So in theory (and practice i suppose), what sort of equipment and skills would I need to be able to get something like this in respectable form? http://www.webspaced.com/vehicles/mci-6bus.htm (http://www.webspaced.com/vehicles/mci-6bus.htm)
from this,
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webspaced.com%2Fimages%2Fvehicles%2Fmci6%2F0_0905171257.jpg&hash=4181ecad8a148dee0763633718a36dc80ff0c59d)
to this,
keeping in mind that the finished pic below is not the above bus...
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webspaced.com%2Fimages%2Fvehicles%2Fmci6%2FMCI-6Conversion1.jpg&hash=dc240e84e35a3813c6dc5ccfc393dcef9a34a8f6)
imo, there is not one person with the skills to take A. and make it B.
So a stack of credit cards about 1 1/2" high would be a start :)
I thought you just sign a check. WTF. No questions.
--Geoff
Hi Newman, an 8V71, no matter what kind, will be over whelmed on a 30K lb bus, when your done a 40K lb conversion. It will get you from shop to shop as you work on it. They came with an 12V71, or as it goes the CA versions. I thought most were converted to 8V92Ts. Call about the one for sale in the busconversions classified, as a comparison, lvmci...
The ONLY equipment you need is a pair of good running shoes. Put them on and run as fast as humanly possible away. That thing is basically a parts bus from a money standpoint. You'd do far better finding one in much better shape to start the refurb.
I remember when they were only a couple of years old. Loved them, always wanted one with it's unique looks. After actually seeing one up close, I realized they looked better from distance. Many oddities about it and a LOT of unobtanium parts. That is going to be a money pit and when someone starts converting it and gets overwhelmed, it'll then end up being scrapped. Someone with excellent talent and experience can make it into the one pictured. With lots of money and thousands of hours labor.
BTW, if you want to see one in action, watch the movie "Kotch" with Walter Matthau. Several good moving shots.
Those cost a fortune to convert over just for the normal tires and wheels of today,the photos are showing a 8v71T engine that should help a little
The seller was too lazy to even blow the grass clippings out of the dualie rim...I'm out.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
"This is the only bus I am aware of which has a De Dion Suspension System. This suspension design was used in the early Le Mans cars because of their cornering and handling capability. One of the few suspension designs which eliminate leaning of the vehicle in corners with greatly enhanced stability."
Seriously?
Mercedes 190SLs and the big 600E sedans used a single-pivot De Dion rear axle suspension, but I've never seen a US highway HD truck or bus with any form of IRS, so I'm not sure what this guy's talking about.
IIRC, the MC-6 is suspended the same as an MC-7: four air bellows on the I-beam front axle, four air bellows on the solid rear axle and one air bellow for each of the tags. I don't believe there are any anti-roll bars. . .
Excellent example of a poor old Dog that's been run very, very, very, VERY hard and put away wet.
Sad.
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
They made 102 of them, the first 2 were prototypes.
If you have to ask . . . .
It would be less money to buy almost ANYTHING else on wheels. Heck, ain't much that floats or flies gonna cost more.
But to answer your question "what sort of equipment and skills would I need to be able to get something like this in respectable form" -- Welders, sheet metal fabrication, press brake, shear, cnc cutting table, lathe, milling machine, forge, etc. AND the knowledge/ skills to use them.
There is the issue of glass fabrication to mold the lenses & windshields.
Almost forgot about the rubber vulcanizing equipment to make the suspension bushings.
Rivet hammers & dies,
I had a dream to have a bad assed classic bus conversion. For 10 years I collected parts & busses. One day I realized it was going to take way more time than I had to get my dream project completed. So, I changed paths.
I wish you well on what ever path makes you happiest!
We aren't called 'bus nuts' for nothing !!!
I appreciate the brutality, really helps me not ponder getting into a giant mess.
As noted, access to a pretty full fab shop, and tool and die shop. The bigger question is money. That would probably take two to three years of 40 hours a week work, so figure $150K in salary or around 5000 hours of unpaid labour. Parts and stuff, another $100K. Full rebuild of the running gear, $50K. Paint, $15K. So realistically, a normal person is gonna be dead before they finish, and they can't afford it anyway.
