DL3 conversion project, fast track.

[thomasinnv]

Brought her home on Wednesday April 13 and started ripping it apart the next day. Had it mostly stripped and ready for fabrication in two days. Left side completely framed for new windows and skinned, started welding on the right side.



We have a short time to do this conversion. We need to roll by July 1st.

[Scott & Heather]

Haha awesome!! We are attempting to convert our 102C3 by September for the same reason!! Lol! Go go go!


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[CrabbyMilton]

Looks great and will be even better when done.

[buswarrior]

Excellent!

We all love pictures!!!

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[thomasinnv]

More progress. Got the wheelchair door removed and ready to start welding in framework to close the hole.

Also disabled all the lift controls and ready to yank the lift out. Anyone know where I can get a smooth side bay door to replace the lift access door?

[Scott & Heather]

Sheesh oh peesh, are you working on this thing in the middle of the desert???


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[jackhanow]

Wouldn't it be easier to get the big stuff inside before you close up the hole. Why fight getting the mattress and frige in the front door. I was contemplating getting one of those just because I figured the door would come in handy for just that part of it. Nice bus. Have fun. It's fun being in a bus that your other bus could fit inside of. Isn't it.

[jav9956]

Out of curiosity, what type of welder are you using? If you are using a generator to use it what model/wattage generator?

[thomasinnv]

jav9956 I use the little generator for the power tools.  I have a bigger generator for the welder. Scott, I am parked at my house, and yes it is in the middle of the dessert. Our power is solar and generator, and we haul in our water. We really don't mind, we are not here much anyway. Usually just a few weeks in the spring on our way north, then a few weeks in the fall on our way south.

[jav9956]

I sent you a PM, just hoping to find out a little more specific information on the set-up because I need to do something similar now to keep my project moving along. If you have the time it would help a ton to learn a little from your experience.

Thank you, awesome bus by the way!

[thomasinnv]

All the new steel is in place, all the new skin is on, contacted a body and paint guy i know and hes gonna come look at it and get ready for paint. Floor is going down tomorrow and then I will get started on interior wall layout. Boy oh boy removing the handicap lift controls and the door and framing it in was more difficult than removing the old bathroom. I always thought the bathroom was the worst part of the whole job, not anymore.



I wanted to keep the smooth side appearance and not bugger it up with rivets in the new skin, so after much research I decided to go with sika flex, which seemed to be the product of choice by many converters. I ran short and the box store here didn't have anymore so I tried another product by loktite called 'ultimate' something or other. Zero hold time, meaning it grabs instantly no bracing required. After using it on a few panels i discovered it beats sika flex hands down. The sika flex just pales in comparison, even after 24 hours I found i had to add bracing in a few places with the sika flex. The loktite stuff just grabbed and wouldn't let go. Wish I'd used it from the beginning.

[Scott & Heather]

Can you post exactly what you're using for adhesive? Loctite?? Ultimate?

Never mind I found it.

Doesn't sika make a power grab too?
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[thomasinnv]

Thats what i started out using was the sika power bond or power grab or something like that.

[thomasinnv]

Got the floor down today. Gonna hang the reflectix and start framing out walls tomorrow. It will be nice to start seeing some progress,  and start seeing something take shape inside.

[Dave5Cs]

Here it is.

http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/pg_ca_ult/overview/Loctite-Power-Grab-Ultimate-Construction-Adhesive.htm