We're Getting a Bus!

[k9disc]

I've put a deposit down on a 1998 MC12 with a series 50.

I was outbid on this a few weeks ago. Here she is.

I'm posting a bunch of pics because I think it's kind of bad @$#:








And there we go.

[Zephod]

The storage is useful. I'm concerned about low ground clearance but then I drive a skoolie and a school bus.


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[windtrader]

Get a professional bus mechanic to check it out before writing any checks. It will be the cheapest and most well spent money of your entire bus owning career.

[TomC]

Series 50 is a great engine. Only real weakness is the twin counter rotating balancing shafts under the crank powering the oil pump. As a maintenance issue, these shafts need to be serviced every 300,000 miles. See if you can get the records on engine maintenance and determine the last time the balancing shafts were replaced. Good Luck, TomC

[jcdillin]

Body looks good, shame they painted all the SS.

Where are you located?

[k9disc]

Thanks fellas.

We've got a pro who will inspect and drive the bus for us.

Unfortunately, no maintenance conveyed with the bus. I do have access to the vin, though.

Is there any way to assess the balancing shafts? I take it maintenance records the only way to get that info, right?

Zephod, the clearance has always given me pause, but given the choice between clearance and storage, I gotta go with storage. We won't have room for storage inside given all the dogs we roll with.

Peace

[luvrbus]

Body looks good, shame they painted all the SS.

Where are you located?

Yep the paint job leaves a lot to be desired for me  .
Do your shopping and you can find a fully converted bus like the one at my place a MCI 7 that was damaged by towing with a bad engine that sold for $2000.00. Has a diesel generator, nice leather furniture,aluminum wheels, heat,air tanks,pumps, water heater 2 new Fansitc Fan never wired up a lot of good stuff all in good shape probably $20,000.00 worth of parts all for 2 grand    

[Zephod]

Yep the paint job leaves a lot to be desired for me  .
Do your shopping and you can find a fully converted bus like the one at my place a MCI 7 that was damaged by towing with a bad engine that sold for $2000.00. Has a diesel generator, nice leather furniture,aluminum wheels, heat,air tanks,pumps, water heater 2 new Fansitc Fan never wired up a lot of good stuff all in good shape probably $20,000.00 worth of parts all for 2 grand    

And there's the lesson... don't throw too much money into a conversion. For those on modest budgets or incomes, a sudden expense like needing an engine fixed or replaced is disaster.

I read a sad advert on craigslist. Somebody who'd ignored their oil gauge had blown their engine, couldn't afford a fix or replacement and was trying to find somewhere to live and trying to sell their bus too.

There's also the thing... if you sell, most people won't pay a tenth of what you e put into your bus.


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[Utahclaimjumper]

All those chairs look like a ton of work to remove and get rid of,,,,,,,,,and thats just the start.>>>Dan

[k9disc]

All those chairs look like a ton of work to remove and get rid of,,,,,,,,,and thats just the start.>>>Dan

I think the seats will be pretty easy. Just a guess. We'll find out...

I am interested in keeping the chair rail though. That's doable, right?

[Zephod]

I think the seats will be pretty easy. Just a guess. We'll find out...

I am interested in keeping the chair rail though. That's doable, right?

Absolutely. Best way of removing the seats is probably an angle grinder on the bolt heads.


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[jcdillin]

I think the seats will be pretty easy. Just a guess. We'll find out...

I am interested in keeping the chair rail though. That's doable, right?

Seats are very easy, so is keeping the chair rail.

I kept the chair rail in the front for all my seating. Makes it easy to reconfigure if I change my mind down the road.



I wish my seats looked as good as those on your bus.

[k9disc]

...
I wish my seats looked as good as those on your bus.

Might be willing to trade some in the near future. ;-)

[buswarrior]

I like the MC12, best of everything in the MC9, and this one has a 4 stroke engine!

Those chairs haven't been in there long, far from stock.

go see what re-fitter wants for the complete set.

There is a bonus with painted stainless... body filler and a squirt of paint forgives every sin.

Bare stainless panels are either virgin or whore, no middle ground?

The adventure really begins now!

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[TomC]

Easy to get to the balancing shafts-just have to drop the oil pan. Then they remove all together. Problem is finding rebuilt units. Maybe Clifford or Don Fairchild may know where. Good Luck, TomC