International 3800 adventure bus build

[AdventureBus]

WOW! You do not know what KISS means?

I guess not. Care to elaborate?


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[chris_the_wrench]

Not sure if Im stuck in the middle of an inside joke or not, but I’ll bite.


Keep It Simple Stupid

 

[AdventureBus]

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 and the texture that was created by spraying it with a Shutz gun. Applying the coating is easy but the prep work beforehand is long and tiring!

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[ExpoMike]

That came out great. Nice color. Man, that is a lot of square feet to spray. How many gallons did it take?

 

[AdventureBus]

It took 8 gallons total. 3 gallons for the roof and 5 for everything else.


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[baipin]

That looks fantastic - really liking the colour and finish.

 

[glennm01]

The color and texture looks great. What psi level did you spray with?

 

[AdventureBus]

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.


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[AdventureBus]

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 should work perfectly giving me about 96” width front and rear. I will have to relocate the front axle 4-1/2” forward, but there are already holes in the frame for the spring hangers to go there. That’s on of the things I like about a medium-duty truck frame.

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[ITTOG]

That looks great in the front but in the back it would look better if you cut the wheel well to be closer to the wheel radius.

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[AdventureBus]

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 still drives great. I was a little afraid it would feel top-heavy but I can’t really tell any difference from how it felt before the roof raise.

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[AdventureBus]

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.

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[Baloo]

I love the way the paint came out! Cool project!


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[AdventureBus]

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, reused clutch that I got with the transmission (it looks fairly new), and a new clutch brake.

The 8LL is huge compared to the little automatic. I can’t wait to get it all hooked up and ready to test. I have to build part of the clutch linkage, install the rear support hanger, and change the front yoke on the forward driveshaft (1550 to 1710 series).

I’ll be selling the AT545.


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[shortbus4x4]

Nice job. The 8LL is going to be so much more betterer than your old 545 boat anchor. Your bus will be able to leap tall mountains in a single day now without overheating or running away on the downhill. Good job on replacing the rear main seal while you were there too.