| Author | Message | ||
| Robert & Debra White (Rob_n_deb)
Registered Member Username: Rob_n_deb Post Number: 1 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 70.3.129.142 Rating: N/A |
We're full timers in a 38 footer holiday rambler MH, work ampers,,,we're looking to build a new bus conversion next spring for our selves,,,we like the MCI-9 and the 102,,,the Question is where can we get a specifications for these buses...we need a 45 foot bus for our plan to work right for our needs,,,,,,,,,,,any and all help is very appreciated.........Rob n deb,,,, | ||
| David Hartley (Drdave)
Registered Member Username: Drdave Post Number: 710 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 67.78.176.54 Rating: N/A |
MC9 is a 40 foot Bus, Only the later models of MCI buses were built in 45 foot. (higher model numbers) from the 90's and up. Keep in mind that if you go 45 feet and you pull a trailer you may be over length for some places and even some campgrounds. A 40 foot bus has a lot of room if you build it right and lots of storage space in the bays that your Holiday Rambler could only dream about. A 45 footer will cost a lot more than a 40 foot. Figure about another 5 to 10 thousand for the extra 5 feet. | ||
| Ed Jewett (Kristinsgrandpa)
Registered Member Username: Kristinsgrandpa Post Number: 275 Registered: 2-2003 Posted From: 64.24.209.7 Rating: N/A |
Here is some info on the MCI's. http://busforsaleguide.com/mci.htm Ed | ||
| Jerry Campbell (Jerrync)
Registered Member Username: Jerrync Post Number: 35 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 76.182.44.149 Rating: N/A |
If you are looking at the 9s and the 102s stay with the 102 A B C D any of them. The A s will start at about 15 to 20,000. the B are a little hard to fine the Cs and Ds have no S/S on the side and that is what I like. and the Ds have more head room then the A s.In October 1996 MCI launched a new top-of-the-line model called the "Renaissance" or 102EL3. It is a completely re-designed 45 foot exclusive model and a breakaway from the still rather squarish and functional looking A-D series. The model designation has since been changed to E4500.This is the first of the 45Ft. I have seen one 102A3 that was cut and made into a 45 with 1 more bay and a 42 the had a 60 in it.So the 9 s will start at 6 to 12,000 , A s will start 15 to 25,000 and Renaissance will start at 60,000 to 102,000 sorry I did forget the 102DL3 that is a 45ft it will be somewhere in the 70,000s (Message edited by Jerry@nc on November 25, 2006) | ||
| Robert & Debra White (Rob_n_deb)
Registered Member Username: Rob_n_deb Post Number: 2 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 68.241.231.14 Rating: N/A |
First let us thank you guys for your great input,,, this information will help us get started off on the right foot,,,and save us thousands of dollar,countless headaches from the beginning,,,we did not realize that x-tra five feet would cost so much more...then a 40 footer,,,,well have to redo our drawings and see if we can fit all we need into a 40 footer...also the bus weight on a 45' is a lot higher then anticipated,,,we're even more surprised that a 45' was almost double in price,,,,,also I am not real sure about the pro & cons of a two-cycle diesel for power in a bus..do people repower to a four stroke?....again thank you for your help in our bus quest..... | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 379 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 4.226.237.107 Rating: N/A |
I rode from Amarillo to Ok. city in a new bus with a series 60 Detriot (four stroke)..BEAUTIFUL ...if you can afford it,the newer buses have them,the two strokes have less power, but hey...we usualy don't race..... | ||
| Jerry Campbell (Jerrync)
Registered Member Username: Jerrync Post Number: 37 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 76.182.44.149 Rating: N/A |
Yes we do re power.I am going from a 6V92 to a 50 series Detroit Little or no more HP but the torque. But I think the larges # of the buses here are two-cycle diesels. | ||
| JR Lynch (Njt5047)
Registered Member Username: Njt5047 Post Number: 102 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 69.132.234.141 Rating: N/A |
102D (40') and 102DL (45') were available with stainless sides....ABC has a couple on their website. One even has a manual trans....If I only had some CA$H! Maybe not...I believe the buses are ex-hounds...likely pretty worn out...like me. I would prefer a smooth side to the stainless...unless we're talking LeMirage. LeMirage I could deal with in stainless...couldn't afford it, but I could very easily deal with it. I'd prefer a 40' over a 45'. As stated, some places (you know where you're going) just don't work with a 45' bus. One thing's for sure...my next bus will be a 102" wide coach. And, it'll be another MCI. I don't know if they are better or worse...but they are generally easy to repair and parts are relatively cheap and plentiful. 102A3, 102C3, will have 2 stroke pretty much...102Ds (and later buses) will have 60 Series...or an equiv 4 stroke of some sort. Sawyers's Bus Sales has a good many 102Ds in stock. I have no idea of what they are asking for them. If anyone finds out, I'd like to know. They also have an H3-40 that is partially converted...have to see that to form an opinion. They are only asking $56K...it appears to be a "needy" coach, but they are nice items when in good condition. Good luck on your bus buying adventure! JR | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 35 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 4.235.205.26 Rating: N/A |
"Keep in mind that if you go 45 feet and you pull a trailer you may be over length for some places and even some campgrounds. A 40 foot bus has a lot of room if you build it right and lots of storage space in the bays" And keep in mind that the V drive 35 ft'ers have almost as much useful room as the T drive 40 footers. And are more fuel efficient , lower, so far better if you visit towns and cities in your travels. The excellence of your design will decide the comfort of living aboard , not mere size. FAST FRED "Sports car of Coaches" 4106 | ||
