The seats are totally out! This was the day our awesome friend Anson came over and helped us get some great work done by getting out the rubber flooring. We used a piece of equiptment that I loved...it was called the RIPPER STRIPPER!!! No joke. I rented it from Action Rents for the day and we were able to strip up the rubber flooring to access the wooden sub floor. And luckily it is in great condition!
Here is Trevor being a bad ass and getting on the grinder to remove some stripped screws. He and I removed almost all the ceiling panels that day...it was pretty amazing how much we got done together. Thanks Trev!
Here is all the nasty fiberglass insulation that has been in there for 34 years. We removed it all with some gloves and masks. It's gone now!
Here is a frame our friend Tim welded up for us. It is made out of a galvanized material and will fit the camper shell perfectly. This camper shell will be above the kitchen area which is where we will be standing most. It will add vertical space as well as nice light coming from above.
There's a hole in the BUS!!! Ahh!!! So scary and amazing. We mounted the frame on top with a ton of caulking (we used a Marine Caulking bought at West Marine...allows for the expansion and contraction of the metal as well as is UV resistant) and some 1/4 inch steel rivets. It was pretty cold those days, hence being bundled. For all of you who say California has no seasons...I say you are wrong.
Here she is! She is looking like what Matt calls the Muppet Mobile currently, but she will look more suave as time goes on. She is really spacious now and we can feel her taking shape inside. I don't have a great photo of inside yet, but I will get one when I can. This shift in the space is really huge, and we are getting very excited. Next we are going to do a similar process for the pop up skylight which will go right above the shower.
I want to say a word about the process of this bus. When I took this project on I had no idea how much work there truly was to do. It is without a doubt the biggest thing I have done in my 26 years of life yet. My philosophy has been...3 steps at a time. For the bus I like to know what the next 7ish steps will be vaguely, the next three more clearly, and the current step in great detail. Because of the magnitude of this project, or any large project, trying to know step 1-1000 in detail is mind melting for me. I can handle about 3 steps in my mind clearly, and then about 7 steps vaguely without going crazy or getting overwhelmed. Taking it in small chunks has let me feel like I can make this project happen bit by bit without giving up in fear. When I find myself getting too far ahead of the current steps I lose sight and momentum and end up feeling stuck. These first big steps have been so inspiring to see a vision begin to take form in physical reality. Now I have to go and work on the bus!!! Thanks for keeping up. If you want to come help me any day, let me know!
Thank you to Matt, Ronnie, Tim and Stem who made that day possible! And thanks to my Dad for letting us use your Forklift and sawzall!
I want to say a word about the process of this bus. When I took this project on I had no idea how much work there truly was to do. It is without a doubt the biggest thing I have done in my 26 years of life yet. My philosophy has been...3 steps at a time. For the bus I like to know what the next 7ish steps will be vaguely, the next three more clearly, and the current step in great detail. Because of the magnitude of this project, or any large project, trying to know step 1-1000 in detail is mind melting for me. I can handle about 3 steps in my mind clearly, and then about 7 steps vaguely without going crazy or getting overwhelmed. Taking it in small chunks has let me feel like I can make this project happen bit by bit without giving up in fear. When I find myself getting too far ahead of the current steps I lose sight and momentum and end up feeling stuck. These first big steps have been so inspiring to see a vision begin to take form in physical reality. Now I have to go and work on the bus!!! Thanks for keeping up. If you want to come help me any day, let me know!
Thank you to Matt, Ronnie, Tim and Stem who made that day possible! And thanks to my Dad for letting us use your Forklift and sawzall!