I've been lurking for years and we finally purchased a conversion bus! Now I realize how much I don't understand about old buses so I'm hoping you can educate me or point me in the right direction. Prior to this we have never owned an RV, Bus, or the like so it's all new to us.
My wife and I own an auto repair shop in Charlotte, NC and I'm an ASE master tech (not diesel) and I'm very handy with electronics and mechanics so I figured we could slug our way through bus ownership but there is so much to learn right off the bat I figured some of you could get us a running start or point us in the right direction.
The bus is a very pretty 1968 Silver Eagle 05 that was converted in '88 by a pretty meticulous owner. From what we hear the entire bus was pulled down to the bare chassis and gone through. The underside has been coated and aside from a small spot on the front under the spare tire there doesn't look like there's any rust damage at all. Since then the bus has gone about 160,000 miles. The engine is a 8v71 with an Alison 4 spd auto. Some of the wood work needs to be redone and the closets and some paneling need to be worked on but the exterior paint is less than 2 years old.
From what we know the generator is a 10KW unit plumbed into the main tank. The bus has two small propane furnaces for heat and two roof units for AC. The engine powered AC stopped working a few months ago and we will need to find out why. The stove and water on demand are also propane powered and the fridge runs off 110AC from the inverter and large battery bank under the bus. It has 200gal fresh, and 100gal grey and black tanks.
So with all that said, any thoughts or things to be on the look out for right away? I've heard some good but mostly bad things on the 8V71 engine. I'm expecting to get about 6mpg (reasonable?) and we've thought about a repower but I'm not sure what I would go with and if we want to shoulder the cost. Any maintenance tips on these old Eagle buses or 8v71 engines? The previous owner had the roof rino-lined two years ago because it was leaking where the panels joint together. I believe he said it's a fiberglass shell? Are they strong enough to walk on or will that cause damage? We'd love to clean it and if the roof units need service we want to know if it's safe to go up there.
Also, where the heck do I get parts for this thing? ???
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pjbdv3oE2Qc/U4UiVkGyinI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/uG0m22a0qFc/w871-h653-no/Bus1.JPG)
Nothing like starting at the top! Well done, wishing you many fun memories ahead!
Welcome to the wonderful world of bus nuts
uncle ned
The roof is metal you can walk any were on it the front and rear caps are fiberglass so many buses hitting the scrap yards parts are not a problem, for new parts Jefferson Truck and Bus in OKC OK is the place if you don't have heart problems :o Your bus is closer to a 01 than the 5 you don't see many 68 early Eagles still in tack pretty neat
The 71 is a tough engine they leak a little if not maintained I am not going to the oil deal just use a straight 40 w you can get plenty of help here rare bird you found enjoy does it have power steering ?
Yes you can walk all over the metal portions of the roof...any where there are rivets there is steel framing under it...that's the strongest place to stand.
Now for my opinions...
160K miles on the motor is not a lot if it has been treated right...IMO.
The 8v71 is adequate provided you understand that on some hills you will be able to step out the door at full speed and never skin a knee...if you can run at all you will be able to catch the bus...
That said...you'll get the same result with a bigger engine on only slightly steeper grades...
the money spent on a re-power will buy a lot of diesel and it's money you'll never recover.... And you will buy more fuel for a larger engine ie: 8v92.
My 71 series suits me just fine.
Had I super deep pockets I'd still be happy.
The only draw back I can fathom at the moment regarding the 71 series DD is you won't be the one telling the biggest believable fibs around the campfire... ;D
Welcome and enjoy what you got....the coach will tell you when it needs something if you don't notice it first.
Call and get roadside service and put a dedicated to the coach credit card in the glove box... :)
If you have not done so you should get up and running on the Eagles International forum and also join the club. Every question you will ever have about your Eagle will be answered there. Any part you will need can be sourced there too. Lots of used Eagle parts available, no problems there. Hope you got the manuals with your purchase, if not they are available, you will need them.
