New member. I cant believe I have this thing in my driveway!

[fortyniner]

Hi folks,
New member  here looking for some technical and moral support on the fixup of a monster gmc 4905 in my drive.   This thing is huge! I found this thing on craigslist by accident. It another incomplete conversion. Not sure why I had to have it but its home now. Runs well, very little smoke even at full power up hill when warm according the my brother in the support vehicle following behind.

I need some input on fixing some cab rust. The divers D-window frame has has a hole rusted thru and the cab area has several rusty spots so I want to pull all the glass before reparing including the upper hump windows. Are window gaskets still available? I also want to pull the inner cab panels but dont know what type of rivets to use for re-installation. 

-Tom P.

[JackConrad]

Tom,
   Welcome to the wonderful world of BusNuts!  One of the best sources of parts for the GMCs is US Coach, owned by a fine gentleman, and fellow busnut, by the name of Luke. You can call him at 888-COACH34.  Jack

[HighTechRedneck]

Welcome aboard Tom!  There are lots of very helpful people here.  And a lot of GM bus owners.  So I know you will get tons of good info here on these questions and all your questions to come.  Don't hesitate to ask them.  You will usually have great answers within hours of posting them.

Also, many times questions have been answered in the past.  Here is a post with tips on getting the best results from the forum search feature - Tips on using the Forum Search feature

I am confident that as you settle into the forum, youi will discover something we all have - a great feeling of friendship and community.  Bus nuts are some of the best folks you will ever find online or in person.

And as you go, take lots of photos.  Bus nuts love to experience each other's conversion process through photos and stories.  Also photos will often help folks give the best advice on questions.

Of course I also encourage you to share your bus conversion process via articles in Bus Conversions Magazine.  It reaches a lot of folks that are not online but love to read and see about other bus nuts experiences just the same.

[MattC]

Welcome Aboard!

Two things you'll find:  A great wealth of information in the archives  -- and -- lots of advice, some conflicting, on any subject.  This is a great place to be for sorting out all things bus related.  =)

Have fun with your new bus addiction...  (check your email)  

Matt

[wal1809]

Welcome aboard.  We don't require pics but we want to see them.  Post them up it sounds nice.

[edvanland]

Do what I did after I brought my MCI 7 home after having to leave it in Phoenix at a friends place while I replaced the radiators. When it was in my driveway I looked at it, took a bottle of Excedrin, and a six pack of beer and realized it was what I had wanted for years insted of the stick and staples I always had. Now I think, no I know it was a great decesion, same as when I traded by 1995 Harley in on my trike.  Thought I would get smarter with age, O well so much for smarts. Welcome
ED
1973 MCI 7
2007 Harley Ultra Clasic with Leamon Trike conversion

[Singing Land Cruiser]

LOL, Hello 49'er and welcome. Christi & I know how you feel. We brought Mrs. Jones home late one night and when we woke up we saw this very large thing in the driveway blocking the morning sun. Half of my body trembled joy and the other half trembled with fear!
It has all worked out a it will for you. Always one thing at a time and use this board for help. It has saved our butts more then I like to think. We blogged about our "Life after Bus" ( http://singinglandcruiser.blogspot.com/ ) like others have. We are on the road now living in our wonderful bus and we would not change a thing. So touch your bus everyday, don't look at it from afar. It will enrich your life if you let it! All the Best, M&C  
PS, Got Pics?

[loosenut]

Welcome!  You're in for a treat and if my experience is guide you will have the greatest time.  It looks like you're in TX and if so you might be able to horn in on the bus get together. 

Read the thread "2 weeks and counting" started by "bubbagal"  My suggestion is  to jump start your project is to drive it up and have a good time.

Mike   

[zubzub]

Welcome.  You have chosen a great bus (if it's not too rusty) and at the very least sounds like the engine is in decent shape.  My 2 cents is make sure your brakes (slacks) are adjusted properly before you drive it anywhere.  When I first got my bus I found the brakes kind of lame, after adjusting the slacks I could stop almost as  hard and fast as a car.   Just so you know air brakes are much less forgiving than hydraulic brakes, if your slacks are out, doesn't matter how much you pump you won't stop, and your emergency/park brake won't work either.

[philiptompkjns]

I cant believe I have this thing in my driveway!

Neither can your HOA! haha

How about sharing some pics with us? 

[Busted Knuckle]

And as you go, take lots of photos.  Bus nuts love to experience each other's conversion process through photos and stories.  Also photos will often help folks give the best advice on questions.

Of course I also encourage you to share your bus conversion process via articles in Bus Conversions Magazine.  It reaches a lot of folks that are not online but love to read and see about other bus nuts experiences just the same.

Yeah lots of BUS PORN! WE LOVE LOOKIN' AT BUS PORN!
Oh yeah and welcome to the madness!
  BK 

[fortyniner]

Im with you on the slack adjustments. Although the brakes work ok want them to work as well as possible.  I googled slack adjustment and found some good videos to go with my maintenance manual. Ive done the fronts which were not far off. I still have to do the rears. Looks like I may be able to access them thru a couple of panels on rear wall of the first cargo bay.  BTW, this auto shifts into 3rd at about 50mph. Is that normal? Seems kind of high.

[gus]

If you're in Austin, TX which I assume based on your profile, Jefferson Bus in OKC is a good close parts and info source.

Call Ed in Parts at 800-813-9367. He really knows GMCs.

[Barn Owl]

Welcome.

[fortyniner]

I started a separate thread on the rust issues and whether to fix this beast up or declare it a parts bus or not and uploaded a some closeups of some bad areas.   http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=15198.0

Heres a couple of outside shots: