My Motorhome build......

morefire · February 02, 2011, 10:57:59 AM

Hey there fellow bus Nutz, just thought I would share a few pic's of a Bluebird coach that I am working on.
I have a thread going over on the Bluebird Wanderloge forums, but thought you guys could appreciate it as well.

It's a Brand new 2009 Bluebird 40' coach that was incomplete at the factory when they shut down. It has a Cat C13 with an Alisson B500.
It has changed hands a couple times before me, so some of you might have seen it before..... but it's my project now, and here is what i have had done so far.

This is what it looked like when I first got it. Just had some aluminum riveted on to the side to close it up.

I have a really good guy doing all the body Fab work for me, and he has been doing an awesome job.

And here is now it looks today.

What do you think?

Zeroclearance · February 02, 2011, 11:04:29 AM

Nice job.. I seen the auctions when various engines and shells came up for sale.

Did you have any issues getting it into Canada?

New bus, new garage.. Happy life..

boxcarOkie · February 02, 2011, 11:09:50 AM

Taking the time to document it as you go along is good thinking. It looks like you have everything well in hand and are well on your way to a successful conversion. Nice work.

BCO

luvrbus · February 02, 2011, 12:00:45 PM

I have a friend that bought one of those just to get the engine, transmission and etc installed the C-13 in his Eagle to rid himself of the series 50 and B400 rest of it has been sold for scrap but he still has a lot of under carriage parts and other parts no body parts his was just the frame let me know if you need any

good luck

Sidey44 · February 02, 2011, 12:53:01 PM

Excellent pics
In one of the pics (7th from bottom) what sort of panel is that?
Im about to start reskinning mine thru the old window line.

morefire · February 02, 2011, 01:01:09 PM

Quote from: luvrbus on February 02, 2011, 12:00:45 PM
I have a friend that bought one of those just to get the engine, transmission and etc installed the C-13 in his Eagle to rid himself of the series 50 and B400 rest of it has been sold for scrap but he still has a lot of under carriage parts and other parts no body parts his was just the frame let me know if you need any

good luck

who was that? BTW, any pic's of that project?

morefire · February 02, 2011, 01:02:28 PM

Quote from: Sidey44 on February 02, 2011, 12:53:01 PM
Excellent pics
In one of the pics (7th from bottom) what sort of panel is that?
Im about to start reskinning mine thru the old window line.

7th pic down is still the OEM skin, but further down where it looks white, is the Fiberglass skins that was installed and glue on with Sikaflex

luvrbus · February 02, 2011, 01:12:06 PM

It was David Gonies of Texas a Cat dealer in Las Vegas did the install it was just the frame but was driveable I backed it off the lowboy and then loaded it to go to Cashmans in Vegas he got a buy for a new engine and transmission little over 30 grand

good luck

TomC · February 02, 2011, 04:32:46 PM

David-excellent job so far! I just hope the C13 won't be giving you the same problems as the rest of the users of the 2007-2009 Caterpillar engines. The engines don't like to regenerate the DPF, so it shuts you down on the side of the highway. This is the main reason Caterpillar got out of the over the road engine business and is now emersed in dozens of law suits because their engines are not able to regenerate.

Caterpillar had catalytic converters from 2002 till 2007-which worked well. Then when everyone else went to catalytic converters, Caterpillar eliminated theirs in favor of having a combustion chamber right after the big turbocharger to create heat for regenerating the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). While this system worked perfectly well on the test stand at Caterpillar, get it in a truck or bus rocking and rolling down the hill and the flame wouldn't keep lit. Hence, the problems with regenerating. You can tell if you have one of these engines-just look at where the exhaust pipe comes out of the turbocharger and you should see a bump in the pipe with fuel lines going to it and a spark plug on the top side. Also, from the DPF, you should see a second smaller pipe coming back to the engine-this is the clean EGR return pipe (which was a good idea). If you don't have any of these-consider yourself lucky. Good Luck, TomC

morefire · February 02, 2011, 04:43:33 PM

Quote from: TomC on February 02, 2011, 04:32:46 PM
David-excellent job so far! I just hope the C13 won't be giving you the same problems as the rest of the users of the 2007-2009 Caterpillar engines. The engines don't like to regenerate the DPF, so it shuts you down on the side of the highway. This is the main reason Caterpillar got out of the over the road engine business and is now emersed in dozens of law suits because their engines are not able to regenerate.

Caterpillar had catalytic converters from 2002 till 2007-which worked well. Then when everyone else went to catalytic converters, Caterpillar eliminated theirs in favor of having a combustion chamber right after the big turbocharger to create heat for regenerating the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). While this system worked perfectly well on the test stand at Caterpillar, get it in a truck or bus rocking and rolling down the hill and the flame wouldn't keep lit. Hence, the problems with regenerating. You can tell if you have one of these engines-just look at where the exhaust pipe comes out of the turbocharger and you should see a bump in the pipe with fuel lines going to it and a spark plug on the top side. Also, from the DPF, you should see a second smaller pipe coming back to the engine-this is the clean EGR return pipe (which was a good idea). If you don't have any of these-consider yourself lucky. Good Luck, TomC

Hey Tom, yeah I know all about these engines. This engine has all the latest updates from Caterpillar that's supposed to fix the problems. It does have the DPF, but it will be removed and reprogramed, and I will run a regular muffler on it. I am also having them put the Motorhome setting for 525HP in it. It's going to cost a bit, but it will be worth it.

TomC · February 04, 2011, 07:28:11 AM

Excellent choice! Good Luck, TomC

rv_safetyman · February 04, 2011, 07:45:30 AM

David, great pictures - thanks for sharing.

Curiosity question: How will the unit be titled? Will it have to be titled as a salvage unit? Bluebird?

Sounds like a great project!!!

Jim

luvrbus · February 04, 2011, 08:35:51 AM

Jim, one reason the other David parted out his BB was he could not get Origin of Manufacture title some had those I understand but we could never get one for his btw he loves his C-13 set at 525 hp fuel mileage is not that great around 7 but he likes it.
Cashmans did a good job on the install cost him around 10 grand but has a new engine warranty with them doing the work

good luck

Highway Yacht · February 04, 2011, 09:43:32 AM

David... Looks great so far!!!! Nothing like having a nice building big enough for such a big project.

Jimmy