Next Bus?

[Alan N]

Just dreaming, thinking. My current bus is a skoolie, Gillig 636 with 3208 cat @ 250 hp, 5 speed manual trans. Bought and converted for a specific trip. Alaska. Did that. I would like something nicer, faster. Preferably with a mechanical engine (not a Detroit) and manual trans. 35 foot is long enough. 102 wide would be nice. I know next to  nothing about transit buses. What should I be looking for? I would welcome your thoughts and reasons for same. Thanks Alan

[Tikvah]

Next bus?
go wash your mouth out!

I'm not allowed to talk like that.

[muldoonman]

If you're looking for used, Find out ros's email and I think he has checked everything out in all 57 states. 

[DMoedave]

I would look for a unit with a series 50 (sorry its Detroit ) and a 6 speed trans if you have to have a manual. I wouldent sell the auto trans short tho. I used to only want a stick till I got an auto lol.

[boxcarOkie]

A lot of them out there, should not be awfully hard to find one that would fit your needs or taste.

57 States? 

Once again, I find myself lacking and behind the curve.  Need to get out more.

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[muldoonman]

You haven't heard that the President of these here United States thinks their is 57 States? Yep, Bamma said it a couple times on camera until they changed his teleprompter.

[belfert]

You are probably going to be stuck looking at some of the rare MCI buses with L10 or early Cat engines if you want a mechanical (non-electronic) engine and not a Detroit.  A bus with an L10 is unlikely to be real fast.  I don't think you will find a 102 wide bus in 35 foot with mechanical engine.  The MCI F3500 is 102 wide and 35 foot, but has an electronic engine.

[boxcarOkie]

You haven't heard that the President of these here United States thinks their is 57 States? Yep, Bamma said it a couple times on camera until they changed his teleprompter.

NO.  I can honestly freely admit I have not heard about that at all.  But then again, if you have noticed here lately and in the past, "I do live a somewhat secluded lifestyle and sheltered life here in the Heartland."  

Just the other day, a friend of mine was saying ... "It sure is quiet around here since they put a muzzle on you Old BCO."

And I just replied:

"Uh .... MMMRFIFjjlfjwepo-#!!@#**#%^!ladder-MMMrrrrfif-IFojcsdlcjao-35.2 MPH-#!!@#**#%^!MMMrrrrfif-tires-asldhaiu-campgrounds-MMMrrrrfif-fasoas-oilfilters#!!@#**#%^!-aklnnvoeff!"

Thanks for the info ... I did watch a minute or two of it and then dozed off.
Another Dose Of It

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[HB of CJ]

Another ex schoolie, but with an attitude.  35x8.  Two axle.  Sweet spot year model about a 1985.  Now getting very hard to find outside of a private party sale.  Cummins NTC Big Cam 855 Turbo engine.  Around 270 300 hp stock.  Easy 500 hp using cheap used factory parts. Jake.  Consider the cool infamous Fuller RTO11510 close ratio, non synkro, overdrive, 10 speed Road Ranger tranny.

Easy to shift.  Like a dirt bike.  Shifter moves about 2 inches.  About 5 pounds pressure.  Snick, snick.  You can shift gears 5 times crossing an intersection.  Bitchin'.  I had a choice of 8th, 9th or 10th gear at 55 mph.  12R22.5 tires.  3.90 gears.  .82 10th gear. 2200 governed rpm.  A gear for every situation, plus gears you usually never used.  Easy to keep the rpm right at the 1500 rpm sweet spot.

Flat four piece front windshield glass.  White roof.  Spring suspension.  Top speed depends upon gearing and power.  Mine did 85 mph.  Difficult to convert into a Bus Conversion, but quite doable.  Internet running very choppy now.  Prices going up due to supply.  Like a Gillig but better.  Tight turning circle.  Mine got 10.5 mpg at 60 mph.  Off the shelf HD truck parts.  User friendly maintenance

Hope this helps.  Crowns Forever.  HB of CJ (old coot) PEM me if ya wanna

[bevans6]

You probably need to revise your wants list or get ready to modify something.  I don't think a manual transmission, non-detroit engine 102" 35 foot transit bus was even made in North America.  Until I read no detroit I was going to say the 35' Prevost is the best 35 foot option, in my opinion, followed by the MC-5 in it's various options.  I'll be interested to see what other people recommend.  Part of the issue is going to be combining the 102" with the mechanical engine in a 35 ft bus, nothing springs to mind at all, but I never really tried to think of one before either.