Quote from: bevans6 on October 24, 2017, 04:40:58 AM
So realistically, a normal person is gonna be dead before they finish, and they can't afford it anyway.
Kinda how I feel about my bus at times.. :-\
Regarding that MC6 - my first (and continuing) thought on seeing the pictures was "Why would anyone WANT a bus like that?". It does look like the epitome of a heavy metal dinosaur, without even the benefit of at least having the bit of style and large amount of history that makes a Scenicruiser desirable for instance. Just a graceless built-for-one-function piece of industrial machinery.
Just my opinion of course and I'm not meaning to be rude to any other MC6 owners that might be on here. And l do love lots of old buses - but I struggle to see what anyone would find remotely attractive about that one, unless it was in some ironic or kitsch way.
Jeremy
Actually I do quite like the wraparound rear window - although it would be difficult to retain in a conversion
All the other glasswork on it is a completely mis-matched cobbled-together mess though
Jeremy
As unique as they are, there are fans out there like there for school buses, Crowns, Eagles, Mini Cooper's,I Cubes, Elements, Jukes....
Quote from: Jeremy on October 24, 2017, 05:57:55 AM...I struggle to see what anyone would find remotely attractive about that one, ...
Yep. Sorta like somebody ate a brick before bed and had a dream about a blob.
Where the guy got the MCI 6 was the only 102 wide bus made in era is beyond me ,Eagle had the model 7 102 wide they made 49 of the model 7 at last account 47 were still on the road
That thing is only good for the metal scrappers.
But I do have a soft spot for an MC6. Because I remember them in service with Greyhound out of Calgary in the 70s. They were so big and majestic. Everything was air operated, like the door, ptssss it would open, ptssss it would close. While we had to pull on a handle on the dash of our MC5s and 7s. You would recognize one coming down the highway miles away with their size and distinctive shape. And the sound of the 12V71 would make your knees weak... Fondness for a particular vehicle is shaped by experiences in our early life.
Some of you here remember the MC6 in Alaska that this guy had inherited from his father. It was so well done in exotic woods. He would drive it once or twice a year to Idaho. He eventually sold it...
JC
Yea JC that belonged to Gary before he sold the bus, the new owners showed up at Quartzsite last year and all the people got a good look at the mighty MCI 6 but it has a 8v92TA for a engine a nice bus the MCI 5's looked like a toy setting beside it
Many odd parts. It is the only bus that used a 12R-24.5 tire-only available now is an off road design. Many make adapter plates to run normal 11R-24.5 tires. With the weirdness of the 6 and many parts unobtainium, I'd stick with a more modern design. The MCI 102C, D, E3's-especially with Series 60 would be my choice.
There is one advantage of the 6-it does have a huge engine compartment since it originally housed a 12V-71. I saw one with a Series 60 in it and it looked small. Good Luck, TomC
It would be more attractive if it had a 12V71 in it or if the purpose was to put one back in it, making it original. Using weight saving techniques, light weight furniture, lightest weight generator, modern weight saving everything, space is not the issue, another unusual bus is the MCI7 Combo, some were direct from factory conversions. it's doable, but expensive, lvmci...
Why screw round with a 12V-71 when you could put together a 12V-92?
12V-92 weighs almost 1,000lbs heavier than the 12V-71. 12V-71 is a single block with 2 6cylinder heads with twin blowers. 12V-92 is 2-6V-92 blocks put together with 4 3cylinder heads with twin blowers. Would use much fuel-maybe 4mpg. Good Luck, TomC
There is mining co here that has 2-12v92's in haul trucks 700 hp and 2100 ft lbs of torque makes 12v71 they have in other trucks seem like 6-71 vs a 8v92, I love to hear the 12v92 coming out of the pits with the Allison 6000 changing gears going up hill with 60 tons of ore
Actually about 730 lbs. Extra weight over rear wheels for better traction.:)
I personally like their unique look so to each their own. Thank you all who gave me some really nice thoughtful feedback as to the kind of equipment that would be requisite for it; I grew up around the metal shop my father was plant manager of so it's not all completely foreign to me but to be honest I've gone a different career path and its not realistically accessible to me at this point...especially to such a crazy extent.
Thank you all again for indulging me.
Glad somebody out there has retained his sanity-----Me, I'd be allover it if I still had time, and bucks and no wife----- Jack