How to Remove a Bus A/C System | Bus Conversion Tutorial

Рет қаралды 9,862

5 жыл бұрын

Step-by-step tutorial on removing our skoolie A/C system: bit.ly/acremoval
How we removed the original AC air conditioning system on our skoolie bus conversion. If you have any questions, shoot us a comment. And don't forget to subscribe to catch all our upcoming bus conversion tutorials!
Check out our series of step-by-step bus conversion tutorials: bit.ly/skoolieguides
Here's the AC rooftop unit we installed later: bit.ly/skoolieac
Essential Tools to Remove the Old A/C:
Impact Driver: amzn.to/36KoaGF
Wrench Set: amzn.to/3cifEjs
Electrical Screw Terminals: amzn.to/3gGHPMy
Protective Gloves: amzn.to/3djE4KC
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Our skoolie bus conversion took 9 months and $28,000 to complete. It contains a recording studio, art studio space, kitchen + bath + two guest beds + rooftop deck. All in 198 sq ft of space!
A lot of people ask us what tools and materials are absolutely essential for a bus conversion project. Here they are!
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5-in-1 Painters Tool (you will use this a MILLION times): amzn.to/3djfEky
Impact Driver & Drill Combo Kit (there won't be a day you won't use this): amzn.to/3dgycSo
100% Silicone (buy in bulk to save a LOT of money!): amzn.to/2Aki8kb
Angle Grinder (get used to using this ALL the time!): amzn.to/36OskgL
Table Saw (it will be nearly impossible to complete your conversion without this. It’s WORTH the investment!): amzn.to/3gyGur3
Don't have prime yet? Here's 30 days free: amzn.to/3BI5HtQ
Working on your solar? Use our code for 5% off sitewide at Expert Power (Code: AWTY): www.expertpower.us/?ref=awty
About Art We There Yet:
Art We There Yet is a project to create art inspired by the Americas, and to give back to communities along the way. Aboard a school bus converted into an art and recording studio, we are traveling 30,000 miles across North, Central, and South America. Creating art and music to highlight the challenges, diversity, and shared humanity of peoples across the Americas. Providing murals and workshops in schools and communities that lack access to arts funding.
Check out Art We There Yet: artwethereyet.com/
Join our Patreon crew: / artwethereyet
Support the project with a tax-deductible contribution: fundraising.fracturedatlas.or...

Пікірлер: 22

@MatWeakland 4 жыл бұрын

Wow! Great visuals! I’m ecstatic over this video!! Thank you so much!! One question: when you removed the compressors from the engine, wasn’t the belt to short because of the 2 missing pulleys? How did you work around that? Any help is greatly appreciated 🙏🙏🙏

@ArtWeThereYet 3 жыл бұрын

Hey Mat! I'm so happy the video is helpful for you!! So we have a 2001 DT466E, and fortunately for us, with this engine the AC compressor belts were completely independent from any other function of the engine. So removing the belt didn't have any affect on any other component of the engine. If you compressor belts are different, I'd definitely get the two cents from a mechanic before taking them out!

@MatWeakland 3 жыл бұрын

Art We There Yet? Thanks for the replay! Your video lead me in the right direction, and I think I’ve figured it out! Cheers 🍻

@mariacallaghan4055 3 жыл бұрын

We are at the same phase in our conversion - what are the pros/cons of removing and keeping the bulky ac unit in the back?

@ArtWeThereYet 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Maria! For us, removing it was definitely the right move. Maybe it's the same for you guys, or maybe it would work well with your floor plan. For us, the last two feet of our bus is closed off as a 'garage space' for our solar equipment, generator, paints, vacuum, etc (check out our tour to see the space I'm talking about: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mtinpMqb0NTJkYE.html) So for us, here were the pros and cons: Pros: -Allowed us to build the 2 ft garage space. If we had left the AC, we would have had to make the garage space larger, which would have left less room for the studio and not enough room in the studio for it to also be our bedroom. We needed the studio to serve both purposes. -Less weight - those things are heavy, so if you're not going to use the bus' native AC units, it's worth it to get them out of there! -$$ we were able to sell our units (back and front units = $750 total), which helped lower the cost of the bus Cons: -Removing the AC system takes time, and you have to be careful when evacuating the freon as it is a personal health and environmental hazard I imagine if you have an open floor plan, in which your bedroom is going to be in the back, maybe it might be better for you guys to keep your unit. Even though it'll only function when driving, it can still help zap the space with a little bit of cold which can be so helpful on crazy hot days! Hope this helps a little bit in your decision! Abrazos, Cora

