Hello, an introduction

[lvmci]

Hi Dave, I was refering to your interior, wood,  paint, metal, pre-fabricated,  home depot or custom built? Give us an idea, someone here has done it already and is willing to answer your questions,  lvmci...

[Lowblock]

Rhet -

Dave said in his first post that he has an XL, not an H series.

He also said that the two levels are up front in the vestibule area, not further back.  Two steps into the bus by the driver, then two steps up into the main cabin.  Typical for a seated, revenue service, XL configuration, not a shell built for entertainer or conversion from the factory.

Dave -

Welcome aboard!  Sounds like your background of house systems will not only benefit you as you build out your XL, but will also be able to assist other busnuts as they work on their rigs, too.

The OEM OTR A/C is expensive to maintain, but also gives the very best comfort rolling down the highway, especially in the SW USA.  OTOH, because of this maintenance expense, it's also the reason why you see entertainer cars with five 15,000 BTU roof A/C units and a 15kW diesel genset providing the juice to keep them running.

Whatever you do, keep the OTR heater!  Especially since you're in the PNW, like me.  I use my coach year-round, and traveling up thru Bend and Yakima to Kelowna, BC at Christmas, it sure was nice to have the coach heat running to keep the interior nice and toasty when it was 28^o outside!

Peninsula Glass, aka Motion Windows in Vancouver, WA, is the place to go for opening windows for your XL.  Not cheap, but totally custom.

Chassis shop manuals and parts books are available from Prevost, or keep an eye on eBay, as they pop up there every now and then.

Definitely contact Prevost directly with the VIN of your coach.  It's my understanding that they can provide all kinds of schematics specific to your particular coach, as well as a "Final Vehicle Record" that will give you info as to what was included in the build (engine serial #, trans serial #, etc.)

Altho you've got a manual gearbox, keep the idea in the back of your head to changeover to an Allison automatic (HT-740 or HT-754).  Far easier to drive, a huge advantage when wiggling into campsites, and the obvious - should you ever decide - resale.

As a couple others have mentioned, entertainer and RV shells generally have a taller roofline, but that may, or may not, be an issue for you.

Do you use Facebook?  There are several very popular bus related pages on FB that you might want to check out.  (Biggest problem, compared to this and the BNO forum, is that posts get lost and the search function isn't as helpful, but the banter itself is quite entertaining - especially if you ask about "what oil do I use in my 8V92 engine!")  Check it out.

Finally, please take a couple minutes to update your forum profile with a signature line similar to mine below.  At least your first name, your home base city/state, and the year, make, model and powertrain configuration will go a long way in helping us help you.  In addition, you might discover that there's another busnut nearby!  Simply click on the "Profile" tab above, and when the next page opens, choose the "Forum Profile Info" option and follow the various options.  TIA.

FWIW & HTH. . .



   

So my question about the floor is, in the converter coach, did they just raise the cockpit/dash area, or did they lower the cabin floor. Can that be done to the one that I have without extensive modifications, and what would it really get me? If the cabin floor would be lower it would just give head room, I'm 6'2" and even after ceiling installation there should be plenty of room as it is...I wont have to duck, I don't think.

As far as the OTR AC, I'm pretty sure that I can maintain the system myself and repair, I have an HVAC License. I just need to figure out if it is still in there or not. I know that the OTR Heater is, but what I don't know is if this generation had a diesel preheat which I would like to use for coach heat. I assume the OTR heater is the black box mid ship correct?

The opening windows would be a nice touch, but are not nessicary, I believe that Coach Glass in Eugene, Or. does it as well. I'm from that area and know everybody working in the industry over there, I will give them a call.

I have a core Allison out of a Monaco Signature that had a ISX in it that mixed coolant with the trans fluid so it was changed out. I don't know what model it is, I would have to look, but I bet I could rebuild it and use, but I kinda like the manual trans, it makes the coach different, reminds me of the class 8 trucks I used to drive.

I do not use facebook, nor do I ever intend too, just not my thing.
I appreciate all of the information, once I have the coach here with me I will update my profile.

Thanks again
Dave

[Lowblock]

Hi Dave, I was refering to your interior, wood,  paint, metal, pre-fabricated,  home depot or custom built? Give us an idea, someone here has done it already and is willing to answer your questions,  lvmci...

Oh...sorry...well this is my plan. Back in the late 90's to early 2000's Country Coach produced a unit known as the "Concept" It was a coach to bridge the price range from their high end fiberglass coach "Affinity" and their Prevost Conversion. I fell in love with the way the coach was designed and I will be building mine to mimic that era of built. If I could find one of the Digital Dashes to use in my build, that would just make it epic! I would attach some pictures of what I am talking about but you will have to forgive me as I'm still a newb.

Oh, also, yes everything will be custom made by my father and I. After seeing my Shell, my Dad has been bitten by the bug and would like one too now, where does everyone keep all the old Prevost shells? It took me forever to find this one.

Thanks again guys
Dave

[Jon]

Regarding the purchase of shells...........

By far the least expensive way to buy a shell is to buy an older two stroke Prevost that was converted when new. You not only get a shell that was not rode hard and put away wet, you get a whole lot of the components you will use to create your own coach.

Your conversion shell will not have to be reskinned, it is not going to have the millions of miles of a commercial chassis and it is probable there will be hundreds of thousands of miles remaining on the engine and transmission.

To Bob's mention about the VIN, that becomes the vital part of discussions with Prevost regarding parts, but equally important it is the identifier for the correct wiring and pneumatic diagrams and service manuals. An 87 will be identified by the letter "H" and the last 4 digits of the VIN. If you go to the Prevost Car web site and look for the service manual for your coach, in the general information section Prevost has a breakdown of what all the characters in the VIN mean so you can understand a lot of information about your coach.

