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Awesome! Lucky you! Pictures of everything related to the front axle would be helpful (hood open for best lighting). There are many shots from a distance of 4x4 med-duty front axles on the web, but few detailed shots that are helpful for planning. Below are eight areas I’m most interested in: •...

My frame already has most of the holes needed to slide the front axle forward 4-3/4”. I think I could re-index the pitman arm a couple splines to make up for the move and add a hydraulic cylinder to the tie rod to relieve any added stresses to the steering box. There’s currently about 2”...

A driven front axle would provide an instant 8” lift if nothing else changed at the front of my bus. I would like keep the lift as low as possible, but it may be difficult to keep it between 4-6” of lift. I wasn’t worried about 12”+ lift to clear a centered front diff initially, but I think...

I think the engines must sit higher in the frame in a 4x4 MDT, thus necessitating a raised cab. My bus engine sits low in the frame with the bottom of the oil pan a good 4” below the bottom of the frame rails. I think that an offset front differential would allow me to package everything in a...

Does anyone have experience with Fabco front drive axles in a medium duty application? These seem to have gear ratios that are better suited for my build. I can’t find a locker for this exact axle, but I found an Eaton No-Spin for similar axles with the same spline count. It may be worth a try...

That’s going to be a really nice powertrain! I wish that my highest gears were a little closer together like yours. The engine you have is legendary! I’m really enjoying learning how to drive mine. There’s definitely a learning curve with a non-synchronized transmission. The best help I have...

Another pic from our recent drive. It looks at home in the bush. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I haven’t posted anything on here in a while. Life has been pretty busy lately but we have been able to use the bus a little bit. We have installed the glass in the doors and the back wall and tinted a few of the front windows. I also installed a lock on the front door and most of the rubber...

Hi there Motorman. I like the direction you’re headed, looking for a 4700 International crew cab. That mechanically injected DT466 is a legendary engine. I have one in a 1995 International school bus that I just swapped an 8LL Roadranger into. The bus is an 11-window and is 33’ long overall...

I built the driveline this weekend. I had to remove about 6” from the front shaft and weld on the new 1710 series yoke. This thing is huge! I measured a 5” drop in 74” from the centerline of the crankshaft pulley to the centerline of the output yoke on the old transmission. Since the bus has...

I recently changed my Instagram handle to #backcountry_bus if any of you consume that sort of media. I removed the Allison AT545 transmission a couple weeks ago and began prepping for the 8LL install. It required a flywheel change (auto to manual), new flywheel bolts, new pilot bearing...

Here’s a shot of my pivoting tow bar assembly. It’s a 2-5/16” Bull Dog coupler welded inside a larger diameter 3/8” wall pipe. It allows 360 degree rotation. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’ve been fabricating a tow bar to pull my F-150 behind the bus. It is going to be ultra-stout and will have an articulating 2-5/16” Bulldog coupler. I’ve also gotten the clutch pedal installed and most of the clutch linkage worked out. We took it for s little ride down to the river recently. It...

I like to photoshop the bus before making actual changes. Between shakedown runs and photoshop, I’m able to get the results I’m looking for. Here is what it will look like with 395/85R-20 Goodyear MV/Ts on LMTV wheels. I’ve already done the measuring and calculating for backspacing and they...

I sprayed it at about 60 psi. I think it looks better around 50 psi but it seems a little slower. I needed to start spraying by noon to get it done before nightfall but didn’t start till 2:00 p.m. we finished at 8:00 p.m. so that wasn’t too bad. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It took 8 gallons total. 3 gallons for the roof and 5 for everything else. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well, I spent all summer prepping this bus for paint and was finally able to get it done this past weekend. I had four excellent helpers and couldn’t have done it without them. It is Monstaliner and the colors are All-Nighter on the bottom and Cloudy Daze on the roof. I really like the color...

I guess not. Care to elaborate? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What are you trying to say? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’m not sure how well the “skoolie” interiors hold up over time, but I am sure you’re right about the long frame flexing. I don’t know what a fully loaded bus would do when it encounters uneven terrain, but I tested mine empty and surprisingly, the suspension did nearly all of the flexing. It...