BCM Community

I was just wondering what is the predominant busnut type of bus out there.
Devin

I have a 1984 MCI 9 .I am a little slow at getting much done.

What about Eagle?
Richard

Quote from: Devin on August 29, 2006, 07:20:55 PM
I was just wondering what is the predominant busnut type of bus out there.
Devin

WHY IS EAGLE NOT A CHOICE!  There are a lot in use - OH, I forgot you can not see us for the rust.  DUH!

I have a 1995 Dina Viaggio 1000.  I would not really recommend one unless you want the Series 60 and can't afford a MCI with one.  They did switch from Series 60 11.1L to Series 60 12.7L in 1997 or so.

I didn't know Dina ever used the 12.7L when I bought mine and I probably would had held out for one if I knew they existed.  That extra 50 HP would be good out west.

Brian Elfert

i'm really sorry to ALL of the Eagle owners out there. i truly forgot the Eagle. it is surely a beautiful bus.
Devin

Ok,

I added Eagle, Dina, And Setra

Nick-

Quote from: Eddie on August 29, 2006, 07:26:45 PM
I have a 1984 MCI 9 .I am a little slow at getting much done.

Hi Eddie,

Welcome to the board! 

We have a 1983 MC9 that we have had a lot of fun with.  :)

Best Regards, Phil

1982 GMC RTS II

Just getting started on the conversion and I already love this bus.  If I would have known how much I was going to enjoy working on it, I would have bought one long ago.

Hi - I have a 92 Setra - and it doesn't look like the picture - It's in the shop getting body work and a new paint job - it should be out in a week or so - then the real fun begines - the inside - Harry (1/2 of HarLee)

We have a 1979 GMC RTS but I did not vote as the RTS seems to be a type of it's own. Jim G. - Ohio

What about flxible?






I added Flxible for you -- Dallas

I've just voted 'Other' as I doubt you will be adding Bedford or Plaxton as an option (mine has a Plaxton body on a Bedford chassis - most European buses have bodies and chassis' from different manufacturers).

On a different topic, I have just seen an American bus in the UK for the first time - it's actually on UK Ebay at the moment - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GREYHOUND-COACH-BUS-AMERICAN-CLASSIC-GMC_W0QQitemZ220020437659QQihZ012QQcategoryZ18307QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I am guessing that it's a 4104? It's evidentally a film prop from Pinewood Studios (as you will know many 'American' films are actually filmed in the UK). It would be pretty cool to run a Yank bus as a motorhome in the UK, but probably fairly impractical (and very expensive given how much fuel your buses use).

Jeremy

Jeremy, that's a GMC 4106... and looks like a creampuff! Wow. The 4106's have four headlights, and slightly larger windows than the 4104's. They also have a DD8V71 (V8) instead of the DD671 (straight 6), and have a great power-to-weight ratio.

Curious what kind of mileage your bus gets. Petrol or diesel? The '06 can get about 8-9mpg. The '04 can get almost 11mpg. Crowns, I'm told, can get even better. And each of those weighs in excess of 12 tons and carry over 40 passengers (in revenue service). Yank gallons and tons, of course.

Cheers,
Brian

I have an AMGeneral 10240B transit.  While transits are not used much, maybe a general transit catagory could be used.  The cousins to my bus were the Flyer D800, D900, GM Classic, MCI Classic.  The bus was really made from 1975 until the last incarnation of the MCI Classis of 1992.  Good Luck, TomC

Brian

My bus has a weight of 7.2 tons unladen, or 11 tons gross, and 35 seats. The engine size is 500 cubic inches with a turbo (probably quite a bit smaller than your typical engines). It is also currently restricted to 60mph, although I could remove the speed restrictor if I wanted to. The previous owner reckoned it would do 15 MPG, but he was probably exagerating a bit to encourage me to buy it. I haven't calculated the fuel consumption myself, but the overall fuel cost is equivalent to my (4.6l petrol) Range Rover, so I am more than happy with that. (note that diesel is actually more expensive than petrol in the UK).

When I was looking for a bus I looked at lots of vehicles using the Volvo B10M chassis, which is a very popular unit here. I was steered away from them by several people though as they are considered very expensive to run, averaging around 9-10mpg, so I guess they are more equivalent to your typical type of bus. They have an 11-litre engine and are 53 seaters though, so longer and heavier than mine.

