| Author | Message | ||
| Darryl Elkins
Rating: N/A |
I have thoughts of converting a transit bus into a rolling office with sleeping quarters and storage. Seems like fishbowls are everywhere and the Flex transit are harder to come by. Here in Coos Bay there is a 35 foot Flx for sale with smoking 8v71 and a 730 transmission for around 2500.00. On the other hand I can get a 35 foot fishbowl with a strong non-smoking 6v71 for 500.00. Anyone want to share their thoughts or opinions? | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A |
Where is Brian - chime in Brian | ||
| Brian Brown (Fishbowlbrian)
Rating: N/A |
I'm here. Just working on the '06 all weekend and dog tired... Darryl, you will have a hard time doing the tanks and plumbing underneath a transit, since there are no bays. Some have done it, and done it quite nicely... Scott Whitney, and all of the RTS converters. Maybe they'll chime in. I'm having to sell my FB partial-conversion because I'm too busy to finish it and am finding I can't get the $ I have into it. Know that older tansits do not have a very high resale value, shell, partial or even done up nice. Watch also your gear ratio and top speed, since the transits weren't made to go highway speeds, unless they were Suburban models. Mine has the VS2-8 and can do over 70mph, but they are pretty rare in transits. I'd pick the GMC over the Flx, for sure... no offense to Flx owners. GMC engineering set the standard that the other builders try to follow. Fishbowls are almost indestructible. That said, I love my new '06 and would not have a transit again, because I love having bays for all my junk. Good luck and HTH, Brian Brown | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
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Brian - I meant for you to pay Ian his $50 listing fee and sell your extra bus to Darryl - sounds like his use may fit your FB - just trying to kill a few birds here - and everyone is happy - Niles | ||
| Darryl Elkins
Rating: N/A |
So let me ask the same question another way. Between the smokey 8v71/730 Flx or the 6v71/vs2 fishbowl. Which would be the wiser purchase? I don't think I need bays as the entire bus rear of the rear door will be storage (rolling stockroom). Hope to find a bus with pwr steering, A/C that works, as little rust as I can find and decent tires. The flx has the vs2-8 and fishbowl has the vs2-6. But what about structure. Which chassis is better designed. Which bus will I be able to get parts for? The DD man down the street suggested I aviod the older busses and go for an early RTS but I don't want to shell out 6K for one. I really like the $500 price for the fishbowl. | ||
| Mike (Busone)
Rating: N/A |
You might check with TriMet in Portland. They have a lot of older Flx Metros. They have been selling some of them on that Ebay. They are powered by a Cummins L10 with a Voith tranny. | ||
| Brian Brown (Fishbowlbrian)
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$500 is hard to beat. The 6v is underpowered and with the tall VS2, there may be hills you just can't climb unless you slingshot them. The low-compression 8v might be just as doggy as the good 6v. GMC parts should be easier to find than Flx. Coach A/C is very difficult to maintain with RV usage patterns and R-12 is priced so high that you'd have to convert to R-134a if you ever need a recharge, which most will. A genny and roof-top units is pretty tried and true and requires little maintenence. HTH, BB | ||
| Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Rating: N/A |
Darryl, in case you didn't know it, the VS2 and the V730 are completley different transmissions.The VS2s have real overdrives on them, which helps with the highway gearing. I was told that the VS2-6 was for the 6V71 and the VS2-8 was for the 8V71. If I just HAD to have an automatic in ours, I would take a really hard look at the VS2 because of the overall costs of the V730. I don't have any real knowledge about the Voiths. For what it's worth. Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 Suncatcher | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
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Buy 'em both. Do an out-of-frame on the 8V71 & V-730 Scrap the Flx shell - it will have corrosion issues. (Keep the rear axle!) Put the O'haul'd powertrain in the Fish. Enjoy the ride. Wheeeeeeeee  | ||
| Chris Rating: N/A |
Check out http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/RTS-bus-nuts/ for what can be done with an RTS. Also, 6k for an RTS will get you a late 80's model with a 6V92TA DDEC and V731 that is 40'x102". Even less if you are willing to wait. Also, remember, you get what you pay for, unless you are getting a special deal from someone. | ||
| Brian Brown (Fishbowlbrian)
