Community Forums

tmh462 · 10-08-2009, 08:49 PM

As some of you know, I work at an RV restoration shop. Last week I got an interesting motor home dropped off for restoration. It's a 1947 Spartan... Looks kind of like a Flxible bus, but looks like it's been a motor home all its life.
While I know this Spartan isn't the same as current Spartans, I was wondering if anybody would be interested in pictures of this dinosaur.
If y'all are, I can post photos in this thread occasionally, showing what it looks like now, and progress of the restoration. Let me know, I'll probably take my camera to work one or two days next week.

faye · 10-08-2009, 09:05 PM

i'd like to see the pictures.

Chickadee · 10-09-2009, 08:28 AM

Me too!!! Steve

Dick & Pat · 10-09-2009, 01:40 PM

Me Three!!!!

Sounds fascinating

Looking forward to pics of your progress!!

TXiceman · 10-09-2009, 02:00 PM

Why are we waiting so long for pictures. You need to post current condition first.

Ken

stearn · 10-09-2009, 03:15 PM

That would be great! Look forward to watching your progress!

tmh462 · 10-12-2009, 09:30 PM

The motor home is in a locked building with zero lighting. I have to bring in lights so you can see something besides a blob. I'm going tomorrow with lights and a camera, y'all may be shocked at some of the things this motor home has. Like, a separate "engine room" at the rear. With a full-size door for access. You can stand up to work on the engine. I wish I could do that with many DP's I've worked on.
It currently sports a 305 cubic inch GMC V6 engine, and a really weird manual transmission, with two shift levers. Each lever has only two positions, so I can only assume at this point (if the levers work as intended) it is only a 3 speed transmission.
A queen size bed is in the rear, on top of storage compartments, and is almost top-bunk height. Toilet and sink are on one side, just ahead of the bedroom, with a shower on the opposite side of the coach. The galley consists of a spot for a fridge (gone) on the curb side of the motor home, with sink and stove opposite. There is a front lounge ahead of that, with two couches that fold out to double beds, and a removable table in the aisle between them. In front of that is the driver and passenger seats, the driver's area has enough toggle switches to make Buck Rogers jealous

. I think there's a toggle switch for every single light and appliance on board, along with toggle switches for the exterior lights

.
It did have some kind of awning on it, but it was long gone by the time we got hold of it.
More than anything, it resembles the motor home owned by Jeff Daniels in the movie "RV".

tmh462 · 10-13-2009, 09:34 PM

Here are the pictures of the dinosaur inhabiting our warehouse. It may have been great for its time, but the state of the art has certainly passed it by:

tmh462 · 10-13-2009, 09:37 PM

More pictures:

tmh462 · 10-13-2009, 09:41 PM

Even more pictures:

jDavid · 10-18-2009, 07:27 AM

That is awesome! I hope to see more of the restoration. What is the plan? Make it look like todays mh or yesterdays mh?

http://www.irv2.com/forums/images/smilies/dance.gif

jDavid · 10-18-2009, 07:28 AM

That is awesome! I hope to see more of the restoration. What is the plan? Make it look like todays mh or yesterdays mh?:

TXiceman · 10-18-2009, 08:11 AM

That will be awesome when you get it completed. Looks like a long project. It appears that the general structure is in good shape.

Ken

tmh462 · 10-18-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jDavid

That is awesome! I hope to see more of the restoration. What is the plan? Make it look like todays mh or yesterdays mh?:

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman

That will be awesome when you get it completed. Looks like a long project. It appears that the general structure is in good shape.

Ken

The initial plan calls for a modern update, while keeping it looking like something from the 1940's. We have a totaled diesel pusher, with a Cummins and Allison combo that I'm going to try to shoehorn into the space. Failing that, I'm looking at either a V8 diesel (Ford/Navistar 7.3 IDi), or a big block GM gas engine if the Cummins is too long.
As you can see in a couple of the photos, we've already started stripping the (multiple) layers of paint off the outside, and depending on what we find, and how much money the client wants to sink into it, it will either be repainted, or polished. The same diesel pusher with the donor powerplant has a 6000 watt LP generator I'll place in the "engine room" for off-grid excursions. The same motorhome has a nearly new patio awning to put on the bus as well, though I'm not too sure about that, as far as how it will affect the appearance of the coach.

How things work at our shop, is the coach comes in, the client goes over what they want as far as features and updates with the boss. I get the work order, order up any items I need for the job, then install things like a generator, fresh and waste water systems, plumbing, new wiring throughout (current RV standards), make any desired modifications to the frame/running gear/drivetrain, general layout and structure. When that part is complete, the client and my boss go through the coach and decide on the exact placement of furnishings and appointments, along with type and color of things like furniture and interior walls and floor covering. Past experience has shown that no matter hhow good something looks on paper, it doesn't always translate to reality

. In this case, the client is saving many thousands of dollars by re-using components from the donor motor home, as we will be installing air ride suspension and the air brake system from the donor coach, as well as many of the interior appliances (the donor had 40,000 miles on it when wrecked, so much of it is like new, especially the engine and drivetrain). The very front corner of the donor motor home can be seen in the very last photo I posted.