The only European buses you seem to have in the US are the Van Hools and the Setras, and both of those seem to be fitted with Detroit Diesel engines rather than the Volvo / Mercedes / Scania / Daf etc power units they would have here, so it's difficult to compare like-with-like

Jeremy

By the way, the starting price on that 4104 is £8000 - around $15,000. What would one of those go for over there?

No 'Wanabus'? Getting closer; wife and I will be visiting North West Bus Sales in the next couple of weeks.

1987 Thomas SaftLiner

Jay

http://jsbird69.zoto.com/user/lightbox/CAT.0/date_uploaded-desc/0-90

Jeremy,
Thanks for the info on your bus. It sounds a little bit smaller than the typical highway or transit coach on this side of the pond. It seems that here in the states, the highway coaches keep getting longer (from 35', to 40', then 45') and less efficient, but that's likely to change in the face of $3+/gallon diesel. Same with the engines, although four-stroke turbo powerplants are now the norm. The Mercedes powerplants are now catching on in the trucking world, so the coach manuf. won't be too far behind to embrace these more-efficient powerplants.

Some of the transits are now being built smaller and more efficient to run on low-emission diesel or CNG, and tend to "push the envelope" more in design and utilization of alternative fuels. Mostly because the municipalites that run the transit agencies have deep pockets and zero competition... and in the "good old days" of cheap fuel, there was little interest in the private sector of increasing efficiency. That's all changing now, for sure. And it's not a bad thing, IMHO. Biofuels, veggie oil, hybrids, hydrogen... whatever. Let's get there! And generate some freakin' competetion for the dino-fuel indu$try.

I'll get off the soapbox now.  8)

In the states, that "Greyhound" 4106 might get $10k from a collector (if it's indeed collectable, since the Seller isn't forthcoming with VIN, livery, etc.) If someone buys it for an RV shell, they'd only pay about $3k for a chassis of that age. I had a 4106 conversion for over a year, and it's a great basic coach. The GMCs are very-weel engineered, and almost bulletproof. Great for a "shade-tree" guy like myself. My "new" coach is just a bit more complex.

Nice chatting with you,
Brian

Quote from: SpaceShipBuffalo on August 30, 2006, 11:05:53 AM
Jeremy,
Thanks for the info on your bus. It sounds a little bit smaller than the typical highway or transit coach on this side of the pond. It seems that here in the states, the highway coaches keep getting longer (from 35', to 40', then 45') and less efficient, but that's likely to change in the face of $3+/gallon diesel. Same with the engines, although four-stroke turbo powerplants are now the norm. The Mercedes powerplants are now catching on in the trucking world, so the coach manuf. won't be too far behind to embrace these more-efficient powerplants.

I think the 45 footers get better mileage per passenger than the old 40 footers.

Mine is actually 43 foot long, has a 4 stroke engine, and gets around 9 MPG.  A 40 footer with a 2 cycle 6V92 would probably be lucky to get 6 MPG.  I have heard rumors of 45 footers getting over 10 MPG with the new Astronic transmissions.

I wonder if we'll start seeing Greyhound and the like reducing legroom to get an extra row of seats in like the airlines?

Brian Elfert

"Some of the transits are now being built smaller and more efficient to run on low-emission diesel or CNG, and tend to "push the envelope" more in design and utilization of alternative fuels. "

A similar thing is happening here, except the trend is to re-install trams and even trolley-bus systems in towns and cities (most towns in the UK had trams years ago, until they were all ripped out in the name of progess). They are electric of course, and pretty scary for pedestrians as they are virtually silent.


"I think the 45 footers get better mileage per passenger than the old 40 footers."

At a steady speed, the longer the vehicle the more aerodynamic it is, so in theory at least this should be true. I doubt that is the reason in practice though - probably simply that the longer vehicles are newer and have more efficient mechanics.

