1973 Blue Bird

[Rudy]

Here's a view of the right hand side of the studio desk. It is 8 feet wide and 2 feet deep. The plant (mini tree) is my "silent pet". I have had it for five years now. It doesn't ask for much, and it makes pretty leaves.

Notice, also, the stained glass lamp shade at the right. That one won a ribbon at the "famous" Wilson County Fair.

The desktop is made from 3/4 inch Birch plywood. It is $45 dollars a sheet. I dreaded having to buy at least three of them.

[Rudy]

Here's the joined studio desktop to the original fold-down desk area.

On one of the shelves,behind the two yellow flashlights is a short wave radio. Behind the clock is a multi band radio that receives AM, FM, Ham, weather, and is a police scanner as well. To the right of the clock are an external hard drive and CD writer for the studio. The studio monitors are self powered. They are Samson Resolv 65a series with the 120a subwoofer.

[Rudy]

This is a close up of one of the lamp shades I have made. To the left of that is the beautiful "Ruby". At the bottom left, you can see the Turbo ball for my Mac. I love that thing. To the right is a wooden carving that renders itself somewhat ambiguous. HEY! Do you see the ghost in this picture, too.

[Rudy]

I have wanted to get to this point in the"show and tell" story. I will have pictures of the finished bedroom next week. I am pretty much caught up right now with what I have got to show you. Here is a picture of me. I'll be back soon. Keep on Bussin'. Rudy

[Rudy]

Fun Fun Fun

[Rudy]

Here is some more bus stuff, although not of the Blue Bird, still of interest.

After these few pictures, we will get to the 1966 Chevy.

When I first got to Tennessee, one of my first jobs was to build a top to my friend Mike's 1963 Chevy bus. It had a six cylinder gas engine and could barely go 45 mph.

It used to have a Volkswagon van in the top, but it was so rusty, we opted to remove it and build a structure that ran the whole length of the bus.



In this picture, we had replaced the bus windows with sliding RV windows.

We framed the floor of the top section and secured the floor joists with L brackets and silicone.

We cut out a section of metal in the rear of the bus to accommodate a rear door and access to the upstairs from the inside of the bus.

Notice the rails that were welded to the rear of the bus. That became a four foot back porch.

[Rudy]

I only have four photos of this project. Here you can see the finished product.You can climb up that metal ladder on the right and gain entry (or exit) through that window. The upstairs is about four feet tall. Of course, you can also get to the top from the inside via a ladder.

[Rudy]

Here is another view of the rear. We used galvanized metal roofing.

[Rudy]

Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia have the most caves in the country. Mike is an avid caver and is well known in those circles. Here is the last photo I have of his bus. This was taken at a caver's gathering.

[Rudy]

Earlier in my postings, I mentioned my friend Bob Halloran. I have known Bob for 25 years. For years, we learned guitar playing from each other. He is really good. Check out his website. http://www.bobhalloran.com/.

We also had an affinity for campers. When I first met him, he had an old Volkswagon camper bus. He now has a 1989 Hawkins Motor Coach. It has a 3208 cat diesel pusher with turbo charger.

I do not have the turbocharger in my bus. I guess that that is one less thing to break down. He and his wife, Rachelle, are at present serving as camp hosts at a state campground in Big Bear Lake in California.

After a few years there in LA, we managed to move up in the world of campers. He found a 1963 Chevy factory made motorhome. It had a 283 gas engine with a two barrel. Even back then, we were using photovoltaic panels and battery banks.

At the time he found his, I was living in a Dodge Bubble top camper van. It was time for me to get a bigger machine as well.

He found this 1966 Chevy truck that somebody welded a frame onto and installed a ten foot truck camper on top of. It had a blown 327 engine in it. I got it for $800 and two banjos in trade.

I then went to see William Loe in Northridge and had him build me a 383 stroker engine. That is a 350 block with a 400 crankshaft, giving the motor LOTS of torque. Man, it was powerful.

One time when I was traveling across country with it, I was climbing the grades up to Vail, Colorado, and passing most everything in sight, even cars.

Bob painted his 63 white, and I painted my 66 turquoise. For a while, mine was known as the big green love machine. I think I had a lot of girlfriends then.

Not so today, as I am an old fart now. Coming up are the pictures.

[Rudy]

Here is a pic of the two Chevys. Notice the storage bins on the side. The skirt underneath the storage bins was made out of plywood and hinged so that I could change a tire if need be.

[Rudy]

Another photo of the machines.

[Rudy]

In this picture, you can see the rear of my camper and our two dobies playing. This is the last time you will see the camper this color. I spent a year in Seattle, and it is there that I repainted it.

[Rudy]

OK. Here are the photos with the new paint job. I used oil based enamel house paint.

First, I thoroughly cleaned the surfaces with TSP. Then I mixed one quart of Penetrol (basically Linseed oil) in with the paint. What the Penetrol does is make the oil base paint flow like water base paint, and leaves a high gloss shine, I used paint brushes and a roller.

You'd be surprised at the results. It is also very durable. It can last seven years and still not be cracked or chipped. This first picture was taken at Mike's place in Tn. The front hub caps were from a 1969 Pontiac.

[Rudy]

Here is a photo of the back with a bay window that I had made. I had not got a spare tire cover yet. Notice the backup lights I installed above tail lights. In the rear door, you'll see a small stained glass piece. I didn't make that one. Soon you will see the one I custom built for the back door.