@JoelMr20 4 жыл бұрын

Hey guys I'm doing this job at the moment, the system is from 2001rosa bus very similar set up, and from what I can see in the sight glass it's empty. Could there still be risk of fluid and should I call someone out to make sure? Also my other concern is when I remove the condensers and their belts will it affect other things on the engine and will adjustments need to be made. Thanks heaps great video 👍

@JoelMr20 4 жыл бұрын

I have a repair manual and instructions on what sequence to remove everything though don't want to touch any hoses until I know what's going on and if they are empty same with belts

@ArtWeThereYet 4 жыл бұрын

Definitely still have someone come out to check the hoses and remove any freon that might be in there. If not, you could risk spilling any that might be in there that you just can't detect. Not only is the stuff bad for the environment, but if it gets on you, it can freeze burn you bad! I'm sorry, without seeing your engine it's hard to say whether removing the compressors/belt will cause any issues in your engine. It was very clear with ours that removing the belt wouldn't cause issues, because it was independent of any other engine component. Sorry I can't be more help on that front!

@JoelMr20 4 жыл бұрын

@@ArtWeThereYet I found the service caps they are like tyre valves. Air con gave me advice on how to check for gas to save me a callout fee. Decided to keep the system after his advice anyway so all good. Cheers 🤙

@margiemacias2675 2 жыл бұрын

Do you have a video of you removing the a/c units?

@ArtWeThereYet 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Margie! You bet! Here is the video + tutorial that includes that step: artwethereyet.com/blog/remove-ceiling-panels-school-bus-conversion/

@TheLostWolvesSRQ 2 жыл бұрын

Do you have to remove the compressors in the engine bay or can you just disconnect the hoses and the truck will run the same?

@ArtWeThereYet 2 жыл бұрын

It might be different for different buses. For ours, the compressors didn't HAVE to be removed. We just did so because the guy who bought our AC system of course wanted the compressors as well. But we could have left them there, and they would have just been extra weight.

@spiritualwarrior1084 2 жыл бұрын

I really wanted the AC unit out of my bus, so I just cut the lines and took it out.. no leakage , but some pressure released, is it ok to loop as it is? I saw another video of the guy cap the lines. Thx

@ArtWeThereYet 2 жыл бұрын

I would prefer to remove all the components out and disconnect everything. I am assuming that if everything is disconnected and the compressors are not working there should be no problem leaving the lines and other components in place.

@EugenKozynin 6 ай бұрын

How do you cool your bus while driving?

@ArtWeThereYet 6 ай бұрын

Just by opening windows. It gets a little toasty sometimes!

@RVILDOR 4 жыл бұрын

Where is the ac system you removed,I need one for my bus?

@ArtWeThereYet 4 жыл бұрын

Ronald Vildor we actually sold it right after we removed it!

@patsyvazquez7296 3 жыл бұрын

@@ArtWeThereYet I know I’m so late! But how much did you sell it for? I plan to take mine out and I have no idea what it truly costs to purchase one

@ArtWeThereYet 3 жыл бұрын

@@patsyvazquez7296 Hi Patsy! We sold ours for $750, which was a steal for the buyer. At least in South Florida, functioning truck AC systems can fetch up to $2000 if you can find the right buyer. Your target buyer is someone buying and selling buses to MX/Central/South America for public transportation.

@markhermelyn6950 2 жыл бұрын

Still need an ac unit? 87 International Thomas