If you are on FaceBook there is a large gathering of Eagle owners at the Sliver Eagle Owners Group page and the Bus Nut F/B page those seem to be where the Eagle owners are hanging out nowadays plus photos are a snap to post even I can do it there ::) Then with the help of a couple of friends well versed in the 2 stroke engines we have the 2 Stroke Detroit Diesel Page on FaceBook to help with questions right now it is a closed group to keep the spammers away it's invitation by email only. When we are up and running it will have a lot of info on how to DIY and parts sources at a reasonable price lol with photo's
good luck
Awesome info! Thanks for getting us started. I'll check out the Eagle sites you mentioned.
The body basically sold me on the bus. Like I said, I could only find one spot of rust repair on the whole chassis! From what I can tell the early series 05 was basically a series 01 with the tag axle moved forward.
The whole roof has been rino-lined so I have no idea where the rivets are but i'll give it a bath when I get it home this weekend and I'll tread carefully up there to get it all washed off.
The power steering I never thought about but I believe it is. The wheel is pretty easy to turn in the parking lot.
We are just assuming the engine was rebuilt in 1988 given the detail the rest of the coach was put through but there's no way to know. It leaks like a sieve but starts right up and has plenty of power going on level ground. Up hill has yet to be seen.
How much trouble is towing a trailer going to be with this thing? We are thinking about pulling a 24' car trailer behind it. Am I going to need to put flairs out when I go up slight hills on I-85?
The Texas Border Dude (Doyle) has towed his 24 ft behind his Eagle with a 8v71 and 740 all across the USA with no problems,with a 3.36 rear gear and the 8v71 set at 2500 rpm they are not that bad in the hills because 3rd gear is wicked with the 3.36 gear and the 740
One thing important about that model of Eagle is be aware of the brakes give yourself plenty of stopping distance Eagle was out to lunch and dinner on brakes for the 01 and early model of 05
Welcome!
As others have said, if you need help, ask?
Fix the leaks most will be minor the 8v71 does not have to leak,old joke in the marine world why do keep the manuals on deck answer to keep oil from leaking on them
Quote from: DriverGT5 on May 28, 2014, 05:49:00 AM
The body basically sold me on the bus. the ride comfort sold me, a Mercedes to me.
Up hill has yet to be seen. I might have exaggerated a little :)
How much trouble is towing a trailer going to be with this thing? I have pulled a 16 foot almost everywhere including Tioga Pass, I personally would rent one and see if I liked it....parking for 68feet of rig might be hard to find in a lot of places
Quote from: eagle19952 on May 28, 2014, 07:19:49 AM
the ride comfort sold me, a Mercedes to me.
I might have exaggerated a little Smiley
I have pulled a 16 foot almost everywhere including Tioga Pass, I personally would rent one and see if I liked it....parking for 68feet of rig might be hard to find in a lot of places
We currently own a 28' trailer that is about 30' in total length. We got a longer trailer to store the grill, mattress, etc while we were at the race track and could sleep in the trailer at nights.
With the bus, the trailer just needs to hold the car and tools really. I think in NC if the whole rig is over 60' I need a CDL so we are trying to weigh the options of selling our current trailer (which is really bigger than we need now) and buying a smaller one, or buying a really small trailer (16') and keeping the total weight and length down to avoid any potential length issues. The downside with the latter being a 16' trailer is too small for a real car.
The good news is right now we just go from home to race tracks and they are all equipped to handle 70' rigs as long as we stay on the highway and hit all the major truck stops for breaks. Although I doubt we will need to make potty stops with a bathroom on board or snack runs with a full kitchen. And with almost 400 gallon tanks I don't think we need to stop for fuel that much.... man. Whole new world.... :D
Welcome and enjoy. Great looking bus! Do you have any inside pictures?
