New member, new bus - 1978 GMC P8M4905A #1927

DirtbagSwag · July 17, 2015, 06:36:17 PM

Hello to everyone! We're new to the bus world, and are excited to get to work and get to know folks. We're Chris and Sam, 29 and 26, and we just bought a 1978 GMC P8M4905A that's in okay condition. Inside is a DD 8v71 with an Allison v731. It was sitting for a year before our purchase, and smoked white getting up to speed, but cleared up and cruised happily at 70mph. We're hoping to learn to do most of the work ourselves. I ordered the GMC Service manual and the coachinfo.net buyers guide - is there anything else i should need in that arena? We've heard the Good Sam Club, Passport America, and of course the BCM subscriptions are the way to go. We're planning on spending a lot of our time at military campsites - has anyone had experience with how friendly they are to coaches?

Right now we're near Portland. We want to take the next month or so getting it road-worthy for a slow drive to Maryland. Are there any good junkyards or DD mechanics that we should know about in either PDX or MD? So many questions!

Pictures:http://www.homeontheroad.org/#!Step-One-Buy-a-Bus/bwpiw/55a883540cf24f011b6034c8

Charles in SC · July 17, 2015, 06:51:03 PM

Congratulations and welcome to this bus forum. There is a wealth of folks here that can answer most anything about your bus. The go to guy for parts and such on the east coast is Luke at US Coach. I think he is in New Jersey. You can find him through a web search.

Brett G · July 17, 2015, 07:02:49 PM

Quote from: DirtbagSwag on July 17, 2015, 06:36:17 PM
Hello to everyone! We're new to the bus world, and are excited to get to work and get to know folks. We're Chris and Sam, 29 and 26, and we just bought a 1978 GMC P8M4905A that's in okay condition. Inside is a DD 8v71 with an Allison v731. It was sitting for a year before our purchase, and smoked white getting up to speed, but cleared up and cruised happily at 70mph. We're hoping to learn to do most of the work ourselves. I ordered the GMC Service manual and the coachinfo.net buyers guide - is there anything else i should need in that arena? We've heard the Good Sam Club, Passport America, and of course the BCM subscriptions are the way to go. We're planning on spending a lot of our time at military campsites - has anyone had experience with how friendly they are to coaches?

Right now we're near Portland. We want to take the next month or so getting it road-worthy for a slow drive to Maryland. Are there any good junkyards or DD mechanics that we should know about in either PDX or MD? So many questions!

Pictures:http://www.homeontheroad.org/#!Step-One-Buy-a-Bus/bwpiw/55a883540cf24f011b6034c8

Welcome!

pabusnut · July 17, 2015, 07:35:22 PM

Welcome to the Madness!!

I think I bought my first bus when I was younger than you two, in the PI days(pre-internet). The web has certainly made the bus conversion hobby easier.

http://www.militarycampgrounds.us/ is the only reliable site for military camping.

Steve Toomey
PAbusnut
PA Air National Guard, 201st RED HORSE SQ

Darkspeed · July 17, 2015, 08:21:53 PM

Congrats Chris and Sam! Cool bus!

RJ · July 18, 2015, 02:35:19 AM

Chris & Sam -

Welcome to the madness! Busnutitus in incurable, but it can be controlled.

FYI - P8M4905A-1927 was delivered new in June of 1978 as fleet number 14 to Rainier Bank Leasing, who leased it to P&W Charter Service, HQ'd in Yakima, WA.

It's one of the few 4905s that was delivered new with the V-730 transmission, according to the records I have. The majority had 4-spd manuals with a wet clutch. (The V-730 is a three-speed transmission with a lock-up torque converter that, when it locks up, makes it feel like another shift.)

4905s came stock with a 4.375:1 rear axle ratio, however, with the optional V-730, a 4.125:1 ratio was utilized.

Luke at US Coach in NJ can be reached at 1-888-262-2434. Suggest you memorize this! Strong supporter of our crazy hobby, support those who support us!

In terms of books needed, you should have a Maintenance Manual, a Parts Book, an Operator's Manual, and optionally a Detroit Diesel 8V71 Maintenance Manual and an Allison V-730 Maintenance Manual.

Again, welcome to the madness, and enjoy your new toy!

FWIW & HTH. . .

chessie4905 · July 18, 2015, 08:03:21 AM

You sure that it specifically says V730 and it is not actually the VS2-8?

DirtbagSwag · July 18, 2015, 12:38:34 PM

I'm not positive of anything! The gentleman that sold it to me bought it and didn't do too much with it for a year. He told me it was a 3 speed automatic, but it drove and felt like 4 gears to me, so it sounds like a v730. I'm chasing mounting info plates today, so I'll have a lot more marked down as definite.

Thanks for the info guys!

Darkspeed · July 18, 2015, 12:52:31 PM

On the passenger side of the transmission by the shift lever there is a little data plate riveted to the side of the trans. It will tell you what you have.

RJ · July 18, 2015, 04:35:13 PM

Quote from: chessie4905 on July 18, 2015, 08:03:21 AM
You sure that it specifically says V730 and it is not actually the VS2-8?

According to the records I have, #1927 came with a V-730 from the factory.

FWIW & HTH. . .

Scott & Heather · July 20, 2015, 01:45:17 AM

Congrats you two! Going to be a fun journey. Enjoy every moment of it

don't be scared of these old coaches. They need love and attention but remember it didn't take a rocket scientist to build them, and it doesn't take one to maintain them

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