Argosy Shuttle Bus

[JR Bob Dobbs]

Just this week, I purchased a 1974 Argosy shuttle bus for restoration. We have a 1979 Airstream trailer we renovated, but I’m beginning to wonder if I bit off more than I can chew with a MH. Wish me luck on this project. I’ll keep you all updated on the progress.

[Isuzusweet]

Renovating a motorhomes easier but more expensive than a trailer. You don't have to worry about weight, or weight distribution as much, but repairing powertrains can get expensive.
Airstream or Argosy specific parts can be very hard to find; like a driver's side fixed window will set you back $450+, if you can find one.
Get to know Bkahler and Green Argosy in the Argosy forums, as they are a fountain of knowledge.
Don't be afraid to change things radically. I had planned on replacing my 454 in my 1975 24' Argosy, with a 5.9l Cummins diesel and an Allison transmission.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[bkahler]

Bob, welcome to Airforums and Argosy ownership!

I'm not 100% sure from your pictures but it appears your little shuttle bus is 20'. Being that it's a shuttle bus means you pretty much have an open slate when it comes to redesigning the interior.

If you're going to be wanting the correct entry door I can probably help you out. As for the drivers side fixed pane in the cockpit window, I'm not sure if I can help there or not. Like Tony said, those are near impossible to find.

You'll find that we like to see lots of pictures here so post more when you get a chance.

Brad

[SteveSueMac]

Lovely and good luck. Personally - if it were me, I’d make it like the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine Van - seems perfect for that purpose!

[kidjedi]

So cool! I love those little 20 footers. And that blue is fantastic! Hopefully you can salvage the original paint.


I'm getting ready to start a 26' in the spring. Both front windshields are cracked, and I'm not looking forward to sourcing/replacing those. Other than that though, everything is original and in great shape with lots of factory upgrades (loaded). I'm into customization, and this thing is so spectacularly original that I may have to sell it and find a better "custom" candidate.


Best of luck!

[JR Bob Dobbs]

Thanks for the responses and encouragement! Nice to have a group of enthusiasts to bounce ideas off of. Yes it’s a 20’ the small ones always appealed to me, but what hooked me on this was the amount of windows and that destination bus roll on top. You don’t see an Argosy every day...and a 20’ shuttle seems to be pretty rare.

I’m planning on 2 phases of this reno. Phase 1, clean up the outside (orig paint can’t be saved, but painting it the same colors) make it look nice, but my company logo on it and park it out front (it will be in the driveway of a 100 yr old schoolhouse). Quite a head-turner. Phase two is gutting it and making it road worthy as our delivery van.

Down the road (phase 3), we might want to make the interiors camp-worthy. I haven’t found much info on how much these can tow with a 454, but the Arosy/Airstream camping setup would be killer.

A positive note, is phase 2 and 3, I can remove the kitchen (it had been converted into an RV), fridge and most cabinetry, a delivery van doesn’t need that (nor the rear bath) but will keep the waste tanks and water hook up for when we convert into a camper.

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Bob, welcome to Airforums and Argosy ownership!

I'm not 100% sure from your pictures but it appears your little shuttle bus is 20'. Being that it's a shuttle bus means you pretty much have an open slate when it comes to redesigning the interior.

If you're going to be wanting the correct entry door I can probably help you out. As for the drivers side fixed pane in the cockpit window, I'm not sure if I can help there or not. Like Tony said, those are near impossible to find.

You'll find that we like to see lots of pictures here so post more when you get a chance.

Brad

Just echoing Brad's welcome.

If you are heading to Kentucky for the door Brad has offered, there is also a perfectly serviceable drivers side fixed window that he has in my 'spares pile'. It is the later style latch so I'm not sure if matches what you have or it it could be made to fit, but it is there if needed.

[JR Bob Dobbs]

Originally Posted by martin300662

Just echoing Brad's welcome.

If you are heading to Kentucky for the door Brad has offered, there is also a perfectly serviceable drivers side fixed window that he has in my 'spares pile'. It is the later style latch so I'm not sure if matches what you have or it it could be made to fit, but it is there if needed.

I am definitely interested in that fixed driver’s window. And I find myself in KY once or twice per year. I think I’ll try to keep the current door...hopefully I can make it work...if it looks tacky after working on the exterior, I’ll revisit swapping it out. Trying to save money where I can on this project...and the cost of a door might be wisely out towards some mechanical work.

I don’t know how we can get in touch, but, as mentioned, that window is definitely of interest.

[Isuzusweet]

Very weird screen/venting on the rear driver's corner; what's back there?

As for towing a trailer behind; that was my idea. I bought a 1978 Argosy 6.7m Minuet to convert into a bedroom/ dressing room, that would be hooked up to services, while we used the Argosy motorhome as the kitchen/ lounge and exploration vehicle.

You can get away from at least a black tank by using a composting toilet, which would allow you to put it anywhere.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[JR Bob Dobbs]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

Very weird screen/venting on the rear driver's corner; what's back there?

As for towing a trailer behind; that was my idea. I bought a 1978 Argosy 6.7m Minuet to convert into a bedroom/ dressing room, that would be hooked up to services, while we used the Argosy motorhome as the kitchen/ lounge and exploration vehicle.

You can get away from at least a black tank by using a composting toilet, which would allow you to put it anywhere.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

There’s an Onan generator under the windows. It has a rear bath, which is strange with all those windows back there. I’ll take out the kitchen (curbside) and eventually move the bathroom to where the curbside window is covered. No need for a kitchen in the Argosy, if the Airstream has one. The Airstream has a gaucho sofa, which is tight for me and my wife and has bunks for the kids.

Were you able to tow the minuet with your Argosy?

