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August 17 She's Healthy!Our girl is a fighter! She is fully recovered two days ahead of schedule. I picked her up today and took her for lunch. The bus starts right up, idles smoothly, and has more pick up than ever before!
This is a real boost to our schedule since we can do some of the minor things planned for the weekend tonight and tomorrow night leaving the weekend for wiring electronics.
Just wanted to give the update. More to follow. August 16 Surgery is UnderwayI stopped in to Tuffy this morning to visit our baby. It looks like she puked an engine. Her hood is wide opened for all to see, which must be embarrasing! Thank god they put her under first. Anyhow, the old engine is officially out and the new one will be hoisted in today. Then we should have her back for the weekend to start her recovery. She is still expected to be 100% by game one.
I want to say thanks to the Aiellos for donating to help us pay for this engine! We really appreciate it. Anything you can spare will help us so much, and will help you get a few free beers come game day! Thanks for anything you can do from money to ideas.
August 15 Moving Forward Even Without an EngineThings are really starting to fall in to place on the bus as the deadline rapidly approaches. This weekend saw the completion of the bar/kegerator enclosure. With that done, who needs anything else? In addition Megan and Joy completed the tint job which looks great! Vince and I spent last night and will spend another night this week on the back cabinets. They are all built now and just need a piece of trim, the door attached, and to be stained and sealed to match everything else. So now the seats and table are locked down on the bus and the other two components will join them soon.
All that is left is to get the logo on the bus and get the AV wiring done. There is no doubt we will make it in time now!
Another bit of good news came last week when we reserved our parking spots right along Newberry road. We will be in the parking lot just east of the Florida Book Store on the corner of 15th and University. For those of you that remember it is where the burger king was before it became a sports bar before that became a parking lot. I'll give more directions closer to day one.
Finally, the state of the engine address...we decided to bite the bullet and get a new one. That way we get a warranty and piece of mind. The new Jasper engine is being installed by the capable hands of the Tuffy staff and should be back to us by the weekend which will leave us plenty of time for the remaining work.
We're considering a poker tournament to help raise some funds for the engine...let me know if you're interested by posting a comment. August 07 Floating in a Sea of BeerThe title can mean only one thing...the kegerator is up and running! I've spent the weekend "testing" her out. Have a beer, adjust the pressure, have a beer, tighten the tap handle, have a beer, check the door seal, and so on. Needless to say, I've had a few.
In addition to the completion of the kegerator, I've also completed the table top for the inside of the bus. Now we have something to sit around in route to and at the stadium. It is complete with a Gator logo. I plan to have pictures up shortly, once I find the camera cord.
Please don't forget to donate to the engine fund. The bus is still in the capable hands of Tuffy's. We should no more tomorrow as to its general state of well being. I'll keep you posted! August 03 Help a Brother Out!We need your help to get the bus running for the opener! Any donations from $5 to $5,000,000 would be greatly appreciated! Please help us by donating at our paypal account linked below. Each donation earns you a free beer at the tailgate!
August 02 Anybody got four grand I can borrow?So it needs a new engine. That's the long and the short of it. I'm not going to beat around the bush. She's crapped out. Something about timing and gears and chains that I don't understand. Frankly I'm glad I don't. If I did I'd probably be crying even more right now.
I went and visited her last night. She's sitting behind the mechanic's. She was resting pretty comfortably, but she was pretty heavily sedated. She had a long day of people probing her, and needed some rest. I read her her favorite book, The Little Engine That Could, and though she was asleep she seemed to calm down.
So here's what I need from you. There is no question we are just too far in to this thing to quit. That said, do I have four grand lying around for a rainy day? No. So I need one of two things: your money or your ideas for getting other people to give me their money. Here's what I've come up with so far.
I want to hear your ideas. Please use the comment feature to let me know how we can put together the money. Any ideas, as long as they involve bikinis, are welcomed. Also, thanks to all for the flowers and condolance cards. It means alot the the bus and I. July 31 Bus Claims First Victim; ME!It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...literally.
