Today we officially have the back end of the bus reinforced. You might be asking yourself why? Basically the back end of this bus hand no real frame supporting it. The frame only reaches the back tires and then it stopped. So what we had was wood hanging off the back, with small support brackets underneath being held up by the side walls which are also made of wood. Not a very strong design but I am sure they were trying to keep the weight off. The problem it has for us is that we cannot tow a car behind our bus which is pretty much essential if we don’t want to be driving this bus everywhere we go. In addition to that, we it was in really bad shape because it had been busted up pretty bad when the bus was towed. So it needed to be fixed anyways. I figure, might as well do what we need to do to it since it is going to cost us either way.

On the downside of this, it raised the floor on the back end around 3 inches. Not sure exactly how much higher but it was certainly higher. I had a rough decision to either drop the floor 3 inches or raise the floor 3 inches. Considering that there was an issue with dragging the back end causing the damage in the back I opted for raising it. Hopefully this will prevent any future dragging and damage. It was a sacrifice but I wanted to play it safe which someday may pay off big time. A small inconvenience in the back but a huge sense of security.

Here are some pictures of when the back end floor got ripped out and post installation of the floor. Got much more to go but we should have the whole bus ready to drive in the next 4 months if all goes according to plan. Keep us in your prayers.

So after considering what a task it would be to deal with the issue I posted about before this post, I decided to say scew it. I am going to JB Weld that hole shut. Why? Well, I have no intention of keeping this engine. Once I sell it, it will likely be parted out and that part is beyond repair. In addition to that, I am only intending to drive it 40 feet a day from where it is currently parked to the front of the shop and back to where it is now. The only reason we need to drive it at all is so we can get the bus close enough to the shop door (that it doesn’t fit through) so the equiptment can reach it and the body work can get done. I talked to my cousin about timelines and they will start it as soon after Christmas as they can and will likely have it done by the beginning of Febraury. In addition to that, I have located a few different companies that can make a “reversing gearbox” that will reverse the rotation of the driveline so we can put a domestic engine and transmission in without changing out the rear end. Don’t ask, that is a long explanation but trust me, we can’t change it out or switch directions on it. The reversing gearbox will be finished mid to late Febraury if I order it soon.

So here is the plan. I am going to JB Weld that hole shut just so it can drive without shooting out radiator fluid, that way it can make it the 40 or so feet it needs to each day in order to get the body work done. At the beginning of Febrauary the body work will be done and by then we will have replaced all the windows to the kind we want. We will also have our engine and transmission. Once the reversing box is done, we will put the engine, tansmission and reversing box in, then sell off the old engine and transmission. Toward the end of Febrauary when we get this done, we will drive it over to have all the electrical and plumbing installed which will take about a week. Then we just build our new home. Once the Bathroom is done, the kitchen is done, we are going to throw some matresses down and start living in it that way we can tell through experience where we want all our lighting, cabinets etc. We got a pretty good idea but nothing beats actually experiencing it and taking your time to make sure it is done intelligently and right.

I am planning to install the DT466 Turbo Diesel Engine and the Allison MT643 Automatic Transmission. I have located a few different ones for really cheap and in good running order. One is $1,000 for both and the other is $2,500 for both. The cool thing is I was told my engine would easily sell for $3,000 running  (which it is now =) hehe) if not more. Not sure what I can get for the transmission but already that pays for my engine and tranmission.

The current reversing box quote that I have is $3,000-$3,500. I will be getting another tomorrow and I am expecting it to be lower. I will post once I know how much it is.

So there is the current plan. I want to be living in this bus by mid-spring! We have to take it one step at a time and I will post the details as time goes on. Wish us luck on everything because we are gonna need it.

As of Thursday December 11th we have a running bus! =)

Friday we spent the day changing the oil out and fixing a radiator hose before we started it for the second and third time. The second time it died after running for a while and then the third time it ran better and better the more we let it run. By the end, it was running beautifly. The only problem now is to deal with what sounds like a fuel line or air line issue. We aren’t sure but it is causing it to run a bit rough. Sooooo, we video taped the events and here they are.

Second time starting the bus

Third time with interview of Wenn family

I have recently started a new blog to be website online that is going to be a neat resource of technology and business related information in addition to a showcase of my talents. Most of it is technology based, but it will be a bunch of random stuff that I feel is interesting. This is primarily my business blog where as I will soon be introducing my third blog. I will be starting a blog based entirely on social progress, sustainability, green living, simplicity and technology. There are reasons this will be unique to other blogs out there, but I cannot reveal what they are at this time. I will probably be announcing the  info on both blogs within a month, but I wanted to give you all a heads up because I am really excited about them and needed to get them off my chest. 