Rating: N/A |
Yeah, Chris is right. RTS busses are nice. "Sportscar II" I've seen some go out at auction from transit agencies for much, much less than 6k. I went to a DART auction about 18 months ago and the RTS's they practically had to give away. I started a few right up, had cold factory A/C, etc. Less than $1500, IIRC. You could put a lot more time and $ into the NewLooks. FWIW, BB | ||
| Phil Dumpster Rating: N/A |
VS2 does not always translate into "big deep tall overdrive that make the bus go fast" especially the -6 version. Some versions of the -6 are .87 overdrive, while some -8 (like the Seattle 700 series coaches) were .6 - and in the context of this discussion lower numbers mean faster bus. Don't forget to factor in the final drive ratio. This determines either a faster top speed or the ability to climb walls and pull tree stumps out of the ground. Structurally, they are about the same with the Flx being heavier and perhaps a little more like a tank. If possible, avoid obtaining any transit bus that has been owned by someone other than a government operated transit authority. There are a lot of little things that make up an operable and safe bus, and agencies spend big bucks to keep them in shape right up until the time they head to the auction block. That $500 price tag on that New Look may look great all alone but if the bus needs $4000 worth of work to bring it up to spec, it's not so great. I'm kinda amazed that someone would have the gile to ask $2500 for an unconverted transit with a worn engine, but it happens so much. Even worse is the person who falls for the deal not knowing what they are getting themselves into. If you want a good running transit coach, find an auction where a fleet is being liquidated, inspect them all (take an experienced mechanic with you if you aren't one) and bid on the best one. If you see the guy from TSI there, let him know which coach you want and he'll most likely not get into a bidding war with you. You can't miss him, he'll be checking the oil in every bus, starting every one up, and taking notes as he goes. | ||
| Darryl Elkins
Rating: N/A |
Trimet does from time to time send buses up for auction. So I may want to consider waiting for that. The RTS that I was shown was a 1981 with the 6v92/730. But have been sitting for around 6 years. The guy really wasn't interested in putting batteries in it till I show him some cash. I didn't, he didn't and thats fine with me, keeps me from wasting time as I could only imagine what the internal condition is after sitting for 6 years on the Oregon Coast. The right bus will come along and at the right price. | ||
| Phil Dumpster Rating: N/A |
A Detroit Diesel engine left sitting untouched for 6 years on the Oregon coast will have one or two cylinders sitting open to the saltwater atmosphere and hence those cylinders will have rusted walls. The engine may run for a while just fine but in the short term will need to be overhauled. | ||
| Phil Dumpster Rating: N/A |
Unless, of course, the engine was properly pickled or at least the intake and the exhaust were corked before storage. | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
Ya mean somebody actually read & followed "Da Book" That's great but RARE!!! FAST FRED | ||
| Darryl Elkins
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The exhaust is not covered from what I can see on the RTS bus. I do like the body of the RTS but always considered it out of my price range. There is a guy on ebay with 2 RTS buses in one auction. I'll wait and see what happens. Someone suggested I look into the Flx Metro from Trimet in Portland. I don't know where to research that bus. | ||
| james dean boggs (Jd_boggs)
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Had an 1981 TRS 6 months ago. I couldn't give it away! Sat in the RV storage for another 5 months. Finally gave it away. Free to another Bus Nut! It leaked oil like a harpooned whale! But it ran just fine. All features worked. Think it came from Los Angeles, CA transit. I know of bus yards in CA that have 2,000 + busses in stock! PS what is a "fishbowl"? | ||
| chris
Rating: N/A |
From the Yahoo RTS group: I have 3 RTS buses for sale. 1987 Seats removed ready for conversion $3500.00 1983 with fresh rebuild on motor, trans, access. approx 20,000 miles ago $3500.00 1983 this one has a red light that comes on after you go a few miles. The "trans" light blinks and then it shuts down. I have not tried to trouble shoot it. Before it shuts down it runs fine. $2000.00 All the buses will need new batteries. All the buses are located in Oklahoma City and spent their life here. They are in pretty good shape since we don't have a lot of snow and ice. If you have questions, call me at 405-521-8500 WEB in OKC |