NOMADICISTA

Kramden has left the building! I had our Flex Metro transit advertised for parts. I was going to scrap the carcass. A fellow called on Monday and made a reasonable offer for the whole shebang. Yesterday he left with Kramden in tow. It's the end of a ten year era. That means I can focus on the next p...

Banjo!!! They told me that was a saxophone!

Jim

Hey Jasper, You ask about progress at an interesting time in my life. For the past six months I've been doing little other than essential remodeling on the shack that passes for living quarters on the small farm we have rented in the NC mountains. It's been a monumental project involving replacing a...

Thanks, Mark, for your fine overview. Well said and helpful, especially to those who are just beginning to look. Since I have decided that our Flex Metro transit is not worth repowering, I'm parting it out and looking for a different shell. I have a place to store components, so I'll pull the conver...

This discussion has opened a flood gate of information on BNO. I've learned more about the body engineering of my Flex in one day than I had learned in the previous ten years. My opinion at this point is that I was headed in a serious wrong direction. The tee drive conversion would be fighting too m...

The current power package bolts to a removable subframe/cradle that bolts to the body. I'm currently operating on the assumption that I can fabricate a similar arrangement for the new stuff. Do you think that's not doable, Mark? If that presents an engineering impossibility, I will start over with a...

Mark, Thanks for your thoughtful post. I said at the beginning that this decision has not been quickly or easily made. I know what I'm up against. First off, the power package I want does not exist in any production bus, so that route is not an option. I like the Series 50 engine, and I am determine...

A fellow on BNO suggested that I flip a truck axle. Says I mainly need to reverse drain and fill plugs.

Sounds reasonable, so I'll look into it. Still looking for ideas, though.

Jim in NC

The decision has been long in coming, but it's here. As part of outfitting our 35' Flxible Metro transit for full timing, I'm going to ditch the Vee drive. I'm aware that I'll have to stretch the frame/body some to do this, but so be it. I already have the 13 speed Road Ranger, and I've looked at se...

Thanks for checking it out, Sharkey. Even with as little as I know, the total package seemed flaky. I have too many projects going to even think about building an electric this year, but when I do, I may convert a Vanagon. I do restoration and engine conversion work on Vanagons, and an electric one ...

I've long been interested in converting an air cooled VW to electric, but my ignorance on the subject is voluminous. I'd love for some of you who are knowledgable in this area to check out this link and tell me what you think: http://www.newleafev.com/ I'm not considering having them do a conversion...

Chuck, I get excited just looking at the photos. I had no idea that flat topped Crowns exist. I learn something new on this forum all the time. When you post interior shots, can you also show us a sketch of your intended floor plan? Since I'm taking my Flex back to bare walls, I'm always interested ...

Thursday, 3:40 A.M. EDT. I have an early day and couldn't get back to sleep for the last two hours I had available, but I'm thrilled to see that mrsharkey.com is back on line. Welcome back, Sharkey. We missed you.

Jim in NC

The main reason Kramden looks ugly to me is that I know what it's supposed to look like. After all your encouraging comments, I'll redouble my efforts to make the vision reality. I'll post more photos as I make progress. I'll try to get some interior shots up in the next couple of days.

Jim

We named the bus "Kramden" after Ralph Kramden who drove a city bus on The Honeymooners. Kramden has a 6v92 TA mated to an Allison V731 three speed plus lockup automatic. The original final drive was 513. That was the lowest of three available when the bus was new. The top speed with that ...