You can tow a trailer. Make sure to have a strong hitch installed. Do not attach it to the miter box!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1420949178180873&set=a.1420947961514328.1073741832.100007974128458&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Fscontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-prn2%2Ft1.0-9%2F10322844_1420949178180873_6307879270441269998_n.jpg&size=640%2C480 (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1420949178180873&set=a.1420947961514328.1073741832.100007974128458&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Fscontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-prn2%2Ft1.0-9%2F10322844_1420949178180873_6307879270441269998_n.jpg&size=640%2C480)
Remember this tho, Joe's bus has an 8v92....with significantly more hp. than a v71..... ;D nice coach Joe !! :)
the most recent previous owner of my coach actually toaded a Town Car.
I would not enjoy that at all.
My hitch is well over built and I am very happy with an 800lb+ tongue weight.
having said that I can get up to speed hauling about anything I want with the 71 series that I want on reasonably flat interstates. I believe my trailer has gross'd out at 5-6k lbs. it will do 77-80 mph.
It just won't do 45 mph coming into Sedona from the south or even east into Albuquerque...:)
sounds to me that your coach will suit your needs as is.
(https://scontent-b-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t1.0-9/10322844_1420949178180873_6307879270441269998_n.jpg)
Don,
Thanks for posting the photo. I tried but I'm too ignorant.
That link takes you to my facebook page. There are a lot more photos in the bus album.
I pulled a 20' trailer all over North America with the 8V71.
It was fine in the east but tried your patience in the West and North.
DriverGT5 (name?)-
Welcome to the club. Its a nutty place to be. We just now entered our 3rd year of bus ownership.
Like yourself we have never owned an RV or driven anything larger than a U-haul before. I think I was a bit off my rocker the day we bought the bus. The bussing community is by and large a great support system. I suggest going to meet some of the people that live around you at bus rallies. There are a good number of bus folk in NC - Tom Hamrick and Eric Brown both live out by you. Frankie Goodson has a bus parts/sales shop and is out in western nc.
Lots of others too. All good people.
Parts are out there. The single most difficult part to find and replace will be the torsalstic suspension. After that most parts are out there or can be fabricated or you can get creative enough to make it work. The one thing Ive learned about a bus is that time slows down. Aint nothin gettin done in a hurry. So take your time with it and enjoy it. Dont try to get it all done in a year or youll burn out.
Make a list and plan all your projects and tackle one at a time. Dont be afraid to take things apart. It can be intimidating but if you have half a mind and can turn a wrench youll figure it out. Dont be afraid to pull the tires and check out whats behind there. Give the engine a good once over. Change your oil and tranny fluid and filters and check as much of your airlines/airbrakes system as you can.
Most of all dont be afraid to use it. Even if its not ready. Take a trip down to walmart and stay overnight. Find a state park and dry camp for a few days. Thats the best way to figure out the RV setup that works best for you. Ive overthought so many things on paper that have become negligible now that we live in the bus. Using it will keep you motivated. I love driving our bus. Its all stoke.
Have fun. Feel free to pm me if you want to chat. I dont know much but Im a good motivator.
-Sean
Fulltiming somewhere in the USA
1984 Eagle 10S
www.herdofturtles.org (http://www.herdofturtles.org)
Sean, nicely put, lvmci...
Kelly and I picked up our new bus Thursday night and drove it 150 miles home to Charlotte. Friday I gave it the first bath it's had in two years.... :o
Aside from almost driving it through a fence when I got to the first turn we did great and the trip was uneventful. That was lucky since we arrived at about 1:30AM...
The bus has been converted to an air throttle and power steering so it is really easy to drive. Checking it out over the last few days I definitely have some front end parts to replace because I'm getting some pretty wicked tire wear on the front. It has cruise but I have no idea how the system is setup and it doesn't seem to work at the moment. I'll have to check that out at some point in the future.
The torsilastic suspension looks like it might have been replaced once before. The adjusters all look like they have 6" or more of adjuster rod still showing. If I'm looking at the front adjusters correctly the rod facing me is how much is left correct? In other words I am moving the adjuster arm further out to raise the bus or is that backwards?
