asking for prayer and advice

Bryan · July 20, 2015, 07:42:59 PM

Hello to my fellow bus nuts! I haven't been on the forum in a couple months because I have been in my bus! LOL. My 4107 is setup an an entertainer coach because I'm a Christian singer, and boy are we blessed with a busy schedule right now... I was on I-20 last week, and "Gracie" shut off on us. We pulled over, and she was smoking pretty good. Antifreeze all over the hood, we filled her back up with water, let her cool down and started her back up and moved her about 100 yards so we could get a truck hooked up to our equipment trailer. Needless to say, it was an interesting day since we had a show to get to.

Gracie was towed to Columbia, SC to a shop that knows Detroit engines. They are suppose to tear the motor out this week and let me know what our next steps are. They tell me worse case senario is to put in another motor, which will have to be shipped in from Germany? They said this would be pretty costly. If that is the case, I will have to weigh out paying for the expense of the new motor and installation vs shopping for another coach. My original plan was to eventually move to a prevost and sell my 4107, this may end up happening before I had planned.

So why am I writing this to you guys? Well... we love Gracie, she is a beauty and home on the road to us. She has been so good to us. For those of you that are believers, asking for prayer :-) And also, wanted some advice if I begin to shop for prevosts? I've been eyeing the XLs... I've been told to aim for the 60 series engine because almost anyone can work on it? Not really sure what type of mileage these run? I'm just looking around, trying to get a grasp on how to judge the worth of them based on their features, mileage, year, etc... so any advice you may have I would love to hear.

Thanks for your input. The forum has been such a blessing to me as I have learned how to become a bus nut. I love it! Thanks guys! :-)

thomasinnv · July 20, 2015, 08:19:18 PM

If they are telling you that they would have to ship another engine in from Germany, the first thing you need to do is find another shop. Don't let them touch it, you will be sorry.

eagle19952 · July 20, 2015, 09:02:52 PM

REALLY..why would they say Germany.... what shop...what city ?

Bryan · July 20, 2015, 09:34:26 PM

well, I kinda of thought the same thing LOL. I've been looking around online for rebuilt 8v71s. The germany thing was just something mentioned by one of the employees, may not be the real case. The company in general has a very good reputation. I've done some research on them. Some truck drivers that I know have spoke highly of them when it comes to working on Detroits. The thing I keep hearing is... "they are high, but they are good"...

For now, I'm just waiting on them to give me a diagnosis, then I can start making some decisions. Thanks for your input.

plyonsMC9 · July 20, 2015, 10:06:03 PM

Hi Bryan,

Was there any preliminary diagnosis? Something must have told them they had to take the engine out to diagnose the issue. Do you mind sharing the name of the shop? Someone here may know someone there...

Kind Regards and in Him, Phil

Scott Crosby · July 21, 2015, 01:32:18 AM

http://www.ebay.com/itm/8V-71-Detroit-Diesel-engine-Allison-V-730-transmission-cradle-for-GM-RTS-Bus-/201378626695?hash=item2ee319fc87&vxp=mtr

I Just did a quick ebay search and this popped up. Way less expensive of an option to put a new used engine in. Probably 90% less expensive.

bevans6 · July 21, 2015, 03:35:59 AM

Pretty obvious why the chap said germany, and it is the second worst scenario - MTU makes Detroit Diesel engines now and they are in Germany. Worst case scenario is buying a new 4107, I guess.

I guess if you are asking for advice, my advice is wait till you get the diagnosis. Only then can you start to make a decision. Your decision would be different than mine, since your bus is a business tool that you use to create your income (unless my conception of a Christian singer is wrong) so you need a reliable bus to get you to your place of business. In that case I would budget around $100K for a decent used Prevost Entertainer in current service (running ready to go) with a modern drivetrain and start looking around.

Good luck, in any event.

robertglines1 · July 21, 2015, 05:50:39 AM

My choice of prevost pre 2001 but with 60 series. XLII had some de-laminate=the siding come loose/ issues on siding. Plus you are strapped with a egr engine costing several miles per gallon. Poor man's answer! Really nice XLII 's that have the 30,000$ dollar siding repair out there--beware! repair is good. The more documentation you can get the better as to what has been updated etc. My opinion only.. Any thing that disagree with my statement please feel free. Bob

luvrbus · July 21, 2015, 09:46:06 AM

Before you drop 30 grand on 8V71 rebuild look at your choices the pre EGR 12.7 series 60 can be found in the D model MCI buses at good buys.

About anything a shop does with repairs is going to be 5 grand plus and don't buy a used engine off Ebay even the so called rebuilds sold there are questionable with warranty work.
I know this for fact I have a 8v92 the guy was told it had only 50,000 miles it's a wore out piece of junk and he paid with a cash transfer(5000) + shipping to a guy in NY now he is SOL no recourse

Bryan · July 21, 2015, 02:05:45 PM

Quote from: plyonsMC9 on July 20, 2015, 10:06:03 PM
Hi Bryan,

Was there any preliminary diagnosis? Something must have told them they had to take the engine out to diagnose the issue. Do you mind sharing the name of the shop? Someone here may know someone there...

Kind Regards and in Him, Phil

Hey Phil,

The name of the shop is WW Williams in East Columbia, SC. As far as a preliminary diagnosis, I'm not real sure. I've not spoke with an actual accountant, but rather the front office people.

Thanks for any help you may have. Blessings to you!

Bryan · July 21, 2015, 02:10:23 PM

Quote from: luvrbus on July 21, 2015, 09:46:06 AM
Before you drop 30 grand on 8V71 rebuild look at your choices the pre EGR 12.7 series 60 can be found in the D model MCI buses at good buys.

About anything a shop does with repairs is going to be 5 grand plus and don't buy a used engine off Ebay even the so called rebuilds sold there are questionable with warranty work.
I know this for fact I have a 8v92 the guy was told it had only 50,000 miles it's a wore out piece of junk and he paid with a cash transfer(5000) + shipping to a guy in NY now he is SOL no recourse

the pre EGR 12.7 series 60 you are referring to. Are you saying I can buy those new? And they will bolt right up?

bevans6 · July 21, 2015, 02:38:17 PM

No, he is saying if you decide to dump the GM that engine is a good one and can be found in a MCI D model bus, should you decide to look for a new bus. It won't go in a GM.

Brian

Bryan · July 21, 2015, 02:53:48 PM

Quote from: robertglines1 on July 21, 2015, 05:50:39 AM
My choice of prevost pre 2001 but with 60 series. XLII had some de-laminate=the siding come loose/ issues on siding. Plus you are strapped with a egr engine costing several miles per gallon. Poor man's answer! Really nice XLII 's that have the 30,000$ dollar siding repair out there--beware! repair is good. The more documentation you can get the better as to what has been updated etc. My opinion only.. Any thing that disagree with my statement please feel free. Bob

Hey Bob, curious to know why pre 2001? is that when they started the XLII?

opus · July 21, 2015, 04:31:45 PM

Quote from: Scott Crosby on July 21, 2015, 01:32:18 AM
http://www.ebay.com/itm/8V-71-Detroit-Diesel-engine-Allison-V-730-transmission-cradle-for-GM-RTS-Bus-/201378626695?hash=item2ee319fc87&vxp=mtr

I Just did a quick ebay search and this popped up. Way less expensive of an option to put a new used engine in. Probably 90% less expensive.

Somebody really put a lot of effort into wanting to sell that. Is it that hard to take good pictures of something that is a "good deal"??

L78steve · July 21, 2015, 05:31:30 PM

Has any diagnoses been done? Could be a simple cooling system component failure.