Rust on E/J4500s ? Where ? How much is acceptable ? Frame/engine cradle cracks

[someguy]

Hi people.

I'm starting to look at E/J4500s.   People keep talking about rust/corrosion issues with coaches.   Where should I be looking for rust on the E/J 4500s ?

Some of the coaches have a bit of rust discolorization on the welds on the bulkhead between the 1st storage bay and the front axle area.   Is that something I should worry about ?

Some of the coaches have a bit of rust discolorization on the welds right by the bay floor on the upright tubes and the diagonal tubes in the bay.  Is that something I should worry about ?

Where else do I need to look for rust ?

What areas on the E/J4500 are prone to crack ?

[lostagain]

If a bus has been run on wintry salty roads, look for rust in and around the engine compartment and the fans and rads above. Also in the electrical panels everywhere. Otherwise, there is so much stainless steel in the later model cars (in the frame at least up to the bottom of the windows), that they don't rust much. Look for one that has been run in a dry climate.

My 1977 MC5C is mostly from San Diego CA, and is still rust free.

[ktmossman]

Here is what I have seen...  E/Js used in the NE are rust buckets.  (I looked at some Peter Pan's that were only 10 years old and they were scary.) Just assume that any underside metal that is not stainless is shot and a bunch of the stainless probably is as well.  Mine came from the north, but more central regions, and they apparently use a different treatment on their roads in the winter.  So, mine is fine overall.  There is minor surface rust in various places in the engine compartment (pulleys, etc.).  The only places where I will need to do anything are the base of the radiator and the base of where the heater core was (basically where radiator fluid collected).  In those places, it is still primarily surface rust, but there is enough rust present that I will at least grind it back to good metal and re-seal.  If, when I grind it, I'm not happy with what is left, I will replace those areas.  But even if I have to replace all those areas, it is still fairly trivial. 

I saw the same rust pattern on buses from the southwest, so I think it is more an issue of long term exposure to the radiator fluid in general.

[windtrader]

Just find one that ran out west, no salt, no bad weather.

[someguy]

IOtherwise, there is so much stainless steel in the later model cars (in the frame at least up to the bottom of the windows), that they don't rust much.

That is what I was thinking.   And the steel used in the "bogies" is thick enough that it isn't going to fail from a little rust.  MCI calls the front and rear sub frames that hold the axles "bogies"