Infaltion and rebuilding a 2 stroke engine

[Tedsoldbus]

 I read FMCA cover to cover each month after I read BCM a few times. I read FMCA mostly because I still like a regular paper magazine, and thanks to my father in law, it is free! My Father in law became a life member back when FMCA let you do that and he still gets the magazine. He is 91 now. I'm betting they did not think they would have to send him a magazine this long. lol.
When he was in FMCA, mostly in the northeast, they met pretty often, but usually in some farmers field. I listen to him pretty often about those days when we pull out his photo albums. His group had 2 scenic cruisers, 3 Flxibles, a fishbowl bus, 2 silversides, and a number of GM buses like his 4106. Almost all were stripped by them and built back with some pretty odd stuff. The guys (some of them bus mechanics) would often work on a bus at the meet. Sometimes just so it could get home! The kids played all day because they had to. No cell phones, no 5th wheel with 4 televisions. At night out came the guitars at the campfire and significant beer lubricated the singing. Usually songs about train wrecks and maritime disasters. A different time. Wish I could have been to one of those.
But I refuse to despair. Unless Covid just shuts us all down again, this year we plan ACA in Hershey, over to see the spoiled nieces in Jersey, stop in to see Luke at US Coach in Vineland. Later to The Flx parade in Loudonville, and maybe SE Busnuts in Florida. And hope there is something in Evansville or Blytheville since they are only a half day drive. 
I don't know what fuel will be but we are not letting that keep us in the driveway.  Fire them up guys! That is why we have them!

[dtcerrato]

I read FMCA cover to cover each month after I read BCM a few times. I read FMCA mostly because I still like a regular paper magazine, and thanks to my father in law, it is free! My Father in law became a life member back when FMCA let you do that and he still gets the magazine. He is 91 now. I'm betting they did not think they would have to send him a magazine this long. lol.
When he was in FMCA, mostly in the northeast, they met pretty often, but usually in some farmers field. I listen to him pretty often about those days when we pull out his photo albums. His group had 2 scenic cruisers, 3 Flxibles, a fishbowl bus, 2 silversides, and a number of GM buses like his 4106. Almost all were stripped by them and built back with some pretty odd stuff. The guys (some of them bus mechanics) would often work on a bus at the meet. Sometimes just so it could get home! The kids played all day because they had to. No cell phones, no 5th wheel with 4 televisions. At night out came the guitars at the campfire and significant beer lubricated the singing. Usually songs about train wrecks and maritime disasters. A different time. Wish I could have been to one of those.
But I refuse to despair. Unless Covid just shuts us all down again, this year we plan ACA in Hershey, over to see the spoiled nieces in Jersey, stop in to see Luke at US Coach in Vineland. Later to The Flx parade in Loudonville, and maybe SE Busnuts in Florida. And hope there is something in Evansville or Blytheville since they are only a half day drive. 
I don't know what fuel will be but we are not letting that keep us in the driveway.  Fire them up guys! That is why we have them!

    Amen amen I say to you! 
Hopefully Alaska 2022 here we come and if I can't afford to drive it back - I'll just winter up there... 
Noticed I said I cause wifey won't have it - AK winter that is...

[luvrbus]

Like a friend of mine a long time 4106 owner says if you drive a vintage bus buy a GM or Eagle they have 40,000 aluminum cans you can always sell and get home,where he came up with 40,000 is anybody's guess,lol knowing him he spent some time counting cans   

[Jim Blackwood]

This might be the year that I put tags on the DL3. If, if, if. No way to say for sure but at least it's a possibility. Several of us are doing one of those. There's kind of a sweet spot still between 2 strokes and multiplexed wiring that has pretty well bottomed out on price. That makes an attractive purchase. If I wanted to bail at any time I could easily sell the 60 series engine for more than I presently have in the entire rig and that's a comfortable place to be.

