Hello

tnewman · October 19, 2017, 06:52:08 PM

Hi,

It has been at least 20 years since the last time I was on my grandparent's bus but I can remember it clear as day. It was a mid 60s GM 4106 and is the foundation for my fondness and fascination with RV's and motorhomes. Now that I have begun a small family of my own, the thoughts and memories of motorhoming have begun to dominate my leasure-time daydreaming. My mother and her siblings still have these deeply rooted memories of traveling America in a converted bus when they were kids and that is the kind of impact I want to share with my family. My grandpa found an old Flxible for sale and went to town converting it into basically one of the first RVs ever. Our family FMCA # is 750, a point of pride among us to be honest, and is a tradition I'm really beginning to envision carrying on. I don't want to just buy some second hand Winnebago (no disrespect intended to them), I just have this deep desire to truly embrace the conversion aspect of this endeavor. My affinity is toward the vintage MCI MC 5/6/7 (especially the 6) but the 4104/6 also catch my eye. I don't want to go further into depth on this greeting, just wanted to say hi and give a little introduction. Thanks and I look forward to participating on the forum.

Paso One · October 19, 2017, 06:55:28 PM

Well welcome I was the first to read your first post. Wow never happened before 0 looks 0 posts.
Welcome

lvmci · October 19, 2017, 07:52:48 PM

Hi t, welcome, there are a few MCI6s for sale one here in LV. Where are you located? lvmci...

kyle4501 · October 19, 2017, 08:00:36 PM

You didn't say how much $$$ you intended to pour into this hobby -- But, if you do go with the MCI6, be ready to really throw money at it. With only 100 or so made, some parts won't be available. They built 1001 PD4501s & getting parts for those is extremely difficult if not impossible.

The 5 & 7 have a standard engine & transmission -- where the GM coaches use the V-drive (with a left hand rotation engines) which are getting more difficult to get some parts for.

With what you can get an older high quality professionally built motorhome for these days, one would be wise to seek out one that fits your needs & use the time (you would have spent doing the conversion) to start building new memories.

Good luck & I wish you well creating new family memories!

eagle19952 · October 19, 2017, 08:22:27 PM

Quote from: kyle4501 on October 19, 2017, 08:00:36 PM

With what you can get an older high quality professionally built motorhome for these days, one would be wise to seek out one that fits your needs & use the time (you would have spent doing the conversion) to start building new memories.

really ?

windtrader · October 19, 2017, 09:24:45 PM

Quote from: eagle19952 on October 19, 2017, 08:22:27 PM
really ?

It's certainly worth exploring that option. Other than the passion for an old bus and having a young family, there is not much more to make better suggestions.

If one assumes his free time and money is limited, then buying a ready to go, older sticks and staples offers more quality time travelling with the family.

It'd be hard to see how one could do a full conversion due to lack of free time. Kids these days consume all your time - soccer games, practices, kids parties, music lessons, school events, festivals, school homework, projects, helping out in the classroom, cub scouts, girl scouts, weekend campouts, and on it goes. It's a rare busnut that completes a full bus conversion while raising small kids and gets some family bus vacations before the small kids are big kids and have little interest in family vacations.

lvmci · October 19, 2017, 09:30:26 PM

T, I started out with a MCI5A, many start out with a 35', already converted, then when you know more what you want, graduate to a 40 or 45'er, lvmci...

tnewman · October 20, 2017, 06:42:44 AM

Quote from: lvmci on October 19, 2017, 07:52:48 PM
Hi t, welcome, there are a few MCI6s for sale one here in LV. Where are you located? lvmci...

Oh yeah? Do you have links? Would love to take a look. I'm in New Jersey BUT travel is one of my hobbies so not a huge issue.

RJ · October 20, 2017, 09:24:01 AM

NAME?? -

Welcome aboard!

My favorite has always been the original "Sports Car of Buses," the PD4106. I searched for nearly four years before finding what I was looking for: a 35' coach that was converted on a new shell, one that had never seen revenue service. As much as I love the '06, I now own an MC-5C converted new by Angola Coach. We've made a few changes here and there, but the basic conversion is still as solid as the day it left Angola. My only real complaint is that it's terribly under-powered with it's 6V71 engine, but OTOH, it ain't broke, so we're not gonna fix it!

As a couple others have mentioned, depending on what you want/need, it might be worth your while looking at completed coaches that are for sale. Because of changing demographics (a lot of bus conversion folks "aging out" of the hobby), there are many rigs available for less than you'd spend starting from scratch. So take a look at that option.

Finally, please take a minute to update your forum profile to something similar to mine (and others) below. At least your first name, home city/state and when the time comes, your coach's make, model and powertrain will go a long way helping us help you down the road. You might even find another busnut lives nearby! To update, click on the profile tab above, when the new window opens, scroll down the LH menu to "Forum Profile Info", click on that option, then follow the prompts. TIA!

FWIW & HTH. . .

eagle19952 · October 20, 2017, 09:30:48 AM

Quote from: windtrader on October 19, 2017, 09:24:45 PM

If one assumes his free time and money is limited, then buying a ready to go, older sticks and staples offers more quality time travelling with the family.

oh. i assumed he was on a bus board because a bus was where his interests were...

tnewman · October 20, 2017, 10:17:52 AM

Quote from: RJ on October 20, 2017, 09:24:01 AM
NAME?? -

Welcome aboard!

Everyone calls me Newman, thanks for the warm welcoming.

kyle4501 · October 20, 2017, 07:08:22 PM

Quote from: eagle19952 on October 19, 2017, 08:22:27 PM
really ?

Yep,

While there are lots of crappy professionally built units out there, QUALITY is what you should be looking for. They do exist & patience has its rewards!

IMO- If the sides aren't riveted alum, I ain't interested.

lvmci · October 20, 2017, 07:13:08 PM

Hi Newman, B&B advertises on the busconversions magazine, message Gary the publisher, he'll tell you or call Gary Bennett of B&B, send me a private message, lvmci...

eagle19952 · October 20, 2017, 08:42:19 PM

might find what you want here.

https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/rvs/d/huge-bus-auction/6348566075.html

tnewman · October 21, 2017, 05:43:50 AM

Some of you have recommended going with an already converted or semi-converted bus...that IS something I'd very much consider. Theres a 1958 GM 4104 around the corner that sold locally to another local guy and I keep seeing it on the side of the road and waiting for the for sale sign to go up in the window because it just doesn't look like its being used as they had intended to.....oh wait a second, what do we have here: https://cnj.craigslist.org/rvs/d/1958-gmc-4104-coach-e41/6335622811.html