1947 Flex CLipper questions:

Eric · April 06, 2014, 06:46:27 PM

For sale locally looks very ruff but would have a good deal of time to work on it LOL what should i be watching out for? it seems VERY rusty but what a look! person says its a Gasoline engine would that be an inline 8? anything to look for or be afraid of? let me know

http://mansfield.craigslist.org/rvs/4406746878.html

Thanks!!
Eric

wdtjawshwdt · April 06, 2014, 06:50:41 PM

oh man that seems like a lot of work...I spent 3k on a pretty good running mc9 and I am wondering what the hell i have done.

Eric · April 06, 2014, 06:52:19 PM

yeah my last 2 bus's have been utter disasters but this time We have a pole building and no rush LOL !

luvrbus · April 06, 2014, 07:47:11 PM

Original engine would be a inline 8 cylinder overhead valve Buick engine probably way before some of you guys time the last one was 1953 a big old 320 CI engine with 168 hp

wdtjawshwdt · April 06, 2014, 08:20:08 PM

awesome attitude to have Eric. You have become fearless! Take the motor from this guy http://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/4369614644.html and put him in that the other guy and scrap the rest.

Busn-Gramps · April 07, 2014, 02:17:52 AM

That would be the Buick Roadmaster engine. They were a good engine in their day!

Kenny · April 07, 2014, 07:17:54 AM

I have a 41 and 45 Flxible Clipper. I would definitely request more pictures. Some can be real rust buckets. My 41 was in great shape. The 45 was so bad it's only good for parts. The one you looking at looks to be pretty bad. You may want to visit the website Flxibleowners.org
They have some Clippers for sale on their website. There is also a Flxible website in Yahoo groups. Good luck Ken

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Ed Hackenbruch · April 07, 2014, 08:35:52 AM

And just in case anyone is interested, the Flx used in the movie RV is in Amarillo Texas in a small motorhome museum on the back of a rv dealers lot. Found it there last spring on our way to the rally in Blytheville.

gus · April 07, 2014, 07:34:48 PM

I had a beautiful, black 4-dr, '40 Buick Super with that lovely engine.

My father-in-law gave it to me as a wedding present, wish I still had it. Probably one of the best cars ever built.

That engine was used in a lot of old GM gasser buses.

uncle ned · April 08, 2014, 08:22:38 AM

Back in my younger days. My grandfather had a 38 Buick road master. my father had a 1953 Pontiac.

The family went on a picknick to mount Mitchel off the blue ridge parkway.

we were following my grandfather and when we hit started up the steep road up mt Mitchel he just ran off and left that Pontiac.

the next morning my father went to the Pontiac dealer and ordered a new special order 55 Pontiac which i still have.

uncle ned

digesterman · April 08, 2014, 05:46:39 PM

In the sixties my father converted his second bus which was a Flexible, first one being a school bus. Traveled all over the states in that bus in the summertime. Even went all the way to Mexico City in it one year.

It had the Buick straight 8, out of the Buick sedans with the 4 portholes on the side (if my memory is correct). I remember shifting could be a challenge due to the length of the shaft but otherwise no major problems. No spring brakes back then, and I don't remember going all that slow up hills but probably did. Rode very smooth too.

If you buy this Flex I would say you have a major job in front of you because of the rust, are you sure you want this particular project bus?

gus · April 08, 2014, 06:00:42 PM

Ned,

That Pontiac was probably a flat head 6, they had both 6 and 8 then.

shelled · April 09, 2014, 08:02:58 AM

First, remember that the Buick 8 is a lot lighter than a diesel before you think about repowering if you take on this project.

Second, there are a huge number of people and parts suppliers for the 'nailhead' Buick engines in the old car hobby. You can find them in Hemmings.

Last, Jack Sisemore's collection is associated with his Traveland RV dealership in Amarillo, Texas. There is a website at rvmuseum.net (if I remember correctly).

e3

shelled · April 09, 2014, 08:11:59 AM

just looked at the craigslist posting. This bus was on eBay with lots of documentation within the last 12-18 months. There were additional photos that seemed to indicate condition wasn't too bad.

It would be truly neat to see this Flx restored as the Goodyear Blimp support vehicle it originally was.

e3

gus · April 09, 2014, 06:57:58 PM

I pulled that engine once and I don't remember it as being very light:)

A 5.9 Cummins w/AT from an old school bus would be perfect.

Honest Bob in CA did this with his Avalon Flx rebuilds.