Jim

[luvrbus]

They just auction off 2000 models DL3 with series 60 and the B500 that went from $4500.00 to $6000.00 in California last week, those should be rust free,2 of the buses were day coach conversions for hauling politicans and other big wheels around

[rancher]

They just auction off 2000 models DL3 with series 60 and the B500 that went from $4500.00 to $6000.00 in California last week, those should be rust free,2 of the buses were day coach conversions for hauling politicans and other big wheels around

Is the used bus market that soft? That's some pretty cheap drive train parts. Were do you find auctions like that to watch?

[luvrbus]

You need to go different sites like Bar None,Govt Deals,Iron Planet,Public Surplus,TNT and so on, there are 100's out there just register and they will send you notice

[buswarrior]

Is the used bus market that soft? That's some pretty cheap drive train parts. Were do you find auctions like that to watch?

Yes, beyond soft, non-existant. Covid has blown the top, middle and bottom ends out of the bus industry.

Nobody to buy those buses, no work. Many fleets gone, never to return.

Very much not...
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[chessie4905]

It would be crazy to buy a two stroke shell anymore, no matter how cheap. Used coaches are so cheap now, you can get into a 60, Cummins, etc. Find one from salt free area and or one only used locally. Nice thing, your fuel mileage will be better too. Also forget any thing with a manual transmission. Electronic ones will be fine, as long as it wasn't  a problematic one that owner wants to unload. Spend the money for all the manuals or download and print. Learn how to work with electronics.

[richard5933]

It would be crazy to buy a two stroke shell anymore, no matter how cheap. Used coaches are so cheap now, you can get into a 60, Cummins, etc. Find one from salt free area and or one only used locally. Nice thing, your fuel mileage will be better too. Also forget any thing with a manual transmission. Electronic ones will be fine, as long as it wasn't  a problematic one that owner wants to unload. Spend the money for all the manuals or download and print. Learn how to work with electronics.

I agree wholeheartedly. If someone's goal is a reliable bus at a good price then you are spot on.

But if someone is after a vintage bus or maybe has a hankering for a GM, then not so much.

Not everyone has the same goals here. Some prioritize reliability and low cost, others are specifically interested in a vintage bus, because it's a vintage bus and with all that brings.

For me, if reliability and cost were the issues, I would go after a truck conversion over a bus because it brings the added safety factor. But those weren't my reasons for choosing a bus - I was drawn to buses because of the styling of the old ones.

[lvmci]

Tedsold, the busnut getogethers are still like that.
If you go to one with luvrbus or Buswarrior or the like, you will see on the spot bus repairs, with a lot of busnut heads looking around Clifford to see what he's doing...

[luvrbus]

Vintage buses are neat but you never get your invested money back, gone are those days when you could make few bucks on buying and selling,some real nice GM,Eagles and MCI buses on the market now for under 15k with newer generators not the old Perkins diesel power generator or gasoline Onan

[richard5933]

Vintage buses are neat but you never get your invested money back, gone are those days when you could make few bucks on buying and selling,some real nice GM,Eagles and MCI buses on the market now for under 15k with newer generators not the old Perkins diesel power generator or gasoline Onan

I think that most who have a vintage vehicle of any kind realize this. Hobbies rarely make money - you do it because you like doing it. There are also some old ones bringing much more, but you won't see the sale price listed online ever. I know of at least a few that brought much more than that.

[fortyniner]

It was the all-alloy riveted shell and vintage aircraft like wiring of the GMs that blew my mind. The traverse engine layout was really over the top.  I do find a four speed in a 20000 vehicle nearly insane however.

Is there a place the newer buses faults and features are compared for us less bus literate types?

[luvrbus]

I think that most who have a vintage vehicle of any kind realize this. Hobbies rarely make money - you do it because you like doing it. There are also some old ones bringing much more, but you won't see the sale price listed online ever. I know of at least a few that brought much more than that.

All you see online is the asking price never the selling price.I have always been a Eagle lover lol and spent a ton of money converting and rebuilding one, sometimes I miss my Eagle and think about buying another Eagle then common sense clicks on a light,I still love those beautiful Eagles more than any bus