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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: JackConrad on May 12, 2009, 03:09:00 PM

Title: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: JackConrad on May 12, 2009, 03:09:00 PM
    I just got a phone call from a fellow busnut that lives in Louisiana.  Kevin recently purchased a GM Buffalo near Ft. Myers, FL and stopped by our place for a few days on his way back to Louisiana.  He just called me to tell me they had a fire at their house today. The house and his bus were totally destroyed along with 14 pets (10 birds, 2 cats, and 2 dogs). Kevin said his parents and brothers are OK, but he suffered some 2nd and 3rd degree burns.  That is all the details I have at this time. I think Kevin posted more on the BNO BB, but he usually went by MacGyver.
   I am sure they would appreciate any help that can be provided.  If anyone wants to make a donation, Kevin's PayPal account is phyrebyrd@yahoo.com  Kevin's phone number is 318-840-9254  Jack

Click the Donate button below to open a new tab/window that will take you to PayPal and fill in Kevin's PayPal account as the recipient.
(http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss257/msullivan106/btn_donateCC_LG.gif) (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=phyrebyrd%40yahoo%2ecom&lc=US&item_name=The%20Nebus%20Family&currency_code=USD&bn=PP%2dDonationsBF%3abtn_donateCC_LG%2egif%3aNonHostedGuest)
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out
Post by: Nick Badame Refrig/ACC on May 12, 2009, 03:14:57 PM
Hi Jack,

Sorry to hear this..

PayPal donation done!
Nick-
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out
Post by: Airbag on May 12, 2009, 05:54:16 PM
Hello Jack
I called Kevin and his situation is about as bad as it could be. He is homeless, jobless and worst of all busless. I have sent a donation and strongly urge everyone else to do the same. He has corperate telecommunication design skills and needs a job and a home. If he were closer I would put him to work. Please everyone lets give him a helping hand.
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out
Post by: John316 on May 12, 2009, 06:36:11 PM
Wow, that is tough! Poor guy. I will pray for him, and hope things turn out better for him...

That sounds like a tragic fire!

God bless,

John
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out
Post by: Blacksheep on May 12, 2009, 07:17:09 PM
Hey John, although prayers are always welcome I'm sure but how about dishing out some of your dough? I'm sure he and his family could use that right about now along with your prayers! How about it? Instead of blessing him with JUST prayers, bless him with a gift of cash!

Right about now, that cash can go a long way!

Ace



Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out
Post by: Nick Badame Refrig/ACC on May 13, 2009, 03:35:10 AM
Hi Guy's,

Here is a reply from MAC about his fire taken from the BNO board.

Please help if you can
Nick-

Posted on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 - 5:23 am:     

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The loss of life ia staggering... The disaster still hasn't fully sunk in yet. I keep thinking this is a nightmare and I'll wake up... I know I won't though. I know I'm already awake... But it's just all so surreal.

Right now, financial help is what we need the most. My parents are ok. My brother is ok. Some of the animals made it... But some did not. Fourteen lost their lives today to a senseless tragedy... I keep going over in my head what could have caused it. The fire started in the garage, but there were only two things plugged in... A box fan, and a household fridge. That's it. I had an extension cord running to the bus for lights and the vacuum cleaner, and although it was plugged in... Everything was turned off. I used a bar plug with a built in circuit breaker... And it was off. I hadn't turned anything on in there for about two days.

I'd just gotten it ready to begin taking measurements... Getting ready for the floorplan designs. I keep going over what happened... I knew the birds were going to die within seconds, yet I tried to save them anyway... a futile effort. Why didn't I start the bus? Why didn't I race the engine to build up pressure and just MOVE THE DAMN THING!? I don't know. I was in a panic. I lost my bearings and sense of time. All I had was a garden hose against a fire that was already well into the attic of the house. It was still far enough away from the bus to save it... yet, I was concerned more for the lives I couldn't save, than the bus, which was my own future home. So, two homes were lost today. Not just one.

I don't know what kind of monetary damages my parents have sustained with this fire... But my own is considerable. I estimate in the garage alone, I had about $30,000 worth lost in the blaze. I had at least another $5000 that was already stored in the bus. I don't know if my computers will survive, but... There's hope for them, since the computer I'm writing on was in the house when it went up in flames. So... Maybe. These computers are my livelihood... They're what I use when I AM working, when I CAN find a contract. I can't begin to calculate what it's going to take now... I'm hoping that the damage to the bus isn't as bad as it appears, but when I get the pictures up... You'll see. It's bad. Flames tore through it nose to rear in seconds once the windshields shattered... They literally exploded from the intense heat.

Life as I knew it is done and over. I'm basically starting from square one with nothing but the clothes I had on my back, and I didn't even have a shirt on.

To those of you who've donated thus far... THANK YOU. I was able to purchase clothes and medical supplies that were desperately needed. I bought what was needed, and spent nothing on frivolous tripe. I have a little bit left, but most is already spent to put clothes back on me...

My parents made out fairly well in that department... Much of their clothing was in their room, which suffered only smoke damage. Same with my brother. I'd brought most of my clothes into the laundry room just a couple days ago when I was cleaning things out... All the clothes in the laundry room are ash.

Half my clothes were in the garage, still packed... My business suits, my motorcycle gear, my leathers.... All of it.... Gone. I'm just at a loss for what to do next.

My dad says his insurance policy for the house doesn't cover "Family Vehicles"... Well, I wouldn't classify the bus as a family vehicle... Not in the sense that it was for them to use... It was only for me. I was the only one insured to drive it. It was never intended for them to use. So, we'll se how it plays out over the next few days... But I expect State Farm will weasel out of paying for it somehow.

Anyone know how to find "book value" on one of these babies? How can I fight them? CAN I fight them?

Sigh. It's a depressing day. I'm exhausted. I need to get a shower and get some sleep.

Thanks again to those who've helped... It's more than appreciated. I hope I can on day return the kindness.

I'll post again when I can.

-Mac
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out
Post by: HighTechRedneck on May 13, 2009, 07:36:05 AM
For those of us who are Christians, Ace makes a very good point. Prayer is VERY important and powerful.  But sometimes action is needed as well.  Granted, prayer is action in an important way.  And for some it is the only way they can help.  But Christ taught us to help those in need and even small amounts help.  $10 can buy food for several meals.

