| Author | Message | ||
| Jim Gibson (River_rat)
Registered Member Username: River_rat Post Number: 1 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 75.95.96.192 Rating: N/A |
Hey all you bus nuts - I've been BIT too! I've been reading all the archives for about 6 months and learned so much - one of the best boards around - you should all be proud. Anyway, I'm a techie kind of guy, retired CEO of a company building thin film microcircuits, and also and avid boater (hence the name River Rat). I boat in the Sacramento Delta and my boat is about the same size as my PD 4104 - so no I have 2 projects to keep me busy! I live in Gardnerville, NV, outside Reno, and have a couple acres so I have lots of room for my new toy ( I'm thinking of doing a pit already!) My bus is a '59, No. 3509 and was told it was a Trailways in it's first incarnation. In the early 70's it was professionally converted - well done workmanship, but really dated. It still has blue shag carpet! It's got a 7kw Onan, about 100 gals of fresh and 35 grey and black, 2 15 gal propane tanks, and most is in decent shape. Paint is poor, but appears to have only been painted once! I cannot beleive how well this thing is constructed, they are truly a work of art. It needs lots of attention as it has been sitting for the past 8 years. The guy I got it from drove it from Nv to Oregon several times, then it just sat. The owner before him I was told was a deisel mechanic and did a rubuild, but no receips so really unknown. I beleive he got the bus from the people that did the conversion and they used it to do the dog show circuit. It runs great and the engine is surprisingly clean. Very few leaks, very little smoke, starts right up ( I LOVE the sound of the old 6-71!) and drives great. Power steering is good, about an inco of play in the wheel, although I really want to do all the service stuff before I really drive it much. I tried like crazy to obey you-guy's #1 rule of having aan inspection, but just couldn't find a bus mechanic near enough to get it done - but I rationalize it by the fact that I only paid $2500 for the unit! What a deal - at least so far! I followed your on-line tutorial on shifting, and did great - I even did a down shift! Thas enough - I look forward to joing your elite group! I know I'm a Bus NUt now, because when I see a classic heading down the highway, at a minimum I will explain to my passengers what it is, how it's made, etc, and if I can, turn around and chase it to get a better look!! Great group, Great hobby! Jim | ||
| Patrick levenson (Zubzub)
Registered Member Username: Zubzub Post Number: 75 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 76.68.231.204  Rating: N/A |
Alright another '04 rides again! Welcome. | ||
| Ian Giffin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 1204 Registered: 7-1997 Posted From: 24.239.13.27  Rating: N/A |
Welcome aboard Jim. Glad you made it through the sometimes not-so-streamlined sign-up process! Enjoy :~) Ian www.busnut.com | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 862 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 208.54.200.99 Rating: N/A |
Jim, The steering adjustment is not too difficult, just a pain to crawl under the bus. Be sure to read all posts about blocking the air suspension before you ever think about getting under the bus, EVER!! You probably need a lot more waste tank capacity, most usually match with the fresh capacity. Please give a lot of thought to the older conversion styling. Older goes with the bus, why change to modern and look like all the rest? My 4104 interior is what I call '40s-'50s Chris Craft and I love it. I do agree that the shag is not too practical for a bus, especially with all that sand and dust in NV! The modern styles will get old and outdated fast in my opinion and most of them look like casinos. | ||
| Paso One (Paso_1)
Registered Member Username: Paso_1 Post Number: 132 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 142.165.246.239  Rating: N/A |
Welcome Jim Hope you enjoy your new Bus | ||
| John and Barb Tesser (Bigrigger)
Registered Member Username: Bigrigger Post Number: 155 Registered: 9-2007 Posted From: 24.179.147.233  Rating: N/A |
Jim, When you get settled in, put up a picture of that bus, we love to look at em and welcome aboard! | ||
| Bill Gerrie (Bill_gerrie)
Registered Member Username: Bill_gerrie Post Number: 245 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 216.198.139.38 Rating: N/A |
Jim Always glad to see there are others out there that are as "nuts" as we all are. A lot of 04 owners and others on the BNO board that will always help you when you need info or answers to any question. Bill | ||
| David B. Sweet (Sweets4104)
Registered Member Username: Sweets4104 Post Number: 22 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 75.51.77.87  Rating: N/A |
Glad to have another '04 nut around! Welcome, David PD4104-2977 On the road in So. California | ||
| Frank Radosti (Frank4104)
Registered Member Username: Frank4104 Post Number: 23 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 64.80.137.250  Rating: N/A |
Welcome Jim,enjoy the 04 as I do, happy cruseing. | ||
| Jim Gibson (River_rat)
Registered Member Username: River_rat Post Number: 6 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 75.95.96.192 Rating: N/A |
Thanks Everyone! This is an exciting new adventure, and you folks have made the difference in jumping in! Without this support group, taking on a 50 year oul, 25000 lb project would be pretty scary, but if you can do it, so can I! Right now I'm catching up on some way past due PM and don't want to drive it until I am sure all is safe. As I probe deeper, I am really happy with what I see. The engine seems to have had work done - it is pretty clean, virtully no oil leaks, and I am reasonably sure the blower was replaced or upgraded (newer paint & bolts) and the same with the radiator (very clean, new Silicon rubber hoses & bolts). By my research on this site, the consesus seems to sti8ll be Delo 100, 40wt - is that still the best option? Thanks all. I'm on my way to the DD dealer in Reno to get some nice, matching GM-green eng paint today! Jim | ||
| L James Jones Jr (Jamo)
Registered Member Username: Jamo Post Number: 57 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 24.59.114.248  Rating: N/A |
Greetings from 4104-204. Good to see another of our breed on here. Our snow is about gone here in upstate NY, & time to fire up the ol' girl & get her outta the barn. We love our roadtrips... Best of luck...drive safe... | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1527 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 98.192.173.82  Rating: N/A |
Jim - Welcome aboard! FYI, according to my GMC delivery roster, PD4104-3509 was delivered new in March of 1958 (not 1959) as fleet number M-805 to Missouri, Kansas & Oklahoma Coach Lines, based in Tulsa, OK. It's possible that JL Vickers' (RoadRunnerTex) good friend Fred Rayman may have driven your coach in revenue service. Perhaps JLV will jump in with additional info for you. . . MK&O had a somewhat "interesting" relationship with the National Labor Relations Board back in the late 1930s. . . Oh, and a thought, Jim. How about adding at least your home state/city to your profile? That way, if you've got a problem, we might be able to "steer" you to a local busnut who can help you out. On a similar vein, where did you find your '04? FWIW & HTH. . .  | ||
| Jim Gibson (River_rat)
Registered Member Username: River_rat Post Number: 12 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 75.95.96.192 Rating: N/A |
RJL - How cool - thank you!! When they told me it was Trailways, kinda figured it was just rumor, and you would come up with the real scoop! Wouldn't it be fun if Fred drove my bus - I hope he sees the post. I updated my profile - didnt realize it was bare. I also put the offer of assistance to anyone in need - I have space here for several busses, and I just found a neighbor that has a pit! What a find. I found the bus through a friend that knew I was looking. It was in Fallon. NV where it's been for 5 years or so, then befor that it was in Winnemaccua, NV with the same owner. the PO before him was in that town, but I have not been able to reach him yet. Might be a gooed ROAD TRIP! Thanks aganin for the info, and I look forward to somday meeting you and the others. Funny thing, but last week I got together with 22 fellow boaters I had been talking to for over 2 years on a board like this, but had never met any of them. A great weekend party! Jim |