Just bought a bus...

[it_mike]

OK, here's the deal...

We're looking to do a bus conversion.  Not a lot of cash on hand, but presuming we can strip the seats and get some basic wiring done, we expect to start using it as a camper shell and continue the conversion over the years.

The bus is a 1980 TMC/MCI MC-9 Crusader II, formerly used to transport a semi-pro football team.  Axle odometer reads 152K.  Discovered on the 650 mile ride home that the air brake interlocks for the baggage area and roof emergency exits work.

The bad:
No A/C - the blowers work, but the compressor belt is missing.
Cruise Control - doesn't work, cause still unknown
Driver's Windshield Leak - I have the receipt for the replacement last summer, but found out it will leak during heavy rain while underway.

and of course my ignorance...   

I've tons of questions, including if there are any enthusiasts in the Southeast Virginia area who'd be willing to take a look at it and tell me what I've missed.  Another question would be the feasibility of leaving the touring restroom in place and operational until I'm ready to strip the floors and redo the walls?

BTW, can anyone recommend a place to get the bus inspected in SE VA?

Thanks,
Mike

[it_mike]

BTW, she's a 8V71, with the 4 speed automatic.  Pulled beautifully through the hill of Western PA.

Oh, and she was a TX/AL coach until last summer.  I couldn't find any rust.

[it_mike]

Can anyone tell me how to bypass the air brake interlocks for the rooftop emergency exits?  I'd like to replace them with fans or AC.

[Melbo]

Welcome to the madness --- you will have a lot of fun and learn a bunch

Lots of good help to be had here

Melbo

[kyle4501]

You need to get a full set of manuals for your new toy. Lots of interesting reading & will help explain things, sometimes with pictures. 

Welcome to the madness.
kyle

[Chopper Scott]

Actually it's probably more like insanity. The madness comes later!

[Hi yo silver]

Mike,
Where are ya, exactly?  I'm near Roanoke, and get down around VA Beach, Chesapeake from time to time.  I have an MC 9.  Drop me a message with your # and I'll give you a call.  Glad to help with advice and the benefit of my experience, if I can.  EXPERIENCE...that's what ya get right after you need it, right?

Dennis

[BG6]

Congratulations on buying a UFO (TMCs come from Roswell), and welcome to the obsession.

You are now entitled (and expected) to look down your nose at any RVer not driving a coach conversion (including the ones who bought multi-million-dollar turnkey rigs).

Job One is to get the coach a safety inspection, unless it has had one within the last year.  You don't need it to be legal, but before you sink thousands more into the conversion, you need to know that it's in good enough shape to make it worth doing.

Then you will need to title it as a motor home.  Find out what your state requires, then get that done as soon as possible.  If you don't, you may end up being whacked for commercial vehicle taxes.

Depending on how bad the leak is, you may have to have it re-seated.  Before you go that far, though, try Shoe Goo.

There may be an override for the hatch interlocks, as these are intended for use in ventilation if the aircon goes out.

You NEED the operator's manual for your coach.  You really really really want the maintenance and parts manuals.  Before you rush out and buy, give it a few days, someone else here may have them on their computer.

You also need a decent set of tools.  You can get the disposables at Harbor Freight or buy a good set (Craftsman, Channel Lock, etc), or if money is no object, buy Snap-on, Matco, etc.  If you go the Harbor Freight route, don't get too wild until you know what tools you will need.  There will be some tools that you only use once or twice, but are still worth the cost, and others which you will wear out in a year.

The other thing you need to do is PLAN THE JOB.  You will save time and money if you do it that way rather than making it up as you go along. 

Do your electrical first, so that you can get the conduit, boxes and lines in place.  I suggest that you plan on 4-gang outlets everywhere, run 3/4 or even 1" conduit, put Romex inside of that, and run it in the coach rather than the cargo bays.  Doing it this way will cost you maybe $50 more and will pay itself off rapidly.  EVERY line except the fridge MUST be on a GFCI, so buy a "contractors' pack" and mark where they are (and which lines are on which GFCI) on the schematic you will put in your Big Book of Coach Conversion Fun.  The Big Book is a binder that has all of the information you will need in a hurry, such as tire pressure and oil specs, and details on your conversion (floor plan, electrical and plumbing schematics, etc).

After electrical, do the work from the back to the front.  Remember that everything you put in you may someday have to take out!

[it_mike]

Alright, thanks for all the feedback on my UFO... 

To hit on a few key items;

• I plan to order the manuals (maint. & oper) but I'm reading them online for now.
  
• She passed the OH commercial safety inspection last fall
  
• I'm still trying to get her registered/titled.  Apparently there is a motorhome in VA that is already using my VIN...
  
• Apparently, I need more experience with the bus.  She runs just fine with the roof hatches open, just not with less than 100psi in the air system.   
  

Still trying to figure out if I've got an 8v71 or the 8v92.  I've seen an older 8v71 (1964) which appeared different than what I've got.  I also need to get some belts for the A/C compressor to cool her down (hopefully the rest of the system works), and I'm having trouble with the RH mirror (stuck, and attempts to adjust it causes the mounting bracket screws to pull out).  It's a shame I didn't have it just one week earlier, I would have hit the rally and be inundated with advice 

[DaveG]

The 8V92s were turbocharged, most 8V71s were not (in bus applications). Does the pulley/gear thing facing the rear say anything on it?

[luvrbus]

look on the camshaft pulley on the right hand side looking from the front the engine model will be there and a newer 8v71 does look different that the old high block 8v71's


good luck

[it_mike]

OK, no turbo charger and the cam says 8v71...but the thing hauls for a bus!

On several occasions I inadvertently wound up in the 75 mph range.  Only twice, on the entire trip home, did she have trouble getting up a hill, and once was due to a slow driver causing me to lose momentum.

I need some A/C belts, would anyone know a good supplier (read cheap)?

Thanks,
Mike

[JohnEd]

Someone that has a DD please explain to him what "running up against the governor" on hills means.  My humble apologies if I am talking down  but that "no lugging" and get out of the throttle on hills is so critical to "not destroying" the two stroke.  I have driven my share of stuff but without the repeated advice of this board had I gotten a bus I would have destroyed the engine in a fewthousand miles WITHOUT DOUBT.  All I had for a mind set was a D is really torquey and will "grunt" it's way thru.  Even in spite of all the warnings and talk I got a chance to drive a bus a while back and had to be told to "pick up the R's maybe 5 times in 15 minutes and I was being ever so careful about everything.  Managed to hit a curb, also.

I have heard many say that Alison really doesn't know how or when to shift and they do all the shifting from the cockpit.  Saving the engine from lugging was the motive.....I think.

I hope no advice is called for but !!!!!!!

John

[Ednj]

remember this number =

Luke @ Us coach 856-794=3104
Vineland,N.J. 08360
fax 856-7943108
email= uscoach@att dot net
1-888-262-2434

[it_mike]

Well John, please explain it to me.  I don't claim to know anything about buses.

I let the Alison handle it, only down shifting when I figured out about where it was going to do it.  The rest of the time she wasn't lugging as I define it.  Show me the errors of my ways, and the correct way to do it or I'll just be forced to keep muddling through.

Ednj:  Who is Luke?  Free advice or Service Manager type for when I break the bus?


Thanks,
Mike


BTW, looks like I'm moving south within a month, so I'll be looking for advice in FL.  I won't know exactly where for a couple of weeks, but hope to see plenty of you along the way.