Bus to RV, 1994 Blue Bird school bus conversion Part 1

This is our 1994 Blue Bird rear-engine school bus that we made into an RV about 7 years ago. It's still not done yet, but we hope to finish it soon.

[@stevelyons7833]

Very Nice Build.

[@EletrikRidesAgain]

Nice bus and woodwork!

[@johnboyc8924]

This is the best and most sensible build I ever saw, I subscribed, love the air horns and reusing the seats heaters, big thumbs up, looks better than a factory build, everything has its place. If you ever sell it I'll be the first man in line to buy it, I mean that. Big respect from me. Love it...

[@stanleylucky]

Fucking gorgeous bus brother! 1994 is a magic number in my book. Cheers.

[@PM-yn9hh]

You’re done a good job, enjoy

[@Reaper7232]

Cool stuff

[@sicsa689]

As a school bus mechanic. I love this bus. We have 97 Bluebirds here. Nice!

[@colemeyers1161]

That's surprising that it has been re built with only 150000 miles on it that's usually when those engines are broken in but some of the 90's cats have hade problems, love the vids keep up the good work

[@ronaldvero5232]

@1:40 the cat purrs like a kitten :D

[@johnboyc8924]

More videos, when you finish it and buy your next one I'll buy this if it's for sale, I rate your work, 99% 1 % is my final touch 😊😊👍🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@southernpacific-vp8ho]

0:24 thats funny 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@t.w.milburn8264]

Ohhhhh - Yeeeahhhhh Lets head fer them thar Hills Keep 'em com'n ATB Terry God Bless

[@bigskychevyguys8842]

Thanks for watching T.W Milburn.-Kyle

[@carlstclair9920]

@@bigskychevyguys8842 my dad loved Cummins and cat as he had a 400 big cam Cummins in a 1980 Freightliner.

[@grateful1929]

Very nice!!!

[@57gmc]

I like the bus :) Also a pretty cool project you have here

[@bigskychevyguys8842]

We like it too! Thanks for watching.

[@TuffDiesel]

you have really nicely made videos and they are entertaining too, I subbed! Cant wait to see more from you guys!

[@bigskychevyguys8842]

Thank you so much! and thank you for subscribing! I'm glad you like us. we have more videos coming soon.

[@williefufu2985]

That is a good looking Bus.

[@bigskychevyguys8842]

Thank You! and Thanks for Watching!

[@Superduty_59]

Very nice conversion! I would like to see more videos.

[@bigskychevyguys8842]

Thank you and Thanks for Watching! We will make more videos on the bus. if that's what you mean.

[@Superduty_59]

Bigsky Chevyguys yes more bus videos please.

[@bigskychevyguys8842]

We will make a video. :)

[@ARMEDPATRIOT757]

Bigsky Chevyguys how much would you guess you payed all in all

[@dcw1540]

Like your bus. Thanks

[@ronwilliams329]

Woah! 125K on a CAT diesel? I'm no CAT diesel expert but no wonder why various Cummins diesels are in such high demand! 125K and already rebuilt at least once? Wow! Goodness my 240DL is nearing 500K and it just now needs a rebuild. Some Cummins are just broken in at 125K!

[@alexsantiago357]

00:24.. dude ask what engine? Owner says CAT engine..opens hood and cat literally pops out running 00:29 😂😂😂😂

[@israeldrive]

Maravilhoso parabéns pelo vídeo é pelo cuidado q o dono tem com este ônibus q é o sonho de muitas pessoas

[@JayDUB213512]

That's Awesome

[@joeytb3901]

Beautiful Sir, Blue Bird SB conversion RVs just an awesome vehicle ? The BB diesel pusher 84 passenger is it CDL Exempt for 2 and maybe 3 people. Joe ..... SW FLA

[@luismonroy9156]

cool bus!..👌

[@bigskychevyguys8842]

Thank you! and Thanks for Watching!

[@Flashvette]

Very Nice job. I am thinking about selling our 31ft Starcraft travel trailer and converting a bus to a camper. No worrys about a leaking roof, rotted wood or aluminum panels that bulge out when driving. Its nice to be able to build it your way. Not sure to go with a flat nose or front hood school bus.

[@allenrousseau5668]

Thanks for sharing your video! Nice job! Inspiring, as I bought a 2002 Bluebird front engine. 5.9 Cummins 5 spd Allison-pushbutton like you have. The bus I purchased was originally a Red Cross blood collection unit. Built that way at the beginning. So it had four roof airs, two 20K dielsel generators. Each time it went to auction more stuff stripped off. I got it for $4000. Had one of the generators still on it. But it has a driveline retarder. Rather than a Jake brake on the engine, this had a big kinda torque converter, on the driveshaft to slow the bus down. Hydraulically powered from transmission. Kinda cool. I like the layout of your bus, the wood looks really nice! Your doing a great job! A great family project! God bless! Enjoy! thanks again for sharing! .

[@bigskychevyguys8842]

Thank you Allen for the kind compliments. It's still a work in progress as there are other projects on the go too, What are your plans for it and will you document it on a youtube video? I've had a lot of fun working on and figuring out the layout on this bus. Thanks for watching and GOD bless you!

[@allenrousseau5668]

Yep my bus is at a shop, having the exhaust done, brakes, trans fluid changed stuff like that. Once mechanically happy, I'll start rehab on interior, solar panels etc...I'm sure it will evolve, as I don't have a big wallet, but I hope to share on you tube as well. I'm an electrical contractor, one man & apprentice, so I have a sprinter van I've had alot of fun as work truck, and adding fun amenitities to. Alot of fun! Use it for work, kayaking, bicycling, kinda weekend camping. Excited to get to work on the bus. Dreaming of seeing Yosimite, Yellowstone, Grand canyon, etc. visiting relatives as well. [don't need a bus/camper-but always dreamed of doing it this way! LOL!] Trying to figure how to pay for it all when I take the time off! While I"m still alive and somewhat healthy!

[@NICKSSHOP]

very cool

[@bigskychevyguys8842]

Thank You! :)

[@brianwolf692009]

Nice

[@phoenixarizona8441]

Paint it blue to look like a Grayhound

[@keithc728]

Wow!!!

[@IndianaPentecostal23]

That's also a 6-speed transmission. You have to recieve a letter from Blue Bird to unlock the 6th gear.

[@southernpacific-vp8ho]

Put a chrome exhaust tip on it and shes ready!

[@kevinhaggerty7378]

Yeah.

[@marlonturner226]

Kool

[@jontypmcguire]

i want one...need a H.T licence first

[@johnathaneason9777]

Yes please do

[@BillGreenAZ]

So instead of horsepower for the engine would you state the power in "catpower"?

[@bigskychevyguys8842]

Maybe.....LOL........Thanks for Watching!

[@Underappreciatedclassics]

How many horsepower does that cat give :3

[@bigskychevyguys8842]

it's s a stock 250 h.p.

[@cqangie29]

Great bus! I'm curious, what size is the bunk beds?? Twin beds?

[@bigskychevyguys8842]

Thank you! The bunk beds (4) measure 32" x 78". We re-used the original bus seat foam for mattresses. Thanks for watchin'.

[@theorganloft]

Very Nice. Was it difficult to get insurance and does the engine have sufficient power to pull hills while towing?

[@bigskychevyguys8842]

Thank you. I could only find one insurance company that will insure converted school busses which is " National General" . It has about 230 h.p. so towing uphill depending on the weight will definitely have to downshift but it's a Cat so it will get the job done. The fuel pump could be turned up I suppose.

[@roundsm18]

The 3116 will do it, 3126 will do it faster, the C7 will destroy a Cummins. I base this on a lot of Blue Bird maintenance over the years.

[@PoliticalGangster]

Caterpillar 3116 good simple and reliable engine. A time before the EPA, EGR, DPF, DEF and all that crap that made diesel engines so unreliable and costly to repair.

[@johnathaneason9777]

Do you guys have a video of guys driving it?

[@citizentaxpayer460]

Where do you put an AC unit

[@evanschumacher6691]

How tall are you? And do you need a cdl do drive it? Thinking about doing a conversion in the future but I'm 6'2 and I'm worried about height clearances.

[@bigskychevyguys8842]

5 foot nine. ceiling in this all american is taller than most busses at 6 foot 3 where most are 73.5 inches.

[@JonathanLong]

super late but where can i get those clear lense covers on the front of the bus for the student lights

[@sg39g]

I believe these are the same lenses as the reverse lights. So you will find some in a junkyard or perhaps at the manufacturer.

[@heidikirchner5671]

Well you put your second bus on here to please

[@metvelle]

I drive a bus.. been wanting to do that to one for years.. can't talk the wife into it..LOL, how do you cope with the drafts.. those windows are leaky at least on mine they are, and are the windows able to be accessed from behind the cabinets.. mine randomly fall down or corners of them come down if you hit a large enough of a bump

[@bigskychevyguys8842]

No, the windows haven't given us any problems. we cannot access the windows unless we tear the wood panels off the walls. if you would like we can make more videos on the bus. so just let us know. Thanks for watching!-Kyle

[@TheBluebird65]

I'll bet you are driving a newer bus, possibly an International or Thomas. That is what I am driving for work at a school district and the cheap new latches are made of plastic with garbage springs. They will not stay up. I own four blue Birds that range from 1978 to 2002 and have no problems with them. They have metal latches and the springs work even after 250,000 miles. I did leave some of the windows in behind the bunk beds in my old 78 but it was a major pain to open and close them wher they are split between a bulk head or support. I made sure that the one in the toilet closet was fully accesable within the toilet room. A half window in that room was fitted with a computer fan and flop door to exhaust the air.

[@Fretticfurro]

how much does a school bus cost

[@bigskychevyguys8842]

We got this bus $3,500.00 back in 2010

[@TheBluebird65]

That is a bargan when you consider his low time engine. an overhaul for this engine will cost that mutch for parts alone. Or about 9,000.00 with labor.

[@SCRR_2553]

Your engine is Dimensions Length: 42.8 in (1086mm) Width: 26.5 in (674mm) Height: 36.5 in (927mm) Displacement 439 cu in (7.2L) Bore and stroke 4.33 x 5.0 in (110 x 127mm) Compression ratio 16:1 Aspiration Air To Air AfterCooled (ATAAC) Weight (approx, dry) 1250 lbs (568 kg)

[@rostrander73]

She for sale. The bus not the pup

[@bigskychevyguys8842]

Sorry, this bus is NOT for sale.

[@Fretticfurro]

ha a cat in a cat engiene

[@anitasatterlee732]

You should put a door and a wall around the toilet wall between kitchen sink and toilet. I see you kept the cb radio she had when I say "she" I mean the bus. Are you getting the bus ready for the summer so you can take it camping or whatever? Why are you getting a second bus?

[@codybrown2484]

Thats not an 84 passenger bus. 13 windows long 13x2=26 26x2=52

[@roundsm18]

Cody Brown 3 per seat... depending on configuration the rear is either 6 or 7 making it an 85 passenger. It’s been a school bus thing for years, that’s how design capacities work. Equipped capacities may differ. But if you really want to know, input the body number into Vantage and generally the build sheet tells you.

[@harrymcdowell2808]

In El Salvador only blue bird

[@IndianaPentecostal23]

That's a CAT 3116.. Not a 3126

[@roundsm18]

Jeremy Hagan that is what he said in the beginning right when he opened the engine compartment door. 3116.

[@user-xm9mu2ps8f]

，在

[@Ghostface4739]

I’ll give you 22,500 for the bus

[@alvisjenkins1305]

The lad was talking ahead of you making it unpleasant to listen to.