| Author | Message | ||
| Chris Smith (Catfish)
Registered Member Username: Catfish Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 4.152.252.7 Rating: N/A |
I am looking at a 1977 4905 w/h A 4spd manual and everything seems to be in fair shape (it's going to need a few relays replaced but it has a bay full of NOS parts) But while following it down the road the other day I noticed it was tracking crooked anyway heres the question part I found a post in the archives saying somthing about replacing bushings may correct this problem.So how big a job would this be? What tools would be required?Any replys would be greatly appreaciated | ||
| Bill Gerrie (Bill_gerrie)
Registered Member Username: Bill_gerrie Post Number: 47 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 209.50.74.6 Rating: N/A |
Chris It is hard work. You have to crawl under the bus AFTER you put solid supports under the jack pads on the bus frame. Not enough room under the bus for you if the bags let go. Remove the radius rods which usually requires you to burn the rubber bushings off. Careful you don't set fire to it. Press new rubber bushings or they have a new hard material for them into the rods and reinstall. A lot of work but something we all have to do at sometime. Bill | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1048 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.163.170 Rating: N/A |
Chris - What is the VIN on this 4905? | ||
| Chris Smith (Catfish)
Registered Member Username: Catfish Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 4.152.252.7 Rating: N/A |
oop's my bad He has two buses the 4905A is a 1976 #1472 the other is a 1979 H8H-649 #078 according to the wife)I am shooting for the 4905 because of the manual tranny | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 9 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 4.245.230.26 Rating: N/A |
"I am shooting for the 4905 because of the manual tranny." GOOD THINKING! FAST FRED | ||
| Glenn Williams (Glenn)
Registered Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 4 Registered: 6-2006 Posted From: 207.179.92.194 Rating: N/A |
I did replace the rear passenger side top frame end bushing on my 70' 4905A #44 (almost takes as long to type as repair!) The job took a couple of days. You'll need some stout wrenches/ 3/4 drive sockets and impact gun where you can get it in. I can't belive the diffenence it made. My bushing was entirely gone and it misalinged the rear bag on the passenger side and probably led to it's failure. Can't say enough about blocking up the bus securely! A piece of advice on that: a buddy of mine was a diesel mechanic for the Army. To make cribbing (blocking) they would use short sections of 2x4's staced into a log cabing style box. If it works for the Army, should work for us. | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 323 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.126.56 Rating: N/A |
Since you don't have, at least the state you are from on your profile, I can advise to see Luke in New Jersey if you don't want to do this yourself and live nearby. He does lots of this work and makes it look easy compared to us doing it. If you have the tools to do this yourself, after getting it up in the air on suitable blocking, only do one rod at a time, as the suspension will shift some when you do one. Make sure you have some extra jacks, and one or two com-a-longs. Of course, big wrenches and some stout pry bars and a good air wrench. A porta-power would be nice, also if you had one. Also, get a shop manual for the coach, regardless. | ||
| Mike Eades (Mike4905)
Registered Member Username: Mike4905 Post Number: 123 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 24.28.40.72 Rating: N/A |
Unless you have a real shop let the pro's do it for you. I had my front end done at jo-sam in Orlando, FL and had Luke at U.S. Coach in N.J. do the back end. He also checked the bulk head and I had to that to keep all inline. Heh Fred I like my 730. Mike | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1049 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.163.170 Rating: N/A |
Chris - The H8H is a 4905 - GMC just changed the nomenclature in 1979. Now, some historical data that might help you: P8M4905A-1472 was delivered new in August of 1976 as fleet number 132 to Statesville Motor Coach Company, based in Statesville, NC. H8H649-078 was delivered new in October of 1979 as fleet number 136 to the same company. You mentioned that the '76 has a stick shift. Does the '79 have an automatic, or is it also a stick? FWIW & HTH. . .  | ||
| Chris Smith (Catfish)
Registered Member Username: Catfish Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 4.153.20.12 Rating: N/A |
Yes the 79 is auto and according to the seller the motor and tranny where both rebuilt fairly recently so I believe I'll have another look at her tommorow | ||
| Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Registered Member Username: Sffess Post Number: 655 Registered: 1-2002 Posted From: 67.142.130.12 Rating: N/A |
An H8H also has a shepherd integral type power steering, much better than the earler 4905 and 4905A assist type power steering. You will love the performance of the H8H with the 730 automatic. I had an H8H shell and a 4905A shell with manual. The manual is fun going forward but way way to fast in reverse for me. I think the H8H is the best GM ever built. I would love to have one but I am stuck with my Prevost. | ||
| Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Registered Member Username: Sffess Post Number: 656 Registered: 1-2002 Posted From: 67.142.130.12 Rating: N/A |
If its the same seller, get the new coach with the supply of NOS parts from the other. You may be his only buyer and get everything you ask for. | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1058 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.163.170 Rating: N/A |
All together now, let's all say "Awwwwww" for Stephen. Poor guy's stuck with a Prevost. . . ROFLMAO. . . Hey Stephen - you going to Jack's Party? | ||
| Chris Smith (Catfish)
Registered Member Username: Catfish Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 4.152.252.121 Rating: N/A |
We took the 79 for a test drive today about a 100 miles or so and went through all of the old girls service documents and decided too bring her on to the house. With the exception of having to replace one windshield a few electrical gremlins ( hi beams and horn)replaceing the rubber hinge on one bay door and a couple of airleaks she seems to be in pretty good shape. I also came out of the deal with 2 brand new Deka batteries a couple of new side windows and a rebuilt tranny |