This weekend was a rolloercoaster of emotion. To start I return Saturday from a week's vacation to find the yellow bus I'd grown to love had shed its skin and donned a shiny coat of blue metallic paint. It is breathtaking. Photos will be up soon (the delay will become evident as you read on). So Sunday was deemed bus day as we accomplished several things off of our evert growing list of to-dos. We added awesome chrome hubcaps and UF valve stem caps. We installed new carpet on the steps and under/around the driver's seat. We finally found a stairnose piece to fit the top of the steps where the wood meets the carpet. We accented it with a piece of metal edging which looks prety sharp. Our love of the bus helped us work cheerfully through a light drizzle.
It was then that things quickly took a turn for the worse. Megan and I were having difficulty removing the grinding wheel from the grinder which needed to be changed to trim the metal edging for the steps. So while Megan tried to get it off, I moved on to adding the trim to the rear door of the bus. The piece of edge needed to be shaved on the bottom to fit in to the T molding, so I went to it with an exacto/utility knife. As I pushed hard to cut through the wood, the blade slipped off and found its way in to my left forearm. Though there wasn't much pain at first, looking at the deep gash hurt pretty good. Megan and I went in to clean it off where we determined I needed stitches. So we wrapped it up in gause and went to get the bus and tools out of the back alley behind our house. I was picking things up while Meg started up the bus...with no luck. There was juice, but it just wouldn't fire. Not what I needed at the time.
We were parked on a sharp incline, so we decided to let it roll down to level ground in case fuel wasn't getting where it needed to go. I'm no mechanic. Not only did the 3,000lb bus not start, but it now blocked the alleyway at the base of the hill. Awesome. So Megan stayed for AAA while I drove my impailed self to the ER. How ironic that both the bus and I were headed in for emergency treatment.
Four stitches and as many hours later the nightmare had ended. (pic below...proceed with caution)
I visited the bus this morning at Tuffy. It's hanging in there. It should be better by tomorrow, at which point we will have a much better idea what happened. On a good note, Urban Meyer is expected at Tuffy on Friday, so we may get our first signature! July 20 I've neglected you, and for that I'm sorry.I'm behind, I know. You're starting to sound like my wife. There is only so much I can do in a day, and I'm sure not going to cut in to my drinking and sleeping time to blog! So, I come to you from work, where I'm always happy to take time out!
Despite the silence as of late, alot has happened. First of all, we finished up the interior painting. As you could see from the photo gallery, the spray paint option was a good way to get high, but not to paint a bus. That is why we enlisted the help of my new friend, the wagner power painter. I honestly spent more time taping then I did actually painting. The bus is now white from top to bottom...a blank canvas that will soon be covered in tacky orange and blue paraphernalia (see image below).
The second big addition was the completion of the benches (see image below). they recieved a coat of Gator orange stain followed by a nice protective sealant. They look great against the white interior, and will look even better when they soon get their gator skin cushions.
And finally, we have the paint situation resolved. After weeks of debating between diy or professional options, we've found a reasonably priced pro solution. Thank God for craigslist! Over the next couple of weekends the rust will be grinded down, sealed, and painted over in a lovely blue flake paint and clearcoat. Much better than the patchy spraypaint experiment that took place on the hood, though the color will be similar (see image below).
Megan and I are away for a week now, but when we return its crunch time! Game one is September 2nd, and despite repeated requests, Jeremy Foley refuses to push it back. Wish us luck, and feel free to jump in and help! July 14 We've got something to shoot for!OK, once we get done with the TV's and stuff, then we'll get to work on adding this feature. Thanks to Megan's dad for finding this.
July 03 We've made the big time!She runs...now let's make her look prettyHow many cans of paint does it take to cover the inside of a school bus? Apparently just like the tootsie pop, we may never know. After an afternoon of cleaning and a strong paint buzz, we're about a quarter of the way there on the coat of shiny white paint for the bus' interior.
Basically the plan is to cover the short bus' original "Tourrettes Tan" with a fresh coat of bright white. Then, while the sides will be decorated with seats and gator memoribilia, the ceiling will be eventually coverd in signatures from both notable gator greats and notable tailgator greats.
