Vintage 1969 GMC Bus Conversion | It’s a Blast – Body Work | EP. 5
The last time we visited this bus conversion, the exterior still had the 1969 orange paint from its previous life as a San Francisco city bus. Not anymore! Now the bus, affectionately known as Dirty Gertie, is looking like a whole new vehicle.
John gives us a rundown on how this RV exterior went from dirty and dented to ready for new custom paint.
The bus exterior was cleaned with a method called soda blasting. That sounds harsh, but it’s just the opposite. The entire exterior was sprayed with plain old baking soda. It removed all the layers of paint without damaging anything. Even the rubber around the windows is safe.
Once cleaned, Dirty Gertie was ready for some big changes.
After the baking soda blast removed all the paint, the team was able to assess the damaged areas that had been hiding. They removed the dented and caved-in panels and riveted new ones into place. The shiny rivets tie the new into the old, giving the exterior a cohesive look.
The whole front panel needed replacing, along with a large side panel. The metal under that front panel needed a lot of cleaning. The team created access to a compressor that was added, exposed the wheel wells for inspection, and made a new aluminum skirt and many patches.
As they worked on new areas, the team sanded and primed everything so that the entire RV exterior was ready for paint.
As we tour the outside of this 1969 GMC transit bus, we see where the team has installed RV components like a grey water tank.
Heading inside, Jon gives us a tour of the mocked-up RV interior. This is the final, confirmed design. This bus conversion will have it all. There’s space for closets, laundry, two bathrooms, a pantry, a kitchen, eating areas, and even a bunk bed that will fold down and stow away.
The mock-up allows the team to carefully plan for adequate ventilation, ducts, wiring, plumbing, and all of the unseen components that keep a bus converted into an RV humming.
By framing out the bathroom cabinet, they know exactly where the plumbing will be for the sink drain. In the shower, the vent pipe is already installed, allowing air to escape as water fills the tank. Hiding behind a cabinet is the plumbing and venting for the grey water tank.
In the previous episode, we showed you how the team drew out a roadmap for all the plumbing and wiring before beginning the mock-up. That step allowed them to make sure everything had a place and not a single inch of space was wasted.
This transit bus has narrow upper windows that can’t be repaired or replaced, so the team has mocked up overhead storage to make the best use of that space.
Something really special in this RV interior design is a fireplace! That’s not something you see every day in even the most custom RV. But this bus conversion will have a fireplace nestled up front near the captain’s chair.
This fireplace didn’t have a home yet when we last toured Dirty Gertie, but it’s going to fit perfectly into the design at the front of this newly converted bus.
A big bus conversion like this one takes a lot of work and dedicated skilled craftsmen. We’re proud of our Leisure Coachworks team. Not only are they up to this job, but they’re ready to take on any custom RV remodel, repair, or conversion that comes into our full-service shop.
We go above and beyond to make sure every customer has a vehicle that fits their vision and gives them the tools for their ideal RV lifestyle. Dirty Gertie is looking a lot better but there’s still a lot of work to be done before she hits the road.
Watch the previous episodes (linked below) to see how this 1969 GMC bus conversion looked when it arrived and the steps the Leisure Coachworks team has taken to get it to this point. Subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode to see what comes next.
Check out more of our remodels, bus conversions, and other custom RV upgrades on our Videos page. You’ll find video tours of everything from a custom teardrop trailer to a mobile classroom, to a full luxury bus conversion.
If you find yourself inspired to undertake a renovation of your own, give us a call or stop on by our full-service shop in Fontana, California.
