Introduction and little question

Sebulba · November 09, 2018, 10:29:38 AM

Hello All,

I found this forum a few months ago and have been reading with great interest. I feel as though I know some of you personally -- definitely see some interesting and fun personalities on here, as well an amazing amount of experience and knowledge.

I found you through Google searches after exploring "Mobile Living Options." You see my wife and I have been living in Europe for the last 5 years and see no move back to the states in the foreseeable future, but one never knows, right?

So, I was exploring living on a sail boat, but form a practical standpoint it seems very limited, since the coasts and a limited inland waterways would be available. Not to mention if we moved locations, how would we get the car to the new lactation. So I started exploring RV's, S&S are well, S&S and I wanted something more substantial, so her I am.

Now to my small question. I have been searching every source I can think of for buses and on CL I found this bus and I am just wondering a small thing. Why does the front top end-cap look strange and would it be easily fixed to look better -- ie. less "frankenbus"?

https://buffalo.craigslist.org/rvs/d/1987-mci-mc9-coach-rv/6689461128.html

Thanks
Seb

buswarrior · November 09, 2018, 10:31:22 AM

Special order, former NJ Transit coach.

It was to put a bigger destination sign in.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

Sebulba · November 09, 2018, 10:34:43 AM

OK, thanks, so is it easily and inexpensively changed? Just a guess.

Seb

Quote from: buswarrior on November 09, 2018, 10:31:22 AM
Special order, former NJ Transit coach.

It was to put a bigger destination sign in.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

Jim Blackwood · November 09, 2018, 11:57:05 AM

Guessing you'd want to swap out the front end cap, which would mean finding one first and then removing the old one. Sounds like scaffolding work to be sure but undoubtedly possible. Finding the replacement in good shape and getting it shipped could be more trouble than the actual replacement.

Jim

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · November 09, 2018, 12:51:22 PM

I would leave it as is. Every bus is different which is why we like bus conversions. I would put something clever in there like your home country so people will ask how you got the bus across the ocean. It will be a great conversation starter. You also could put LED lighting in there to make it stand out even more if you wish.

By the way, I owned a MC-9 before my current Eagle and I loved it. They are great buses.

Also, we ran an article about Bus vs. Boat written by Cherie Ve Ard who has lived on both and it was a very interesting story. If you are a subscriber to BCM then you will find it in the Article list on our website and you will be able to read this article. If you are not a subscriber, they have a similar story on their website https://www.technomadia.com/. It is interesting to see how they compare and contrast.

Gary

Sebulba · November 09, 2018, 01:13:59 PM

Thanks Gary, yeah the MCI 9 or 12 seems like the ones I am in the love with right now. As J understand they are essentkally the same bus.

I will go and try to find that article, thanks

Seb

Quote from: Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM on November 09, 2018, 12:51:22 PM
I would leave it as is. Every bus is different which is why we like bus conversions. I would put something clever in there like your home country so people will ask how you got the bus across the ocean. It will be a great conversation starter. You also could put LED lighting in there to make it stand out even more if you wish.

By the way, I owned a MC-9 before my current Eagle and I loved it. They are great buses.

Also, we ran an article about Bus vs. Boat written by Cherie Ve Ard who has lived on both and it was a very interesting story. If you are a subscriber to BCM then you will find it in the Article list on our website and you will be able to read this article. If you are not a subscriber, they have a similar story on their website https://www.technomadia.com/. It is interesting to see how they compare and contrast.

Gary

luvrbus · November 09, 2018, 03:01:06 PM

LOL only thing uglier than the NJT MCI was a NJT Eagle with the ugly cap change it

richard5933 · November 09, 2018, 03:40:39 PM

Front cap doesn't bother me. Gives an opportunity to make it truly unique.

What I'd be worried about is rust. If this was a NJ Transit bus, then you know that it was on salted roads. If it was well maintained as the ad states, then maybe things are okay.

There are many threads with great lists of how to examine an MCI for signs of rust.

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · November 09, 2018, 03:47:07 PM

Quote from: richard5933 on November 09, 2018, 03:40:39 PM
Front cap doesn't bother me. Gives an opportunity to make it truly unique.

What I'd be worried about is rust. If this was a NJ Transit bus, then you know that it was on salted roads. If it was well maintained as the ad states, then maybe things are okay.

There are many threads with great lists of how to examine an MCI for signs of rust.

My 9 was a NJT bus and it had only a bit of surface rust on the latches on the floor of the bus for the doors. I could not believe it was not rusted straight thru as I grew up in New Hampshire and everything rusted thru in just a few years. Maybe I got lucky on the bus.

Sebulba · November 09, 2018, 03:55:00 PM

Yes, I have read several 8f them. A southern bus would probably be best.

Seb

Quote from: richard5933 on November 09, 2018, 03:40:39 PM

Front cap doesn't bother me. Gives an opportunity to make it truly unique.

What I'd be worried about is rust. If this was a NJ Transit bus, then you know that it was on salted roads. If it was well maintained as the ad states, then maybe things are okay.

There are many threads with great lists of how to examine an MCI for signs of rust.

richard5933 · November 09, 2018, 04:15:47 PM

Sometimes you get lucky with northern buses as well, but you have to be more careful. Our current bus was in NJ since 1974, but it was hardly used and kept indoors most of its life. You won't know till you crawl around and inspect.

lvmci · November 09, 2018, 04:27:33 PM

Hi Sebulba, what's easiest to buy with rust on your mind, is a direct factory to RV, a shell and from the desert southwest, sometimes it can be hard to locate. MCIs have a "S" for shell, designation on newer models, I don't think the S was used until E & J models, or very low mileage, lvmci...

luvrbus · November 09, 2018, 04:44:34 PM

NJT did a good job preventing rust even on the Eagle they washed those buses every night,I saw that in person

blue_goose · November 10, 2018, 05:25:06 AM

You would be better off if you started with a bus that has a four cycle engine and is 102 wide. Cost the same to convert but you will have a lot better bus.
Jack

Sebulba · November 10, 2018, 05:29:15 AM

Gotcha

Quote from: blue_goose on November 10, 2018, 05:25:06 AM

You would be better off if you started with a bus that has a four cycle engine and is 102 wide. Cost the same to convert but you will have a lot better bus.
Jack