1967 MCI5 ENGINE CRADLE

mccarlk · June 15, 2008, 09:37:28 AM

no have not tried anyone yet still negotiating the deal on the bus, do you know were in canada this pier place is also whio is the high tech red neck?,thanks again you guys are great!!!!!!!!

tekebird · June 15, 2008, 11:21:18 AM

considering your distance from the coach and it's current imobile state.......I still say pass...or get your self a 10% of asking price deal.

Certainly don;t pay a cent until you go look at it.

Pictures lie......even well intentioned ones specifically shot to show flaws can lie.

On the other side, I have goten pics of coaches which looked OK, but when seing the coach in person the pics did not do it justice.

buswarrior · June 15, 2008, 12:43:31 PM

Hello mccarlk

Try Can-Ar / SN Diesel in Vaughan.

Lots of busnuts here in Ontario.

Do you have anyone to go with you to look at this coach?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

mccarlk · June 15, 2008, 02:57:48 PM

im planning on hiring an independent aprraiser to look at it, also the most i was goin to offer was going to be 7000.00, the seller has sent me 30 pics they show the good and bad, the only thing that keeps me intrested is that the interior is done, has all the wiring ,plumbing, heaters, ac , alcoas, sat dish, and so on, i cant buy the interior for that price, im terrible with wood,and alsoself employed so time is a very big issue( two boys under 10 also) mechanical no problem , i can get a engine and have it running no problem, thanks again

tekebird · June 15, 2008, 03:12:41 PM

send me pics and I';ll give you some feedback on the interior.

with no engine it is not worth 7k either, he will never sell it like that for that kind of money.

A done interior can still be a nightmare.

I would think to get it running you will have 20k+ in it......and there are alot nicer out there for 20-25k that are near you

tekebird · June 15, 2008, 03:16:03 PM

also keep in mine your independant appraiser/inspector can';t tell much about a non running bus other than corrosion issues and quality of converson, mold mildew etc.

mccarlk · June 15, 2008, 03:21:24 PM

has he had it on the classifieds for a while,? i will try to send you te pics now, ken

mccarlk · June 15, 2008, 03:25:32 PM

the guy keeps insisting that it had the 871 with the 740 , is there anyway that could be true, in the pics there is a shifter, just the gas and brake pedal, and it comes wit the suppose to be the 740 that came out of it?

tekebird · June 15, 2008, 03:31:47 PM

the 5 A only came with a manual.

now it could have been converted to auto, but a 740 and a 8-71 won;lt fit.

whats the story on it, Mechanics Lein and they want it off the land or did the REALLY own it

mccarlk · June 15, 2008, 03:38:06 PM

said he bought it from a auction, thats why the cradle is gone, conversion is suppose to be around 7 yrs old, the guy is a truck dealer,willi be able to fit a 692 withe the auto, is the 8 to long?

tekebird · June 15, 2008, 03:50:25 PM

didn't come through ken.

might try to save the photos to your computer and sent to me as an attachment

tekebird · June 15, 2008, 03:57:15 PM

8-71 is too long with a 740, there are a couple lighter duty autos that will fit with the 8...Allegedly

So, it's bus a guy bought at auction so he knows nothing about it.....it was likely at auction because it was someones headache, then he bought it...his headache, now it is going to be your headache.

Tom Y · June 17, 2008, 04:38:18 PM

Mccarlk,Sorry it took me a while to find. Pier 888-707-2772. Not sure of the name or where its at. Pier was the name of the man who spoke english. I don't think he will have what you need but may point you in a good direction. Tom Y

Kevin Warnock · June 17, 2008, 04:59:14 PM

I have a 1967 MCI 5a with the 8V71 and an auto transmission and the cradle. It runs great. Took it across the entire country with no mechanical problems. But it gets poor mileage, around 6.5mpg. Thus, I strongly urge you not to buy that bus. Get an RTS with a 4 cylinder Series 50 that will get 10+ mpg. Perhaps you could also buy the MCI for $2,000 or less and pull the interior parts and move them over, or pay someone to move them over. Use the big money you are planning to pay for the engine, transmission etc... to get an RTS into nice shape inside. It's just such a much better bus, from the 1990s, and everyone will be able to work on it since it's a clean 4 stroke. You can buy nice California RTSs with Series 50 engines with a retarder for about $7,000 on EBay periodically. Don't forget the cost of the Jakes for the MCI. You don't need a Jake brake on the RTS since it has a very effective retarder built in.

You're in love with this 40 year old bus for some reason. I suggest snapping out of it. You'll love the RTS. It will go 50 miles an hour up hills the MCI will go 25 miles an hour over.

Kevin

tekebird · June 17, 2008, 05:41:20 PM

Whooooaaa

I Disagree with the RTS.

Although I have seen some fine conversion of RTS's they have some inherent conversion issues.

namely having to fabricate one piece doors, baggage doors and baggage compartments.

Secondly a RTS probably has seen the most severe service any Bus can expect to see. Constant stop and go on rough city streets.

Third, you can't realistically take an MC-5 interior and put it in an RTS, you may as well start from scratch.

Fourth, I am suspect of the 50 getting 10mpg....perhaps depending on the Curb weight when done.

MCI 96A3's which were converted to the 50 with 5 speed manuals transmissions were lucky to get 8 on a good day with tailwinds both ways. and these buses were already geared for highway use.

But I do agree, this MC-5A is not the one to buy