Help Needed - Inspection of MCI 102A3 located in Christiansburg VA near Roanoke

[DoubleEagle]

and I do like it better with the cool aluminum wheels

I think there is a good possibility that the wheels are steel with SS covers, after looking at the video, but they look good too.

[brmax]

Yes I agree, I took a better video look also. The other video lower in the ad was a bit more.
I can say myself with, or had a house full of females this bus is a chic bus and living with a house full for 30+years I can say it.
Anywho the walk around insp. in the other video it skips the ac/condenser area if that is in use or nixed as many have chosen. Walking with them onward the driver side looks straight and the finish seems ok, and I think the design I pretty cool fwiw. Moving on getting to the radiator screen the paint to the left could be an area to expect to look into as the usual place for 9's and some 102's I've seen repaired. A look see in the lower door above the junction box, again I think typical may reveal the mentioned.
Catching up to the camera and moving around at the engine bay I take a gander and notice a restroom tank in there to the right it looks to be forgotten, I can understand.
Something that caught my eye the Detroit looks to be a bit mechanical or I need my 125's on, I wasn't sure if 1990 had ddec?.
Its looking kinda typical bus like so moving on around the corner at the slides in the bays they look pretty cool (they are to clean to have had tools) that's a good sign.
Were looking up and some clear coat could use some wet sanding and some pro mix and that's a couple benny's. Taking a look in the bus it looks nice, I would nix the butt / towel hook on the hall wall though. Following up towards the front a better look at the trim above the operator at the windshield looks to be an area to work on a bit, but they all require work.
These are quite expensive when new and made to travel and in that is maintenance, like little car little money, big car big money. I've said many times to friends you think car parts are high try an equipment part, tractor, truck, etc.
That's my armchair run, now with out some pro gauges and know how for trans pressures checks and that 400.00 minimum test its a seat in the pants check, this goes along with a Detroit super tech person to listen to the motor sing.
Good evening there, if it runs you will have lots a smile faces, roll on!
Floyd

[chessie4905]

I was coming home N. Carolina today, so I took a little time to stop and check it out for you. It's late now, so I'll post info and pics I took tomorrow.

[Scott & Heather]

Someone mentioned that their CDI smokes with an Italian tune. Smoke isn't just smoke. It's all about color and quantity. You may want to be concerned. Here's my take owning two MCI coaches both with two strokes:

Lots of black smoke on acceleration: too little air either from bad air filter or a sad turbo or possibly leaky injector.

Whit smoke on startup: if it's cold, they all do this. Unburnt diesel. No biggie unless it does this even when it's warm out.

Lots of white smoke driving down the road once warmed up may be burning coolant...have a nice day and see you on the side of the road, or sometimes if you blow a turbo it will come out white. Either way, you'll be sad.

Blueish smoke: burning oil. Worn engine. Might not want to drop $25,000 on a coach with a really tired power plant.

Again, if coach just smokes a bit on a cold start, that wouldn't be an automatic downer for me. But if it's putting out lots of smoke even after it's been driven hard and is nice and warmed up, I would consider what kind of smoke and why. I'm telling you, after two self done bus conversions, the interior can be modified any way you want for very little money...your most expensive and painful error would be to buy a coach with heavy rust or engine and tranny issues. Most everything else is child's play in comparison.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ScharpeStGuy]

Scott, excellent info on the smoke and color and possible causes/issues. Thanks

Chessie, first off thank you for swinging by and putting eyes on the bus. Can't wait to hear your feedback and review of not only the bus but also Sawyers.

[luvrbus]

I wouldn't even worry about the smoke till the bus has been driven for 50 or so miles setting for sale with tire kickers looking the engine probably has a lot of build up from idling.i see it is a total electric but no photos of the battery bank or inverter 15kw generator is a good size for a conversion all stranded wire is a + 

[chessie4905]

