#21 THREE MONTHS IN ... 9 MAY, 2024

 WHAZAMMO AND THE GILLIG #21  (Click the "MORE POSTS" link at the bottom to find Post #1)

Japanese version

Fighting the cold (by Oregon coast standards), 40 degrees and rainy weather, has been the throttle for our 3 month GILLIG build progress, late 10  o'clock AM starts and early 3-4 PM quits, 7 days a week are the norm,   Last month, at 60 days in, we estimated 300 (times two) man hours, and $1,700.00 in expenditures (not including purchase price), at $50.00 an hour that was $3,000.00 in labor.

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Since that last April report, as of today (an'ya & I) have invested another 265 manhours (which at $50.00 an hour = $1,325.00), our April money outgo was approximately $1,650.00 US, and I estimate we are now 30-35?% completed... 

UPCOMING: Purchasing the wall heaters, wiring, reefer, stove, H.W. heater, and washer-dryer (all new) are still a big $3,000.00 expense coming up before, and over, the 4th of July firecracker appliance sale week-end, ... so, after May, a more defined "end-cost" for this project can now be -roughly- ascertained.  labor-wise, I believe you "never" get much past a 90% completion status, but, getting the pieces in place, can (may) get you "materially" at 98% (someday).

The "NOT" in the "on-job" labor hour counting is the 0600--0900 and 1700-1800 computer, sketching, planning, sourcing, purchasing, communications, shopping, or parts driving time ... which only involves one person, but, adds in 2-4 hours of every day (and that is an average), sometimes I can spend 6 hours on a multi-day search and buy.

As the weather now moves to everyday warm, and sunny, with "only" brief-misty rain showers, the noisy van generator can quit running heaters... so all of my excuses are gone, time to kick ass towards the finish,  May will be a "labor" month...  with very little being bought parts/pieces wise (we have to pay for what we have, and now get it all installed), lots of detail and cobble work will happen that will be unnoticeable, but part of the project.

90 DAY TOTALS:

Time invested, (approx.) 565 man hours invested (at $50.00/HR = $28,250.00)

"Actual" MONEY-OUT-OF-POCKET total TO DATE: $ 2,750.00-$3,100.00  remember, the ancillary support expenses TITLE-LICENSE-INSURANCE-TRAVEL-FUEL- (not including the purchase price of the bus, or any construction materials, there was a $ 900.00 chunk of change spent on B.S.). 

Making the actual on-board bus parts expenditures at $1,850.00 - $2,100.00 ($600 of which was for vinyl flooring alone), this does not include unaccounted-for expenses like lunches, generator fuel, storage lot fees, and petty cash purchases ... guesstimate ?  another $250.00.00 ?

SO, at the outside,  $3,500.00 in 90 days, and lots of our "free" labor.

ESTIMATE:  Way back in February, sitting on the sofa looking at Auction busses, I estimated building up a Skoolie or Gillig for full-time live-in would cost $5,00.00 out-of-pocket money... today, even with inflated (shockingly inflated) prices, that price appears to be somewhat accurate, "if" one shops deals, there are a lot of items that must be purchased "only" new... you may end up with blue flooring rather than the beige you wanted, and buy "used" appliances, but a quality build "can" be done without breaking the bank.  In our case -so far- we are buying what we want, making no concessions, and staying on budget.

Realistically, even with the 20% (inflation), this build build "should" cost $5,000.00 including the $1,000.00 for the BS expenses of just becoming legal, getting it home, and other odd stuff, (and, that estimate is of course, predicated on your core donor unit not... requiring tires, suspension work, or engine/tranny problems).  

The three hull penetrations for services (water, electric, sewer) are now installed, the 50 amp wire is pulled across to the panel location, and the 2" under bus conduit for the driver's side connection routing is in, the shower drain and galley, dishwasher, clothes washer, bathroom sink are in place, we have run the freshwater Pex piping to "rough-n" locations, the bathroom sink faucet and modified cabinet is finished (cut 8" off the top by removing the drawer to lower the counter for the "bowl" sink unit.

Check back here, I have more photos coming... and the last load of vinyl flooring is arriving tomorrow, all pre-measured I will cut it on the sidewalk in front of the theater before bringing it home to the bus.

The next, June 9th, month four report should be an accomplishment drastic... with almost no purchases during May, and a very labor-only intensive 30 day run coming.