James 2:15-17
Quote
15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  16If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out
Post by: FloridaCliff on May 13, 2009, 07:38:03 AM
Guys,

Here's a link to the story on the fire, also a video you can click on:

http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=10349625&nav=menu50_2 (http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=10349625&nav=menu50_2)
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out
Post by: John316 on May 13, 2009, 07:58:07 AM
Yup, for those of us that are pretty poor, at this point, just 20 helps out, I am sure....

God bless,

John
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: JackConrad on May 14, 2009, 11:41:47 AM
I have received a couple phone calls and emails from people that want to help, but don't use Paypal.  I just talked to Kevin and donations can be mailed to him at Kevin Nebus, 200 Benoist Circle, Bossier City, LA 71111.  Kevin said he is doing OK. Burns are not hurting as much, he is hanging in there.  He also said to thank everyone for the help he has received.  Jack
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: HighTechRedneck on May 18, 2009, 09:43:12 PM
Here is a PayPal Donation button for the convenience of anyone wishing to donate to help Kevin get back on his feet.

(http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss257/msullivan106/btn_donateCC_LG.gif) (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=phyrebyrd%40yahoo%2ecom&lc=US&item_name=The%20Nebus%20Family&currency_code=USD&bn=PP%2dDonationsBF%3abtn_donateCC_LG%2egif%3aNonHostedGuest)

Clicking it will take you to the PayPal site (in a new window/tab) and automatically fill in Kevin's account as the recipient.
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: MacGyver on May 18, 2009, 11:18:46 PM
Hey guys...  Sorry it's taken so long for me to post...  Mike reminded me this board was here too.  He told me of it when I was down in Florida and met him and Jack, but I'd been so busy tearing apart my bus for a refit that I just forgot about it and hadn't taken the time to get registered here...

So, I'm here...  And thank you to everyone who's donated and been kind...  It's pretty tough lately and we miss our animals greatly.  My parents are doing ok, so is my brother...  We just haven't figured out what we're going to do yet.

I just found out today that my dad signed a policy with State Farm that only pays for (I think) 93% of the house reconstruction costs...  Unfortunately, I have no way to help because the bus was my "home" and my only way to find work.  As has been mentioned, I'm a Telecommunications Engineer.  I design and build corporate telephone networks for a living and am "between contracts" because... Well, simply put... Nobody's buying telephone systems right now, and those that are... I can't get to.

Two homes were lost last Tuesday...  And one way of life, at least temporarily. 

I need parts for my bus to fix it.  First and foremost, I need window glass.  Windshields, door, driver, Big and Little "D" windows...  The rest I don't care about.  I'd planned to remove them, sheet them over and put in regular old RV windows anyway, just not anytime soon.  Now I don't have a choice.

Once I get my main desktop back up and running, I can resize the pix I've taken, as well as compile a couple of videos of the losses... Both material and lives lost.  Material things can be replaced, but the lives...  Well, they can't be, of course...  We miss them terribly...

As Jack first posted...  10 birds, 2 dogs and 2 cats lost their lives.  One bird was mine, one was my brothers.  The other 8 were Cockatiels and were my mother's...  One of the dogs was mine, but she was very old... The other was my mum's, she was pretty young...  One cat was my father's, one was my mother's.  All, however, were family companions that were loved every day and returned the love they received ten fold.

Anyway...  I have to change the subject or I'm going to be up all night again.  It's hard enough as it is without dwelling on the losses... 

If anyone has parts for the bus and conversion they don't need or want and would like to donate... Please let me know.  Jack said he's got a set of mirrors he can send me, so hopefully they'll fit.  The fire was so hot, that it actually melted mine...  The ones I had were good quality and were made of Aluminum and Steel...  And they just wilted over like plastic. 

I need headlight assemblies, window glass, steering wheel, dashboard, switches, relays, wire, marker lights, etc... 

I'm going to resurrect this old girl.  Her name is, at the moment, "Phoenix" unless another name comes up that suits equally well (that I like better).  The final paint color scheme will likely be red, yellow and white...  Probably some orange in there as well, but that's a LONG way from now.

It's after 1am now...  I'm exhausted.  I did manage to trace down a short going to the dashboard and terminate it (snipped the wire, no idea what it was...)  So, the bus actually runs at this point.  Though, no driver's seat at this moment... it turned to charcoal.  heh.

I think I have an old van seat around here somewhere...  It was a very nice captains chair...  If I can mate it with the seat base from the original seat, I'll have that again...  We'll see.  Not sure when I can get out to the old storage to see if it's there or not...  For some reason, I think I gave it away a few years back. 

If anyone is in the area and would like to help with the bus, or with the house...  Please give me a call and stop by!  We can have beer on-hand if that's your taste, or softdrinks.  Personally, I can't stand beer...  But I like a good Taquila Sunrise now and then.  ^.^

I'll post again later...  Thanks again to those who've called, written, prayed and/or donated!  It's GREATLY appreciated!

-Mac
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: MacGyver on May 21, 2009, 12:39:24 PM
Well, for those of you keeping tabs on this thread...  A couple of developments.

The insurance company is screwing us over pretty good...  We're getting a lawyer...  We've got the name and number of one that LOVES to take on State Farm, and State Farm hates him.  He's apparently never lost against them...  And almost always gets more than what the policy was insured for.  If things pan out, I'm going to use him to sue State Farm for coverage of my bus and get it professionally repaired.

Next up...  We've found a place to live in the meantime.  It's practically across the street from our home, within walking distance and less than a minute's drive (assuming we can get across 4 busy lanes of traffic quickly... lol)...  Water was turned on yesterday.  Power should be on either today, or tomorrow and internet/cable should be hooked up tomorrow, assuming power is hooked up before the cable guy comes...  Otherwise, who knows when iNet's going to be plugged in. 

