| Attempted to fix the leak at my power steering pump. I put a new gasket between the pump the the manifold, and I replaced the brass washer under the top cap screw. Unfortunately it's still leaking. I'm starting to think that it might be the gasket between the pump and the plate that bolts to the motor. There is a tiny bit of fluid that pools in a cavity between the pump and the plate. I'll have to see if I can locate that gasket. |
| Finished most of framing around the engine hump. Used a DYI spray foam insulation kit from Fomo Foam. Their 105 board foot kit was perfect for the back. | |
| Took the bus to Southern Oregon Diesel. They replaced the radius rod bushings, brake hoses and battery cable to the engine. | |
| Replaced terminals on batteries. |
| Building the framing around the engine hump in the back. Sealing the small holes that I find with silicone caulk. | |
| General service
- Oil and filter change - Clean oil bath air filters - Transmission oil and filter change - Replace fuel filters - Check oil level in rear axle - Replace left side turn marker - Adjust brakes |
| It's been a while since I've updated the timeline on my site. I haven't really done much on the bus since the last entry. | |
| Installed a Xantrex 1000 watt inverter, and installed a DPDT switch so I can run the 4 cu. ft. fridge on the batteries while on the road or on 110 volt when plugged in or running the generator. | |
| Removed temporary bed pedestal and began framing the engine hump in the back of the bus. |
| Completed wiring fuel gauge to sender in tank. | |
| Ordered speedometer drive gears from US Coach. | |
| Purchased Stewart Warner pulse generator for speedometer. |
| Rebuilt turn signal lever assembly. | |
| Installed new dash faceplate made out of 1/4" plywood. In addition to previously installed tachometer and oil pressure gauges, I purchased and installed new speedometer, fuel level, coolant temperature and air pressure gauges. I also replaced the coolant temperature sender. The fuel level gauge and the speedometer are not completely connected. I still need to run wire to the fuel level sender and come up with speedometer drive gears and a pulse generator. |
| Installed two custom ordered Bali vinyl mini-blinds, in the front living room area. | |
| Ended up having to have the fuel tank steam cleaned and the fuel pump replaced. Also had Centroid Products fuel gauge sender installed in fuel tank. | |
| I'm having trouble with fuel starvation. I was hoping that the new fuel filters would fix the problem, but they did not. I now suspect that there is a blockage in the pickup line, or the ruber hoses are collapsing. Since I have a short trip planned in mid-November, I decided to drop it off at my diesel mechanic. |
| Installed two 11R22.5 radial tires and wheels on front axle. | |
| Replaced primary and secondary fuel filters. | |
| Completed rewiring of taillights. | |
| Replaced the battery cables, on the positive battery terminals. |
| Started to rewire taillights. |
| Installed heavy duty stanless steel hinges in battery compartment door. | |
| Made and installed an new wiring harness for the generator remote switch. |
| Replaced end cap o-ring on the 12v generator. That stopped the oil leak at the bottom of the gerator, but now oil is dripping from the 12 volt post. Guess it's back to the parts shop for more seals. | |
| Took off generator end cap, and discovered that the 12v terminal stud insulator had broken. Installed new insulator, and replaced generator end cap. The generator is no longer leaking oil! On to the next leak. |
| Replaced fast idle solenoid. |
| Took my bus to BAB Steering in Fontana for some work. They went through the powersteering. They also replaced the front bearing as well as steering parts. Additionally, they replaced the spindles and bearings on my rearend. It tracks much better and the interior noise has been significantly reduced. It was a lot of money, but money well spent. |
| Built and install dining room table. |
| Removed the old Kenworth air ride driver's seat and replaced it with a new Flexsteel swivel/recliner. |
| Installed quick disconnect air hose fitting in service compartment under the driver's seat. Now I can inflate my own tires!!! | |
| Installed co-pilot's chair. |
| Took it to Palm Springs, CA. It was over 110 degrees! It seemed to run a little hot. I'm going to replace the water temp. gauge and and sender. If it still seems to be running a little hot on the hills and in the desert, I'm going look into a remote oil cooler with electric fans. Maybe even install a Desert SuperCooler. The good news is I'm not leaking nearly as much oil as it was before the rebuild. Once I rebuild the hydraulic fan drive and put seals in the alternator, I think the majority of my oil leaks will be gone. | |
| Ordered two Flexsteel pedstals from Mike Thompson's RV in Santa Fe Springs, CA. Tom in parts is a great guy, and very knowledgeable. | |
| Replaced generator muffler. |
| Took the bus to Precision Diesel in Huntington Beach, CA to have rearend seal replaced. They found that all of the bolts on the reardend were loose and torqued them. | |
| Six weeks later Dreamliner hadn't even started on my bus, they lost the deadbolt key to the entrance door 'in the grass somewhere', and left the emergency brake on so long it melted the my taillight bulbs (I didn't even know that you could do that!). To add insult to injury, the owner is extremely rude. As though it was my fault that my bus was worse condition than it was before I left it with him. I'll never go back, and would STORNGLY urge not to either!!!! I ended up picking it up and taking it to Precision Diesel to replace rearend seal. Picked up Flexsteel captan's chairs. |
| Took bus to Dreamliner Bus Leasing & Service to have the rearend seal replaced. | |
| Ordered Flexsteel captan's chairs to match couch. |
| Installed 1" heater hose between air cleaner and compressor. |
| Installed hose (NOS) between air cleaners and engine. | |
| Started removing the remaining bus seats. | |
| Began building platform for queen-size bed. |
| Had 8v71 rebuilt. | |
| Installed used recap tire and new inner tube on rear axle. | |
| Installed new Stewart Warner oil pressure gauge and sender. | |
| Brought bus home from Utah to California (finally). |
| Finally, the quote is in. An in-frame rebuild with new heads is going to cost $9,802.00. | |
| Mailed $7,500 deposit to mechanic. |
| Still stuck in St. George, Utah!!! (This is getting ridiculous) |
| Still stuck in St. George, Utah!! |
| Still stuck in St. George, Utah! |
| Still stuck in St. George, Utah. |
| General service
- Tune-up - Replace blower screen - Replace oil feed line to compressor - Lowered power steering reservoir - Replace power steering pump to reservoir hoses - Clean air cleaners - Adjust brakes - Replace thermostats - Replace radiator hoses | |
| Overheated my engine! (and had to leave it at Southwest Diesel Service, in St. George, Utah) |
| Purchased Bargman L-300 lock and RV dead bolt lock. | |
| Had locksmith install dead bolt. | |
| Installed 12 volt power outlet in dash. | |
| Mounted license plate on front bumper. |
| Purchased Flexsteel couch (won't install it until August). | |
| Finished removing the coach bathroom (Wow! What a job.) |
| Installed seatbelt on the driver's seat (hey, it's something). |
| Finished installing the Stewart Warner tachometer |
| Started to remove the original coach bathroom | |
| Started to install Stewart Warner tachometer | |
| Added 30 AMP power cable to the breaker box, and and a 30 AMP receptical to the generator. |
| Purchased my coach January 15, 1999 | |
| Drove it from Hendersonville, TN to Westminster, CA. |