I get the feeling this bus was fully gone through in 88-89 from the frame up. I found some fiberglass in the wheel wells that I assume is from previous rust repair when the conversion took place. The odo has 127,000 miles on it and the engine and generator are showing ~3400 hours. From the condition of the two I'm hoping they were new/rebuilt in 88 when the conversion was done and the hours/odo aren't just because the gauges were new back then.
Now we have a long list of projects to go through. While the mechanical side of the bus is nearly all positive, the interior and cosmetics are mostly negative. The guy who built it was a heavy smoker with a dog and the bus was pretty gross when it was sold in 2006. The second owners cleaned it up and raised 4 kids in the bus nearly full time. Now that we own it, the interior looks like it had 4 kids and a dog living in it but again it's all really cosmetic.
We have a lot of cabinet work to do, fix some of the wood floor, wall treatments, etc. I'll start a project thread as we get into it.
So far I'm trying to get the bus AC working. There's a power supply issue to the switch in the control panel and judging from the melted wires I will have to re-wire a few things to get that working. The fuel cut solenoid on the generator has locked up so you must manually flip the fuel arm back and forth to start and stop the generator so that needs to get replaced.
We are planning to take a 500 mile trip in two weeks to Road Atlanta and camp for the weekend so no need to worry about breaking the bus in before the projects get completed.... ;D We are more "trial by fire" kind of people. Which reminds me, I need to get a fire extinguisher....
Over 2 grand for parts to rebuild the front end on a Eagle see what you got into ::) Jefferson has the parts it maybe over 2 grand now
good luck
A lot of people remove the stock over-the-road (OTR) air conditioning and use the roof AC (or whatever they have) to cool the bus while driving. Some use the generator for power, others use the big alternator and an inverter for power (which is what I do). The amount of cooling isn't as much as the OTR bus system. But - the OTR system can cost a lot to maintain. Mine was going to cost several thousand dollars to get running.
I am pulling my 20 foot race car trailer in a few weeks, for the first trip. Looking forward to it! Scared, anxious and ready to get it done!
Brian
I don't see the fresh air intake on the side of the bus for factory air in the 1 photo ?
Welcome!
Nice bird you have there! What is the VIN #?
We love ours and the 8v71 works just fine. A little slow on the big hills, but I'm in no hurry to get there. ;) We also have an Allison 740 which makes driving a pleasure.
Get the manuals and study them, they come in handy.
Have fun and be safe!
The bus number is 7616 on the plate. I have no idea of the history before 1988 aside from the fact it was built in Belgium by Bus and Car Co. Any ideas?
I have a 4" thick parts manual that came with the bus. I was very excited when I saw that. It has helped me already in getting the right front end parts for the steering and figuring out how all the parts go together. I plan to take some pictures as I get it setup and aligned.
Quote from: DriverGT5 on June 05, 2014, 10:04:34 AM
The bus number is 7616 on the plate. I have no idea of the history before 1988 aside from the fact it was built in Belgium by Bus and Car Co. Any ideas
You have a celebrity bus... ;D
Can you Limbo Rock.... :o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTKj_Vd5_Bk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTKj_Vd5_Bk)
1968 VIN#7616 SE05 SOLD originally to Continental Trail Ways 1968 To Mr. Chubby Checker – band bus,
then to Andy & Eleanor Hoag - motorhome.
I assume this means Chubby had Trail-Ways maintain it...
