Rex

[Utahclaimjumper]

  Rest in peace Rex Holcome,, of Golden Valley, Az.......

[Dave5Cs]

RIP Rex. Used to love talking to him at the western GM rallies at Quartszite. The VW GM training bus was neat too.

[Utahclaimjumper]

 Rex was known for the 4106 "Ramblin Rose", and the VW van painted to match the coach..At the "Q" rallies he would be the guy that would be up at 5;30 in the morning making coffee for everyone...

[luvrbus]

Sad to hear I spent time with Rex last fall at a rally going over a. few things on his Prevost.I always liked his 4106 with the left turning 903 Cummins engine,I think some one in WI or MN owns that bus now

[Utahclaimjumper]

That Cummins always had one weak cylinder,( it could be heard in the exhaust ) but kept on truckin.. I followed Rex behind that coach going up an "on" ramp and he surprised me at the exceleration and he let off the throttle at80 MPH! >>>D  ( I was in my pick-up )

[edvanland]

Rex was one of a kind. He will be sorely missed. Last time I had the pleasure to talk to him was at Western GM rally in Bakersfield California. 

[luvrbus]

That Cummins always had one weak cylinder,( it could be heard in the exhaust ) but kept on truckin.. I followed Rex behind that coach going up an "on" ramp and he surprised me at the exceleration and he let off the throttle at80 MPH! >>>D  ( I was in my pick-up )
With the 903 you may be hearing the one good cylinder hitting

[chessie4905]

I looked up info on reliability on those engines. Heard about them being a ailable in LH versions. Didnt realize they are still being manufactured and now made in over 600hp models. Who would have thought and 2800 rpm mentioned. New install for LH Detroits?

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/51699-cummins-v903-celebrates-50-years-in-service/

A love or hate engine.

[richard5933]

I think I ran into that bus and its recent owner year before last at a campground in Virginia. Didn't sound like he thought much about the engine or that it was any better than an 8V71. The interior of the bus was pretty nice though.

[chessie4905]

Interesting that it still uses the 50dn. Maybe he didn't  think much about it because it just worked.

[luvrbus]

Interesting that it still uses the 50dn. Maybe he didn't  think much about it because it just worked.

The 50D is driven with a coupling on a, 903 not gears the military still uses the 14.8 L 903 they can leak oil with the best of a DD.You can make HP but not a lot of torque .I have one of the 903 baby brothers a 555 has less power than a 6V71

[Busted Knuckle]

The 50D is driven with a coupling on a, 903 not gears the military still uses the 14.8 L 903 they can leak oil with the best of a DD.You can make HP but not a lot of torque .I have one of the 903 baby brothers a 555 has less power than a 6V71

Ah the old triple nickle! I had one of those! In my personal opinion it rates right up there with a 3208 Cat as the biggest piece of junk ever put in a truck!
  BK 

[chessie4905]

http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product3948.html

1930 nm torque= 1424 lb ft. Pretty impressive. Probably still in the 1000 to 1200 in a 450 to 500hp version. Might make a 32k coach move up the hills pretty decent.

[CrabbyMilton]

I thought I read someplace that the 903 was a pretty good bus engine back then but had vibration problems. That surprised me considering that most V8's are so smooth.
It also surprised me that while the 555 had some problems along with the DETROIT 8.2, I thought the CAT 3208 was actually a highly regarded bus engine but mostly in heavier school buses. I didn't know Rex but I'm sure if he can read this where he is would smile and know that we are talking about this.

[chessie4905]

After Cummins did upgrades to the engine, raising horsepower and durability standards to meet military requirements, it is probably a pretty robust engine, and it is still manufactured. Don't  know whether you could get a new LH version anymore though.