| Author | Message | ||
| christopher l cole sr. (Muziklvr)
Registered Member Username: Muziklvr Post Number: 9 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 68.119.228.79 Rating: N/A |
i'm still on the hunt for a "new"used bus,found a 87 mci-9 that was a nj transent bus( with a restroom).anyone know how good they were about upkeep? bus has 6v92t with at.one more thing,it has the split door,how much to replace it with a 1 piece door,and how hard would it be? | ||
| Greg Peterson (Gpmci102)
Registered Member Username: Gpmci102 Post Number: 7 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 71.228.18.37 Rating: N/A |
I checked out several NJ transits before I bought my bus. The condition varied where some had newly rebuilt engines and some had worn out engines so buyer bewares. The door is not a big deal there are several used bus parts dealers that had one-piece doors but if I remember even used they were like $800 to $1000. You don’t even want to think about buying a new door from MCI, mucho $$$. Some of these buses have an air starter that would need to be replaced. Like all air systems the air was out on the buses I looked at so the seller had to drag over a big air compressor to even try and start the bus. It really took some time for them to pump up that large air tank so that the engine could start. One other thing all the NJT I looked at had were real small injectors in the 6v-92ta. They were dogs on acceleration so plan on a injector upgrade and a computer reprogram to boost power up to what is respectable for a 6v-92ta. Many of the NJT have no restroom and that can save some time when prepping the bus for conversion. One other thing to watch for are some of the NJT are not strait from NJ they were sold to a bus company that used them and then resold them to bus dealers. The dealer may say it is a NJT bus but it may have had a few years of abuse by a non-government sponsored maintenance department. | ||
| christopher l cole sr. (Muziklvr)
Registered Member Username: Muziklvr Post Number: 10 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 68.119.228.79 Rating: N/A |
thanks for the imput,i think i'm leaning to a 57 4104 anyways.gotta love simplicity!!! thanks-chris | ||
| JR Lynch (Njt5047)
Registered Member Username: Njt5047 Post Number: 16 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 69.132.238.127 Rating: |
An 87 NJT would have a DDEC 1 unit (as opposed to an MUI) which is easily upgraded to 300 plus HP with an EEPROM exchange. I'm not aware of "restroom" equipped NJTs, but it may have been in another service. NJT supplied coaches for several operators. The door replacement on an 87 is a PITA...as there is likely not an upper hinge mount welded in place. If the upper hinge is in place, the door is doable...if not, it's a lot of work. Generally NJT MC9s were reasonably well maintained and most don't have as many miles on them as say an ex-'hound. MC9s are easy to work on (so would the GM) and plenty of parts, new and used, are around. As for the GM being "simpler"....no bus is "simple." The GMs are a lot older, had funky shift linkage, wiring issues, have less interior room, and the '57 you're looking at will probably have a 6/71N...not exactly a speedy thing either. As stated, any MUI transit coach is going to be slow without expensive mods...although slow is realtive. Some folk are fine with the limits, and others are not. The newer bus you buy the better. As with all, check the condition carefully before buying any bus. A bad bus is sooooo bad! Be careful with manual GM coaches unless you have truck driving experience. Autos trans are much easier to operate...and sell. IMHO the most bang for the buck in the used coach market is an MCI 102A3. They can be bought for $15K and up, and look modern. An MCI 102 C3 would be nicer yet, but a good bit more expensive. MC9 is still a great coach with adequate headroom without raising the roof. My dos centavos, JR | ||
| Charles Seaton Unregistered guest Posted From: 170.28.136.41 Rating: N/A |
Add to Greg's notes that while some NJT buses may now be third hand, there are also a number that were owned by NJT and operated by private companies. | ||
| christopher l cole sr. (Muziklvr)
Registered Member Username: Muziklvr Post Number: 12 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 68.119.228.79 Rating: N/A |
jr, thanks for the imput.just when i think i've got my mind made up,a point like yours leans me back.how much would it cost to upgrade the hp on the 6v92ta? | ||
| JR Lynch (Njt5047)
Registered Member Username: Njt5047 Post Number: 24 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 69.132.238.127 Rating: N/A |
The HP upgrade for a DDEC 1 (87 year model ex-NJT) would only be about $120 bucks. Easy DIY project. The ECM is mounted in the LH rear bay, just unplug, remove small cover on back (this will void your ECM warranty ;) ) and remove the old EEPROM. Remove the EEPROM from the carrier gizmo and install the new EEPROM. The only way to screw this up would be to damage the wiring unplugging the ECM, or damage the EEPROM by forcing it into place without carefull alignment of all the pins. That's it. Nothing else has to be done. Unless you want to clean up the muffler. Ex NJTs have a cat converter inside the muffler. It will likely be about 1/3 plugged with carbon. The converter will...sort-of...fall out if you remove the muff and disassemble. You can help it fall out. Will not add significantly to noise levels. Turbo chops up the noise pretty good. Now an older version, MUI 6V92TA, would be expensive to upgrade. You mentioned an 87 early on. The 87, if an ex NJT would be a DDEC 1 and the easiest to modify. As with all bus buying info, be sure to check out the specific coach for "issues"...some are good, some are not. Cheers, JR |