Pretty soon I am going to take my blogging to a whole new level, so keep your eyes open.

Wow, time flies doesn’t it. We have gotten the bus down to the bare bones and are now trying to figure out the electrical. The bus still is not running and I am not ready to jump in and start it till we make sure that it doesn’t catch fire when we actually turn it over. I am anxiously awaiting a response from an expert on the bus to tell me what the cold cranking power for the battery needs to be. Then we will try to crank it over.

In the mean time, we are broke as a very very bad joke. I am grateful to have family to help us at this time otherwise we would be in serious trouble. There just aren’t many jobs in this area so my wife and I are digging deep within us to bring out our entrepreneurial spirit and trying to find work for ourselves. We are going to walk around fliers and hope that some kind people give us some work. I am marketing my computer skills and Avira is marketing her housekeeping, childcare and pet care skills. I am truly hoping that we come across a business owner who hires us for something more consistent but we are desperate and will take whatever we can get (within reason).

It is hot. So hot in fact, that we have passed up several days we could go work on the bus because it was just too hot. The sad thing is, it isn’t even the real hot weather yet. Thinking about 100+ weather makes me want to cry except I cannot afford to lose the body water in tears. haha. Anyways, even if we come up with all the money to fix the bus, we might just chill (literally) until fall comes around. We shall see.

That about does it for us right now. Did I ever menchion that we have a donation button——>
*Wink*

We all do things. YES, everybody! If your wondering what weve been doing lately, here is a little run down.

We have been looking for jobs.

Yesterday both Avira and myself applied at Jamba Juice as managers. We’ll see where it goes. I had a pretty good interview, Avira on the other hand, felt it was the silliest interview she ever had. They asked her such valid questions as “if you could be a superhero, what superhero would you be?” and “if you could be any body of water, what body of water would you be?” Mine was very professional and it went well. Yes, I already have a job paying pitiful wages combined with minimal hours, so this would be a vast improvement. Wish us luck as we try to secure some money for the bus.

We have been going to the park.

They have this great park with water that shoots out of the ground. Kids love it and my kids have enjoyed it thoroughly.

We have been juicing.

Avira somehow scored a 25lb bag of carrots for only $5. I am like, NO WAY! That is soooo cheap. It makes me happy to be juicing again!

We have been eating organic produce.

We couldn’t find any stores that had organic food other than the health food store which is more like a health food corner mart. So we went on a google mission to find organic options and we found “Abundant Harvest Organics”. Wooohoo! Great organic produce and is cheap. Yay! Not sure but it appears to be part of a church group who obviously know whats up with the way God intended things to be. They take orders on Monday and deliver to a drop point on Friday. Actually, we are going to pick up our basket in a few hours. The produce is awesome stuff! So we are very happy to have found this wonderful resource. www.abundantharvestorganics.com

We have been working on the bus.

Not as much lately because it is hot and we are running out of things we can do without money. But I posted some somewhat recent pictures of the progress we made tearing out all the old stuff that was in it.

We have been stressing

.

It’s true. Our days have much less joy because we are discouraged about the fact that only I have a job and it is very disapointing pay and hours. We know it is temporary, but it is prolonging the amount of time it will take to get the bus done. In addition to that, we have mounting bills which is never a good thing. I know it will get better, but has been a very rough transition.

We have been planning out our bus.

We are going all green. I have located environmentally friendly products for nearly everything we need with exception to electrical wiring, plumbing and wood for cabinets. I am sure by the time we are done, it will be nearly all “green” and it makes us happy to know that. Plus, our bus is going to be an amazing home!

Finally, our adventure into Sequia National Forest

On mothers day we decided to go up to the mountains and upon reaching the entrance, we discovered that the entrance fee for one day is 20 Dollars! WHAT!?! That is an absurd amount to charge somebody who just wants to spend the day. I thought about it and if you take all the people who go there ever year which is probably in the hundreds of thousands at least and more likely in the millions, the profit they are making is insane! There is not way they need that money to keep up the forest even with over paid national park workers. They are literally pimping the forest!! Not right! Anyways, it is for this reason that I find the following actions totally acceptable.