We've still got a lot of work to do, and I've yet to spend any of the donation money on the bus...  A few tools that we needed to replace immediately and some clothing so far.  I'm not touching the donations unless I have to at this point...  We'll need it to buy food and more clothing soon, as well as dog food and chewies for them.  I just hope I can find another outlet to let people know what happened and how to donate to us...  We're going to be in 'dire straits' for a while to come yet. :(

We'll be able to have our companions back once power is hooked up to the new place...  I'm looking forward to having them back..  We miss 'em... 

Well, gotta get back over to the house and move more stuff out.  I'll update again when I can.

-Mac
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: MacGyver on May 21, 2009, 04:15:58 PM
I posted this on BNO but wanted to update you guys too, so here's a copy of what I posted....

-----

Well, today wasn't very productive I'm afraid...  Though, I did take more pictures of the progress of stripping the bus... 

We also got more boxes of "stuff" out of the house, but I was only there for a couple of hours today.  I worked yesterday and the day before in the heat without taking many breaks to cool off and rest, as a result... I'm paying for it today.

Working in the heat and overstressing my body was what caused my first heart attack...  I've taken it a lot easier since then, but it still gets to me faster than before...  So, today was more relaxing and recuperating than working.

I'm going to be processing some of the pictures I've taken and post them on my Flickr account and post the link here so ya'll can see more details of what happened, and what's been going on.  I'll also be taking the opportunity to send out some thank-you notes to those of you who've helped with donations...  They've been a great help, but ultimately may be needed to help retain the lawyer...  Not sure yet if he's going to work on contingency or what yet...  I'll keep ya'll updated on that front as well once I know more.

And, like I said...  Once things are taken care of and I have money flowing again, I'll donate back into the system through Ian.  It's just going to take some time... probably a lot of time. :(

Anyone out there need, or know of someone who does, a custom phone system built?  I build with Asterisk and use Grandstream telephony products...  I've found they're reliable and feature rich, and have a MUCH cheaper cost of ownership.  I also charge reasonable fees for building them and use off-the-shelf server components for easy maintenance... 

I also build custom computers using quality components (Asus motherboards, Kingston/Crucial memory, etc)..  So if anyone wants a computer built, I can quote a price if you'll give me the specs you're looking for.  I also build servers... 

I also build DVR's...  I built one for myself that records 4 channels at once...  2 Standard Def cable channels and 2 HD channels at once and can store about 3000 hours of television..  Mine is built from a miniature Shuttle system and uses external USB and network enabled tuners...  So, I can build those too...

Soon, I'll be building digital dashboard displays once I can get my electronic tools replaced and get my scope checked out...

Right now, I need to work...  My bus is important to me, but my family and our companion animals are more important.  My mother is extremely depressed over the loss of her companions...  I've been trying to keep myself busy enough to not think about the friends that died in the fire...  The material stuff can be replaced, and I have the memories of our companions...  But they're missed and have left holes in our hearts.  :(  My parents are also going to need considerable financial help with the rebuild of the house since Snake Farm is estimating the rebuilding costs in excess of the policy coverage. 

So, if anyone knows someone that needs the kinds of services I can offer...  Please let me know.  I'd love to work.  The donations have helped, but obviously, we can't survive on them alone...  The initial response was truly impressive and we were surprised...  So thank you from my family and myself.

-Mac
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: MacGyver on May 21, 2009, 05:55:27 PM
New photo sets up....

This first set is of some of our companion animals. All the survivors are shown... I couldn't find pics of one of the cats, my brother's bird or my mother's birds... We're still searching.

Each photo is marked with surviving or deceased in the fire...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36522796@N04/sets/72157618596155638/

This next set is of the house...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36522796@N04/sets/72157618596274126/

This next set is of the bus....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36522796@N04/sets/72157618509052185/

Some of the pics for the bus are from today... after I started cleaning it.

-Mac
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: Hi yo silver on May 22, 2009, 07:10:46 PM
Mac,
Sorry I am behind in checking this board; an important piece of advice here.  I hope you're wearing a suitable respirator when you dig through this debris.  You have probably already thought of this, but in case you haven't, when synthetic materials burn they leave behind all sorts of toxic compounds in the ash.  That nasty stuff will mess you up if you breathe it for a day or two.  Don't ask me how I know...

Sorry for your tremendous loss.  Just take it one day at a time.  I'm sending a small check.  Hang in there, Mac.

Dennis     
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: MacGyver on May 22, 2009, 10:42:45 PM
Dennis,

Actually, my respirators all burned in the garage...  My parents lost about 50% of what they owned, I lost about 98%....  I had a complete woodworking shop which was set up in the garage.  :( 

I haven't started tearing apart stuff that sheds dust yet...  So I haven't worried much with it.  I just got the bus wrapped in plastic today though, so I'm as done with it as it's going to get until we figure out what we're going to do next..  We're working on getting the lawyer next...  I just needed to get the bulk of the burned furniture out of the bus and into the trash pile.  The rest of it can wait for now, including the glass. 

I simply don't have the money to do anything more than demolition right now.  The glass is going to kill me..  The bus was my way to get to work, now it's down for the count.  I'm going to need to find something locally for the time being, but jobs are extremely scarce right now. :(  So I just don't know what I'm going to do yet...

-Mac
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: cody on May 23, 2009, 07:12:58 AM
Mac, what kind of a bus was it, I ask because I've found some really great deals on side windows at Bontragers, they're tinted sliders with screens.
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: Airbag on May 23, 2009, 08:48:23 AM
Mac
Why don't you wait till you get the clean up done and see what you've got before you make your decision to rebuild, you might find it just better to get another bus. I have seen others for as little as 5K that are drivable. But if you do decide to procede with it I have a drivers seat with the ratchet tube attached, it should just drop down in your base.

I would bet you could find a GM bus with a blown engine for a give away price that you could swap your engine and be way ahead of the game. Call Sam Caylor and other bus part people and see what they might have. These older buses are just being sent to the scrappers by the parts guys. My two cents.
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: MacGyver on May 23, 2009, 10:35:43 AM
Cody,

The only windows I intend to replace are the front windows...  The passenger windows will eventually be skinned over and standard RV style windows installed...  Right now though, I'm not too concerned with the windows as I'm just trying to make sure I can actually salvage the old girl...

