We're lookin at this bus...talked to the guy...said brakes good...runs good....needs repair to airbag system...said they air up but he has a leak in the front tank for them
also said a small leak in the steering cylinder, but steers fine when warmed up(probably from sitting?)
a decent start to conversion..plumbing ran...wiring done etc...anyone care to look at it and tell me what you think....http://columbus.craigslist.org/rvs/1226735836.html
busnuts nearby who might look it over for me?? thanks, Tom and Shirley...future busnuts
The market is so very very depressed at this time. At $5K you might be doing him a huge favor, who knows? I would have a good story about your grandson needing surgery to go with that bid. It is sad to see so much of your labor and money for the bus and equipment go down the road for "felony theft" prices. Never ever enven consider that you might get anywhere near your investment recovered from a sale.
That Aly 5 speed is worth a bunch and it would make that 8V71 "seem" larger than it really is. Not a thing wrong with the 71, now.
You MUST get the thing to a DD dealer with a dyno....pay your 300 and have them tell you precisely what is what. Find a Bus Company in your area and pay them their 300 to have the chassis evaluated. Don't walk away from their deal, just adjust your bid to have the work done at a shop. Thats fair to allcon.
God luck,
John
Nice editorial john, so I guess you won't be able or willing to check the bus out then?
Cody,
This Knut is talking about airup problems and leaks. I read this as "the guy said" and that means there is no or little paperwork. The Knut doesn't seem knowledgable (I belong to that club) and he seems to be looking for "anybody" that will help. He needs professional help IMHO and that is what I urge him to get. Rather than continue to pursue and invalid fix......
Nice to see your feeling better,
Regards to all,
John
Editorial? "You betch'm Red Ryder."
All tom is looking for is what he asked for, somebody that could check it over and let him know if it has possibility, I asked him to post, and no, he doesn't know much about buses, probably as much as you knew when you started. There is nothing behind the scenes to "read" into it, all he wants is to know if anyone could check it over, thats all, very simple. He's an old friend that likes buses and wants to learn more about them and to enjoy one, thats all. nothing more.
Cody,
As far as being ignorant, I think I "confessed" when I said "The Knut doesn't seem knowledgeable (I belong to that club)". At this point, if a blind man said "I didn't see anything wrong with that", that would come in as a ringing endorsement. I would be afraid it would, myself, but then consider the source, me. I'm paranoid. :o :)
Cody, if "possibilities" only means "I think it is good enuf to be looked at by someone qualified", then I agree wholeheartedly with your strategy. Advice I have heard in the past is "no paperwork? Run, don't walk". Now that wouldn't apply to Don Fairchild or Luke either one.
Be well and happy and thick skinned and not paranoid and ....all the good stuff Cody,
John
PS: How is Libby doing? I missed a recent update. Thanks
Front and rear have been capped, newer style headlights and turn/brake lights, windows look good, no major dents showing, paint looks pretty good......of course in person all of this may look different, hard to tell from photos. All of that said though, you could probably part it all out for more than 5 grand if you had too. ;D
John, I realize your just trying to be humorous, but what tom is really looking for is someone in the columbus area or close that will take a bit of their time and check to see if any major problem areas are readily evident, I'm sure he can live without your unkind comments, as to your being paranoid, I wouldn't know, it would seem that your recents posts tend to lean that way but I wouldn't know, I've never found anything that you had to say interesting enough to really read up till now. As far as paperwork goes, I'm not sure that many of us here have much for paperwork, do you have all the documentation on your bus? I know I don't. The post that Ed just put in was very helpful, Tom isn't familer with the MCI's and neither am I, to find it has new caps and certain updates like the headlights is refreshing and information that is helpful. I feel badly now that I encouraged tom to post and ask if anyone could or would be interested to check on it.
Not a bad looking coach for the money. I would look for any rust under and around the rear bulkhead. I have heard that is a great place to look. Especially since it's from up north, lots of salt and you know what happens. ;)
Get someone familiar with coaches and go with you for a look over, you can lean a lot in the process.
JMHO,
Paul
Quote from: Dreamscape on June 23, 2009, 09:33:23 PM
Not a bad looking coach for the money. I would look for any rust under and around the rear bulkhead. I have heard that is a great place to look. Especially since it's from up north, lots of salt and you know what happens. ;)
Get someone familiar with coaches and go with you for a look over, you can lean a lot in the process.
