1968 flexable save or not

Lonnie time to go · July 08, 2008, 10:24:13 PM

down the road there is a 1968 flexable bus 6V71 engine with 50.000 miles on the engine.this might be the actual miles. the bus was owned by michigan state collage . So should i save it from the scrap yard or not the guy wants to sell for $3000 it has a 4000 watt gen. and roof air plus other odds and ends. My

?? is to save or not to save.

Barn Owl · July 08, 2008, 10:48:59 PM

Can you post some photos? What type of flx is it?

Dallas · July 09, 2008, 03:08:48 AM

Lonnie,

If it's a Flxible Flxliner, I wouldn't hesitate.

I've been looking for one I could afford for a long time. I love the 35' length and the huge bays on those.
The 6V71 isn't really a detriment, as a 6Vp2 fits in the same spot easily. I think even a 8V71 would be doable since I've seen one with a Cummins 903VT that fit just fine.

Too bad it's so close to you and we are too broke right now, I'd talk you out of it!

Dallas

PS, Does it look like this?

tekebird · July 09, 2008, 07:53:31 AM

body parts hard to get, Dina Parts of the bus they made under lic. may or may not fit.

Windshields are availble through Dina but only 1 in 5 will fit correctly.

Tosilastics are made of Unobtanium

6-71 will push a Flxliner along quite well,

repower options are pretty good as the same chassis was used in the MCI F3500 which was a Rebodied and repowered Flxliner for the most part. The F3500 used a Series 50 or a small cummins IIRC.

other than the goofy look they are a good bus although just about as rust prone as an Eagle. Good thing...these will rust from the outside in....rather than the Eagles inside out.

if it has any body corrosion Get under and check the structure for and aft of the front wheelwells.

Being a MIchigan bus I would expect some corrosion......I would suspect that the mileage indicated is not correct, but since a rebuild or maybe just a gauge replacement.

Problems for conversion? Not as much bay space as other coaches in the 35 foot range.

Sunken center aisle inside.

long overhangs must be watched

we had two so if you want to know anything more particular ask

RJ · July 09, 2008, 08:59:14 PM

Time -

Wave $2K cash in front of the owner and see if he'll take it.

Then sell it to Dallas for $2500 "as is".

But at least try to save it from the crusher!

Get the VIN off of it, as well as take pics, then share with us busnuts!

FWIW & HTH. . .

belfert · July 10, 2008, 06:14:36 AM

My understanding is Dina is out of business now so parts might be hard to get for Dina buses.

I have a Dina Viaggio 1000 sold in the USA by MCI. Marco Polo made the body and Dina supplied the chassis. (As much as a bus has a chassis. I have frame rails in the rear.)

MCI still has a lot of parts for the Viaggio 1000 and can get some body parts from Marco Polo in Brazil if you want to wait a few months.

Busted Knuckle · July 10, 2008, 03:42:34 PM

Quote from: belfert on July 10, 2008, 06:14:36 AM
My understanding is Dina is out of business now so parts might be hard to get for Dina buses.

I have a Dina Viaggio 1000 sold in the USA by MCI. Marco Polo made the body and Dina supplied the chassis. (As much as a bus has a chassis. I have frame rails in the rear.)

MCI still has a lot of parts for the Viaggio 1000 and can get some body parts from Marco Polo in Brazil if you want to wait a few months.

Brian I believe I might have told you this before, but if not here it is again. Dina is still making and selling buses in South America! I know this for a fact as 2 yrs ago, Bobby (the guy I know who has 2 in charter service) sent his grandson to Mexico as a graduation present. His grandson brought him many detailed photos of some NEW Dina's. 1 of which he had pics inside & out because he actually rode on it and to a picture of the VIN plate showing a build date of 4/06! He was told then by the driver that it was only 2 months old and had just been brought up to Mexico from Brazil by the company's owner 3 weeks prior to his riding it! Just goes to show 2 things. Dina's are stillbeing built and used in Brazil & it blows the old sterotype that only old worn out junk runs the roads in Mexico! FWIW

BK

tekebird · July 10, 2008, 04:06:32 PM

http://www.dina.com.mx/trayectoria.html#ochentas

belfert · July 10, 2008, 08:53:05 PM

According to the Dina website, they did cease operations in 2001 (The year or year after they sold MCI). They then started operations again in 2007.

They did build a new website. The old one was mostly broken links and showed a bunch of trucks and I don't think any buses. The old website supported what people had told me about theym being out of business.