---

Airbag,

I am going to finish cleanup before I make the final decision... but right now, I need something to "hold on to" that will keep me busy and keep me from thinking about what's been lost...  Right now, that's the bus and the animals that did survive the blaze... 

I actually picked this old girl up for fairly cheap...  I've had her less than a month.  :(  Problem is, I sank every last penny (literally) I had into getting her and have no more money to buy another.  I sold my car for the fuel money to get her home!

As for the seat...  I can't buy it from you right now... Not enough $$.  And I know shipping will be expensive...  I'm hoping I have an old captain's chair from the van I used to have out in storage...  It was comfy.  I salvaged the base off the seat that was in the bus...  Hopefully I can make the two mesh together, if not... I know a welding shop nearby that could probably weld the chair to the base...  Assuming I even have the seat any longer.

It's just going to take a long time to recover from this...  I'm hoping that SF will at least replace my conversion equipment...  I had everything ready to go and was stripping down the bus for refit with the new equipment.  :(

-Mac
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: cody on May 23, 2009, 10:50:29 AM
Mac, the windows I'm talking about are the retrofit rv style windows for buses, these windows are the ones available for conversion use with the sliders and screens, I fully understand the frustration at this point and uncertainty, as things start to smooth out and the air clears somewhat let us know what the final choices are and I'll almost be willing to bet that things could fall into place somewhat, life sometimes deal a blow that seems like quite a hill to climb but once a person reaches the top its a fun slide and the pedulum does sometimes swing as much into a persons favor as it did away from it.
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: Sojourner on May 24, 2009, 06:13:39 AM
I just learn this today, Sunday AM.
I will add this to my prayer list.
Some of us has been thorough the storm of whatever to cause a restart of building a new beginning with the hope of getting back on our feet. It very tuff going but with prayer and faith you will prosper. It is our only hope.

Sojourn for Christ, Gerald

Keep looking up!
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: Airbag on May 24, 2009, 07:12:25 AM
The seats your's free if you want it. Maybe a bus nut could throw it in the baggage bay if they are passing thru this area? It's in good shape it's a captains chair. 
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: cody on May 24, 2009, 07:15:23 AM
We travel all over and will probably be working our way thru your area at some point next fall or so, we could probably stop and pile up some sawdust here and there if needed, I've got some material that needs a home anyway lol.
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: MacGyver on May 24, 2009, 01:11:36 PM
Thanks...  I'd appreciate any parts that anyone can spare...  Jack's sending mirrors to me off his MCI, I hope they'll fit my GM...  If not, I'll send 'em back, or send 'em to someone who can use them if I can't...

Once I get a job again, I'll be able to repair the bus and get it back to operational assuming no major structural damage...  I'd planned to rewire the bus to begin with, just not so soon. heh....

The dash instruments seem to have survived, except for the speedo, which didn't work to begin with...  But all the light housings melted... Turn signals don't work, but the rear light assembly and brake lights seem to work just fine...

And oddly, the air leak I had when releasing the brakes has disappeared...  Odd.  Right now, I'm working on the itemized list of things for the insurance to replace...  I'm sending them only the conversion equipment since the coverage isn't much and my parents need the majority of it...  But I have to replace the equipment that was lost in the fire.  I'm going to have to write off the computers and just replace them later once I get cash flow going again. 

I'm just hoping the damage to the bus really is what it currently appears to be... If it is, I can fix it.  The major expense will be the glass...  I'd eventually planned to replace the windshields, but the "D" window glass, door and driver's side glasses I had not intended to replace... they were in good condition.  The windshields had some chips and a couple of cracks and were "swirled" from being wiped down so much with dirty cloths...  Nighttime driving was difficult as the windshields tended to "haze" everything. 

Sigh.  Always something... 

-Mac
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: busshawg on May 25, 2009, 11:02:17 AM
I'm thinking along the same lines as Airbag, if you could find a bus with a poor motor you'd probably pick it up for a fraction of the money you'll put into yours. Wiring can be quite a headache and expense, Just food for thought, So sorry for ALL of you loses, I can't even get my head around it yet.

Grant
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: MacGyver on May 26, 2009, 08:43:47 PM
Grant...  I'd do that, except it still puts me in the same situation I'm in now...  I have nowhere to do that kind of work on her, and if I did... I don't have the know-how to do an engine/transmission swap on my own...  To my knowledge, I don't live near enough to anyone that could help.  :(

But, I know the engine/transmission in the one I have now are good, solid running units...  I saw a Scenicruiser on eBay not too long ago that needed an engine/tranny, but was in CA...  I have no way to get one back here that couldn't run under its own power...  Money is beyond "tight" right now...  With my injuries and with everything else going on...  It's just still all overwhelming right now.

I'll figure out what to do after I rip into her and see what kind of damage I'm looking at once I get things torn apart...  I haven't even gone into her for 4 days or so now I guess... Ever since I plastic wrapped her to keep the rain out.  Too many other things going on right now to worry about the bus...  And until I get a lawyer to sue either the city or Snake Farm, it's a pointless endeavor either way... 

The donations we've received have helped a lot with basic necessities and with tools we've needed as well as stuff we've needed for the dogs that survived, but it's dwindling at this point....  I really have no hope of buying even one window with what's currently left.  :(

So, I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place...  I'll just be glad when these burns start healing up and don't hurt and itch so damn bad at the same friggin' time. heh.

Jack Conrad is sending mirrors that will hopefully fit...  Once I can get to working on the bus again, I've got to rip the burned cap off and see what I'm looking at under there...  One of the PO's used sheet metal screws and screwed the headliner right through the skin...  So I'm not quite sure how I'm going to deal with that hurdle yet...  Probably just sand it clean and use a few layers of fiberglass and bondo over it to smooth it out... 

The one skin panel that warped is fairly small and I can replace it if I had a source...  The welding shop I use could cut it to size, but what to use for rivets?   I don't really want to use pop rivets... they're not only ugly, but aren't weatherproof with the hole in the center, the leak.

Once I heal up and can work again, I'm going to try to find something around here for employment...  But jobs here are scarce... At best.  That's why I was doing the bus up, to get the hell out of this place and on to greener pastures.  Sigh.

