new conversion 30 footer 89 orion 1

[mikelutestanski]

Hello    Starting on a new journey.  Converting a city bus  89 orion 1- 30 footer.  this bus has the same drive package as my mci 7    .  An L10 with a B400R .  mechanical engine with a computer tranny with retarder.  A city bus so we are planning to raise the roof so that we can install another floor to cover the wheel wells. With that we can get the bay space from 22 inches to 34 inches.  This is a frame type bus so the clearance is low but very solid..
  I removed the rear AC system yesterday and opened up the back compartment to help unload all the interior parts. Seats, hand rails, windows, and wall coverings. WE will take it to the frame to see how to best raise the roof.
   This is the last one i think.     plans are fluid at the moment. WE can change if required by the bus construction. The problem for us is finding out how to plan down from 40 foot to 30 feet.  What do you eliminate...?
   AS we age our needs change so a 30 footer may help....
 
Well it keeps me out of bars and off the streets.
 
Regards and happy bussing.
    mike 
   

[robertglines1]

Was just talking about you guys. We need a winter break. Will it be done by then? You might be surprised with the extra width and not  that much less floor length--Talking about use able. It might be easier than you think. Keep us in loop so I/we can watch out for parts.  Need a list. I AM on my last one so have some extra goodies.    Bob

[TomC]

Most have both a sofa and an eating area. To go to a 30ft'r, eliminate the eating area. Also, you could put the bed sideways in the back or even make a rear slide for the bed. Make the bath as small as you can, and reduce kitchen counter top. Use an RV type refer, or one that is no more than 24" wide.

I'm think about buying a 23ft Lazy Daze class C with rear king. Big windows, but just enough for quick weekend trips where the 40ft'r would be too big to fit. Good Luck, TomC

[mikelutestanski]

Hello:    thanks for the info.
  A few notables.  the bus is 30 feet long but not quite 92 inches wide so narrower than most. WE will do a cross fit bed but not a queen, regular size if fine ; been sleeping on one for 51 years so its good enough.
  Counter top is a required item so we are fighting for every inch, I like to eat...  slideouts--NO. don't want the problems or the work to fix a leak.  sofa and eating area are not finalized as the floor space is being worked out.
     If we did not raise the roof the wheel wells are 12 and 14 inches high and cut into our plans. If I do raise the roof we have a better chance to move things around to get what we need and have an eating area.  WE will be designing spaces for multiple uses.   A 2 section bath.  one is a 32 inch shower and a separate toilet with sink with a sliding door to the  toilet section. 
   With bay space at a premium and the 8 inch beams under the main floor we have to get creative with tank design. i have some used tanks I plan on utilizing if I can modify them to fit the spaces. WE will be removing the front door and moving the rear door forward.  One of the problems with this coach is the sides are not straight but bow outward in the middle.  I believe the roof raise will start at the bottom of the windows and include a one foot section there. I will be making a new door and frame .  windows are a problem I have a few stormtite units for prevost that might work. Stormtite went out of the RV window business.  I really liked their windows.  probably have to go with peninsula if the ones I have don't work.
    I do have another 36 foot shell orion one for parts.  That bus provided the motor and tranny for my mci7 bus.I might be able to utilize some of the side panels or roof sections if I decide to straighten the sides..
   
I will post pix when available if anyone is interested..
 
Regards  mike

[Tom Y]

Mike, My bus comes in at 33'9" and I have 2feet not of great use. So 30' would be easy for us. We have a queen bed across the back. Where did the Orion come from? I had a Gillig for parts and scraped but it some bad rust.  Tom

[mikelutestanski]

Hello:     
    Both 89 buses came from shreveport,la   Sportran public trans.  After 15 years they were auctioned off. I bought the 30 footer from Randy Wilkerson in Sedalia,mo . the 36 footer I bought thru the auction service in shreveport.   Both  were bought around 2006-2008.
   The buses originally had another smaller motor but they were underpowered enough that Orion had to replace the engines with the L10,B400R combination.  Sportran had the overdrives 5th and 6th gears locked out  in the transmission computer. Randy had a guy change the program to include the gears.
    I liked the 30 footer enough to set it aside to convert later..  later is now. It also was the spare engine for my 7. I had the 7 bus engine rebuilt and added 10% more hp thru the injector pump. That one is around 310 hp.
   The 30 footer is set at 275 hp which is plenty for me.
  Back to the design;   
    Whilst working yesterday I thought about removing the sides and starting over building new straight sides . I could use 1.5 inch tubing and construct both side in sections.  When the roof is removed and suspended above; the sides can be added and the roof set back down on the new sides.  I spent most of last night thinking about how to accomplish this task with the resources I have available.  My garage beams will hold the roof up.
   So many ideas to think about... 
      Back to stripping and removing seats , handrails , sidepanels , and doors..
   Regards    and happy bussin
     mike

[bevans6]

I did twin beds in the back to cover the wheel arches - gave great access to the engine hatches, too, as a big bonus, and both of us get a big open screened window to keep cool and fresh air in.  I have a couch over one front wheel well, and a chair over the other one.

Brian

[TomC]

My transit also has wheel wells. In the front I built the sofa over the right one and the electrical cabinet over the other. In the rear I raised the bed up so the step up would be the normal floor height. In between the wheel wells I put my 130gal water tank, 2-10gal water heaters (elect), 2-water pumps, water manifolds. This also keeps the water system above floor. Good Luck, TomC

[HB of CJ]

Your smaller shorter narrower Bus Conversion sounds very cool.  Just what is needed to get into all of those smaller places that are too tight for the big conversions?  That plus the tight turning circle and you are good to go.

Consider having most everything be capable of double or even possibly triple duty?  A dinette becomes a bed becomes a couch?  A downsized galley?  Stuff that folds up out of the way?  My Crown had only 75" headroom.

How strong can a L10 be tuned up to?  Mechanical sounds good to me.  With more power you probably can go as fast as you want if the tranny will co operate to open up those overdrive gears.  Sounds like a very cool combo.