MCI 7 with water in oil, how hard to change head gasket?

jdpilot · July 29, 2014, 06:53:29 AM

Ok guys been following this board for a while. Now you have peaked my interest. I have a 88 MCI 102a3 with a normal aspirated 8v71/Allison trannie. It runs great but not happy with the power. I live in the Dallas area (Plano). Would love to repower the bus with something that has the power to overcome the hills. Would it be doable to replace the old 8v71 with the 50 or one of the other engines mentioned in this bus? I have a shop and a fork lift that I can do the work or who could this in the DFW area for me. I would also travel to someone who could make this conversion for me. Distance isn't a problem. Someone mentioned buying a Gillig transit with a series 50 and B400 Allison for 2000 to 5000 and have all the parts for a modern power train and better fuel mileage then sell the rest for scrap. Would this work in my bus? Thought the Gilig was mounted sideways at a tilt mine is inline. Is there enough room? Or what other options do I have? I would appreciate all the help and wisdom you can bestow upon me. Thanks in advance... John

luvrbus · July 29, 2014, 07:05:41 AM

Gerry installed one from a transit in his MCI I think it is a 102A,the one RJ delivered to B&B in Vegas is going in a Flex,Gary and Van will install one for you B&B Coach in Vegas. It is best to buy the complete Gillig bus then you have everything when you start piecing one together it gets expensive in a hurry fwiw

good lucko

napamikey · July 29, 2014, 08:44:00 AM

Thanks, if it were not a simple fix then I guess tossing in a 50 would be a good deal. Do you know of a good supplier? Are there any guides out there you know of? From everything I read the 7 has some of the best bones of any bus out there and it would probably be worth doing the swap to have something for the next 20 years. Thanks again for your input!

napamikey · July 29, 2014, 10:26:33 AM

I just found this for a donor bus. 1996 8.3 Turbo Cummins Diesel engine. Could this work?
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/rvs/4581665318.html

eagle19952 · July 29, 2014, 11:05:26 AM

The bus has had the shift pad and trans computer stolen during storage and RV conversion so these parts will need to be replaced.

napamikey · July 29, 2014, 11:08:38 AM

This has been a classic case of too good to be true! Thanks for checking it over.

Oonrahnjay · July 29, 2014, 12:25:51 PM

Quote from: napamikey on July 29, 2014, 10:26:33 AMI just found this for a donor bus. 1996 8.3 Turbo Cummins Diesel engine. Could this work?

Yeah, Clifford, what do you think of a 8.3L Cummins 24Valve Turbo with a B400R? My bus originally built with a 150 HP engine, spec for this bus says that it's set for 325.

thomasinnv · July 30, 2014, 07:20:07 PM

Hey Clifford you got me thinking seriously about doing that series 50 conversion. Party at your house in say March? Lol. Seriously though I just might do it.

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