4103 Info

[cyclepsycho]

I'm looking for an older bus.  4104 or older.  I just saw this one:
http://www.thebusman.com/buses-details.aspx?BusNo=116

Does anybody have any info on a 4103?  Any experience?
What's a fair price for this rig, based on what you see?

Thanks,

Dave

[buddydawg]

Dallas has a 4103 he is wanting to sell.  I'm sure he can fill you in with all of the info you need.

[Charles Seaton]

Dave,

The PD4103 is a classic coach.  Over the years I have seen converted units going for $6,500.00 or so.  They are versy simple.  It has the 6-71 and no radius rods or air bags like the newer GMs.  Buddydawg, how is your fishbowl coming along?  I am getting tired of driving mine around with 49 seats.

-- Seaton

[tekebird]

check www.gmbusguy.com for several 4104's

[scottwms]

I bought PD41031190 about 3 years ago on ebay from a guy who said he put about $40k into converting it back in the mid 80's. I paid $10k and put another $10k into it (tires, AC, Gen, other). It was mechanically sound with inframe rebuild when it was converted. It is not fast (max about 60mph) but gets in the 10mpg range. Shifting gears is an art but I have it down to clutchless pretty much all the time. I like the huge ground clearance and firm ride of the fresh leaf springs. I know I could never get the $20 plus that I have in it but think $15 wouldn't be out of reach. Mine has fine oak interior and fresh mexican paint. It does look nicer than the white one. Also note that the white one has rigged up windshield- windshields for 4103's are basically priceless since they can't be foung- mine has a star that has been repaired and is close to invisible. I think I have some pics on the BNO site. Ted at Coach Maintenance in Williams CA has some 4103's, parts, and has worked on mine. The white one would have to have good running gear to be worth the asking price. Mine sure gets positive comments everywhere I go. Hope this helps.

[scottwms]

The pics are at the Yahoo GMC Busnuts group under Scott's bus.

[chargePlus]

My wife and I bought PD4103-125 about two years ago for $5k already converted. It's a tired conversion that has seen a lot of use/abuse by previous owners. The bus also needs it's fair share of work. It was probably overpriced, but we liked the bus a lot and saw the potential. We even had an offer of twice what we paid for it within 30 minutes of getting it home.

We bought it for the looks and because we could go look at it. We get people asking about it all the time when we take it out, especially to the race track. I have had owners/drivers of much newer rigs come by and tell me that they like my bus more than their rig because the bus has character.

Parts can be challenging to find if you care about original. As Scott mentioned, windshields are almost impossible to find, and when you do find them they are expensive or have issues. Ted at Coach maintenance may have parts, but I found he was hard to deal with. I understand he keeps "different" hours and is better to work with in person. I've managed to find bits and pieces on the ePlace and elsewhere, and accumulate them when I can.

The drivetrain is dead nuts simple from the Detroit 6-71 (inline 6 cylinder 71 cubic inches per cylinder) to the 4-speed manual Spicer tranny. It does take a little practice to be able to shift smoothly without a clutch, and I have yet to master the downshifts. More driving would help.

Pictures of my bus can be found at: http://www.euliss-uftring.org/DaBus

- John