1973 Blue Bird

[Rudy]

Two doors, two big batteries. They start the engine and they used to run all the 12 volt when this bus was an emergency response vehicle. I am assigning them to the engine only, and will hook up solar panels and golf cart batteries for the inside 12 volt systems next spring.

[Rudy]

It's hard to believe, but this is the last of the photos I have until I do all the electrical (110 and 12 volt). I have a temporary 30 amp box that will work for the winter.

I also need to do the water plumbing, build a shower, tile the kitchen and bathroom floor, and do something nice with the walls in the back of the bus.

As you may know, I recently lost my job. I am getting by though. I will winter it out and save my pennies for the next infusion of creative bus building, (most likely in the spring).

Building the inside of this bus has been rewarding, but posting this thread has been a blast. It seems that many people enjoy it as much as I do. I want to thank everyone for participating in this project.

I will still have many questions, and will start a notebook of the answers I receive. It will be my little training manual. You all have been so kind. I feel like part of the family.

Now, I will move on to printing a lot of my music that I have on CDs, and sending them to those I promised them to. A big THANK YOU to all of you. Rudy

[stuartcnz]

Front wheel, driver's side.



The kingpin would be what holds the wheel to the axle, right? I know that on cars, you jack them up and wiggle top and bottom to check looseness. I'm gonna have to get Big Boy Wrenches to work on this thing!

You also want to jack it up to take the weight off the king pin, when greasing it.

[Mark R. Obtinario]

Rudy,

You have a lot of questions, most of which I have answers.

Contact me directly and I will try to answer your questions and then post them online so others can benefit as well.

But answering them in person may save time and be clearer than trying to explain something in a picture.

[Rudy]

Wow, Thanks, Mark. On the forum "Other Stuff", I posted some names of people who I would like to email me so I can send some of my music on CDs to. Yours is on there. Please email me with your address, and phone number. I will email you my phone number. I just put out the money for my own phone. The one I had before belonged to the place I used to work. I just bought a notebook and perhaps we can speak on the phone while I look at the pictures on the computer, or go under the bus and describe things, and make notes of your answers. My bus is now parked in the boonies. Most people's cell phones do not work out here. Mine works MOST of the time. Thanks, Rudy

[Bob]

This is Bob here, a longtime friend of Rudy's and member of the Urban Camping Society, 22 years of full time living on the road.
I just want to say that this forum is awesome!5 years ago I upgraded to a used diesel pusher rv...after living in "vintage" motorhomes for so many years I wasnt sure about this at first...but now I am better.
I drive a 1989 Hawkins with a Cat 3208 and I am still learning about how this thing works...the forum helps out a lot. I did just loose air brakes while driving down a steep and curvy mountain a few weeks ago. I had 2 choices...the cliff or the dump truck. I chose the truck. I am at the shop as I write this...front end is all beautiful again and I am having new brakes put on on monday. Ahhhh life on the road! Plans can change in a second.
If anyone is interested in seeing some pictures, or hearing some of my music or reading about life on the road you can do all this at www.myspace.com/bobhalloran

[dburt]

Bob, that is a real bummer about losing your brakes! Can you post a picture of your rollin' home for us to see? I went to your website, you sure can pluck those strings. I love great 12-string music. Not being musically gifted myself, I have to live that part of life vicariously thru other's music and ability! Welcome to the website, I am sure we will all look forward to your future postings and pictures here! DB

[Bob]

Thanks for the warm welcome and kind words about my guitar playing. Rudy was quite the guitarist in his day...I am sure he still would be if he played..but he does rock out on accordian!
I have done a lot of modifications to my home on wheels, a one-peice rubber roof, nice solar system with 6 golf cart batteries, I just finnished installing an oak hardwood floor in the entire coach, Olymian cataletic heaters, new cealings with led lights, ceramic tiles on the walls. I have been intimidated about doing mechanical work on this so far..besides the emergancy roadside repairs. I ran out of diesel a few weeks ago...what a pain! I found out that by spraying starting fluid into the air filter breather that you dont have to do any priming. It takes about 3 cans to get it running on its own.
If you are interested in seeing my rig and what I have done I will start a thread somewhere...this isnt really a bus...but it is built on a Gillig frame and I have a Caterpiller 3208 turbo engine with Allison tranny.

[dburt]

Bob, you can start the thread about your home on wheels right here on this thread! Or start a new one, whatever you want. You have to post your pics to www.tinypics.com and then type the http address that they give your picture for forums on the "post a reply" box here. I am probably not being very plain on how to get it done, Rudy had to walk me thru it since I am technologically challenged. So if you have trouble figuring it out how to post pictures, Rudy can help you!

[Mark R. Obtinario]

Bob--trying to prime a diesel engine by using starting fluid is a good way to break compression rings and wreck the lift pump on the injection pump.

On most 3208 engines the fuel filter has a hand pump to prime the system--open the drain valve on the injection pump and hand pump until fuel comes out of the drain. Once you have done that you will have enough fuel in the system to get the engine going. You may have to loosen the injectors to get all of the air out of the system but at least you won't have had to use starting fluid.

If hand pumping isn't something you like to do you can add in an electric lift pump somewhere between the filter and the tank. Put the pump on a demand switch and it will pump the fuel from the tank up to the injection pump when you need it.

[Bob]

Thanks Mark...like I have stated many time...I am new at these diesel rigs. I did try the pump behind the water seperator and pumped my heart out to no avail. Looks like I will have to go tomorrow and buy the right sized wrench for the main fuel filter. It was supposed to be changed at the shop that it spent the last 3 weeks at, but they only changed the water seperator. I drove from the L.A. area today to Phoenix...it performed pretty good about halfway...then the top speed became 30mph (with a speed limit of 75, and trucks doing at least 80mph) it was nerve racking at best. It was after stalling out at the off ramp intersection that I inspected what I could and found the main fuel filter was never changed.
I am hoping to change it tomorrow and get this baby up to 55mph! At least I made it to a Home Depot parking lot...a beautiful place to spend the night...compared to the middle of an intersection.
I will make sure not to run out of fuel again...although the fuel gauge still doesnt work after paying a big custom coach company TWICE to fix it.
I will remember to stay away from starting fluid...but it sure did the trick.

[Rudy]

Here are some photos I just took. I learned that I DO NOT have a 3208. It is, in fact, an 1160. Just one question for now. Does the 1160 have the oval pistons as well?

Here is a photo of the fuel filter assembly.

[Rudy]

Here are some photos of the various placards. Some are on the driver's side valve cover. One is on the dashboard, and one I transplanted on the wall next to the drivers seat.







This next one is on the dashboard. The Ratio-high is 6.8 It is hard to read in the photo. What is that ratio? The rear end?

[Rudy]

Here are some various items, one of which I am going to guess is the governor. Here are some pictures of that. Am I correct in my guess?







As you can see, I have an oil leak on the passenger side valve cover. I don't know where it is coming from.

[Rudy]

What is this thing? It has a screw-on pipe fitting. It is in the middle of the engine, situated on what would be considered the intake manifold on a gasoline engine.