We know we’ve been way off the grid for a moment, so we just wanted to catch you up with Glorya Marie: The Great Bus Conversion. Lets take a look at what we’ve done to the bus so far:
Phase 1
January – March Foundation
We chose Glorya as our bus because of the long lasting quality and strength of the Crown Bus and to be the best platform possible to showcase sustainable, green, micro, concious living, so we gave her 3 weeks at the mechanics, tore out and replaced the entire floor, and scrubbed, welded, and mended her “bones”.
Highlights:
- new tires
- replaced a piston
- new fuel gauge
- floor and sub floor demolition
- deep clean
- new upgraded floor
Sean and Chris get down to business peeling back the layers of flooring on our ’77 Crown Super Coach
Glorya’s new Sub Floor partially installed
Spring Equinox 2013 @ Desert Hearts Festival, Apple Valley, Ca
Phase 2
April – May House Car Registration Inspection
The main goal in this phase was to pass a VIN verification inspection with the California DMV that showed the bus was no longer in use as a commercial vehicle and had been permanently modified for “human habitation
Installing stove, sink and countertop
Highlights:
- Cedar and Redwood Composting toilet with “Separett” urine diverter
- Propane Manifold
- 60 lbs propane storage
- Mr. Heater Big Buddy
- Ramblewood high efficiency range
- kitchen cabinet from habitat for humanity
- bamboo counter top from craigslist
- redwood bed fame
- all natural pure Latex Bliss mattress
- installed our old home desk as our production nook
- NEW LICENSE PLATES! (she’s now registered as a house car instead of a commercial bus)
- energy efficient LED interior & exterior lights
Sean inspects his work and blows away sawdust on the redwood and cedar enclosure
freshly installed high efficiency ramblewood stove top
Phase 3
June – August Comforts of home – We are HERE (and almost done!)
Bringing us up to the tasks we have most recently accomplished and finishing in the next week, this phase completes the storage, running water, AC electric, and completes the main task of making Glorya Marie a real home.
Sean-made planks of redwood and cedar go up over insulation. Sean worked the planks out of fence boards and Robyn sanded them
Bamboo is a fast growing sustainable fiber for flooring and textiles. It is strong and more moisture resistant than comparable hardwoods
Boltt (left) and Cooper (right) indulge in the newly re-integrated futon couch
Batteries, AC electric, and 80 gallons of freshwater are all neatly tucked inside the trunk space of this ’77 Crown Bus Conversion. Plus, we still have plenty of room for storage!
Grey Tank and Storage, no need for a black water tank with a composting toilet. Its environmentally friendly because it cuts down on water usage and DOESNT smell – unlike most black tanks
Reclaimed Oak Hardwood covers the entry-way onboard the bus now. These beautiful floors were given to us after being taken out of a local home.
Highlights:
- 780 amp hour battery pack (390 usable)
- 3000 watt inverter
- 4 energy del sol Flex Power Matts- Max efficiency, high durability solar panels
- AC outlets through out the bus (with some cool usb ones too!)
- 4 gallon per minute water pump
- 80 gallon water storage
- 40 gallon grey water drain tank
- CB radio
- wireless signal booster
- insulated redwood/cedar walls
- under bed storage
- magnetic hanging storage
- air ride captain’s chairs
- additional LED lighting
- replaced bus stereo
- reclaimed oak hardwood and bamboo flooring from craigslist
Phase 4
Manifest Destiny – The next phase puts the finishing touches on the bus’s living quarters
and makes it a true venue with a 15 foot stage on its roof.
Highlights:
- 15 foot welded aluminum stage on roof
- retractable water catch on roof – we would like to upcycle old sails for this!
- water recycle system
- lithium polymer hi-efficency battery system
- 400 sq ft tent that will deploy from our storage for events
We are so excited to begin taking Glorya out into the world in earnest, to teach people what is possible in the realm of sustainability and off-grid living, share our talents, and inspire others to manifest the impossible in a matter months!
Nearing the end of our main bus conversion for living space, we look forward to phasing in the extras that make Glorya a community venue. As we begin this transition we release our wish list and first outreach for community support. Thank you for joining us on this fabulous journey, it is really only just beginning!
~Love and Light,
Seismic Awakening
Seismic Awakening 
Does a composting toilet really not smell? You mention that a black water tank system does smell, but a composting toilet doesn’t. Which composting toilet did you use? Thank you.
It can at times smell, but generally not more than a flush toilet. Sean designed and built our composting toilet and we used the separating seat from Separette, a Swiss company. The urine has much more propensity to smell, once the fecal matter is covered in saw dust it dries up and does not smell. We use essential oil spray to clean and disinfect the urinal and the entire area. When we have visitors come on the bus, most proclaim how amazing it smells and never guess there is a toilet in the same 200 sq feet. Check out this update and info on our composting toilet here: https://seismicawakening.com/2014/07/09/new-habits-of-sustainable-nomads-entry-3-in-celebration-of-the-composting-toilet/
Thanks Robyn. I appreciate your reply. I just found/purchased my Crown this past week. It should be here in 1 week! I’m really excited. Thanks for your blog. I appreciate it very much. I’ll let you know once I get my blog up. =) -Scott
Congratulations Scott! What year is it? Please do let me know when you get the blog up. 🙂 Thank you, we are very happy that you enjoy SeismicAwakening.com
Looking good! Did you make a storage for the grey water tank? I’m converting a crown in Ohio and about to tackle the plumbing, just curious how you configured yours. I like the toilet too. Thanks!
Hi Chris. I’m up in Ann Arbor, MI. I’m converting a Crown too. Where are you in Ohio?