| Author | Message | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 654 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 64.40.216.39  Rating: N/A |
OK guys, I'm an Eagle guy so I"m asking for what the opinions are on an MCI 6. I know there were only 100 made, 69-71. How hard is it to find parts? What are the pluses and minuses? You know the drill. | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 1882 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157  Rating: N/A |
Neat looking relatively rare model with distinctive features. Odd tire sizes, going to be hard to find some body parts, so get one in perfect condition. I think someone mentioned odd wheel bolt pattern? and floor not level, also they are narrower at front end and back end to help hide the fact that they were 102" wide, since they weren't legal width at the time. Many ended up in Canada, as this wasn't an issue there. They had Detroit 12V-71 diesels in them when new, at least some. They may have been more of a sports car than the 4106. I'm not sure about things like windshields. I fell in love with them when they were new. After seeing one up close after several years old, I decided that, to me they weren't that great, at least to have for a conversion. They still look neat though. BTW, they have some nice views of this coach on the road in the movie; "KOTCH" with Walter Matthau. Maybe spelled wrong. | ||
| David Evans (Dmd)
Registered Member Username: Dmd Post Number: 450 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 173.77.207.138  Rating: N/A |
I saw one up close and personal,it was a nice bus, 3 levels, and it was huge. They were asking 17,000 back in 98, Storage was spectacular. I thought it must be under powered with a 8v71 but never drove it or saw it on the road just leaving the parking lot in Ormond. Guy just picked one up and lives near Hershey Pa and i am making it a mission to see his in June and hope he it takes it to the Spring Fling. I look for buses everywhere i go and i have never seen one parts bus or one complete anywhere.there must be some interchanging with other MCI's but it is a unique coach for sure. It has to rank up there with the Scenic Cruisers in many ways as a large car, a new trend setter 40' and 102 wide. can you imagine one with the original 12 V power? nice | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1697 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.182.48.162  Rating: |
Paul - You mean one of these beasts?  | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1241 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.244.118.185 Rating: N/A |
Man oh man....(boy oh boy....) am I glad, happy, elated, over-joyed...to see you back on the program... Happy April, RJ...  RCB | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 890 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.153.91  Rating: N/A |
ME TOO Hey Rj How ya be a doing? WOW that is almost right down purttttyyyy Gomer | ||
| David Guglielmetti (Daveg)
Registered Member Username: Daveg Post Number: 162 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 71.139.247.230  Rating: N/A |
Wow, I remember seeing Allstate...are they still around? | ||
| joe padberg (Joemc7ab)
Registered Member Username: Joemc7ab Post Number: 401 Registered: 6-2004 Posted From: 66.38.159.33 Rating: N/A |
One of the regulars here has one. Lets here it George!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Mark Renner (Boomer)
Registered Member Username: Boomer Post Number: 211 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 206.58.200.38  Rating: N/A |
Paul there was a nice looking conversion on Craigs/Houston a couple weeks ago. Good looking car, don't know if it sold or not, I think they were asking 30K. Caught my eye because it looked way above average. | ||
| Dave Walker (Chrome_dome)
Registered Member Username: Chrome_dome Post Number: 17 Registered: 3-2010 Posted From: 67.174.144.159  Rating: N/A |
Paul, I read an article(wish I could remember where it was, will look for it)anyway It mentioned that they were finally taken off the road because of some excessive rust problems especially in the bays which would lead to structural problems because of the window placements and the roof structure. They also mentioned that it was way ahead of its time. The MC6 was used more for hauling large heavy quantities of goods because of the huge Bays and lots of power plus passengers. Dave | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 655 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 64.40.216.39 Rating: N/A |
Mark, That's the one. A friend of mine is interested in it. I'm not sure what he will end up doing, he has a MCI 102A3 that he is in the process of converting. I think he wants to get on the road now! Very interesting information guys, Thanks! Paul | ||
| Bob MacIsaac (Wildbob24)
Registered Member Username: Wildbob24 Post Number: 97 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 98.92.172.106  Rating: N/A |
http://houston.craigslist.org/rvs/1670957891.html Or here's one for $100: http://tinyurl.com/MCISix (Message edited by wildbob24 on April 23, 2010) | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 470 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 184.0.3.170 Rating: N/A |