So we went looking for a back way in and found one but the gate was closed. As fate would have it, a really cool hippy guy was coming through as we were preparing to leave. I didn’t have the guts to ask the guy to let us in, so leave it to my wife to do it. haha. Anyways, he was straight forward with us and said that he also felt it was unfair and that he too has a hard time with things like that. He then warned us of the fee we would be charged if we got caught and he told us he wouldn’t let us through but he would tell us the combination lock code. So in we went and we had a lovely day in a very remote section of the national forest where we only saw like 8 people total the whole day. Redwoods, Waterfalls, Rivers, Snow and Wildlife; AWESOME! So we now have exclusive access to the park, hehe, and we stuck it to the man so to speak. YEAH! There are a few pictures below.

So we got the bus as you know and have worked on it to just short of everything we can do without money. The money we came here with plus some small bits of money we got along the way is nearly gone just on living expenses. So we have no money to spend on the bus at this time. We have been seeking out jobs pretty agressively but there is just not a lot of jobs available. I did get hired at Home Depot at a truly pitiful wage and it is obvious they took no regard to my past experience. I mean, I started at Home Depot in 2001 at a higher wage then I am getting paid now. That is what I mean by pitiful. Anyways, at least I have a job for now and look forward to finding something better soon. Avira has had no luck at all but she remains motivated and optimistic. If she can get a descent paying job, we might be able to hit the road before winter sets in. We shall see.

We found out that my dad has a brain tumor and is going in for surgury next week. That amist serious economic issues with him being out of work is making things hard and requires my mom and dad to move in with my brother who just bought a new house. That means we can’t stay with them anymore and may need to either move in with my cousin or rent our own place. We are unsure what to do at this point and are walking forward till we can figure things out. We are considering relocating, again, if need be. The key to our success right now is money and right now Tulare doesn’t seem like the area to get it.

On a more positive note. My cousin gave me an estimate for the bus and it looks like all the body work can be done quickly and for under $500. However, the time consuming and expensive part is not the body work, it is the paint. The bus wont fit in his shop so he needs to rent a deisel paint booth somewhere to do it. It will take him 2 months to paint the bus and about $2,000 +. More good news is that the bus is very likely to be running and we shall find out within the next few weeks rather or not it does. If it does, it will save us some money and allow us to hit the road sooner than later. So, I estimate that the total cost of the bus will be roughly $10,000.

If me and my wife were able to secure jobs at the wage we usually get paid, we would have all the money in less than 3 months. So please pray for my dad most of all and squeeze in that a descent job will come through for us both becuase we can’t wait to get our bus on the road!

I made this little video showing the bus being towed. No, it is not 10 minutes of the bus being towed. Just check it out and you will see.

Avira wanted me to add pictures so here they are. The pictures of the inside of the bus are from half way through yesterday and doesn’t reflect the progress we made yesterday. Imagine all the cabinets gone. Here is the bus being towed and the inside of the bus

Since I’m having such a hard time sleeping, I thought I’d update on the last couple days. We towed the bus on Wednesday and it all went smoothly, amazingly! Having the bus here just brought life to our plan in a very real way.I’m  now totally consumed with it and very motivated to do as much work on it as possible every day. We spent over 8 hours at it yesterday, and actually accomplished a  lot.

Karl worked on the downstairs. He tore out all the carpet, ceiling, and padding, and removed almost all the cabinetry and framing. As each piece goes it starts to feel bigger and bigger in there! Now I totally see the room for the couch and the wood burning stove, and see the room for the kitchen counters and the breakfast nook and such. It has really come to life these past 24 hours! I spent the whole day removing the spray paint (grafitti) off the outside windows, and removing the tint off the inside windows. I have one perfect window so far, no paint on the outside, and no tint on the inside. It looks beautiful. (I can totally picture it with curtains.) It’s painstakingly slow, but slowly and surely it’ll come I guess. It has been such a learning curve, who knew a razor blade so many uses?

Kinda sad news is that Kaiya had a really high fever tonight, and both her and Karl have a bad cough, you know the kind that it’s painful to listen to, and it sounds as if there’s a ton of garbage in their lungs. Health really has been an issue since we moved out here, we keep saying it’s the change of environment, but maybe there is something more…

Well it has definately beeen a change for all of us, but we are hanging in pretty good, and totally exhillerated that the bus is here! It is taking shape quickly, so we will be sure to update often, and post photos ASAP.

Will definately post more soon.

Goodnight, I will go back to my day dreaming about scaping off tint.

Oh, we also really need jobs, just to mention. Good nite, or good morning, whatever.