark

[JackConrad]

Your photos bring back memories.........mostly good, a couple painful ( and I have scars to prove it! ).
Mark

just remember....Chicks Dig Scars!!!    Jack

[happycamperbrat]

Your photos bring back memories.........mostly good, a couple painful ( and I have scars to prove it! ).
Mark

just remember....Chicks Dig Scars!!!    Jack

haha!! I got a couple slices on my hand yesterday and I didnt dig it..... 

[Stormcloud]

I think Jack meant chicks dig scars...on someone else!

[Kwajdiver]

Makes me want to take something apart, but wait, I know, I would have to rebuild it.

Bill