Well, I'll close this up for now.  I've got to get up early tomorrow to get up to the burn unit at LSU for my appt... 

-Mac
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: MacGyver on May 27, 2009, 04:16:09 PM
OOOHHHHH KAY.

Now we're getting somewhere with the glass (no, I haven't bought anything yet... )

Thanks to Mike, who supplied me with a couple of places to check for the windshields...

One place gave me the quote today.  I have to wait until next week sometime for the other place...  But, this is MUCH more promising than the first quote I got...

TransLite quoted me a price of $129 for each windshield, $65 crate fee each and about $100 freight fee...  So, both windshields for a little under $500.  Much more reasonable...

Of course, they don't sell the seal kits...  I'll have to give Luke up at USC a call for those (in fact, the guy I talked to referenced US Coach but couldn't remember Luke's name until I mentioned it)... 

I'll wait for the quote from the 2nd place and once we're done clearing our stuff out of the house, I'll revisit the coach to see if it's worth moving forward with or not.  My feeling right now is that I can salvage her...  But I'll reserve final judgement for when I can dig into the dash to see just how bad the damage really is.

I know I can rewire the coach...  And I know it won't be TOO terribly expensive to do so.  I just have to wait and see if it's going to be worth it in the long run...  Right now, that answer is yes...  I simply can't go buy another coach right now, and I *NEED* it.

So... Next question is...  How the hell do I install these huge windshields myself?  I know it's at least a two person job... Likely three...  What are the tricks to doing so? 

I'll be taking the seal surfaces down to bare metal, priming with rustoleum and using a flat black (also rustoleum) for the final coat.  Probably 10 coats of primer and two to four coats of the final flat black, just to be sure I don't have to do it again and keep the surfaces protected from rot for a LONG time...

Some of the seal surfaces need a little more work than just a cleaning and paint though...  I'll probably take it up to the welding shop (since my welding rig burned) and have them weld in some new metal for the seal surfaces if I move forward with it...

So...  Tips?  Hints?

And does anyone out there have a spare passenger side air wiper motor?  Mine didn't make it through the fire....   Driver's side motor did though.

-Mac
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: JackConrad on May 27, 2009, 04:29:46 PM
I am supposed to help a fellow busnut change a couple Buffalo windshields in 3 weeks. Maybe we can shoot some "How To" photos for you.  Jack
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: MacGyver on May 27, 2009, 07:34:14 PM
That'd be GREAT, Jack!  :)  Thanks! 

By the way...  The mirrors haven't come yet...  Probably in the next couple of days.  :)

-Mac
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: MacGyver on June 01, 2009, 04:45:35 PM
Well, today was reasonably uneventful... Though, I discovered why a cat has been hanging around our place...

Seems she delivered a litter of kittens in our shed. We noticed her hanging around right after the fire and didn't think much of it... Then we discovered she'd been hiding out in the shed.

Well... After looking through the shed for some stuff, she made a quick escape but then I heard a "mew"... Looked down, and there was a jet black kitten with white strands of hair here and there... Well, where there's one, there's more...

So, I continued tearing the shed apart and found four of the little rascals... Three are black with sparse markings... One was white with grey tipped ears, tail and feet... We put some food and water down for them and they began chowing down on the soft canned food, then... To our surprise, started chowing down on the hard cat food once they caught a whiff of it... So, they're weaning age.

I took the little white one up to the vet to be checked out and get their opinion... I thought it was male, my mother thought it was female... Vet says male. They also said they're of weaning age and will be abandoned by their mum within a week...

I had them go ahead and keep the white one for me, I'll adopt it as my own. He needs to be wormed, treated for fleas and ear mites and get his shots... They'll be doing that tomorrow. He's a gorgeous kitten... Blue eyes, but what's unusual is his irises are tinged purple... Really light purple... Never seen anything like it before.

So... From the fire and devastation comes a breath of life... I'll post pictures when I get a chance... I didn't take the camera with me today. I'll take it tomorrow to get pics of the kitten.

-Mac
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: HighTechRedneck on June 03, 2009, 04:16:15 AM
Kevin asked me to let everyone know he will be offline for possibly up to a few days.  He chose to move into the apartment before it is ready so that the dogs could be with him instead of boarded.  Until the cable company comes up to install, he won't have Internet access.

Aside from a donated bed, it isn't furnished yet.  But he is happy to have the dogs with him.  And I'm sure they are very happy to be back with him.
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: MacGyver on June 04, 2009, 06:20:36 PM
Thanks, Mike... 

Now for today's update.  Sigh.

---

Well, I've moved in to the apartment..  Everyone else is still staying in the hotel for the time being...  I went ahead and moved in so the animals wouldn't have to stay in "doggy jail" up at the Vet's office.

Internet was just installed...  So now I can post again. 

Not a great deal has happened in the past couple of days.. 

The insurance company is screwing us pretty hard though.  We spoke with a lawyer today...  There's no chance of suing the city nor State Farm for the damage to the bus.  Even if I'd had "Uninsured Motorist" coverage, I'd still have been screwed because it wasn't a motor vehicle accident.  So, I'm SOL.

The lawyer wants a 33% cut of whatever he gets..  That eats into the money that's supposed to go towards rebuilding the house, as well as replacing what material possessions were lost.  Well, the total for his services would exceed $80,000.  Leaving just as little to rebuild and replace as we're already (not) getting.

For the time being, we have a roof over our heads...  But there's no telling how long that will last.  I'm unemployed (and can't find a damn job, even Mickey D's isn't hiring) and my parents depleted their bank account just paying for hotel and setting up in the apartment.

We still have almost no furniture..  I'm sitting on the floor writing this post on my laptop at the moment..  Can't build furniture because all my woodworking tools burned. 

Sigh.

We were told by the insurance company initially that if we bought anything to replace things with, to just turn in the receipts and they'd pay us back out of the pool of money from the insurance coverage...  Now, today, they changed the tune and now say we must furnish them with the complete list of everything that was in the house, how long we had each of them and how much it's expected to cost to replace each item...

That's going to take weeks to compile that list...  Especially my parents..  I can compile one pretty quick, as I know what I had...  They don't, and they never documented or took pictures of any of it...  They can't remember what half of it was either...

