New MCI 8 Owner

[pcarexpress]

Hello to all. I'm new to the bus world.  Bought my MCI 8 conversion about a year ago. Still getting all the quirks out of it. I'm getting the impression these things are a lot like owning a  boat----A 40 foot hole you throw money into. I'm living a love hate relationship with it. Some days I can't wait to get it on the road, other days it scares the daylights out of me.  I'm studying this forum and getting tons of good information.  Thanks to all who post and contribute. Ive leaned a lot already and need still to learn even more.

[saddleup]

Good lookin bus , where you live?

[pcarexpress]

Thanks. I'm in Angels Camp, California.  About 120 miles east of San Francisco in the foothills.

[Singing Land Cruiser]

Hello PC, Christi & I know just how you feel. When the hate got to be to much, we fired her up and went for a short drive Honking the horn at the passers bye, stopped at the store for a coffee and even went to Walmart. After that we felt alot better about the bus and we were back at the Dreaming of the Open Road again.
Hang in there and welcome to the board. Post more pics of your projects, not for you but for us. We will live your dream with you.
All the Best, M&C 

[LowTide]

Welcome to the madness

Nice looking 8, too!

[Lin]

"Still getting all the quirks out of it."

You don't really get rid of all the quirks.  You end up modifying some and learning to live with others.

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Kinda like being married.

[pcarexpress]

True about the quirks. Some are just way easier to just live with.  This week was a "Not Gen" light that was on. Took the mechanic about 10 hrs just to trace down and replace the voltage regulator, which they finally found behind the generator. No idea how they got in that tight space.  Had them lengthen the wires and relocate the new one in a more accessible space.  Now, they're on to trying to figure out why my inverter doesn't work?  Hopefully, its an easy one and they can get it all ironed out by middle of the March.  We're headed out on our first "real" trip in the bus---Headed to the desert.  Ive only driven it about 50 miles home and to the shop once!  So far its runs really well and appears to be mechanically sound. I had a diesel mechanic go over the mechanical systems, before I purchased it, they changed the fluids, etc. Its been in storage (inside) for quite a long time so it's gonna take some TLC to bring her back to life.

[Danr]

Hi seen this bus for sale over on the BNO site for $20,000.

http://www.busnut.com/classifieds/index.php?a=2&b=1298 

Danr

[pcarexpress]

Yep that's mine. I tell you its a true love/hate relationship!

[Dave5Cs]

Who changes the fluids for you. Just wondering was it in frog jump country or down in Placer county area?

[muldoonman]

Welcome aboard. Went though and still finding/repairing.replacing/updating things on our 1991 Prevost that sit in barn for 7 or 8 years without seeing the sun. I thought with no use and low miles and hours would be like new. Found out things turn south when you don't use frequently. Bought it 3 years ago and It's been a wallet tugging experience. Good luck on your endeavors.

[lostagain]

Nice looking 8. I see that you don't have a manual because it took you 8 hours to find the voltage regulator. Look for one on ebay. Or someone here will point to one hopefully. That is the MCI manual. You should also get a Detroit Diesel V71 series service manual. You can't maintain a bus without them.

Good luck.

JC

[pcarexpress]

I had my my initial service done at the interstate truck center in Turlock. Not sure I would go that route again? But that's who did the inspection and service for me. Right now it's at Sierra heavy duty RV in Sonora correcting an inverter issue. I invested in a set of manuals but they didn't arrive until after I out put the bus in the shop. I attempted to run down the "not gen" light myself and actually found a site on the web that said the voltage regulator should be in that bay, but when I opened the door all I saw was generator and I never imagined that the voltage regulator would be back there behind the generator. But I guess when the put the voltage regulator in there the generator wasn't there:) So now I have a set of manuals. I bought the disk and printed off all 1231 pages of it:) The only down side is that the manual is for the bus configured as a passenger bus. I'd like the find out where I could get a manual for the conversion---if there is such a thing? I imagine though that each conversion is slightly different from the next dependent upon layout, amenities, etc. sort of like houses.


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[lostagain]

It takes a while to learn all the systems in a new to you bus. Some I don't learn until something needs fixing and have to start digging into it.

Good luck.

JC