As I said in one of my earlier posts, the reason I chose my particular coach is because it is an unusual 'short' version - it's full size in all other respects, but just not as long (hence only 35 seats). My original plan was to get a 53 seat 40 footer, but I could not get one around the bend into my parking place. There are plenty of 45' coaches here (and double deck coaches), but they all have 3 axles - In order to drive a triple axle vehicle in the UK you need to pass an extra driving test, so they don't tend to end up in private ownership. I live in the centre of England, and you quite often see 70-seat 45' long double decker coaches going down the motorway with a full load of passengers and luggage, and hauling a trailer full of mountain bikes or skiing equipment. In 12 hours or so's time those coaches are going to be grinding up a steep grade in the Alps or somewhere going to a holiday resort; I often wonder how many GPM (gallons to mile) they must be doing then - but I guess the cost-per-passenger is still pretty reasonable

Jeremy


PS. "And it's not a bad thing, IMHO. Biofuels, veggie oil, hybrids, hydrogen... whatever. Let's get there! "

You know, that's just made me think of something - the very first film I remember seeing when I was a younger was 'The Big Bus' - it was a 1970's spoof disaster movie like 'Airplane' except that it was based on a huge articulated bus with swimming pools and bowling alleys etc inside it, and two drivers each with their own steering wheel (!). And the bus was NUCLEAR POWERED. There's your answer!

Jeremy,

I remember that movie!  I'm gona have to find it, maybe on DVD or video......

Thanks for the reminder.

Nick-

Hello-

I think I'm the real "other" in this poll!

Besides having an 87' Blue-Bird that I need to rid my self of, because it's too nice for me to tear apart and I can't bring myself to do it...plus:

I believe I also have (most of) the oldest  bus on the board (60 years).
It' an early 1947 ACF IC-41 Brill Touring Coach

There is another member with a Brill also (47Brillbus), but his is slightly newer, by the style.


Cheers..

Hi Gang,
I don't own a bus yet, but a MCI Courier 200B from 1949 woke up the beast in me  ;D
I'm trying to locate the owner and as much info as I can get. It's already converted, but I wasn't able to get in there so who knows what I'm going to find. I have a little handicap, not English by birth and only 5 years in Canada so writing in English is still a bit of a hassle. Please report my mistakes, that is the only way I can learn. Lots of info here and help, thank you all for that, made me feel at home a bit, reading as much as I can, but the questions will come, don't worry I'll be needing you all  :D
Anyone with an oldie like this in the group? I have seen the "newer" ones, huge, three axles and with a lifted roof better than any RV on the market. Anyone driving in winter conditions? Upgraded your insulation too 4 inch or more?
Thanks for sharing

Richard

We have a 1948 GM 3703. Mechanical parts a challange, body parts are tough. I wouldent want to own an old coach like a 47! ;)

I have a 1985 Eagle 8v92 that Im converting now..My employer always buys Prevost to tour in and tho their nice when I rode in a Eagle I was hooked,....So I bought one

I have a 1963 Prevost,36 ft,sigle axel.8V71 with a 6 speed Spicer.

Welcome to the group DMoedave and prevost63,

When do we get to see pictures of your busses?  We have a thread just for folk to post pictures of their rigs.  Quit holdin' out on us!!   ;D

Kind Regards, Phil

Hi "gang"!
I'm Canadian french (Quebec, Canada) and I'm very happy to read you.
I have a 1982, Prevost, le Mirage with 8v92 detroit with blower ( >:(), 5 speed manual trans that Im converting now. In process for 80% completed.
i'll see you my pics soon. Sorry for my poor english. my french is better than english...
Gaetan

Welcome Gaetan!

Everyone who is a bus nut is welcome here.

We think we have the best group of people in the world gathered right here.

Don't worry about your english, most of us can't speak it correctly either. But we do try to overlook our shortcomings.

We hope to hear more from you and see photographs of your Prevost.

Dallas

Quote from: Dallas on September 14, 2006, 07:15:38 PM
Welcome Gaetan!

Everyone who is a bus nut is welcome here.

We think we have the best group of people in the world gathered right here.

Don't worry about your english, most of us can't speak it correctly either. But we do try to overlook our shortcomings.

We hope to hear more from you and see photographs of your Prevost.

Dallas

Like Dallas said WELCOME, and also like he said about most of us not being able to speak it properly !! Shoot I can't even spell it ! LOL! BK  ;D

Thank you all!
I am very busy for read all articles...What "bible"!
I am member of magazine "Bus conversion" since 10 years. J have the book published by Mike. I'm inspired by all magazines and books but I don't knew peaple able to advise me on my project.
Now...I find you!
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fyelims2.free.fr%2FDrapeaux%2FDrapeauQuebec.gif&hash=a65caf4bdfd6c64b5855d128b27e1ad04d562c12) (https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fyelims2.free.fr%2FDrapeaux%2FDrapeau03.gif&hash=0c406f757219eed93ad555bcaab939ee26b56cea)