Although I can remember 90% of what I had and can provide what they're asking for, it's still going to take me a month to furnish MY list...  And we still won't get the money to actually replace anything for at least a year.  Grrr.

I hate insurance.  It's all a scam.  Every last bit of it...  They nickel and dime you to death when you make a claim, and then pay nothing near what anything was actually worth.

Oh yeah..   The lawyer said I can't sue the city because he was "doing his job", and I can't sue the insurance company because it's written in the policy that way.  My dad elected only 93% structure and $100k contents coverages...  A quarter of the contents is already "billed out" for them coming in and STEALING our stuff, claiming they were going to "clean and return" what could be salvaged...

I'm glad I told them they couldn't touch my room and my computer equipment or I'd never have gotten ANY of it back.  They've "written off" the entire content of the house and "thrown away" nearly everything they stole, and what they didn't throw away and they deemed had "resale value", they're actually selling it and KEEPING the money they get for it!

My dad's a Vietnam Vet...  My parents are both disabled.  I'm on the verge of being able to claim disability myself because of my health problems, but not quite there yet.  (Not that I *WANT* to be, I'd rather be healthy as a damn oxen)... 

So...  I did go ahead and order the windshields from Luke @ US Coach, but did it before the insurance started really putting the screws to us.  Wouldn't have mattered much either way though...  I can at least get the windshields in, fix the marker lights and driver's seat and be able to move it when I need to.  I don't NEED the rest of the windows right now...  Just enough to get it "road legal" again.  Maybe then I can get the hell out of here with what little I have left and find a damn job.

Word of warning to those who use State Farm for ANYTHING...  Run.  Run away.  Run away FAST and DON'T look back.  Go to Farmer's Insurance...  Everyone we've talked to loves them.  EVERYONE we've talked to about the Snake Farm that's had to make a real claim has been screwed with a 6 foot sword right up the rear end...

I'll finish this for now, my back is killing me from having to sit on the damn floor. heh.

-Mac
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: HighTechRedneck on June 09, 2009, 06:52:15 AM
How are you doing today Kevin?  I'll bet your dogs are happier now that they are with you instead of at the boarding house.
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: Kwajdiver on June 09, 2009, 06:25:20 PM
Kevin,  I'm sorry for the hand that has been dealt you.  Hope my little donation helps a little.

Bill Williamson
Tampa Bay
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: Airbag on June 09, 2009, 06:50:57 PM
Farmers Insurance is no better. I was rear ended in my F-100 PU by an Air Force Airman that had expired insurance. I ended up in the ER for a bit. No problem I say I have uninsured motorist coverage. Farmers told me to send them reciepts for medical and lost work. I sent them my ER bill, ambulance, one week lost work. They said were not paying that, it's too much, I had to sue my own Insurance company that I have been with since high school. I have paid them a king's ransom over the years and they do this. 
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: MacGyver on June 10, 2009, 09:29:15 PM
Hey guys... Been offline a couple of days.  Been feeling pretty under the weather lately.  Always somethin', eh?

Mike...  The animals are doing well.  ^.^  Though, they miss their respective owners.  I'm the only one in the apartment right now... It's not actually suitable to live in yet for everyone else...  My standards are a bit lower when it comes to home furnishings...  Might have something to do with the fact I was willing to live in a bus fulltime... lol

My folks and brother will be staying at the hotel until July 3rd...  We've had some furnishings donated to us...  a bed, dining room table and various other odds and ends.  Things are going 'smoothly', considering...  One day at a time, one hurdle at a time I guess.

---

Bill, yes...  Thank you.  :)  It's much appreciated...  We're still fighting the insurance company big time...  They got wind that we were consulting with a lawyer, we're not sure how, but they did...  They stepped it up a notch and sent the money my folks had spent on the hotel stay so far, and paid it thru Jul 3...  So, it's something, but not enough.

They're telling us we have a sum total of 60 days to get them the list of everything that was in the house at the time it burned.  After that, anything we list is inconsequential.  So we're trying to remember everything...  Hard to do when you have several generations worth of stuff that burned and simply has no 'replacement' value, since it can never be replaced.

One of the bastards that was moving the stuff out of the house made off with an oil lamp from the 1700's that's been in the family for MANY generations..  It happened within a day or two of the fire.  The other one was 'cleverly hidden' under the bed, but we found it...  So, one is lost, one was found. 

They've made off with much of our stuff claiming it was 'destroyed'.  Several pieces of furniture were covered in soot and smoke particulates, but could have been easily cleaned off.  The insurance company 'condemned' nearly everything, claiming it all as 'salvage'.  So, what this means is that anything they CAN clean, they're going to sell and keep the money from STEALING our property... Claiming they're 'replacing' it.  We can 'pay them' to re-acquire OUR property, but they won't 'replace' it afterwards. 

I really despise insurance companies.  I don't care who they are or what they promise.  They're worse than your average politician...  If their lips are flappin', they're lyin'.  Plain and simple.

---

Airbag...

Yeah, I suspected as much...  seems to be the way 'insurance' works.  Steal your money, then fight you when you have a claim they don't like.  Even something piddly like a $400 bumper they'll fight you for it...  Few insurance claims go smoothly, and even fewer get paid out at the full 'promised' coverage amount, claiming it's 'beyond the scope of the policy' or some such bullshit. 

Sigh.

---

Well, I'm off to rest.  Not sure what's hit me, but it's not something good.  Been completely run down like I have 12v batteries only charged to 0.5v, yeah... that bad. 

Guess all this crap is taking its toll on my physical and mental wellbeing, not that I had much of either to begin with!!

-Mac
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: Gary '79 5C on June 11, 2009, 03:14:05 AM

They've made off with much of our stuff claiming it was 'destroyed'.  Several pieces of furniture were covered in soot and smoke particulates, but could have been easily cleaned off.  The insurance company 'condemned' nearly everything, claiming it all as 'salvage'.  So, what this means is that anything they CAN clean, they're going to sell and keep the money from STEALING our property... Claiming they're 'replacing' it.  We can 'pay them' to re-acquire OUR property, but they won't 'replace' it afterwards.   