[martin300662]

The 20ft motorhome comes in at around 8000lb and has a 12000lb limit so you 'can' tow around 4000lb. However anyone that has looked at the tow hitch attachment (welded onto the chassis extensions not the chassis), would not try anything like 4000lb without extensive modification.

Others have towed a minuet with a motorhome, but that is about the limit.





You might want to consider a European style cassette toilet. These have a removable black tank and there is room behind your door, and still allow room for a rear bed.....that's what we have in Bella

[Isuzusweet]

Martin has actually posted pictures of my Argosy 24' and the Minuet.
I was drawn to the Minuet, A) It's the longest single axle Argosy trailer you can get; so I only needed to buy one axle. B) It has many windows, which means it feels very spacious inside, even though it's only 22' long.
BTW, she towed like a dream behind my Honda Pilot, which is half the weight of my Argosy motorhome.

She does look cute back there.[emoji16]

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

[JR Bob Dobbs]

Originally Posted by kidjedi

So cool! I love those little 20 footers. And that blue is fantastic! Hopefully you can salvage the original paint.


I'm getting ready to start a 26' in the spring. Both front windshields are cracked, and I'm not looking forward to sourcing/replacing those. Other than that though, everything is original and in great shape with lots of factory upgrades (loaded). I'm into customization, and this thing is so spectacularly original that I may have to sell it and find a better "custom" candidate.


Best of luck!

I wish I could save the original paint, but it’s pretty rough. I, too, have a cracked windshield (passenger side) but that’s another project down the road. Sounds like we have similar restos at the same time. Let’s stay updated on each other’s progress. Good luck!

[JR Bob Dobbs]

Originally Posted by martin300662

Just echoing Brad's welcome.

If you are heading to Kentucky for the door Brad has offered, there is also a perfectly serviceable drivers side fixed window that he has in my 'spares pile'. It is the later style latch so I'm not sure if matches what you have or it it could be made to fit, but it is there if needed.

Hey Martin300662.

Here’s a photo of the interior drivers side latch that needs replacement. Not sure it’ll this helps, but I’d love to see if what you’ve got will help.

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by JR Bob Dobbs

Hey Martin300662.

Here’s a photo of the interior drivers side latch that needs replacement. Not sure it’ll this helps, but I’d love to see if what you’ve got will help.

What you have is an early type window, where the slider has the machined aluminum handle (in your picture) and is latched via a aluminum tongue riveted to the slider and which engages in a spring index pin in the frame.

The newer type does away with the tongue and index pin, and utilizes a latch mechanism attached to the center bar of the frame, with a handle screwed to a plate mounted on the slider.



In order to use the later type window you are going to need to remove that latching mechanism (if possible) but also add the tongue opening and spring index pin from you current slider.

The early type windows are very rare (2 year only production vs around 15 years for the later type, which are themselves unobtainable).

Easier option is to remove what you have and insert a Lexan replacement. Others have gone that route but it means removing the window to give access to the screws that retain the center bar, then an awful lot of patience!

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by JR Bob Dobbs

I wish I could save the original paint, but it’s pretty rough. I, too, have a cracked windshield (passenger side) but that’s another project down the road. Sounds like we have similar restos at the same time. Let’s stay updated on each other’s progress. Good luck!

Windscreens are about the only thing still available new....Coach Glass, but expect about $3K for a pair fitted.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by martin300662

What you have is an early type window, where the slider has the machined aluminum handle (in your picture) and is latched via a aluminum tongue riveted to the slider and which engages in a spring index pin in the frame.

The newer type does away with the tongue and index pin, and utilizes a latch mechanism attached to the center bar of the frame, with a handle screwed to a plate mounted on the slider.



In order to use the later type window you are going to need to remove that latching mechanism (if possible) but also add the tongue opening and spring index pin from you current slider.

The early type windows are very rare (2 year only production vs around 15 years for the later type, which are themselves unobtainable).

Easier option is to remove what you have and insert a Lexan replacement. Others have gone that route but it means removing the window to give access to the screws that retain the center bar, then an awful lot of patience!

Martin,

I think I'm a little confused here. Bob's fixed pane is broken and his slider is ok. What he needs to is one of two things, both involve the same amount of work. No matter what the whole window assembly has be be removed. Then he needs to disassemble the window by removing the center support. After that he can install either a replacement piece of glass if he can find it or install a piece of lexan.

As I was typing this I remembered that several years ago I had bought a fixed pane for the drivers side that I found on ebay as a replacement for my Argosy which has a severely scratched fixed pane. However I've made the decision to go ahead and dismantle the Mountain Argosy so I will have a spare set anyway.

Bob,

If you're interested in the fixed pane that I have send me a PM.

Brad

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Martin,

I think I'm a little confused here. Bob's fixed pane is broken and his slider is ok. What he needs to is one of two things, both involve the same amount of work. No matter what the whole window assembly has be be removed. Then he needs to disassemble the window by removing the center support. After that he can install either a replacement piece of glass if he can find it or install a piece of lexan.

As I was typing this I remembered that several years ago I had bought a fixed pane for the drivers side that I found on ebay as a replacement for my Argosy which has a severely scratched fixed pane. However I've made the decision to go ahead and dismantle the Mountain Argosy so I will have a spare set anyway.

Bob,

If you're interested in the fixed pane that I have send me a PM.

Brad

Your not confused at all Brad, I was describing a third option of replacing the fixed pane, as the whole frame, not just the glass.

Your suggestion is by far the most elegant as it keeps the original frame so no modifications to change from index pin to latch.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by martin300662

Your not confused at all Brad, I was describing a third option of replacing the fixed pane, as the whole frame, not just the glass.

Your suggestion is by far the most elegant as it keeps the original frame so no modifications to change from index pin to latch.

Well it has been a rough week or two for me.....

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by bkahler

well it has been a rough week or two for me.....