Click, download save to open,:
https://xa.yimg.com/df/Eagle_Bus/BUS%26CAR_7000.doc?token=CEf8IWLBCakmA6eU0oRE9uzuQZDPOssV-T2g-QGrYIqAnO5HpM_AKMGgkzlzRQn3HMofHEg8v02N-gTA518C_rtohul5DLRtliBc9yX_IJ-Y2gaOouhgm7yeo7qIi2I2edogJG8cU3OhcwfPlx4&type=download (https://xa.yimg.com/df/Eagle_Bus/BUS%26CAR_7000.doc?token=CEf8IWLBCakmA6eU0oRE9uzuQZDPOssV-T2g-QGrYIqAnO5HpM_AKMGgkzlzRQn3HMofHEg8v02N-gTA518C_rtohul5DLRtliBc9yX_IJ-Y2gaOouhgm7yeo7qIi2I2edogJG8cU3OhcwfPlx4&type=download)
Quote from: eagle19952 on June 05, 2014, 10:36:13 AM
You have a celebrity bus... ;D
Can you Limbo Rock.... :o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTKj_Vd5_Bk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTKj_Vd5_Bk)
1968 VIN#7616 SE05 SOLD originally to Continental Trail Ways 1968 To Mr. Chubby Checker – band bus,
then to Andy & Eleanor Hoag - motorhome.
I assume this means Chubby had Trail-Ways maintain it...
:o :o :o :o :o
I found the engineering schematics from the conversion with Andrew Hoag's name on them. I gather he was some type of engineer or boat designer.
The Chubby Checker part is a bit of a surprise....
Quote from: eagle19952 on June 05, 2014, 10:36:13 AM
Click, download save to open,:
https://xa.yimg.com/df/Eagle_Bus/BUS%26CAR_7000.doc?token=CEf8IWLBCakmA6eU0oRE9uzuQZDPOssV-T2g-QGrYIqAnO5HpM_AKMGgkzlzRQn3HMofHEg8v02N-gTA518C_rtohul5DLRtliBc9yX_IJ-Y2gaOouhgm7yeo7qIi2I2edogJG8cU3OhcwfPlx4&type=download (https://xa.yimg.com/df/Eagle_Bus/BUS%26CAR_7000.doc?token=CEf8IWLBCakmA6eU0oRE9uzuQZDPOssV-T2g-QGrYIqAnO5HpM_AKMGgkzlzRQn3HMofHEg8v02N-gTA518C_rtohul5DLRtliBc9yX_IJ-Y2gaOouhgm7yeo7qIi2I2edogJG8cU3OhcwfPlx4&type=download)
I try to click and I just get error messages. Right click save as just gives me a word doc with error messages. What did I miss?
All the Chubby Checker buses I ever saw were MCI his 8 was the ugliest bus you ever saw with the checker board paint job
Quote from: DriverGT5 on June 05, 2014, 04:10:03 PM
I try to click and I just get error messages. Right click save as just gives me a word doc with error messages. What did I miss?
I am not sure, send this Email:
eagle_bus-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
and join the group, it is an open yahoo group, Clic on the files tab and scroll down to the 7000.doc..
Got it finally. Thanks! Took 45 minutes to sort through Yahoo's nonsense. Where does the information on that list come from? B&C co. documents? DMV?
Tovinman had a few records he got over the year lot of his stuff was just hear say he posted I didn't even know he was still trying to keep the old board running him and Pete the Eagles Bus Nut board started those things in 1999 another guy had the Eagles Bus Life on Yahoo fwiw
Trailways never sold those buses off till they were 10+ years old.Tovinman was on this board years ago he may be still around here he could tell you where he got the info but I really have my doubts about the Chubby deal that would have been around 1978 before he bought the bus and he already had a later model MCI but stranger things happen with buses Dan probably has the most accurate list he was a long time Eagle employee in Brownsville,the yahoo site has some good info but don't take it to the bank
Like I said before, my Eagle history knowledge will fit in a thimble, but I do know that the Yahoo record for 19952 is correct.
Wee Willie Enterprises which lists my coach as a 1977, but in all likelihood not roaded till 1978 and so all of the records list it as a 1978.
As I understand it was one of the last made that year, consequently it has a lot of 10 parts, again I wouldn't know just by looking. I do know that the shift linkage for a manual transmission is still in place.
Besides if it's on the internet it's true, Bonjour...:)
I'm a French model too....
Were I conversing with Clifford or Daniel I would be listening.