Mac. Really sorry about the entire ordeal, However if this is the insurance company's doing as described above, It is a unbelievable eye opener for me. It makes no sense. Just No Sense.

I still hope and pray you find the strength for you & family to carry on, which you will, more and more in time.

Gary Pasternak
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: uncle ned on June 11, 2009, 04:45:23 AM


Insurance company's are the ban of the earth.

A driver ran a stop sign in front of me,totaled my truck. Insurance company towed my truck away,don't know where and will not settle with me.offered me pratically nothing for my truck,and will not do anything else.

you have no rights and the lawyers are worse.

uncle ned
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: MacGyver on June 13, 2009, 11:13:49 AM
Ned...  Absolutely right.  Insurance companies don't want to pay out what they've stolen from their "customers", and lawyers want to steal it more than the insurance companies do.

You're damned if you do, and damned if you don't.  It's pathetic that we're REQUIRED to carry insurance for everything, and the insurance companies ARE NOT required to pay out when the time comes to collect on it.  It's really a shame that such organized crime is permitted by our "government", and that us, the PEOPLE, have lost all say in how things work because as a general rule...  People just don't give a damn until "it happens to them".

Until it does, it's always "someone elses problem", and when something DOES happen to you, it's too late because you didn't give a damn in the first place.  This describes 99% of the population, but fortunately...  This doesn't describe this community, which is a REALLY nice change.

Sigh...  Sad world we live in these days.  We, as a people, need to take back the power we've squandered away to the politicians and the lawyers...  But it's going to take a lot more people than us to get something done about it now!

-Mac
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: uncle ned on June 13, 2009, 12:35:24 PM


one of the reasons that i have become a card carring member of the NRA,AMA
and if there were a Militia close i would probaly join.

uncle ned
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: Airbag on June 13, 2009, 01:33:17 PM
Same bastards that allow things like, Check into cash, Payday loans, Autotitle loans, legalized loan sharks. The loan sharks in Chicago in the 1930's did not have the nerve to charge 400 % interest and yet our government has given them the green light to ruin so many lives. Instead of Venny and Boom Boom coming to break your legs now it's the sheriff that comes to take your property. Some days I think the tea needs to go back into the harbor.
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: HighTechRedneck on June 13, 2009, 01:53:32 PM
I heartily agree with all of those points.  (But let's try not to turn this into a political thread.)

Kevin, you mentioned that you ordered the windshields.  A while back you asked for tips on installing them.  Did you get the information you needed to do that?

A couple days ago you mentioned feeling really tired and drained. Have you been able to get some rest and recover a little from that?

Have you had any luck getting your computer equipment cleaned up and operational?
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: Airbag on June 13, 2009, 02:12:04 PM
I heartily agree with all of those points.  (But let's try not to turn this into a political thread.)

Kevin, you mentioned that you ordered the windshields.  A while back you asked for tips on installing them.  Did you get the information you needed to do that?

A couple days ago you mentioned feeling really tired and drained. Have you been able to get some rest and recover a little from that?

Have you had any luck getting your computer equipment cleaned up and operational?

I wonder how I got so over weight with my foot stuck in my mouth. Sorry for the rant.

Kevin do you still need the drivers seat? I still have it and if somebody can get it to you it's yours. You might try posting a seperate thread asking if anyone is passing this way.
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: JohnEd on June 13, 2009, 07:41:47 PM
Kevin/MacGyver,

I hope your life is coming back together, even if just a little.  I sent you some money at your PayPal address and you should have it by now.  We don't know each other and I don't recall us ever talking on the board.  I am sorry to see what has happened to you and that your alternatives are so limited.  Hang tough and know that there are better days coming.

I am trying to get you those "D" windows.  Can you measure the dimensions and sent them to me.  I have glass but I think there were more than one "D" window and I want to be sure I have yours.

I have two RV double pane sliders for you.  They cost me $60 each but they are yours if you pay it forward when you can.  Problem here is getting them to you from Eugene, Orygun.  Mike(HTRN) got some stuff shipped to him in Tenn.  He had trucker friends carry it back to him.  Contact Mike and explore the possibility of getting stuff for you moved thru the same channels.

I like your idea of traveling to the work.  There are some spots around the country thaT ARE not as shut down as others.  being mobile can really make all the difference.  I think you should pursue that.

We have something in common....Dobies.  I had one for three and a half years.  I have a weeks worth of stories and I think of him often.  Baron.  He was of national champion stock, Grand Father was best in show at Westminister.  I never took that guy out with me that i didn't get compliments shouted across streets or parking lots.  Nobody wanted to pet him though, just comment on him being a magnificent dog.  My favorite question was "What do you feed him?".  My answer: Oh some sirloin, Sand Dabs, Lobster, Prime rib, King Crab and lots of Prime Rib.  Wifey worked in a swank steak house and every night a bag was placed at the waitress station with BARON printed on it.  He got the best scrapes in the evening.  We froze that and both dogs got premium fare a few nites a week.  He shined like a patent leather shoe.  I got a weeks worth of stories.  I would have one today but I travel and everyone is terrified of them and that isn't even remotely justified.  Facts and evidence don't matter, though.  After a Dobe everything else is just a dog.  My Manchester Terrier is the image of a Dobe in 25 pound traveling size.  Plays well with others and comes and gets Daddy if there is anything going on that needs shot.

Call Mike about transport.  Two RV thermopane, black, aluminum sliders with a light filter tint.

Hug your dogs for me,

John

John
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: HighTechRedneck on June 13, 2009, 07:57:57 PM
Actually, several bus nuts helped me get those roof air units all the way from Oregon to Arcadia, FL.  Dale (Songman) and Don Fairchild picked them up on the way back from a trade show in Seatle and took them back to Bakersfield.  Then they dropped them off with Melbo in New Mexico while on their way to another trade show in Louisiana.  Then Melbo brought them to Arcadia to the rally.  The original plan we were looking at was another friend who drives a truck might have been able to bring them back if I got them to a point where he could pick them up.

I am thankful to all of the people for helping me get those roof airs and to John for providing them.

