Here's a rare MCI

[RJ]

Found this while surfing CL tonite.  I know nothing about it except what's listed in the ad.

http://richmond.craigslist.org/rvs/2703583805.html

Biggest thing you have to be careful of is overloading the rear axle.

But a wide-body two-axle should be appealing to somebody!

FWIW & HTH. . .

[TomC]

If you don't get crazy with tile, marble or granite, you should be able to keep the weight down.  My transit weighed in at 28,000lb empty.  Fully converted and full with my wife and I inside going over a truck scale we weighed in at 10,500lb front and 20,500lb rear (31,000lb total).  Considering the 13,000lb front and 23,000lb rear rating-we're still 5,000lb from being over loaded!  Good Luck, TomC

[expressbus]

RJ,

That's a mighty small engine.

[RJ]

Express -

A 6V92T little?

In a 102A3?

Nah, common application back then, set up to the same (275) hp as the 8V71s.

Easier to tweak to 350 hp, tho.

No hot rod over Rocky Top, but will get you there.  Worked for Blue Pooch and Big Red!

FWIW & HTH. . .

[Jim_Morrison]

got one and its a bloody pain to steer with a 25' wheelbase

[Iceni John]

got one and its a bloody pain to steer with a 25' wheelbase

How?   I'm curious why  -  my bus has a 263" wheelbase (just under 22') with two axles, yet it steers and handles fine, even on wet roads.   I wish its steering had a slightly better cut-in angle, but that's a different matter.

John

[RJ]

Got one and its a bloody pain to steer with a 25' wheelbase

Jim -

Be thankful it's not a GMC 4905 - they've got a longer wheelbase than your MCI - even longer than some of the 45' coaches on today's market!

Just don't be afraid to take your half out of the middle, and when in doubt, STOP.  Let the 4-wheelers figure out how to get around you!

Piece of cake.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[Jim_Morrison]

what I was meaning was the 50' turning radius other then that its not a bad bus though it would be nice to have a greater weight rating

[expressbus]

RJ,

No, not the 6V-92T. The one in the picture. Did I miss the picture of the 6V-92T or was it just not there?

[expressbus]

Jim Morrison,

Maybe the wheelbase is not the problem but the steering box is. While searching for my first coach I drove some real dogs that were supposedly very well maintained. One old Bluebird I was lucky to get it back into its cage. It wouldn't steer, the guy letting me drive it wanted me to go faster, not. Once back in a stationary position and out of the 'Bird, it was leaking radiator fluids. Scratch that one off the list.

Another, a Prevost in SC I could hardly keep it between the centerline and the side ditch. I had a bus mechanic supervisor, retired from NJT, with me on the Prevost run. He said gearbox needed rebuilding. There were other issues with the "P" model so we kept looking.

The old "P" model I've had for 5 years drives like a dream. Very slight wheel adjustments usually from side drafts or "driver errors." We have come to call the coach, "Wheel Therapy." As soon as we can get it painted that moniker will find a place somewhere on the outside.

[artvonne]

  I think were talking about two different and separate things. One is driving "quality", the other is turning radius. Longer Buses would generally ride and steer better down the highway simply because of their extended wheelbase. Sloppy steering boxes and linkage not withstanding.

  However, the longer the Bus the wider the turning radius, and it only takes a few feet extra to turn a piece of cake into impossible. Heck, our Bounder greatly out turns the MC5, I can only imagine a 45 footer with 50 feet plus of turning radius, its no wonder they built articulators.

[expressbus]

Art,

Here is a turning radius design template from a Civil Engineering Manual. A 45' bus with the dimensions of a standard 45' Inter-City bus has a turning radius of 45' with a steer angle of 44.4 degrees.

[buswarrior]

There's the problem!

The &#&*#%^&*#@$& civil engineers have a handbook with the minimum clearance numbers in it!

Trouble is when you put a human being into the seat, and put a set of mirrors sticking out that need some leeway... no wonder the walls and poles and whatnot are too close...

An A2 makes for a fine bus conversion, two fewer tires to buy and no tag axle brakes/bearings/seals/structure/suspension to maintain.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Scott & Heather]

along the lines of this note, can someone please tell us what the interior height of a wide-body is? We have a future itch for a 102 but I am done with roof raises. It was definitely worth it, but I never want to have do it again. Thanks!

[RJ]

Along the lines of this note, can someone please tell us what the interior height of a wide-body is? We have a future itch for a 102 but I am done with roof raises. It was definitely worth it, but I never want to have to do it again. Thanks!

Scott -

MCI "As" & "Bs" are the same as an 8/9.  "Cs" and later are 3" taller.  "Es" and "Js" may be 4" taller, but don't recall at the moment.

FWIW & HTH. . .