Hi guys we have been offered a 1997 Prevost XL40, Still a seated bus, It has a Detroit 50 series engine, Auto trans, any useful information on a 50 series gratefully received, We are thinking about installing a big CAT or Cummins in place of this engine. Thanks Malcolm.
Interesting... S50, not S60?
S50 is a capable mover.
If you want to $wap, be sure engine room is deep enough for 6 cylinders in a row.
Can't remember which year the 40 footer got the bigger engine room, vs the short 2-stroke v8 engine room.
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
A 1997 should be a series 60,the 1994 model swung both ways they could have a 8v92 or a series 60 all were series 60 from 1995 the 11.1 or the 12.7 the later ones were the 14L till Detroit stopped selling to Volvo
prevostcar.com enter last letter in serial number (prob) V then last 4 numbers(unit number) should tell you how it was built.. Clifford is rite on with engine changeover years. That year should have rear tag that can except 60 series. That was changed about 94 area.
It might have been changed from the original, look on the valve cover for Detroit Diesel Spec labels. They will give all the details if they are still intact. Depending on the horsepower level, if it is a Series 50, it may be entirely adequate and fuel efficient.
Thanks for the reply's , going to take some battery's & see if we can start it , its been sat over a year . will have a better look @ the valve cover ,
Quote from: robertglines1 on November 25, 2019, 06:56:39 PM
prevostcar.com That year should have rear tag that can except 60 series. That was changed about 94 area.
Wonder if the tag can be changed from a 94 model XL to a 91XL to except the longer engines. Would frames be different? My 8V92TA is still running strong but you never know.
The whole rear of the coaches went under re-engineering to accept the inline 6 cylinder 4 stroke engines, both prevost and mci.
The tag axle itself was just a part of a bigger job.
The small package of the detroit v8 had been well taken advantage of by the bus manufactures, the entire rear of the bus was built around that footprint, and 2 stroke twisting forces.
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
When Greyhound swapped out the 6V-92TA for Series 50 in their 8's, the S50 is so efficient, they were able to remove one of the radiators and replace it with the air to air intercooler. Mileage jumped from 6-10. Series 50 can be set at 350hp and 1,100lb/ft torque. In my opinion, the perfect motorhome engine. Couple things-course the bull gear just like the Series 60 needs to be checked about every 500,000 miles. S50 has twin rotating balance shafts in the crankcase that should be replaced every 300,000 miles. And be sure to use the big cushy soft engine mounts since the S50 vibrates a bit at idle. Great engine-don't change it. Good Luck, TomC
Hi, We found out that the coach has a 60 series engine, have not had chance to try and start it yet! But have got some more questions, Is there anywhere to sell the seats to, Also the over head bins, and the over the road AC unit.
Next. I know Robert Glines. Has installed slides etc... in his coach, Wondering if we could get the plans for slides he used, and a list of parts suppliers.
If the motor runs good we will buy it. and don't mind paying for this information.
Thanks
Malcolm.
You would help yourself a lot if you indicated where you and the bus in question are located. Take plenty of pictures, we could have identified the engine right away. Take pictures of the parts you would be getting rid of so people can see their condition.
slides not for the faint of heart..Takes twice as much time as rest of build. seats if you can get someone to take them out for the seats. Your way ahead. Overhead racks are a 100$ worth of scrap alum or save the alum to build things out of. Best way out the passenger side windshield (from Prevost parts around 200$ delivered to you if you break it)also good way to bring cabinets & tops /appliances etc in. Over the road air=if it works keep it.. if not a couple hundred scrap for could also good market ($300) for used air conditioner compressor. Air ducts along bottom inside of coach are stainless. use or scrap. Will be real nasty inside!! Prevost uses top grade plywood in floors/2-layers 3/4. etc etc etc. Ask questions? plan on 3 times the time and budget. Welcome to nuts=busnuts. If it is a hobby go for it! If you need it now buy a done conversion then change things you don't like. Keep it as lite as possible=better gas mileage.
Bob is right, you had better think hard about doing something like that. It is a massive restructuring of the frame, not to be done haphazardly. Take a look at the pictures of an 1974 Eagle that is listed on ebay (eBay item number:1924693063120). It has been sitting for a long time completely stripped to the frame because the owner decided to install a slideout. It looks like his widow or fed-up wife put it up for sale. It's been for sale a long time. :o Unless you are young, very wealthy, or extremely handy, you might have better things to do. Don't forget about the possibility of water leaks you might have to live with. ::)
Hi Guys, Yes we know this is not going to be a five minute job, What we want to do is two slides on one side, Going to use mini-split for AC. Already have, Cummings onan, Diesel generator. / Trace 4000 watt true sign wave inverter, with trace transfer switch, Going to replace all the suspension bushing & dog bones / airbags, Plus and wheel or brake work that might need doing. Probably do a in-frame on the engine, The peace we need help with are the dimensions of the slide out & materials you guys are using. Any measurements, and where you purchased your drive gear for the slide out. If we can beg, steal or borrow that information, would be greatly appreciated. We are lucky to have a shop full of equipment, welders Mills drill etc, to complete this project.
