Ok I posted a question about the Eagle Bus, the ones I like the best is the old school PD-4104. I have found the prices much higher on them but they were very reliable, and I know how to work on the 6-71 as I was a mechanic. That being said how much more maintenance is the old bus to something newer?
I might jump in here. First welcome to the forum! There is a wealth of knowledge here. Others will know a lot more about the Eagles than me but as for the GMCs I would not want a 6-71. Mechanically they are good engines but on todays highways they are kind of low on steam. They are what I call a good down hill bus. I have an 8-71 with a 4 speed. It is marginal at best. Any bus can be expensive to maintain but some of the things my Eagle owning friends talk about are breath taking.
Steve Weatherford refers to the PD 4104 as a bus with training wheels. In other words,if you can't keep one of these things going ,then you definitely don't need any thing else!!
"Any bus can be expensive to maintain but some of the things my Eagle owning friends talk about are breath taking."
I am not married to a trophy wife so I don't know all that much about that. But I will say this, "Maintaining a 4104 or a wife, both can get rather expensive." So you might take that into consideration, "if you marry the girl, she aint gonna rust away, you are stuck with her."
Be careful here.
There is good advice, and then there is a lot of the "other thing." Kind of like all Internet garbage, pick out what works for you and throw the rest of it away. That should keep you clear of some of these pompous gas bags that hang out here ....
Say?
My phone is ringing I gotta go.
Welcome to the circus.
BCO
Hi jonboy,
Again welcome aboard!!
Early on when you first get a bus the expenses could mount up due to deferred maintenance issues from the PO. But after that fuel , insurance , oil changes. If you bought a well maintained bus and it doesn't need tires I find them good for full timing ( us for 5 years ) or vacationing ( us for 4 - 5 months a year ) . We've had this bus ( mc9 ,6v02 ) for 15 years just bought the second set of tires $$. Look for the expenses early on and then taper off to normal maintenance.
Frank
Quote from: boxcarOkie on July 12, 2015, 02:53:43 AM
"Any bus can be expensive to maintain but some of the things my Eagle owning friends talk about are breath taking."
I am not married to a trophy wife so I don't know all that much about that. But I will say this, "Maintaining a 4104 or a wife, both can get rather expensive." So you might take that into consideration, "if you marry the girl, she aint gonna rust away, you are stuck with her."
Be careful here.
There is good advice, and then there is a lot of the "other thing." Kind of like all Internet garbage, pick out what works for you and throw the rest of it away. That should keep you clear of some of these pompous gas bags that hang out here ....
Say?
My phone is ringing I gotta go.
Welcome to the circus.
BCO
I hope and assume the pompous gas bag thing was not aimed at me. I was just trying to be helpful.
Thanks all for welcoming my good friend Jon to the forum! We're thinking that between he & I, we could eventually start the Bus Conversion Prescott Valley, AZ chapter. By his joining, I believe we're doubling the number of bus folk in Prescott Valley. ;D
Kind Regards, Phil
Quote from: Charles in SC on July 12, 2015, 10:04:32 AM
I hope and assume the pompous gas bag thing was not aimed at me. I was just trying to be helpful.
"No, it was aimed at "me" I am one of them, Hell, ask Clifford, he will tell you that I am their King!
There ws nothing "pointed at anyone in particular" (although a few do readily come to mind) and certainly not you.
BCO
Ya when BOXCAR said gasbag I knew who he was talkin about...but..he's a friend..what are you gonna due.....lol
Thought he threw that one at me, now I'm disappointed
If anyone is the gas bag around here, I've got that distinction this month. I've posted a lot lately :)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: Charles in SC on July 11, 2015, 05:15:48 PM
I might jump in here. First welcome to the forum! There is a wealth of knowledge here. Others will know a lot more about the Eagles than me but as for the GMCs I would not want a 6-71. Mechanically they are good engines but on todays highways they are kind of low on steam. They are what I call a good down hill bus. I have an 8-71 with a 4 speed. It is marginal at best. Any bus can be expensive to maintain but some of the things my Eagle owning friends talk about are breath taking.
First I would like to thank ever one for welcoming me I'm very new to all of this. A big Thank you to the advice on the 6-71 verse the 8-71 I'm old school and drove school bus for several years so use to not having a lot of power. I'm looking at a 1977 MCI 8 with I think a 6V-92ta but will not know till I drive out to see it. I have looked at a lot of bus conversions and my wife is tired of me telling her about them and showing photos.......She said just buy one and leave me out of the hole thing...LOL I feel the best bus for me and my (wife) is one with a automatic. Time will tell as I do my search. Thanks ever one !!