[bigred]

Rhet -          Once again my ignorance shines through!!!!!

Dave said in his first post that he has an XL, not an H series.

He also said that the two levels are up front in the vestibule area, not further back.  Two steps into the bus by the driver, then two steps up into the main cabin.  Typical for a seated, revenue service, XL configuration, not a shell built for entertainer or conversion from the factory.

Dave -

Welcome aboard!  Sounds like your background of house systems will not only benefit you as you build out your XL, but will also be able to assist other busnuts as they work on their rigs, too.

The OEM OTR A/C is expensive to maintain, but also gives the very best comfort rolling down the highway, especially in the SW USA.  OTOH, because of this maintenance expense, it's also the reason why you see entertainer cars with five 15,000 BTU roof A/C units and a 15kW diesel genset providing the juice to keep them running.

Whatever you do, keep the OTR heater!  Especially since you're in the PNW, like me.  I use my coach year-round, and traveling up thru Bend and Yakima to Kelowna, BC at Christmas, it sure was nice to have the coach heat running to keep the interior nice and toasty when it was 28^o outside!

Peninsula Glass, aka Motion Windows in Vancouver, WA, is the place to go for opening windows for your XL.  Not cheap, but totally custom.

Chassis shop manuals and parts books are available from Prevost, or keep an eye on eBay, as they pop up there every now and then.

Definitely contact Prevost directly with the VIN of your coach.  It's my understanding that they can provide all kinds of schematics specific to your particular coach, as well as a "Final Vehicle Record" that will give you info as to what was included in the build (engine serial #, trans serial #, etc.)

Altho you've got a manual gearbox, keep the idea in the back of your head to changeover to an Allison automatic (HT-740 or HT-754).  Far easier to drive, a huge advantage when wiggling into campsites, and the obvious - should you ever decide - resale.

As a couple others have mentioned, entertainer and RV shells generally have a taller roofline, but that may, or may not, be an issue for you.

Do you use Facebook?  There are several very popular bus related pages on FB that you might want to check out.  (Biggest problem, compared to this and the BNO forum, is that posts get lost and the search function isn't as helpful, but the banter itself is quite entertaining - especially if you ask about "what oil do I use in my 8V92 engine!")  Check it out.

Finally, please take a couple minutes to update your forum profile with a signature line similar to mine below.  At least your first name, your home base city/state, and the year, make, model and powertrain configuration will go a long way in helping us help you.  In addition, you might discover that there's another busnut nearby!  Simply click on the "Profile" tab above, and when the next page opens, choose the "Forum Profile Info" option and follow the various options.  TIA.

FWIW & HTH. . .



   

[robertglines1]

lots of necessary body strength in the floor chassi including a frame that can't be lowered.  Clutch is air assist hydraulic operation.  If you have any problem navigating Prevost car web site.(excepting your unit number)  I  can give you some that work. I used 16 gauge cold roll steel to cover some window area.. Alum is better but needs to be stretched when applied (heat & cold )expansion and contraction.  Behind top entrance step you can access several 3 Inch and 2 inch conduits that go from front to behind rear axles. FWIW.  Bob

[Lowblock]

I must be doing something wrong. I cannot seem to pull anything up at Prevost car.
the last 8 of the vin is H1001398 then there is a -08035. I am unsure where to put the numbers in the search box. When I go to the search, there is a link to click that says if your looking for 1994 or older coaches and I click on that.

My unit doesn't have a tach, and for me that's a must have. From what I understand it has Detroits DDECI which is supposed to have a tach signal correct? What is the way to get more HP out of the motor. I have read about upgrading to DDEC III+ but cant seem to find much of what is involved. I know that Heat is a factor when bumping the HP but I have the ability to deal with that.

Thanks Guys
Dave

[robertglines1]

try H-1389  . I will try your numbers.

[robertglines1]

prevostcar.com    102 wide    84to 87 coaches  low on list  use K-747 for instead of your number. I was just there and this worked.

[robertglines1]

Just worked for H-389.....   Guess they just needed 3 instead of 4 numbers.   good luck.

[Lowblock]

Just worked for H-389.....   Guess they just needed 3 instead of 4 numbers.   good luck.

I will go try it now.... Thanks. Ive been reading your build on the other forum...very cool!

ok, I got it to work, I don't see anything about a diesel preheat system, am I to assume that this coach doesn't have one, I probably will know tomorrow once its in front of me tho.

[robertglines1]

prob got plug in block heater.. Located in rear right small door where you fill up your oil reservoir tank.  Never had problem starting 8 V 92 down  into teens.

[Lowblock]

prob got plug in block heater.. Located in rear right small door where you fill up your oil reservoir tank.  Never had problem starting 8 V 92 down  into teens.

I was hoping that it would have a diesel fired preheater so I could use it for coach heat, it doesn't seem to have it tho. Are those available second hand?

[luvrbus]

It will probably have a Espar unit hidden some where  I recall those being standard equipment.Used units Like the Webasto, Pro/Heat and Espar are easy to find used 

[Lowblock]

Well, I will be in front of it tomorrow morning for last inspection. One thing I did notice before is all of the labeling is worn off all the switches, most of the idiot lights, etc. Is there a manual that shows that stuff? I looked on prevost but everything I could find is 2000+ which I don't think are the same. I assume that this coach has jakes, that and the headlight switch are probably the most important switches for the journey home, oh, and the AC.

I will take some pictures of it tomorrow, and if I can figure out how to post I will.

Thanks all for the help
Dave