Gordon in Daytona Beach had a complete one a few years ago at his bus yard but local zoning was trying to move him off his property (New Harley and other dealerships just down the street, no "eyesores" allowed!) I think Gordon could be contacted at: Daytona Concrete Works (386) 441-0552 | ||
| Don Fairchild (Don_fairchild)
Registered Member Username: Don_fairchild Post Number: 40 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 66.17.9.74 Rating: N/A |
RJ, Glad to see you back on the boad. Is that the one that manciebo (spelling?) bought. If it is We built a twin turbo 12V71 for that thing and Wayn Doolittle spent almost a mouth rebuilding the back end and mounts so we could put the engine back in it. Thanks for the memories. Don P.S. I will be in Fresno some time around the week of the 3rd through the 7th of may for a day. Give me a call or send me your # and maybe we can meet for a soda. | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 1164 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 75.121.201.31  Rating: N/A |
Don, I lost track of you. Where are you going to settle if ever?? | ||
| Matthew J Rutkowski (Matt_rutkowski)
Registered Member Username: Matt_rutkowski Post Number: 10 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 166.137.9.38 Rating: N/A |
Paul, Hi I just recently purchased a 6 and on the maiden voyage found out how unique the bolt pattern is on the wheels! However I was able to find a used pair. In the process of searching for the wheels I found body parts glass including new windshields and just about every thing that I think one might need. The parts are around but NOT cheap because everyone thAt has parts knows what they have. I would suggest if your patient buy one if your not don't | ||
| John & Barb Tesser (Bigrigger)
Registered Member Username: Bigrigger Post Number: 398 Registered: 9-2007 Posted From: 96.42.5.35  Rating: N/A |
What a beautiful bus that is. I had never even heard of a 6 before. Classic styling. I can't even imagine a twin turbo'ed v-12 in one. That just makes the hair on my neck stand up! | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 656 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 75.208.199.186 Rating: N/A |
I hadn't heard of the 6 before either. I guess it's because they are not so popular and not many left around. The biggest complaint I have heard so far is they are underpowered for their weight. Classic styling though! | ||
| Matthew J Rutkowski (Matt_rutkowski)
Registered Member Username: Matt_rutkowski Post Number: 11 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 166.137.9.38 Rating: N/A |
Mine is an 8v92ta with pleanty of power and no rust problems George Todd is really an expert on the 6 wait to hear from him. | ||
| John Lacey (Junkman42)
Registered Member Username: Junkman42 Post Number: 121 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 69.19.14.24  Rating: N/A |
I want one with the v12, straight pipes and a pair of turbo's. I love the sound of detroits with pipes, what a rod! John L | ||
| Rob Williams (Subarurob)
Registered Member Username: Subarurob Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 24.71.227.147 Rating: N/A |
RJ Do you still have the R&T road test of the MCI 6 in your library? I've tried to find it online to no avail. I don't know what kind of doodoo you'd get into if you scanned the article and posted it here. I remember some of the other R&T road tests. The comparison test between the QE2 and the Concorde was hilarious too! | ||
| George M. Todd (George_todd)
Registered Member Username: George_todd Post Number: 999 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 99.68.225.138 Rating: |
Thanks for the compliments, fellow nuts, and thanks again RJ for the picture! 100 MC6 Supercruisers were built for Greyhound in 1969-70, as the intended replacement for the Scenicruisers. The way I understand it, 102 wide was not legal on the interstate hiways, and in some states. So 2 bills were introduced in Congress, one pre-empted the state laws, the other legalized the interstates. Supposedly the interstate bill passed, and the individual state bill didn't. So, Hound had a hundred buses they couldn't just run anywhere... Lets hear from the "Bird" lovers about 47 I think, model 07 Eagles, which suffered the same fate. Anyhoo, all the MC6s were built with 12V71ns, and 8844 Spicer non-synchronized 4 speeds. They are 102 wide, front to back, top to bottom, the reference about narrow front ends should be to 102A3s. 425 Cubic Feet of bay space, as they were built with the idea of supporting the "Next Bus Out" package express program. In 1973, 82 of them were rebuilt to an 8V71 and a 740 Allison, the remaining 18 were left with the V12 and stick for service in the Canadian Rockies. The 8V71s were underpowered, so they went back and added turbos to get them up to 350 HP. Tires were 13.5/24.5 bias ply on the steer and drive, and 12/22.5 (I think) on the tags. The spare is for the 24.5s, the tags have an unloading valve and chain hooks to jack up the tag, and keep a flat off the road until it can be fixed. The 24.5 wheels have a hub and bolt pattern which resembles a Van Hool, while the tags will exchange with other bus wheels. Structural rumors are entirely false, these things are the proverbial brick outhouse. All the entire body members are stainless steel, and they're completely stainless up to the top of the bays. The MAK evaluation and size report is way off, it lists the wheelbase as the same as an MC5, etc. They were equipped with "stadium seating," the aisle is flat, front to back, but the floor under the first 6 rows of seats slopes up toward the rear, which is not conversion friendly. The floor under the rest of the seats is level, but a foot higher than the aisle. Because of the engine length, nothing is connected to the auxiliary drives on the back of the engine. The crankshaft has a large micro Vee pulley, which extends into the rear bumper, which serves as a belt guard. A Spicer auxiliary drive has its driven pulley in the right end of the bumper, the air conditioning compressor is shaft driven thru the aux drive by the driven pulley shaft. The alternator and steering pump are stacked above the input shaft, end to end, and driven at twice engine speed, then the fan pump and and air compressor are on top, at engine speed. The radiator is a large slab-style, like a Buffalo, on hinges, with a hydraulic fan on hoses, which allows the rad to swing out to allow easy access to the engine. An 8V92TA has the same power as a 12V71n, weighs a lot less, and gets better mileage, with less smoke. The 92 series wasn't available when the 6s were built, or when they were converted to automatics. The 12V71 had to go, because it was too long to install an automatic. Matt's bus has had the aux drive removed, with all the pumps, and 12 and 24V alts connected right to the engine gear drives. I have put about 20,000 miles on my V12 stick, mostly before the conversion started, (ice chests, air mattresses, card tables, etc,) and have driven two other conversions with 8V92s and 740s, and can't tell the difference in raw power. Both of the auto's had air throttles, and were much nicer to drive than the Neanderthal stick these things came with. Air operated entrance door and lock, air operated toll window, and an air locked tilt steering wheel. Forget body parts availability, but the rest of the running gear is just a truck. The steer and drive brake drums will accept a 22.5 custom-made wheel, but due to weight, will require 315 tires. G | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1243 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.245.23.157 Rating: N/A |
Good post G...informative and complete. Anyone looking to a MC6 108 should be well informed and advised. RCB | ||
| George M. Todd (George_todd)
Registered Member Username: George_todd Post Number: 1001 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 99.29.76.171 Rating: N/A |
Bob, The tiny url doesn't work, could you check it please? Thanks, George | ||
| Bob MacIsaac (Wildbob24)
Registered Member Username: Wildbob24 Post Number: 99 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 74.232.5.89 Rating: N/A |
George, This one should: http://tinyurl.com/MCISix Bob | ||
| Bill Holstein (Billmoocow)
Registered Member Username: Billmoocow Post Number: 93 Registered: 5-2009 Posted From: 98.232.207.25  Rating: N/A |
Nope | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 657 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 64.40.215.238 Rating: N/A |
Bob's link worked for me. Great bit of information George, Thanks for taking the time to educate us. I think my buddy passed on the 6 in Houston as he never heard back from the owners. Guess he'll have to finish his MCI 102A3 before he can hit the road. | ||
| PA Doug (Padoug)
Registered Member Username: Padoug Post Number: 24 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 76.120.147.169 Rating: N/A |
The model was made in Japan, but doesn't have the dual axles in the back?? | ||
| Dave Walker (Chrome_dome)
Registered Member Username: Chrome_dome Post Number: 21 Registered: 3-2010 Posted From: 67.174.144.159 Rating: |
I said I would look up where I had heard about the MC-6 Structural problems and George said that that was false about the coaches and I believe him and the MC-6 sounds like a great coach and learned a lot from him on it but when looking up where I had read it I realized it was in the Arnie's notes section about MCI continued. So someone should maybe shall we say correct that. Dave Copied and pasted from that section below; "The MC-6 was a large cargo capacity coach that had a second hump added part way back to raise the floor height, which allowed for extra cargo capacity in the rear bunk. They were powered by a 12 - 71 Detroit Diesel engine. The tag axle was enclosed behind the drive axle. They were a very smooth riding coach, and the sensation of speed at 80 miles per hour was the equivalent of about 50 mph in other units. There were very few made, and size, weight and structural problems were their downfall. It was in this model that the introduction to stainless steel tubing(frame work) was made. It has been said many times that this coach was away ahead of its time." | ||
| George M. Todd (George_todd)
Registered Member Username: George_todd Post Number: 1011 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 99.29.76.171 Rating: N/A |
Dave, From first-hand experience, Art Benz had a tour company in Ventura in the mid-eighties with four 6s. 3 were in daily service, one had a bad engine, and the owner was making a motorhome out of it. All were V8 autos. Another was parked next to the railroad tracks in Fillmore, for about a year. Hoss Lee's brother-in-law and sister have a V12 in Missouri, which I saw when they came out here to visit. The tour company I bought mine from had 3, two 12s, and one 8. When I went back for brake parts for mine, they had already listed the other V12 with the same broker. About two years later, I saw it for sale again with another dealer. Darrell Sparkman in Klamath Falls stripped another V12 down to the frame, raised the roof about 6 inches, rebuilt the V12, changed to a 1063C 6-speed stick, and re-skinned it with Eagle aluminum. I have his bay doors, etc. McLaughlin changed my older brother (one serial number lower) from a V12 to an 8V92T and a 740 auto, had a whole new roof made a foot higher, and had 22.5 custom Alcoas made. He sold it to Elliott, and it has since been re-sold. Matt has the bus that is the subject of this post, it is an 8V92 with a 740, air throttle and Jakes. Needless to say, I am familiar with my own bus, and checked it out thouroughly in 1986 before I bought it. Then there is the bus which Bruce Lantz made the subject of a conversion article on this website. 13 of these 14 I have been in, and/or under, driven several, and worked on four of them. None of them had any structural problems, and as has been mentioned, these buses have all stainless steel framework, so they don't rust. For what its worth, G | ||
| joe padberg (Joemc7ab)
Registered Member Username: Joemc7ab Post Number: 407 Registered: 6-2004 Posted From: 66.38.159.33 Rating: N/A |
George Great info, but I have a question regarding the 1063c. What is or are the differences between it and the 1062 and 1064? Both of these are the same, one is cast iron and the other aluminum. Both have an A and B version which is different gear ratio's Joe. | ||
| George M. Todd (George_todd)
Registered Member Username: George_todd Post Number: 1013 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 99.29.76.171 Rating: N/A |
Joe, You're exactly right, and I don't know the difference between a 1062 and a 1063. All I know is that the A, B, & C are different gear ratios, and the C is the best ratio setup for a bus. As info, they are the same length as an 8844, just about twice as wide, with a nice low low and reverse, and five synchronized upper gears. Spicer's numbers meant it was rated for a thousand foot-pounds of torque, 6 speeds, and 2nd, 3rd, or 4th in the series. G | ||
| joe padberg (Joemc7ab)
Registered Member Username: Joemc7ab Post Number: 412 Registered: 6-2004 Posted From: 66.38.159.33 Rating: N/A |
George The 1064 is used in the mc9 of the early 1980's vintage and the same transmission series is also used by Prevost in their Xl and H340 under the nomenclature of 1362b. Both have the double countershaft and both have the exact same gear ratio's but here is the interesting point, neither of these is synchromesh and the 1063c may possible be not either. I tried google to find more information but drew a blank. If indeed it is synchro, it would be a very desireable setup. Joe. | ||
| George M. Todd (George_todd)
Registered Member Username: George_todd Post Number: 1014 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 99.29.76.171 Rating: N/A |
Joe, I am certain that the 1063C in Darrel's bus was synchronized in the top five. Beyond that, I don't remember a heck of a lot about them. Darrel had done a lot of research, and gave me all his info 17 or 18 years ago, and I looked hard at putting one in my 6 with the V12, as he did. Now its going to be an 8V92 with a 740, unfortunately a 754 is too long. G | ||
| joe padberg (Joemc7ab)
Registered Member Username: Joemc7ab Post Number: 415 Registered: 6-2004 Posted From: 66.38.159.33 Rating: N/A |
George I believe that there should be a 754cr in yourlife. Today I was thinking about that massively long 12v and decided to do some figuring. Took my tape and measured the 6v71 block and it measures21.75 inches, so your 12v should be double that or 43.5. Your 8844 lenght is close to that of the 1064 which measures 28.5 inches to the edge of the flange, add the flywheel housing at 6.5 inches and you have a total of 78.5 inches. The 6v92 block measures just over 22 inches, so a 8v92 should be 4/3 times 22 which makes it 29.5 inches add the bellhousing at 6.5 inches and a measured htb 748 at 37 inches makes for a total of 73 inches. Da book says the 740 is 37.4 which is close enough. My book gives the 754 at 41 inches. Adding these figures comes to a total of 77 inches. So George you have a conundrum, you might have to lenghten your drive shaft!!!!! A good problem to have, and I doubt that your shaft is only about a foot long like it is on my MC1. Joe. | ||
| George M. Todd (George_todd)
Registered Member Username: George_todd Post Number: 1015 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 67.107.12.11 Rating: N/A |
Joe, You're right again, and I would rather have a 754 than a 740. Unfortunately I have seen two other 6s in the last year with 8V92/740 setups, and the driveshaft is less than a foot long. Taking 3 1/2 more inches out of it makes it too short. One thought is a different rear end in the 6 than the 7s 8s and 9s? G |