JMHO,
Paul
Diddo that
Tom -
With an 8V71 engine, the only Allison transmission that will fit is the MT644, which is actually a four-speed with a lock-up torque converter. The "five-speed" comes from those that really aren't familiar with these beasts - they don't understand that what feels like an upshift is actually the torque converter locking up, not an actual gear change.
The MT series Allisons, btw, are also considered Medium Truck transmissions - very, very common in dog-nosed skoolies. This is obviously a transmission swap installation, because MC-5s of this vintage were not available from the factory with an automatic. It will work just fine in RV service in this chassis.
This coach is also probably a retired Greyhound - they were really the only ones running these back then.
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
All of yall's advice is really appreciated...learned alot about this bus on the last few posts...thanks guys....and i also appreciate the paranoid part too...not too bad an idea to be a little skepticle...if anyone out there knows any more thanks ahead...gonna call and try to get the vin# today...thanks again yall
Post the vin and we might be able to look it up. It will only be a 4 digit number by the way. My 5A supposedly came from Badger Bus Lines in Madison Wisconsin and then went to a college in Minn. for several years before going to Missouri and being converted. I was surprised how little rust it has for having spent so many years up north. I have the 644 tranny and have never hit top end, my speedo goes to 80 and i have gone faster than that, (accidently of course ;D) and still had throttle to spare. :) RJ, i think i have heard that somebody has a 654 in their 5 but that tranny is about 6 inches longer so i don't know if that is true or not. Anyhow the 5 is a great bus and i would not trade mine for any 40 footer, 35' is a nice size. :)
I agree with Ed 110%
I have another 5 that has never been in service and I am parting out my first unit http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=12422.0
If you need any parts... I am your man!
Well well well, very interesting indeed! I was on my way home from NC last week and saw this very same bus (or one identical too it sitting at a Shell station off I-40 at exit 301 if my memory serves me correct!
I just saw it in passing by but I noticed it sitting up under the lights on the edge of the lot near the Hwy!
It caught my eye as the paint job is an eye catcher especially from a distance!
I meant to post this sooner but forgot until now when I was searching back through the tons of threads I miss these days now that I don't have time to sit on the board for days on end like I used too!
;D BK ;D
I would bet that the "5" speed automatic is actually a 4 speed. Many think a 4 spd is a 5spd from the extra bump you feel when the torque converter locks up in 3rd gear. I believe a 5 spd would be too long for the MCI5. Easy to tell by looking at the transmission. If it has what looks like an additional 5" added to the rear of the transmission in between the transmission and the end tail housing, then it is a 5spd. If the transmission just ends without anything but the end tail housing mounted to the end of the transmission then it is a 4spd. Good Luck, TomC
I'll pipe in with this since nobody else has...
Right now, it's a BUYER'S MARKET. Many people want rid of these beasts that eat fuel like you and I drink water (or soft drinks or beer!) and can be had at a SUBSTANTIAL savings compared to what the prices were just ONE year ago... Ask me, I know, I watched it happen before I finally decided on my 4905 (grumbles, if you know what happened)...
Look around. Don't settle on this bus just because it looks pretty. I saw a VERY nice Eagle on eBay just a couple of weeks ago going for that price and it was around 80% converted but livable... Craigslist is filling up with buses all over the nation, many in good shape and priced below $5k... If I didn't have my heart set on saving my 4905 from the scrapheap, I'd have bought the other Eagle I saw on Craigslist for $2500... it was shell only... almost a complete refit 2 years ago... new tires, glass, A/C units, etc... but no genny. I don't remember the particulars of it, but it was a very nice coach.
Shop around... If this one slips through your fingers while you're shopping... So what? Trust me, there's more where that one came from!
I know, I know... Telling a new nut to go slow is like telling the Mississippi river to flow north for a day, but hey... Really... Take your time, don't rush into something that will nickel and dime you to death in repairs for the first few years you own it. Wait until one comes along that someone's taken REALLY GOOD care of and is in top shape for a steal. You'll be MUCH happier in the long (and short!) run.
I like pretty much any highway coach, but... I have to say, I'm fond of GMC's and Eagles (despite the reputation Eagles have for being rustbuckets)... Just something about them that has an almost magical quality to them for some reason. Same with the GMC's.
-Mac