75 GMC 4905

[ruthi]

Glenn, I just looked at your website. You guys are great. If yall are ever in the southeast, let us know.

[Tenor]

Thanks Ruthi!

Glenn

[nbcnco]

Well,

The wife and I looked at the bus.  Offered $4500 and they accepted.  We should be the proud owners of this 75 Buffalo sometime this week.  Now the fun begins.

My wife is interested in having the roof raised.  Is this feasible with the monocoque construction?  Any good companies out there, perhaps close to Colorado?

Again, thanks for all your advise. 

Scott

[nbcnco]

Forgot to mention,

the correct serial number of the bus is P8M4905A-1199.

Scott

[roadrunnertex]

From GMC to Peerless Stages fleet number 306 (San Jose,CA) 09/1975.
Roof raise? I would not do it if it were my bus, but some folks raise the roof and have good luck doing so.
jlv

[roadrunnertex]

Go to the below web site this is your Coach when it was in service with Peerless Stages.



http://www.norcalbusfans.fotki.com/north-calif-n-thru-z/peerlessstages1/peerless306.html#media

jlv

[bryanhes]

Scott,

Good deal on the 4905  After seeing the picture JLV posted while it was still in service and the one of it now, I think you should leave the dented baggage door on the left front door. Its part of history, lol

Good luck with your new bus,

Bryan

[Tenor]

Sounds like you got a good deal!  We look forward to updates!

Glenn

[4905 doc]

Florida Cliff raised the roof on his 4905. I'm sure he can tell you all that's involved.

[bigjohnkub]

I rear all of these posts twice, and did not see any mention of transmission.  I have a pd4903 and apd4107 that are much the same powertrain.  If it has a 4 speed, learn to drive it. Search the post's on this site for lots of good info.  I live in C. springs while station at USAF academy.
 Make sure your wife can shift while hearing gears grind.  Keep her informed of this site, breakdowns on road are not common, but can be frustrating. Get a good road service. I use Good Sam, but others are available.
 The right rear door skin is or was dented on everyone of these I have seen.  They don't turn sharp.

Good Luck and welcome to the busnut's

[roadrunnertex]

Aft right baggage bin lower door rub rail dented in!
I have been there and done that on my 4905.A steel post caught my bin door in a right turn in close quarters.
A fellow bus fan and my self kid each other when we see a bus with the bin door rub rails dented in by a steel post or fire hydrants.
We both say it's because the electromagnets are working in the bin door.
These electromagnets work off of the right or left turn signal's when they are flashing which will cause a steel post and other things like fire plugs to be drawn into the baggage bin doors causing damage to the outer skin of the doors.
We are unsure how to disable the electromagnets on our coaches.
So in the mean time we give the fire hydrants and steel post's plenty of room in tight turns and this seems to solve the problem with the electromagnets.
Bin door damage is costly and looks unsightly so give you self some room and check the mirrors when turning left or right.
Also stop and get out and look if it's close.  
jlv
jlv

[Lonnie time to go]

Florida Cliff raised the roof on his 4905. I'm sure he can tell you all that's involved.

I would love to see detailed pictures of that. Very good idea

Lonnie

[Barn Owl]

Here is someone that has already done a roof raise, and they did a good job documenting it: 4905 Conversion

As most here know, I am a big GM fan for many reasons. Now here comes the BIG but...... A Gm is one of the more difficult buses to make this mod to.

Any bus that you convert needs to be a labor of love because you will never recover the cost of conversion. Buses that are no longer produced or supported by the manufacture becomes even more so, because the resale value plummets to little of nothing. Unfortunately a GM is one of these. The conversion will run about the same whether you are doing a Prevost or a GM, but the value of the finished product, and the ability to resale it will manifest a big difference in the end. As long as you know this before you start you will be fine.

I am 6'1 and I don't have a problem in my GM. Also, when you start raising your roof you start limiting yourself to where you can go.

Congratulations on your new toy.

[RJ]

Scott -

Sounds like you got a good deal! 

FYI, I'm familiar with Peerless - used to ride them from Los Gatos over the hill to Santa Cruz when I was a kid, as well as their commuter run into San Jose in the bus pictured below - back when it was new!

For a long time they had a great maintenance program, but after deregulation in the '80's, budget cutting had it's effect.

Still, it's a CA coach, a plus.

Might I ask a question?  WHY does your wife want the roof raised?

Here's Peerless's #246, now the pride of the Pacific Bus Museum: