| Author | Message | ||
| William Garamella (Nh_wanderer)
Registered Member Username: Nh_wanderer Post Number: 17 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 24.62.162.30  Rating: N/A |
Just noticed this on E-Bay... To me it IS very unusual and looks like it was well done. I have no connection with this bus, just thougt you all might want to have a look-see. "UNIQUE CROWN BUS CONVERSION - CUMMINS 220 TURBO DIESEL (265 hp), 10 SPEED MANUAL TRANS (SPLIT FIVE), 80k MILES, NEW PAINT, MIICHELIN TIRES ON ALCOA RIMS,NEW STEERING .... and on and on" http://tinyurl.com/na4cez NH- Bill | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 850 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.209.224.192 Rating: N/A |
A person, wanting a first class MH/Conversion, would be nuts not to look into this....where could one purchase such quality and all the amenities for 45,K?.....there is absolutely no comparison for $250K+. Great looking coach and I can attest to Crowns...how 'bout you, RJ? I sincerely hope the guy gets his $$$ and then some.  Thanx for posting Bill!! RCB | ||
| Jim Gibson (River_rat)
Registered Member Username: River_rat Post Number: 137 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 75.95.96.192 Rating: N/A |
WOW - it is beautifull! I love Crowns, and they are great busses, even if they are a skoolie. I hope he gets his price too - it looks like a first class job. Jim | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 531 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 64.40.215.123  Rating: N/A |
A very unique looking conversion, well done! | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1582 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 98.192.173.82  Rating: N/A |
All - Altho NH Bill spotted this on eBay, it's also listed right here in BNO's Classifieds, where I saw it a couple of days before Bill's post. Very interesting roof raise, that's for sure. If the builder followed Crown's structure as he did the work, definitely "built like a tank". Be really interesting if it was one of the rare 10-wheel pusher Crowns, which, sadly, it isn't.  Owner obviously believes it's worth more than today's market will bear, time will tell. . . Nice coach, tho! | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 853 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.210.186.244 Rating: N/A |
True RJ...but there are buyers who will pay Mega bucks for something not nearly as well constructed and...yes furnished, as that coach... Having said that, I would guess most of our coaches are in that category;. I have had "stick and staples"..several of them...., as have many of us....simply put, there is just no comparison. Ego may have an effect here!... Both ways..... RCB | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 961 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 208.54.200.105  Rating: N/A |
Jim, That is no skoolie, far from it!! | ||
| Peter E (Sdibaja)
Registered Member Username: Sdibaja Post Number: 303 Registered: 5-2002 Posted From: 201.143.188.217  Rating: N/A |
Gus: what makes it Not a skollie? | ||
| Jerry W Campbell (Jerry_w_campbell)
Registered Member Username: Jerry_w_campbell Post Number: 19 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 208.51.49.129  Rating: N/A |
School busses have a chassis, brakes and running gear, of a medium duty truck like a U Haul truck. Crown Coaches have a chassis and running gear, engine, air brakes, tranny, and axels of a semi truck. Quite a difference. A bus body mounted on a semi truck frame. Most Crown buses were used for school busses but they are not school buses. Quite a bit more sturdy than most greyhound buses that have no frame at all. And they are way fun to drive. Jerry | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 854 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.208.130.68 Rating: N/A |
>....way to go,Jerry...ask my wife!!!!!! Wait till you see OUR "Schoolie"....'bout a month. (been 8 long years, but, LORD willin'...it's comin' to pass. Hang on....we're in for a ride!! FWIW RCB | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 962 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 208.54.200.56 Rating: N/A |
Peter and Jim, I stand corrected, my brain was thinking Flxible all the time?? The photo didn't look like any Crown I ever saw, it looked like some of the older Flxibles. | ||
| Clint Hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 212 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.232.219  Rating: N/A |
so would the crown be a "heavy duty schoolie" with mid engine mount ? as school buses are just a medium duty truck chassi with a bus body . I have yet to get up close to one, & do prefer the cargo bays of highway coaches. | ||
| ned sanders (Uncle_ned)
Registered Member Username: Uncle_ned Post Number: 63 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 74.235.51.155 Rating: |
I believe it is a post office version of a crown. Looked at one before i bought my first 4104. uncle ned | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 855 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.210.150.197 Rating: N/A |
Ned...as I think about it, you are most probably on target....I knew I had seen something similar but could not recall the exact circumstances.... For more info try the Sharkey (sp?)web site. Lots there. RCB | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 964 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 208.54.200.68 Rating: N/A |
Now that you mention it I remember seeing that Crown special postal model advertised in the classifieds for a very long time, it looked pretty big to me. I like the Crown skoolies and think they are probably well made but I don't like the long rear overhang. That overhang "swipes" a path behind you when you turn and really confuses a toad. I think they use the small Cummins 5.9 diesel which is a very good engine. Having a frame is an advantage to me. If the body develops some kind of weakness the whole bus won't collapse like a monocoque will. | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 965 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 208.54.200.68 Rating: N/A |
I just tried the link to look at the bus again and my new firewall said it is a dangerous site which uses malware such as spyware so I won't be going there again. That link doesn't say anything about ebay, very strange?? | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 856 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.211.220.71 Rating: N/A |
Gus....elaborate a bit on the "swipes"... Thanx, RCB | ||
| Jerry W Campbell (Jerry_w_campbell)
Registered Member Username: Jerry_w_campbell Post Number: 20 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 208.51.49.129 Rating: N/A |
That bus is a regular 10 wheel 40 ft Crown Super Coach with a raised roof. The Post Office Crown has a square body right after the driver. I don't think a Cummins 5.9 was ever used in a semi. Jerry | ||
| Matt Chrisitan (Mattc)
Registered Member Username: Mattc Post Number: 4 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 166.128.29.154 Rating: N/A |
Gus, you running Vista? | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1583 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 98.192.173.82 Rating: N/A |
Here's a pic of a Crown 10-wheel Highway Post Office, converted to an RV. The eBay/BNO Crown is, as Jerry says, a regular skoolie with a raised roof. The 5.9 Cummins engine was not available when Crowns were in production. Mid-ship models used 6-71 Detroits or 220/250 Cummins laid on their side. Pushers used either 8V71s in the earlier "twinkie" body, or 6V92s in the later squared-off body style. FWIW & HTH. . .  | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 859 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.211.220.71 Rating: N/A |
Thanx, RJ...I was WRONG,.... AGAIN..(second..maybe third time)...memory is a PECULIAR thing, eh what!?? RCB | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 558 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.155.14  Rating: N/A |
There are two way to tell if you are losing your memory. 1st. one is that you can't remember some things and the other is mmm humm I can't think of it right now I will let you know what it is later. gomer | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 860 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.211.220.71 Rating: |
...thanx for that Gomer... I feel better...I think???>>> RCB | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 966 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 208.54.200.71 Rating: N/A |
RC, With a long rear overhang the tail end makes a big arc in the opposite direction you are turning with the pivot point of the "swipe" at the rear wheels. If you have a toad the toad goes in the opposite direction of the bus turn! S&S are far worse at this than most buses. This short overhang is one of the things I like most about buses. Jerry, I was talking about the skoolie Crowns when I said I think they used the 5.9. As good as the 5.9 is I don't think it would move a semi very well!! I didn't say they did, I said I think they did because it is a very popular school bus engine along with the small International diesel of which I can't think of the model now. Obviously a 5.9 wouldn't power that PO conversion very well and I doubt that size was ever used as a school bus!! Matt, No, I have XP and Firefox with Zone Alarm as my firewall. | ||
| Kevin Black (Kblackav8or)
Registered Member Username: Kblackav8or Post Number: 127 Registered: 8-2005 Posted From: 24.22.254.95 Rating: N/A |
A 220 with a turbo is typically referred to as a 262, it was a common upgrade and was a factory built engine for a long time. A few years back, 05' I think there was one that was based on a HiPo that I almost bought that had a Big Cam Cummins and a 13 speed. This one is much nicer and I do have to say I would be seriously tempted to let go of my Kenworth and Alpenlite 5th wheel for that. As for a repower, an 8.3 mechanical Cummins would probably work alright in there or go for the gusto and install a Big Cam 3. Nothing wrong with the old motor either for the most part. There are some potential issues and they are getting more expensive to work on with parts getting harder to find. | ||
| Jerry W Campbell (Jerry_w_campbell)
Registered Member Username: Jerry_w_campbell Post Number: 21 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 208.51.49.129 Rating: N/A |
"Jerry, I was talking about the skoolie Crowns when I said I think they used the 5.9. As good as the 5.9 is I don't think it would move a semi very well!! I didn't say they did, I said I think they did because it is a very popular school bus engine along with the small International diesel of which I can't think of the model now. Obviously a 5.9 wouldn't power that PO conversion very well and I doubt that size was ever used as a school bus!! Matt," Hi Matt, Crown put different bodies on their chassis, Tour, transit, School, Post Office and most of the fire trucks. Their all pretty much the same. There is no skoolie Crown. Their all based on a Semi Truck frame using heavy duty running gear. The later ones all had the same engines, Detroit or Cummins. School bus engines and running gear won't fit on a Crown. It's a different class vehicle. The only things a School bus and a Crown bus have in common is they are both yellow and they haul children. One of the reasons I like my bus is because it does not have a long overhang. There's only one thing I don't like about Crown buses, It has a trunk the size of a bedroom but no storage underneath, You have to get creative and even then you will never end up with half the space you would have on an over the road type bus.. I chose a Crown because of it's higher clearance underneath and it's lower overall height. I drive off road and thru the jungle in Mexico. Crowns are like Military rigs, very simple and very strong. Different than almost every other bus out there. Jerry | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 862 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.211.22.245 Rating: N/A |
...yep... All of the above. RCB | ||
| Clint Hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 216 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.232.232 Rating: N/A |
...ok now I am more confused than curious... these admirable older super crowns with tandem drive axles: are they mid engine or rear engine mount and how structurally worthy are they for a heavy tow ratings .. also any guess on the capacity of the cargo bays. MC 8 is just over 300 cubic feet in total of the three bays. what style of suspension are they & empty & gross weights ? thanks for sharing too those that know . We just don't have crowns up here, yet. But I "understand" one could be imported if older than January 1971, with only the usual level of government nonsense. This bus import inequity is almost enough to cause me to reconsider the plans for Canada to annex/bail out the USA some day when you all are done with the invasion routine & the self devaluation gigs; but don't worry as it would not be under that laim prosperity partnership scheme those pathetic cheat & gainers are trying to hatch. You all will be treated as free equals by your loving neighbors, there is nothing further to be learned from continuing with that slavery illusion; if it is re-done my way. hahahha have a peaceful & very bus-ie sunday friends. | ||
| Jerry W Campbell (Jerry_w_campbell)
Registered Member Username: Jerry_w_campbell Post Number: 22 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 208.51.49.129 Rating: N/A |
Hi Clint, Except for the late '80s when they made 6 and 8 V-71 pushers, I'm not sure of the dates, All were mid engine. There are no cargo bays but there is a spare tire bay which I turned into storage. The frame ends right behind the back axel to make room for the trunk. There is framework for the trunk and the rear bumper but not enough for heavy towing without extra support. I have towed a small pickup, about 2000 lbs, for three years attached to the rear bumper with excellent results but I don't think You would want tow too much more on the bumper. I have a 35 foot single axel and she weighed 19,600 lbs with seats and empty. Weight limit is 32,600 lbs. Without seats and with a whole bunch of my stuff and 1000 lbs of batteries and 100 gallons of diesel and 90 gallons of vegetable oil and 95 gallons of water she now weighs about 26,000 lbs. I figure I have about another 1000 lbs yet to add. Jerry | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 865 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.211.22.245 Rating: N/A |
Jerry..somewhere in the very distant past, I understood that there were, indeed, a few rear engine units...depending on how they were ordered. Could be that this is covered in the "Sharkey " site, but am not sure of that. Mine is a 40'tandem with the frame stopping aft of the axle and beyond the fuel tank, but very well extended to the rear, under the "trunk" with angle, round pipe and junior channel supports all over the place.(Pics available to anyone who needs/wants them. I have fabricated a "tow bar" of 1/2 by 5 inch steel plate...hitch welded in the middle and yet to be welded to the jr. chanel running under the "trunk". While I can see that a towed could be mounted to the bumper system, I would not in my case....the bumper consists of 6 pieces, one over the other in three sections, bolted to the "trunk" frame, which is, IMHO, not substantial for any amount of stress or weight. Having said that, I have read and heard of engines being placed in the "trunk area" for transport. And, if one thinks about it, the "luggage" and whatnot for 50 folks on board weighs a bunch, so undoubtedly there has been a lot of thought by egineers and designers. Our coach is 38,500 GVRW and would guess (registration weight = 26,000 assigned by DMV) it comes in at better than 30K fully loaded with fuel, water, pax, etc. "Good" to talk Crowns for a change...thanx to all. RCB | ||
| Mark R. Obtinario (Cowlitzcoach)
Registered Member Username: Cowlitzcoach Post Number: 203 Registered: 4-2001 Posted From: 99.203.206.119 Rating: |
Crowns were never called school buses. They were always referred to as school coaches, hence the name Crown Supercoach. In school bus nomenclature they were referred to as Type D-heavy buses to distinguish them from the normal duty buses produced by Blue Bird, Thomas, and others. The only other bus with the same nomenclature were built by Gillig, who also made mid-mounted engine school coaches. Back in the '50's the "standard" engine was the Hall-Scott inline gas engine (I say standard but no Crown was ever standard--every Crown was a special order). The Hall-Scott had lots of power and torque and only needed a 4-speed. Downside was the fuel mileage was terrible for even the '50's. IHC RD450/501 pancake engines were also available with the top option being the Cummins 220/262. By the late '50's the gas engines started to lose favor with operators and the "standard" engine became the DD 6-71 with the Cummins 220/262 as optional. For those that wanted to update their older coaches the factory would repower their gas powered coaches with brand new power packages that included the Cummins 220/262. In the early '70's Cummins stopped production of the 220/262 so the optional engine became the Cummins big cam engines. You could order any of the big cam engines available at the time, from the 270 all the way up to the 400. The later buses are easily identified visually by the flat top of the fenders. The big cam engines were wider than the small cam engines which required raising the frame up to give greater ground clearance. If you want to see a coach take off, try driving a Crown 35' equipped with a big cam 400. Talk about a hot rod. Most of the big HP big cam engines were installed in the 40' 10-wheelers. About 90% of the Crown production run was in the form of mid-mount engines. The other 10% included some highway coaches and a few school coaches built with rear engines. As noted earlier the engines were 8V-71's in the older coaches and 6V-92's in the newer coaches. Which doesn't mean one may have been built with an 8V-92. The rear trunk was designed as a crush zone that would protect the passenger compartment from any rear end collision. Using the bumper to tow anything can cause some real damage to the rear of the coach since all that the bumper is hanging on to is sheet metal. | ||
| Kevin Black (Kblackav8or)
Registered Member Username: Kblackav8or Post Number: 128 Registered: 8-2005 Posted From: 24.22.254.95 Rating: N/A |
With a real frame not far away, a truck frame shop could put a stretch in a crown frame easily, losing some of the "trunk" but giving a solid towing foundation. I really like Crown construction. They aren't all that bad to work on with the access panels on the sides though they don't have the underbody storage of a highway coach. There are some Crown highway couches but they are pretty rare. I looked at one and passed as being too far away at the time and too big a project without an adequate shop to work on it. | ||
| Clint Hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 226 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.232.232 Rating: N/A |
thank you for super crown tech 101 briefing gentelmen , I can hardly wait to crawl under one now. Ok I can hardly wait to crawl under any make/model I haven't been unde; it is a sickness I admitt , but a good one, kind of like love. |