Thanks
Malcolm.
Quote from: DoubleEagle on November 28, 2019, 07:03:29 PM
Bob is right, you had better think hard about doing something like that. It is a massive restructuring of the frame, not to be done haphazardly. Take a look at the pictures of an 1974 Eagle that is listed on ebay (eBay item number:1924693063120). It has been sitting for a long time completely stripped to the frame because the owner decided to install a slideout. It looks like his widow or fed-up wife put it up for sale. It's been for sale a long time. :o Unless you are young, very wealthy, or extremely handy, you might have better things to do. Don't forget about the possibility of water leaks you might have to live with. ::)
Hi, Yea we knew about the eagle, Yes the owner passed away, thought about it very hard, but i understand the coach was in Canada, The cost of transport would have been more that the bus, plus that not accounting for customs issues.
Thanks
Malcolm.
I saw a slide being install on 1997 model at Marathon before Prevost engineered the bus for slides in 2002,quite a chore with arching the bus to set level after the installed, Marathon used a cable truss system in the roof to achieve that.I often wondered what happen when the cables started to stretch over the years and the bus sagged
Quote from: m-werx on November 30, 2019, 09:34:17 AM
Quote from: DoubleEagle on November 28, 2019, 07:03:29 PM
Hi, Yea we knew about the eagle, Yes the owner passed away, thought about it very hard, but i understand the coach was in Canada, The cost of transport would have been more that the bus, plus that not accounting for customs issues.
Thanks
Malcolm.
The one I gave you the ebay number for is in Opelika, Alabama. I would take Cliff's information about Prevost's design as Gospel. You might be headed for major problems doing slides. Consider some structural engineering help from Prevost.
Hi, Did you keep any of the information on the eagle e-bay number you sent us. We have tried to pull it up, with no luck. Do you have any contact information or anything like that.
Thanks
Malcolm
I just checked it, the ebay listing is still up at that listing number. Just put it in the search line. The address is 104 18th St, Opelika, AL 36801, Phone: (334) 749-3741 (Bledsoe Auto Service). Look at the pictures hard and long. The ebay ID of the lister is deborahjrogers57. You can google that address and see more views of the bus.
Quote from: luvrbus on November 30, 2019, 09:48:52 AM
I saw a slide being install on 1997 model at Marathon before Prevost engineered the bus for slides in 2002,quite a chore with arching the bus to set level after the installed, Marathon used a cable truss system in the roof to achieve that.I often wondered what happen when the cables started to stretch over the years and the bus sagged
I have never heard of a cable truss system being used in a bus frame.
Cables can only apply tension. Tension in the roof structure of a bus would bend the bus frame in the wrong direction.
I shared documents that outline the changes Prevost makes to the frame of a slide equipped bus in this thread:
https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/forum/index.php?topic=34914.0
Quote from: someguy on August 18, 2020, 10:16:37 AM
I have never heard of a cable truss system being used in a bus frame.
Cables can only apply tension. Tension in the roof structure of a bus would bend the bus frame in the wrong direction.
I shared documents that outline the changes Prevost makes to the frame of a slide equipped bus in this thread:
https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/forum/index.php?topic=34914.0
The were used often ,I don't what to tell you about you never heard of it ,BJ's MCI 8 he named the Bear used cables 100's of us saw his at Bus'n USA
Quote from: luvrbus on August 18, 2020, 11:54:34 AM
The were used often ,I don't what to tell you about you never heard of it ,BJ's MCI 8 he named the Bear used cables 100's of us saw his at Bus'n USA
Cliff, Richard's burned up H-VIP I resurrected from the dead had the cable truss system for those 2 massive salon slides. I forget the cabling size but I doubt they would ever stretch, even if they did they had adjustable ends on them. ;) ;)
Quote from: Van on August 18, 2020, 01:11:34 PM
Cliff, Richard's burned up H-VIP I resurrected from the dead had the cable truss system for those 2 massive salon slides. I forget the cabling size but I doubt they would ever stretch, even if they did they had adjustable ends on them. ;) ;)
Van You having first hand knowledge and installing slides I bet you get a laugh out of some of this BS 8)
Quote from: luvrbus on August 18, 2020, 01:26:24 PM
Van You having first hand knowledge and installing slides I bet you get a laugh out of some of this BS 8)
I do get a chuckle some times at how things are approached given all the advice from knowledgeable Busnuts already. But laugh no, I myself am proof of what can be achieved even when it goes against all the naysayers. Custom slides nowadays will cost $2500 to do, oh and that is per foot. With all the dough that has ever been spent on R&D for slide outs it still blows my mind that today folks (not in the industry) would want to tackle custom slides. All that being said I wish the OP the best of luck in his endeavor and be the first to offer a Laurel & Hardy handshake for a stellar job if he succeeds, and if he doesn't it will just be the obligatory SMH response. PS. the HappyJack slides are cheap $#!% not even worthy of mounting a kitchen draw on let alone a slide out LOL!