I have seen lots of trips being talked about on the forum lately.  Maybe a few people could form a relay team to get them to Kevin.  Perhaps someone on their way back from Bus N USA could get them part way and hand them off to others until they are all the way to Kevin.
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: JohnEd on June 13, 2009, 10:21:07 PM
Mike,

That BusNUsa event at Rickreall is a super idea.  I will post to them or anyone want to do that?  There are people from all over that go to that event.

John
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: HighTechRedneck on June 14, 2009, 07:39:39 PM
John, how about you go ahead and post the request since you would have a feel for how much space it would take in their bay.
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: JohnEd on June 14, 2009, 07:47:36 PM
You betchum Red Rider. ??? ;D
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: Krashdragon on June 14, 2009, 08:28:49 PM
MacGyver,
I really hate to read how you're being screwed by SF...
I worked as a catrostrophe insurace adjuster after hurricane Ike... we were told to try and pay all reasonable damages..
I did my claims by phone and email pics... and we tried like hell to pay as much as we could...ok, the more we paid out, the more we made, but I guess that's not the case with you... I'm so sorry about that.

We did need to ask the people to list everything that was damaged... otherwise we had no idea of what they had.
That was the most frustrating part... a pile of moldy rotten clothes isnt' much different than a pile of burned ones... sucks big time.

I do hope you're feeling better, I did send a small donation. Maybe I need to send some cat food next time... :D
so what did you name him?

Crossing my fingers and praying for ya!
Take care of yourself.
Mary aka Krashdragon
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: HighTechRedneck on June 14, 2009, 08:41:52 PM
Krashdragon, that may be changing.  I have a friend that has been a independent catastrophe adjuster for about 20 years.  He has said that in the last few years insurance companies have gotten a lot tighter about claims.  On his last few disasters, the insurance companies told the adjusters to keep the claim values down.  Those that exceeded an undocumented threshold were sent home (equivalent to fired).
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: JohnEd on June 15, 2009, 09:19:37 PM
Kevin,

Get me a pic of the side of your bus so I can select the D window you need.  What model is your bus?  4107 was mentioned as a model that we have glass for.

John
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: FloridaCliff on June 16, 2009, 06:49:26 AM
Mac,

Did you already order some windshields?

If not, I should have two that I am removing today.

They are used, but would be good enough until you decide what to do with the coach.

If so, maybe we can see how they could hitch a ride North.

Cliff
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: MacGyver on June 16, 2009, 03:04:29 PM
Whew.  A few posts since I was last online.  heh.

Ok.

---

Mike...  Yeah, I'm still pretty drained.  My back and neck have been causing me a serious bit of pain lately, but it'll pass in time.  As for rest...  I've had quite a lot, but honestly...  I could stay asleep for two days straight and still wake up tired and drained.  This whole situation just wears a person down, ya know?  :(

---

John...  The bus is a 1970 GMC PD-4905 #030.  I'm not sure if the windows between the 4107 and 4905 are the same as far as the "D"'s...  But I need both sets.   Once I get the bus roadable again (not necessarily converted, just able to drive it legally again, windows and lights put in, etc...), then I'll probably head out to North Cali.  A friend there has offered a place to stay and says there's ample work that I can do.  So I'm seriously considering that as an option once the bus is ready to roll again. 

As for the other windows...  I'll take anything I can get right now.  I'm sure I can adapt a lot of things to work...  I'm not picky.  Anything done now that I don't like later on can just be redone... It's not a big deal.  After all, we're all about adapting to our particular environment as a community, aren't we?  :)  Also, check into what it would cost to get them shipped to me..  I might be able to find a way to swing it.

I like Dobies...  But I have to admit, I love the German Shepherds personally...  Dobies provoke a fear response to many people, but a large German Shepherd...  Well, that provoked everyone. ;)  All the time I've had Shepherds, we've never had a break in...  Everyone knows we have them and the Dobies, so no one dares try!  ^.^  And, for the purebreds (which Coco is), their reputation is well justified.  Coco comes from a long line of police dogs in Australia...  Her grandfather was supposedly named top police dog on the force several years in a row, and her father was just absolutely MASSIVE.  I've honestly never seen a German Shepherd as big as him..  He was docile, Coco's mother was high strung...  Coco inherited the high strung attributes as well as aggressive tendencies.  She's loyal to the end and highly protective...  I need to get her trained though, I just haven't had the time or energy lately to work with her.  Hopefully that'll change soon.

---

Cliff...

Yes, the windshields were ordered.  I'm waiting for them to arrive still.  It's now too hot to work with the bus at all for me, so I'll have to just wait until cooler weather moves in... Probably September or so now.  So I've got plenty of time to think about what I'll be doing next. 

I did start cleanup on the bus and what I've cleaned turned out pretty good.  I'm definitely going to have to do some rewiring and replace the dash cluster entirely.  I can probably salvage the steering wheel, but it's going to take a lot of work.  I'll probably strip the plastic off it and make a wooden handle surface with a leather wrap on it...  It got quite hot in the sun, so that'll keep it cool to the touch after it's done.

---

Also, after inspecting things a bit further, I've found that the front A/C unit is totally trashed.  The internal plastic fans melted.  However, the rear two units seem intact and the fans spin freely.  I will, however, require new bottom control units, as they did melt....  I can probably find them on eBay fairly cheap, but those aren't a priority right now...  Not much on the bus is a priority right now...  As I said, it's simply too hot here for me to work on it. 

I also need to come up with a smaller gennie to run my power tools on.  I ran out of fuel on the big one (which was way overkill to be running small powertools on to begin with), and have no way to refill the tank for it...  Don't really want to with the price of fuel right now.  It'll run for probably 4 days on a full tank non-stop.  My dad thinks he can get one from work to use for what I need it for..  It's an older unit that isn't working efficiently any longer, but I think I can fix what's wrong with it with a few tweaks to the governor. 

-Mac
Title: Re: Busnut Burned Out - Lost Home and Bus. Needs Help
Post by: MacGyver on June 16, 2009, 03:40:05 PM
John, here's the pics you asked for...

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3620/3633203587_e151164040.jpg?v=0)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3610/3634012810_90a42e9ea8.jpg?v=0)

-Mac
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