| Robert & Debra White (Rob_n_deb)
Registered Member Username: Rob_n_deb Post Number: 3 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 68.241.214.201 Rating: N/A |
FAST FRED, oh boy now you done it,,,,,that went right over our head. lol what is a V drive & T drive......did not even know they existed,,,,,,,,,,,please Enlighten us,,,thanks Rob n Deb "Trying to get it right the frist time" | ||
| George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member Username: George_mc6 Post Number: 40 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 207.231.80.150 Rating: N/A |
Hi Rob & Deb, ALL GM buses except the PD4501 Scenicruiser are "V" drive, sometimes called an "angle" drive. The engine sits sideways in the very rear of the bus, the transmission is in the right rear corner, and the driveshaft comes out of the trans on a 45 degree angle. The input to the differential is also on a 45, which makes the angle between the engine and driveshaft a V. To fit a 6V71, 8V71, or 6V92, 8V92 engine, the engine is laid on its side, with the bottom row of cylinders horizontal. The good part of this design is that it gives more room for baggage bay space, due also to the fact that almost all of the 4107, 4108, 4903, 4905 hiway buses are two axle. The bad part is that the engine runs counterclockwise facing the crankshaft pulley, also known as "left handed." This rules out readily available truck parts such as water pumps, power steering pumps, starters, etc. Also, the only automatic transmision available is a 730 Allison, which is a 3 speed. The largest hiway coach this power train was available in was a 4905, which is 40 X 96. "T" drive refers to everything else, aka "diesel pusher." The engine sits in the bus longways, and the differential makes the top bar of a capital T. These engines are all "right handed," or clockwise rotation, and all, whether Detroit, (the VAST majority) Cat, or Cummins use standard truck parts. A 12 liter Series 60 with a 4560, or a B500 Allison, (the same thing, they just changed the number,) IS the cat's meow, but they're not cheap. So, don't look down on an 8V92TA, with a 754 Allison! George | ||
| Robert & Debra White (Rob_n_deb)
Registered Member Username: Rob_n_deb Post Number: 4 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 70.3.215.234 Rating: N/A |
George and all the bus nuts that has responded Thanks for the information. This is definitely a learning curve,,,,we have been lurking the forms for some time. There’s so much information we don’t have or know. However with out the forums we surely would have been way over our head's. At the very least we should be able to make an informed decision when the time arises.... Again thanks, Rob n Deb "Trying to get it right the first time" | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 382 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 4.90.1.42 Rating: N/A |
Rob Sonny gray lives in your town,has two Eagles,bet he would show you t-drive & other things | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 38 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 4.235.202.185 Rating: N/A |
At the very least we should be able to make an informed decision when the time arises.... Simplest is to go shopping with a 50ft tape measure. You decide how much interior you need to live in, and how much bus you're willing to wrestle with. Shorter , lower , lighter can equal 10mpg. High wide and looong is heavy , so look for 6 mpg. For cruising (traveling) the handy coach is a Joy. For sitting months in one spot the biggies are a bit better IF they have used the extra volume for a purpose. Your Choice, FAST FRED | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1116 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.163.170 Rating: N/A |
Minor Correction Time - George did a good write-up on the difference between a V and T drive coach. The minor correction is that the angle drive is 63o, not the 45 that George mentioned. This is both in the bevel gearset and at the differential pinion yoke. JR mentioned the MCI coaches. As a footnote to his comments, be aware that the 102C3 is not only 102" wide, but it's also 3" taller inside, compared to the As & Bs. For some, this extra three inches eliminates the need for a roof raise. The D, E, G and J series MCIs are also the same height as the C. Run, don't walk, away from any of the G series. Special order for Greyhound, drivers carry duct tape to hold them together. MCI should be ashamed of themselves for letting the Dog talk them into building such a piece of junk. And I'm being kind!! FWIW & HTH. . .  | ||
| Mike Eades (Mike4905)
Registered Member Username: Mike4905 Post Number: 130 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 68.207.200.143 Rating: N/A |
Rob & Deb My wife and I bought a 4905 an lived in it for six years. Lots of room. We have a washer,dryer,home frigd. Large TV, pleanty of room and the largest bays in the group. An done of the lightest buses in it class. Lenght is 40' with a transverse engine and drive | ||
| Robert & Debra White (Rob_n_deb)
Registered Member Username: Rob_n_deb Post Number: 5 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 70.3.228.37 Rating: N/A |
Mike I have no clue what a 4905 is,,,, We reworked our floor plan looks like we'll lose a half bath, but was able to keep the rest of what we need in our home. This new lay out is for a 40' with two slides, yes I said two slides thats going to be another chore down the road for us,,,,, We have empty bays now in our rig, we dont drag alot of stuff with us..we have lived in this one now for the past 13 months, like every one else its had its ups and downs, The learning curve journey continues. Thanks for your information as well. Rob n Deb on the mississippi coast "Trying to get it right the first time" | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 395 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 4.226.78.107 Rating: N/A |
well, you just elimanated all of the G.M.'s,can't put slides on them,so don't worry about the 4905,or 4104,or 4106,4107 |