It just leaped off the page at me, "most of us here definitely are of the age that we need a new member!" Think about it, it will come to you.
Four hundred and something of you have read this? You people need to develop a life ... Unplug from the pole at the campground and go somewhere! Or do a quick cut and paste and try to fool the rest of us.
(https://ldsrr91.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/1266706115165985_nrupa10x_f.jpg)
Now Lee you know there is a distinct difference between a "gas bag" and a "pompous bas bag" don'tcha? (By the way,
dontcha isn't really a real word ... Similar to Allergo Bus is not really a bus. Consumer beware.)
Watch those right-handers.
BCO
Welcome to the board Jonboy. Don how is the hand doing?
Welcome to the asylum jonboy! I've been rebuilding my 1956 4104 for the past three years. It's been functional and on the road for 1 1/2. We have a 671, with four valve heads. In that time we've driven from Michigan to California the last two winters (2400 miles each way). It cruises at 65 mph on grades less than 1% pulling an HHR behind. The only grade I avoid is I-70, west of Denver - too long and steep a pull. Yes I'd like more power and an automatic would be nice, but I don't use the clutch other than from a dead stop, so it's not that big a deal. It's the best looking bus ever made (IMHO), solid and reliable. The only thing I would do differently is buy a later model - say after production #3000. Just my two cents. You can check out the entire rebuild at http://this-old-bus.blogspot.com/. (http://this-old-bus.blogspot.com/.)
We built this 04 in 2000. It's our 4th bus. Replaced the original 671 with a 671ta ddec. Left the original 4spd,only use clutch to take.off . Engine is set at 325hp&700+tq. Can run with any other bus. Plus has averaged just under 11mpg for the last 80000 miles. Just buy something you like..... rdw
Welcome here Jonboy,
an automatic is preferable for several reasons, even if you enjoy shifting gears. A manual would be a hard sell when you want to get rid of it, because most people prefer an auto. The start ability of an auto is far superior to a manual. Most of that vintage buses have the Spicer 4 speed, with a high first gear, which makes it hard to start up a hill and/or pulling a trailer without slipping and burning the clutch. An automatic will most likely be the Allison HT740, which is very reliable.
Be very careful looking at a church or sports team bus. In most cases, they were maintained by volunteers with tight budgets, run into the ground, then put up for sale when they couldn't keep up any more. Look everywhere, ask for maintenance records, have a good mechanic inspect it for you if you don't feel you are competent enough. Where are you at? Maybe one of us can help.
Good luck,
JC
Buy what you like they all their have pit falls,me with the price of conversions today I would buy a late model factory conversion, they are going to be low miles parts and service from Prevost and MCI are just a phone call away.
You pay 15 grand for a older bus at 50,100,500 and 1000 bucks a pop replacing things you are going to be about the same price in the older as bus as you could buy a decent factory coach with all the goodies like a diesel generators inverters but we all do it different do you want a 35,40 or 45 ft coach ?
You know why she is telling you to leave her out of it don't you Jonboy??? It is so every time something screws up ,she can say "this is your d---- problem!! I didn't have any thing to do with it""LOL
Quote from: lostagain on July 13, 2015, 07:57:15 AM
Welcome here Jonboy,
an automatic is preferable for several reasons, even if you enjoy shifting gears. A manual would be a hard sell when you want to get rid of it, because most people prefer an auto. The start ability of an auto is far superior to a manual. Most of that vintage buses have the Spicer 4 speed, with a high first gear, which makes it hard to start up a hill and/or pulling a trailer without slipping and burning the clutch. An automatic will most likely be the Allison HT740, which is very reliable.
Be very careful looking at a church or sports team bus. In most cases, they were maintained by volunteers with tight budgets, run into the ground, then put up for sale when they couldn't keep up any more. Look everywhere, ask for maintenance records, have a good mechanic inspect it for you if you don't feel you are competent enough. Where are you at? Maybe one of us can help.
Good luck,
JC
I live in Prescott Valley AZ hay thanks for all the information I appreciate all your help. I was a Detroit mechanic for several years and like the 6-71 as so easy to work on. The Bus I'm looking at is a PD-4104 with the 6-71, it is two valve head and no Jake Brake. Looking for the 4 valve head is very pricey would run around $25,000 but would be a great up grade. The automatic would be awesome as then would not have teach her how to double clutch, I only use the clutch to start then shift on the fly. Jonboy