When Will it be Done?

I have a clear, rich vision for what the Visicoach will be when it is done.  Paint scheme, tail lights, upholstery, flooring...it is all in there.

And sometimes I look at the bus and just wish I could get in and drive it away.

But then I get caught up in something truly exciting.  Something like building a box out of aluminum diamond plate, fabricating a fan shroud or dismantling an old fuel system.  That's why I'm here.  Each corner of the bus has some new component to clean, repair, modify or protect.

"When will it be done" fades.

The bus was born in 1952 in Loudonville, Ohio and went into service on short-haul routes in New Mexico.  There's no way of telling how many miles it covered over the past 60 years, but it was designed and built for continuous service.

At the same time, modern components offer considerable benefit. Air ride is far more forgiving than leaf springs, power steering is...well...powered, and a contemporary turbo diesel delivers more power on less fuel.  So the plan is not just to restore the bus, but to modernize it.  A 1952 chassis on completely modern running gear.  Simple; not.

The best place to find all that running gear is another vehicle; a donor. In this case, we found a 2000 Freightliner motorhome chassis that had never been built into an RV.  It has a Cummins turbo diesel and a six speed, push-button automatic transmission.  It has a full air ride system, along with self-adjusting air brakes and power steering.  Air conditioning?  Yep, that too.

It is easy to look at the Freightliner chassis an think, "hmm, you could just cut the bottom off the bus and drop it right down on top.  Those big frame rails are designed to carry almost 10,000 lbs. more than the bus weighs with all its systems and powertrain in place."  That would be a nice idea, but alas everything from the wheelbase to the ride height is wrong.

Instead, we'll be dismantling both the bus and the donor chassis, replacing old with new.  Part by part, section by section, new components will get modified, cut, bent, and welded into place on the old bus.

Yes, it would be simpler to just go buy a spiffy new motorhome.  But then it would be done.

I do reserve the right to change my mind...