So from here we plan to invest in a wagner power sprayer to speed the process along. Vince/Joy and Megan/I can also make good use of it as new homeowners.
Notice the new pics that show off a couple of new additions like the URBN gator plate and the blue reflective tint (visible in the rear window...thanks again lynn). Looking good!
Once interior paint is complete then we can really begin to assemble things. Seats are made but can't be installed until its painted. Then we simply toss in the fridge and airconditoner and turn our attention to the "media wall." At that point we can also get cracking on the exterior. Based on our interior paint experience, I think we'll leave that one to the pros! June 20 I have resurfacedLet's be honest. Would you rather I blog or work on the bus? I thought so. Sorry for the delay.
So much has happened on the bus over the past couple of weeks. The crew has taken several steps forward, as well as more than a couple backwards. Here is a list of things that were completed along with their associated failures:
Some other purchases yet to make it on the bus include blue diamond plate for the stairs, paint for the interior, a gator helmet hood ornament, and the wood for the rear entertainment center and fridge cabinet.
May 29 God didn't smile on the Gators todayNo, instead he peed on us.
The team had big plans for today. We started off by getting enough wood to build a couple of bench seats and frame the entertainment center. Vince and I got started on that while Joy took to cleaning out the refrigerator that will become the beer temple. Things were going well when a 30mph gust of cool wind whipped in from nowhere, almost taking the tent along with it. Having lived in Florida most of my life and realzing it was 4pm in the summer, I knew that meant rain.
Joy, Vince, Izzy and I scampered to get the fabricated seats as well as other wood and powertools either un to the bus or under the canopy. While Vince and I made a weak attempt to continue under the canopy, Joy decided it was time for a nap. With her well rested and Vince and I well soaked with rain and humidity, we found ourselves well behind schedule. We made the decision to charge ahead while Joy made the decision to go drinking with our coworker Rex at the sportsbar around the corner.
So despite the weather and siestas, we managed to get the first bench framed up inside. Would-be Memorial Day is now overflow work day as we plan to put the finishing touches on the first bench and to frame out the second. Each bench features a hinged top with storage underneath. One will house the subwoofer and other electronics while the other will hold the canopy, chairs, and other tailgating paraphanalia. Vince's mother (yes, that's right) is allegedly a highly-skilled upholstory expert who will be in town next weekend to make cushions for the top of the bences as well as triangular backrests. The bottom front and sides of the benches will be stained and sealed to maintain that high quality wood craftmanship.
Take a look at the pics to see the swamp we ended up working in, and look for another update tomorrow. May 23 They're looking up her skirt!Our girl is getting checked out right now by the skilled technicians at Tuffy Auto Service Center. Today's schedule includes an oil change as well as a thorough check up. We'll know much more tomorrow about her health and well being for her big debut later this summer. I'll keep you posted! May 21 Flooring DayWhat is the best surface for cleaning vomit? Why wood floors of course! But that is not why we chose to use them. No, instead it is to pay homage to the 2006 National Champion University of Florida Men's basketball team. If hardwood is good enough for them, then damnit, it's good enough for me!
With all the seats out from last week's work, today started with a thorough cleaning. With all of the kleenex, bacteria, and bandaids removed, we were ready to lay the underlayment to protect the floor from moisture and make it quieter. In this case, we also used different layers to help level the floor. After the first row went around the wheelwell, the team got in a pretty good rhythm. Megan started each row and picked the wood, Vince made the precision cuts, I (peter) lined them all up, and Joy...well Joy played with her dog. :)
The next step is to put some finishing peices around the whole floor. Then we can start painting the interior, building the seats and entertainment center in, and get cracking on the rest of the interior. However before that happens, the bus has a date with the local mechanic to get a good once-over. I feel like a would-be father whose one true love is in the next room screaming as trained professionals look over her. Will everything come out alright? Are there any other complications? Does the bus have jaundice? All questions that will be answered this week.