I got there as they were leaving for lunch, but mechanic assisted me. I look some pictures of some locations that weren't in the ad. Saw some rust and paint peeling on  the underneath supt. channels, but nothing that couldnt be scraped and painted with some Rustoleum rusty metal primer and repainted grey. Some oil drip or spray on rear of engine. Electrical panel outside of driver's compartment needs the interior cleaned and painted, but wiring looks good. Generator compartment could use pressure washing and air intake hose replaced. Some compartments on other side, at least have slider trays. Most compartments carpet lined- need good cleaning. Tail lights look crappy and should be replaced. Corrosion and paint bubbling both sides at very rear, a bout 1 foot square. Common? Framing in engine compartment looked dirty and grease covered. Looked like mechanical 6V92 to me. Tire compartment looked ok on looking through access door below drivers side. Several places on clear coat peeled or gone.Sids of coach look straight and not bulging. Tires all over 50%.
Inside of coach cabinetry done in a light to medium yellow Formica or melamine? Gloss finish. Carpet type material lining.Island bed in rear which set about a foot higher than normal. Didn't think to check if it had storage under it. The floor ceramic tiles were loose on driver's side and rear of bed when you walked on them. From engine heat and vibration? Or floor issue? Most likely the former. Rear closet had some bars of soap and residue on the carpeting and needed a thorough cleaning.Toilet looked clean down in bowl. Ceramic Sealand or equiv. Shower on. Has a house type refrigerator. Leather? seats looked to have use but acceptable. Didn't look at dash closely. Coach had a stale smell inside from sitting awhile. Mirrors on ceiling not to my taste, but we're popular when conversion was done. Don't know anything about any air-conditioning or how it operates. Bunk beds for two also.
Overall, workmanship on the conversion work seems decent with attention to details and thought to plumbing, generator, etc. Needs a thorough cleaning inside and out. If drivetrain is in decent condition, and you like or can live with the interior cabinetry color/ finish, it is a great deal for that kind of money.
Their mechanic assisted by opening some of the screw lock panels and answered some questions. They have no affiliation with Easter's in Basset VA. They have been in business about 30 years. The conversion is here on consignment and they haven't touched it, just allows owner to place it on their  lot. I didn't try to start it since I was just doing a look over on the way home. Hope this helps. I'll see about getting the pictures I took posted.Btw, it has stainless steel wheel covers; passenger front buggered up.

[luvrbus]

The conversion I saw Fitch had done had the water tank under the bed making it higher,that location for a water tank has it's + and -

[eagle19952]

still would not walk across the street to look without date codes on the tires. only because that is something that suggests other deficiencies with held to me....

50% is pretty common on old tires

[DoubleEagle]

So far, so good. If the tires are too old they become a $3000 - $4000 bargaining point (no, I don't expect that they will knock off 3000-4000 for the tires, but something). 

[luvrbus]

If the tires are too old Sawyer will probably sell him a set of take offs at a bargain to get him home then he can shop for tires   

[eagle19952]

If the tires are too old Sawyer will probably sell him a set of take offs at a bargain to get him home then he can shop for tires   

so darn many now are leasing their  tires...if i had a good set of oak cribbing i might tooo....

[ScharpeStGuy]

Chessie thanks again for stopping by the bus and putting eyes on it for me. Greatly appreciate the help. Regarding the tires and the DOT manufacture date I was unable when I was initially working with Sawyers to obtain the dates. Driving home tonight after I saw everyone's comments I called a local tow company in Christiansburg to see if he would swing by when he was in the vicinity of Sawyers and obtain the date of manufacture off each tire tonight or tomorrow. He said he would and when he asked where the bus was located I told him Sawyers he said it is fenced off and he wouldn't be able to swing by until Tuesday when they reopen.

So I will attempt once more to get the DOT dates from Sawyers on Tuesday and if I strike out I have a willing tow truck driver who will swing by and get them for me.

Back when I was spending money on this bus to have Sawyers inspect it, pull it over the pit, and take it for a drive for me they sent over quite a few pictures. Here is a link to the pictures of the bus if you care to view them.

https://vamci102a3conversion.shutterfly.com/pictures#n_5

Thanks to everyone.

[chessie4905]

The last two vanity pictures are closer to actual color of finish on cabinets. The flash pictures make the interior a few shades lighter that it actually is.

[DoubleEagle]

The only thing I object to is the boomerang design on the entry door, everything else is good to go as is. Refinements can be done later if they choose. Tile on the entry steps is a little slippery, in my opinion, but that can be changed.