asking for prayer and advice

[Bryan]

They are removing engine today and tomorrow. Supposed to hear back from them tomorrow evening with a diagnosis.

[eagle19952]

They are removing engine today and tomorrow. Supposed to hear back from them tomorrow evening with a diagnosis.

I am at a loss here... certainly the shop should have atleast told you why they are pulling the motor....any competent shop should have a clue as to why they are pulling the motor...

There are a lot of things they can see/determine with the motor still in the chassis...but they have told you nothing ?

[Bryan]

well I'm at a little bit of a loss too, I'm not a mechanic... learning as I go. It's tough with these diesel shops because you don't always know who to trust. On the flip side, thru traveling in this bus a lot and landing at different shops with different issues, I've been blessed over and over again with great people. Sometimes even leaving shops with no bill. I have some incredible stories. Again, I'm a singer, not a mechanic, but God has always been in the mist. I will be sure to update this thread as I know more info, and I'm very thankful for all of your input. You BUS NUTS are great! :-)

[Dave5Cs]

I am with Don. Did they let you know how much to take it out and to put it back in if you decide not to have them do it there? Once it is out they know it is easier for them to have you over a barrel so to speak....

They should of said we need to take it out and the cost for that in writing would be and for the reason of we have to check this or that and cannot get to it unless we do. And then if you decide to get a second opinion it will also cost this much to put it back. Here's the estimate shall we go ahead? Just saying!...

Not saying they aren't good. They are not a small company and have shops in a lot of places and they probably buy their parts from big companies and are in it to make a profit and pay all their expenses.

[luvrbus]

Lol it is easier on a GM to do about anything by removing the engine,the 2 piece oil pan is a PITA for 1 

[eagle19952]

Lol it is easier on a GM to do about anything by removing the engine,the 2 piece oil pan is a PITA for 1 

that may be... but if 3 guys can drop a pan and replace a liner in a parking lot in North Dakota in the dark with a flash lite ....seems like Williams could too...

[luvrbus]

Different model of GM bus and engine too Donald,they probably know something happen on the upper side it always does and that head and pan is a bitch to remove in the 4106 and forward easier to remove the engine.

[eagle19952]

Different model of GM bus and engine too Donald,they probably know something happen on the upper side it always does and that head and pan is a bitch to remove in the 4106 and forward easier to remove the engine.

Agreed...just baffles me why they would say nothing.... BUT often a person/owner will be at the service desk and say ...well just do what needs to be done.... not thinking that this is gonna hurt... A LOT !! 

[bigred]

If a person knows what he is doing and has a good fork lift ,pulling a motor is not a big deal.Worked for a bus company back in the 70ties .They had a couple of shall we say over indulgent in the spirits kind of mechanic's. They could have a motor sitting in the cradle with in two hour's.I too ,don't like the idea of not having some kind of idea about what I'm getting into until they tear the motor down .That could come up with a 5000 dollar bill for nothing if you decided not to have the work done.As for finding a newer bus with a series 60 engine,I can tell you and if you have been on this site for some time ,you know this is true ,the Two Strokes have as many fans if not more ,than the series 60's do.Being a gospel singer ,I'm sure you know who Steve Weatherford is .Look his site up some time .He is one of the biggest "bus nut's" you have ever seen
!!!

[luvrbus]

They can pull the engine and remove the upper head a hella lot faster than trying to remove the head with the engine in the bus 90% of the time when a GM gets hot and shuts downs the upper head is cracked.It is going to cost to him some $$$$$ it is not the same as checking out a T drive IMO

[digesterman]

Bigred Steve loves his new cummins, knows the days of the 2 strokes are nearing their end, and yes he's a smart man

[bigred]

It would indeed take a smart man to put a series 60 and an automatic transmission in a 3751!!! He did and I think he told me he sold it to some Holly Wood Producer that still drives the thing up and down Route 66 .I am with him!! I love the Cummins engines also .I have an 8.3 in an old motor home that I have .As Wendy Bagwell used to say ,this is the truth with my hand up,I can go out in the dead of winter and not even wait on the preheater and that engine won't turn two full turns until it starts.One of the pet peeves I have with my 8v92 is cold weather starting.Unless i keep it plugged in ,I have to run the generator and the engine heater for up to two hours depending on just how cold it is .

[Charles in SC]

Bryan, I have never been to their Columbia shop but the WW Williams shop in Greer, SC is a well thought of shop that knows their Detroits. With that said, they are not cheap. If the engine is toast I do not know if Williams will want to install a used engine, thus the comments about the cost of a new one. I would say they mostly deal with national accounts that do not flinch at a $30,000 bill. You do not see a lot of vintage busses in their shop. I would want some detailed cost figures before I turned them loose on my bus. It may be a lot cheaper to tow it someplace else.
Good luck and keep us posted.

[bigred]

If Williams doesn't work out for you ,check for a Clarke Power Service Center in Columbia .If they have a full service facility ,they are great.Don't fool with any of their regional people though .I went that route and it cost me a pile of money for nothing.They are strong on Detroit's at their major facility's.They told me at Greensboro that they rebuild these things all the time because trucking company's had rather rebuild these old engines than to buy new equipment with the DEF and all this other computerized stuff. How ever I hope you got good news today from Williams .

[bigred]

Just Curious Bryan.What did Williams tell you on your coach??