F3500 MCI is a rebadged Mexican Dina, has a S50 Detroit, and may have some parts/support issues now, I recall hearing they sort of got orphaned.

Brian

[RJ]

Alan -

Eagle made a few 35x102 models before folding. Pretty rare, here's an example that's been for sale forever:

http://sellabus.com/cheshire.html

The GMC/MCI RTS transit bus also was available in 35x102, 99% of these will be a 6V92TA Detroit with a V-730 Allison automatic.  A few will be a Detroit Series 50 w/ the V-drive automatic.  None available with a manual gearbox, transits haven't used stick shifts since the 1930s.  Since they're transits, most will have rear axles that limit top speed to about 60 mph.  Another challenge with a transit are the large wheel wells inside.  Not insurmountable, just an annoyance.

If your Gillig's in good shape overall, your least expensive route would be to swap out the rear axle pumpkin for one with a "taller" ratio.  Like a 3.70:1 (common in MCIs) from a 5.11:1 (common in transits).  Gillig uses "off-the-shelf" HD truck running gear, so finding one in a truck boneyard shouldn't be too much of a chore.

Any way you look for it, finding a 35x102 with a mechanical engine and a manual gearbox is going to test your willpower.  OTOH, a mechanical engine with an automatic will require less hair pulling, and one with an all-electronic powertrain will be the easiest.  Highway models will be geared to run 70+ on the superslab, and will be the most expensive.  Transits & skoolies will be geared a lot lower, and be less expensive.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[HB of CJ]

FWIW, we found that the extra 6 inches, (or less ... net) interior width was more than off set by the pucker factor of the "much wider" wider Bus Conversion on narrow streets and dumb on coming traffic.  Just a thought.  HB

Yep ... a 35 foot MCI would make a much better Bus Conversion candidate.  Easier to convert and much more storage space.  The Crown Supercoach is the much better chassis and road warrior,  but quite hard to convert.  Just me here.

[Alan N]

Aren't want lists always modified?
HB, how did your mid engine crown do on gravel? I drove a Gillig with an 855 and liked how it went but I didn't like the thought of the engine underneath. How many parts on the pancake engine are unique to it?
Whats hard about converting a Crown? The Gillig was great fun. But it was " A Trip NOT A Project!!" Or I would still be working on it. 
The Gillig is in fine shape and will likely be with us for some time to come. But no one gets after me for dreaming. Everyone likes to go for a bus ride. Currently looking for a trans with OD like an RTO610. A new gear set for my rear diff was frightfully expensive. I forget what the rear end is but it's old and weird. Might just  swap the whole axle, but then I'd be tempted to add air ride and who knows what else. Projects!
I'm not totally opposed to a Detroit, just curious if there are options. Had a truck with an 8V92 back in the dark ages, it went right well.
57 states? I can think of 50 then there is Confusion, Chaos, Depression, Despair (but to despair is sin). How many is that? 

[Alan N]

RJ
That Eagle looks like Quite the machine. But out of my league. Thanks.

[LuckyChow]

You're going to have a tough time finding a transit that's not automatic.  I can't recall ever seeing one in person and I'm no spring chicken.  Transits have changed a lot from the 80's.  They typically run around 300 hp engines these days, plus or minus a little.  I'm a transit administrator and we haven't had anything in 20 years that wouldn't run 70 mph, although we typically set the computers for 65.  All our transits routinely run a 10 mile stretch on the interstate and 65 mph is not a problem for them.  It seems like everything has got fast these days.  I'm getting passed by school buses now, while driving 65 mph in my car.