Exhaust pipe for 4905

[bryanhes]

Anyone know where I could find these pieces of exhaust pipe for my 4905? Part #'s are 686275 & 686278. Luke & Bus Services has them but for the longer piece it is $250. Price for 686275 (which is the longer piece) was $28.81 new and 686278 was $25.83. I understand inflation but give me a break.

Bryan

[Busted Knuckle]

Anyone know where I could find these pieces of exhaust pipe for my 4905? Part #'s are 686275 & 686278. Luke & Bus Services has them but for the longer piece it is $250. Price for 686275 (which is the longer piece) was $28.81 new and 686278 was $25.83. I understand inflation but give me a break.
Bryan

Bryan,
"give me a break" is what people were saying about those prices back when they were new! 
Honestly I think in the real world today that Luke's prices are very fair! After all I can assure you he has sold all those he bought for less than $30 LONNGGG ago. And now is paying much much more than what the 196? parts book lists!
But hey keep looking and just maybe someone will have one of those $30 pipes laying around (off course it maybe in as bad of shape as yours!)
  BK 

[bryanhes]

BK,

If you saw the piece of pipe you maybe you would understand. And no it was not a price book from the 60's. On the high side I am sure this pipe was never over $75 new at the last production (which I am sure ended in the 80's) and has been on a shelf for the last 20 years. I guess dust adds value  I could and probably will just make one for about $40.00 if I can't find one reasonable.

Bryan

[LUKE at US COACH]

Hi Brian & Folks:

Although GM 4905 production ended in 1980, many of the original parts manufacturers are still in business and we can still order parts from them.  The problem is, whereas GM might have ordered 50 or 100 pieces, I order perhaps 6, for example.  Well, they set up special to make my 6 and price them accordingly, but at least we can still get them.

The 4104 has a thermostat that works  backward from most.  I traced down the original manufacturer and found out that they were bought out by a company in England who I contacted.  They researched it, said they could make them for me if I ordered 1,000 pieces.  I told them "No Thank You".  But that is just a couple of examples of what we run into in trying to supply some older parts.

I Hope this HELPS!!!.

Happy & SAFE!!! Bussin' to All.

LUKE at US COACH

[Busted Knuckle]

BK,

If you saw the piece of pipe you maybe you would understand. And no it was not a price book from the 60's. On the high side I am sure this pipe was never over $75 new at the last production (which I am sure ended in the 80's) and has been on a shelf for the last 20 years. I guess dust adds value  I could and probably will just make one for about $40.00 if I can't find one reasonable.

Bryan

Bryan your forgetting I still run a variety of buses in revenue service and still buy what ever it takes to repair them when needed. Very rarely do I do as I wish I could and modify things to except a "cheaper fix" as I do not wish to open myself to a huge "liability suit" should a modification fail.

Yes I have seen and paid ridiculous prices for "the right" part before! Try $300 for a short 2.5" X 18" pipe from the exhaust manifold to the turbo on a Prevost with an 8V92 .
Or $680 for a 2.5' X 4" pipe from the turbo to another pipe going to the muffler off a 60 series equipped SETRA or...... or....... or......

My point is I like to save $ just like everyone else (Luke included), but sometimes it's not the person your buying it from who's making the huge markup that we all know is being made by someone!

Shoot just last month I paid $54 each for a pair of 4" 90's to cut off and make muffler tips out of because the original pieces were over $200 each!
  BK 
also note Luke has part of the pricing explanation mentioned in his post.

[rdbishop]

BK,

I think Bryan wants to do like you did. Pay $50. for a $200. piece and cut it to fit. I think we all have had to bit the bullet for special parts But we always ask the Board to see if there's another way to do a fix. 

Richard

[johnjem]

No matter the price<i am just glad that when i call luke and say i need this part and he has it problem solved,some times the money is no object when u are trying to piece together a 40 ft 30.000 pound rv, and u go to the local parts store and say i need this part and they start to scratch there head,and look at u like u have 3 heads and u say oh boy here we go!!!!!U dont get that when u call luke< so the money is not just for the part it is for peice of mind,and u have to keep in mind we dont have a shop or company like he does <someone>has to pay for it.     john   ps and trust me when i can save a buck i will but i keep it to my self and say ok thank u

[Chopper Scott]

Exhaust parts for bus's seem to be higher priced than items such as regulators and such. I'm just glad someone has them.

[chris4905]

Bryan,

Another option I have used, is to take the "broken" piece to a metal fabrication shop and ask how much it would cost to duplicate the part from scratch (flaring and bending new pipe).  Sometimes they can do it cheaper than a new part,......sometimes they can't.

When I removed the 8V71 out of my 4905 and put in a 6V92 I discovered that my exhaust pipes, and also the muffler, were completely shot.  Soooooo.....I got a new Donaldson muffler, new standard 5" metal exhaust pipe with the necessary fittings and clamps, and relocated the muffler between the radiator and engine (some DDs came stock this way) and I have a total complete new exhaust system out of the exhaust manifolds.

Just trying to give you some options.  Hope this helps.

Chris

[bryanhes]

Chris,

Does going to a 5" exhaust give enough back pressure on the 8V-71? I thought it would be fairly easy to do if I found a muffler with two in and one out. I could place the new muffler in the existing muffler area horizontally instead of vertical. My muffler appears to be pretty new looking but I know that could be deceiving as to whats on top of the ledge. I need to take a mirror and light to do a little more inspecting up there.
I do not have any room to place a muffler in the area you are talking about. The Taurus fan takes up that space.

Thanks,
Bryan

[rdbishop]

You could just run straight exhaust. That would sound good!!

Richard

[bryanhes]

I am afraid the little lady would get a bit irritated trying to sleep back there running down the highway with straight pipe Richard . Although I will tell her about YOUR idea She already complains when we are on a long curve. Thinks she is going to roll off the bed  . I told her I could put some rails on the side so she won't fall off, LOL.
She is more a sleeping traveler. Put her in a vehicle for very long and she wants to sleep  When she doesn't get the sleep she gets a little grumpy  .

Bryan

[rdbishop]

I understand Grumpy...
Richard

[RJ]

I do not have any room to place a muffler in the area you are talking about. The Taurus fan takes up that space.

Bryan -

Yes, you do have room to put a muffler between the radiator fan, Torus drive and the engine block.  The 4106s came stock with that arrangement, and there's less room in an '06 engine compartment than there is in your 4905's.  See the photo below:

[Chopper Scott]

I tried the straight through route and it is way too loud! On my MCI, I basically made my own j pipe out of 5" tubing and came off of it with 4'' to end up exiting the side of the bus much as the stock muffler had done. Ear plug time!! I ended up putting a 4" stainless  straight through muffler on it and it helped but I'm going to have to do some more! It does keep people from shadowing you when you're traveling however!