I'll keep you posted! May 19 The 20 passenger bus becomes a one passenger busAnd just like that, there are no more seats! Thursday night saw the last seat fly out of the back of the bus along with the heater and floor strips. The interior is finally a blank slate for the design team. However there were some notable mishaps despite a great night in the history of the bus. First there was the small issue of the fire. The bus' extinguisher was almost put to the test as Vince grinded away at the final seat. Sparks were bunched up due to the bulky heater, igniting a pile of dirty kleenex, candy wrappers, and other filth left behind by the Long Beach County, NY School System. I was able to remove the burning embers with the hammer before the fire got out of control, but needless to say it was a scary moment. Next there was the incident with the mysterious liquid. With all the screws and wires removed from the heater it was just a matter of gently lifting it out of the bus. However nothing is ever that easy. So yada yada yada and a few swift kicks later the heater came loose as a mysterious green liquid spilled on to the floor of the bus. After a few moments of anxiety we realized it was the coolant for the motor in the heater. However that couple of seconds was a bit scary. So with everything off the bus it was time to drive her over to the dumpster and unload the trash. Vince made the mistake of encouraging me to peel out. I made the mistake of listening. First Vince was pleased as I roared away from the building. However his joy quickly turned to sheer terror as he screamed for me to stop. As a tip for all you would-be bus creators, unplug the powertools from inside the bus before actually driving the bus. Oops. Luckily Vince splurged on the 50ft cord, so we didn't break anything. The pics of final demo show Vince surveying the damage. When the fun ended Megan and I decided to take her for a spin. Since she finally has a license plate we could get her out of the parking lot and on to the open road where she belongs. To this point everytime I've started her up there has been considerable exhaust, presumably from burning oil. Last night was no different as we accelerated to 65 on the road. The good news however is after about 2 minutes she stopped puffing. The ride was smooth and suprisingly quiet, save for a few random engine clicks during acceleration. So all in all it was a big day for the bus. She took her maiden voyage as a non-school bus, and transformed from a workhorse to the makings of a party wagon. This weekend we will try to clean and paint the interior as well as laying the wood floors and the groundwork for the AV wiring. We'll be sure to keep you posted! May 18 New plate & paintPeter forgot to mention we were successful at the tag agency - no one thought to purchase URBN on a gator plate - so we did.
ps - I've gotten 8 referrals for paint shops in town that are good. I am going to call them all and see what kind of estimate they will do for our base blue color. I'll include Spray Glo too, Vince. Peter, put up our new paint preview.
Megan May 17 Finally Making Progress!We're finally getting somewhere! It was a rough start for the bus, with several failed attempts at acquiring Florida registration and plates and even more failure at getting the seats out of the old bus. To recap, here are several methods/tools that don't remove bus seats:
So real progress has been made, and things should move much more quickly now. A new wood floor is expected to go in soon in honor of the 2006 National Champion Gators basketball team. The kegerator refrigerator has been located and work should begin soon on it. The air conditioner has also been chosen and will come in after the floor is done. Things are happening! Make sure you take a look at the "Demolition" section of the photo albulm for the pics from the seat removal! May 04 And so it begins...It started as a dream. A young married couple talking about what could make Gator football better. How could they enhance the already amazing experience. "Why not a bus," one said. Sure, a bus. Fun, but insane. Or is it? Why not? Is it because society looks down on those in a short bus? Is it because a bus is fundamentaly an uncomfortable peice of crap?
Ignoring common logic, Urban Transit (named for famed Gator coach Urban Meyer) was born. After over ten years of service to the young retarded children of Long Beach City on Long Island, she now sits in a parking lot as a blank canvas ready to be set free from her yellow straightjacket. And that is what we plan to do.
So here is the team: Peter and Megan, the very same young married couple who hatched the plan, purchased the bus from NY. Vince and Joy will use their expertise in audio/video to pimp the ride out with the best tailgate setup around. Geoff and Kim will provide additional support in the way of a prime parking spot and other various items. When it is done, it will be a mobile keg/party/lounge/home theater/ultimate tailgating machine.
The entire process will be chronicled from this blog including photos along the way and experiences. We may look to you for guidance and opinions as we bring this dream to life. So sit back and enjoy the ride. |
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