falter
Veteran Member
Started off as just a curiosity, then became a vintage vehicle thing (was into vintage cars long before I was into vintage computers), and then became a solution to my lack of space for a proper Youtube studio. Anyway, a few weeks ago I bought this.. it's a 1966 Blue Bird school bus, about 22 feet long, on a Dodge/Fargo chassis. And it's what I've been working on for about a month now, hence why I haven't been here. It was a Bed and Breakfast before and had a bathroom attached to the emergency exit. Funny enough, the people I bought it from are Tiktokkers with 1M followers called The Ugly Truckling. It gives me about 150 square feet of 'man cave' space that I don't share with birds, upstairs plumbing noise, etc.
Anyway this is the Blue Duck as a previous owner named it. I'm experimenting with RGB lighting. One thing I'm being very conscious of is fire risk. The bus was wired up for permanent AC power (the breaker box was probably in the bathroom shed). I'd like to get it running, so I'm not sure if I'm going to try and go fancy with solar or to what degree I'll get the original electrical system working. I've got two heavy duty extension cords, one is on a GFCI protected circuit by itself running an oil filled radiator heater, the other also on another GFCI protected circuit which handles the lights and whatever computer I'm working with. I should probably figure out the amperage draw but so far nothing hot, dim or any signs of stress. Both circuits are 15amp.
I think this was converted to B&B use in the 1990s based on dates on plywood used in its construction. The rest of its history is unknown, although based on the dual block heater and massive tow hooks on the front and back I'm thinking somewhere very cold and snowy up north. I'm having to learn a fair bit about trucks as I go, as I've never owned a real (vs pickup) truck. Learned about suicide rims, tubed tires, hand brakes, granny gear and so on.
The interior is all cedar. It had a metric ton of rats nest under the hood and into the cabin behind some cabinets whoever converted it built, but we got it cleaned up pretty well. It has a Chrysler 318 poly that turns over by hand.
Sometimes in between repairs, I find myself just sitting at the steering wheel on my improvised seat (the original was removed). I wonder where this bus served and what became of the driver(s). Sometimes I sit by the same window a then child or teen looked out of in the late 60s, someone now my parents' age, riding back and forth to school when It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown was still a new cartoon.
Anyway, here's a few pics. Back to work!
Anyway this is the Blue Duck as a previous owner named it. I'm experimenting with RGB lighting. One thing I'm being very conscious of is fire risk. The bus was wired up for permanent AC power (the breaker box was probably in the bathroom shed). I'd like to get it running, so I'm not sure if I'm going to try and go fancy with solar or to what degree I'll get the original electrical system working. I've got two heavy duty extension cords, one is on a GFCI protected circuit by itself running an oil filled radiator heater, the other also on another GFCI protected circuit which handles the lights and whatever computer I'm working with. I should probably figure out the amperage draw but so far nothing hot, dim or any signs of stress. Both circuits are 15amp.
I think this was converted to B&B use in the 1990s based on dates on plywood used in its construction. The rest of its history is unknown, although based on the dual block heater and massive tow hooks on the front and back I'm thinking somewhere very cold and snowy up north. I'm having to learn a fair bit about trucks as I go, as I've never owned a real (vs pickup) truck. Learned about suicide rims, tubed tires, hand brakes, granny gear and so on.
The interior is all cedar. It had a metric ton of rats nest under the hood and into the cabin behind some cabinets whoever converted it built, but we got it cleaned up pretty well. It has a Chrysler 318 poly that turns over by hand.
Sometimes in between repairs, I find myself just sitting at the steering wheel on my improvised seat (the original was removed). I wonder where this bus served and what became of the driver(s). Sometimes I sit by the same window a then child or teen looked out of in the late 60s, someone now my parents' age, riding back and forth to school when It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown was still a new cartoon.
Anyway, here's a few pics. Back to work!
