Just bought a bus...

[JackConrad]

   When you find out where in Florida, let us know.  There are busnuts all over Florida, we are in Arcadia (when we are home), others are in Lakeland area, North Florida, Ocala area, etc.  
   Luke is Luke Bonagura, owner of US Coach in NJ.  Luke is one of the most knowledgeable bus people around and is extremely helpful.  If he does not have the part, especially for older buses, he will find one for you.  He will also answer your questions.  Jack

[JohnEd]

Mike,

I am not the guy with the info.  If I were I would be spilling over on ya.  I sugest that when you find  gu that will talk to you call him and talk.  Get everything you can from the board but talk to these guys AND on you first outing VISIT a knut with your kinds a rig and go for some instruction. You should drive past 20 on the way and there are 50 in Fla.

What little I know is:  when starting a hill you down shift at ?? rpm.  using only maybe 3/4 power you see if the engine will hit the gov.  Maybe 2100 RPM but they are different upper limit gov settings.  You want to go up a hill screaming and with the gov limitng your rpm.  3/4 max  and if you have black smoke, no matter the throttle depression, back out till the black smoke disapears.  At the crest , up shift and build speed slowly under ;lite load for increased MPG.  I can be cotradicted by anyone here on this procedure or rpm or throttle.....anyone.  If you are in fourth and locked up your lowest rpm is XXX and that is using less than full throttle.

PM TomC or Dallas AND call Luke.  He is your source of parts and information while you are on the road and he is friendly and mostly free  till you buy what you need from him.  There are others and you will learn their name, also.

My very best wishes,

John

[it_mike]

Thanks John.  I'd love to monitor my RPMs, but alas, she has no tach 

I am familiar with doing a run-up as approaching a hill for momentum.  As for black smoke, I can't see it yet! 

My RH mirror seems to be frozen in place, showing me a beautiful view of my front tire.  I used the convex mirror and my chase vehicle to monitor that side.

I'll make her legit tomorrow (wife wants her name on the title, so I've had to wait for her day off), and then she'll go in for a VA inspection.  Then we start ripping seats out...

Mike

[NewbeeMC9]

Welcome to the madness and congrats.


May want to see what it takes to register the bus as a motorhome in your state.  Here there were certain requirements, and they said they had to see it, so when her did the min required and took it up there, then they didn't even look at it.




I have an 81 also.


Keep the ceiling hatches while you still have them, you won't regret it   I f you decide to go with roof airs, cut a hole offset to center and at a joint with the roof ribs and the main header.   That way you don't have to worry about the main bus structure.  Offset the front toward the driver side and more forward to the driver.  (You won't regret that either )

Welcome and keep us posted.