| Author | Message | ||
| Gary LaBombard (Garylee)
Rating: N/A |
I am posting a pictorial web site on this BB that I created in hope other Eagle owners will consider inspecting their older rigs for situations I have been working on for three years now to correct on my bus. I call my bus the ("Rustless Money Pit") which I am sure all Eagle owners in particular know the reputation of but not necessaraly true of all Eagle Buses. My bus has to have been the worst example of a rusted out Eagle, I hope, on earth. I have been working on my Eagle 3 years on just replacing nearly 90% of my entire undercarriage because of what I had found when I drove my (Dream Bus) home for the first time, that was 100 miles ago, 3 years ago at the cost of about $3500 per mile so far!! I have documented every aspect of the repairs I have made in pictures and text, taken pictures of fixtures I fabricated and needed in disassembly, reassembly of parts, jack stands, and even pictures of how to set up a shop for converting your bus if after you look at my CD I am nearly done producing and you want to really dive in like I did. I decided to make a CD of my personal repairs in hope that when you see how badly my bus was 3 years ago and how it is looking now that you will either be encouraged or discouraged to do a conversion. I am not trying to discourage you but just educate you that if you can not do the work I have then don't even consider doing it. Look for a different bus in better shape for sure. There has been many, many times I wanted to throw in the towel but with the investment I have just could not do that. Now I see light at the end of the tunnel and am nearly done the (Undercarraige) any how. I have documented about 1200 pictues of everything possible I have done and this will be Volume #1 as there is so much more to do yet I need to make a volume #2 with how to make cafe doors, entrance doors, waste tanks etc. There is so much information I am wanting to share with wanna bee's and present owners and wish I had this information three years ago, if I did you would not be reading this post now as I would be on the road having fun. I will be one day soon but not until I feel my bus is roadworthy and safe for me, my family, others I meet on the road and all property my bus may have damaged if I did not inspect and repair my bus as I have. Many of you that read this BB already have a history of me and my bus and know of my dilema. I only hope I can prevent any one else from this situation and also create a wake up call for those older bus owners that should look closely at their rigs very soon. Everyone should also remember that these OLD girls are intended to last only 12-15 years from manufacturing birth date to scrap. Mine is 32 years old and the web site I just created for a taster of the information on the CD I will sell shortly should make you realize what I am saying to be true. This posting is much too long already, I will post on all BB's that allow me to that the CD is for sale and how to contact me if you wish to purchase a copy. When you look at this web site I am going to give you pay particular attention to pictures#24-#27 I believe, that is my engine cradle that was nearly completely rotted out and was supporting a 2400 lb. DD!! The web site with 41 pictures is: (http://community.webshots.com/user/converter101) On the opening page in blue letters is (1973 model 05 Eagle Conversion), click on that for pictues to open. I really apologize for the length of this post, I totaly feel everyone should just take a gander at their rigs (underneath), consider if they have any problems like I did, evaluate how to repair if needed. Please do not just think that they all do this and it is alright to overlook this deadly situation if not repaired. If just one of you write a comment in this post that you are so gratefull for what I have shown on my pictorial web site and that you will have the situation fixed and that you feel I did right in making you aware of all I have will be quite a reward to me personally. I will feel that I just may have saved your life or prevented a major accident waiting to happen very, very soon. The completed CD announcement will be on all BB's and also remember the name ("Rustless Money Pit") as the opening post comment for that announcement. Thank you for reading this lengthy post. Gary | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
It just underscores the reason to take the bus to a competent bus garage for a complete inspection -prior to purchase-. And if refused that opportunity, run do not walk, to the nearest exit. | ||
| gg04
Rating: N/A |
The real reason why you should buy the only "MODERN" bus...no modified truck frame,no welded iron body panel frame,self supporting unibody construction just like a plane...99per cent.aluminum..at least 10000lbs lighter than the immitations...built to last forever..(at least with real maintenance)why pay for the look if you don't get the benefits of the real construction... GMC's forever...ROFLMAO...gg04 | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks)
Rating: N/A |
I saw this a couple of days ago and my jaw dropped. You are a craftsman, Sir. But do you really mean $350,000??? | ||
| Jim (Jim_in_california)
Rating: N/A |
Ummm...question? Was this Eagle bought already converted (but rusty without you knowing it) or did you buy it with seats or as a shell for conversion? If the latter, I just can't understand why you kept plugging away once you found a 90%-needs-to-be-replaced frame situation. Sorry but...dayum, I'd have scored something else pronto. *Anything* else...  | ||
| Gary LaBombard (Garylee)
Rating: N/A |
I have to respond to a few of these posts after my lengthy introduction of this post. My intention in this post is not to be beaten down but to help educate those like I was 3 years ago now, not 3 weeks ago, but before I started using any BB's on a particular subject like Bus Nuts etc. There are lots of Eagles owned by people not for sale but being driven right now as a coach, and some of them have been "Professionally Converted" in the condition I have mentioned in my above post. This is no exaggeration, I have looked at 31 Eagle buses in particular stopped for fuel etc. as I just love the style like a 57 chevy today. Out of the 31 I personally looked at only (6, six of them) I feel were really road worthy after my experience. All the frame repairs I have discovered even a mechanic will not find until you really get into it. I have found water in some of my frame tubes only that can freeze and crack the framing am sure and that water has been in these tubes the entire 3 years I have been working on my bus, and it has been under cover in a car port the entire time?? This is just an example, of what a mechanic will not find, only one of very, very many. My intentions is not to get into any kind of "my bus is better than your bus situation", but again to try to alert everyone of their aging vehicles and perhaps the actual owners have their bus inspected even now by a reputable mechanic especially if your state does not require inspections like mine. You may not be selling your coach but still driving it like the 24 unsafe one's I have already found and I am not a professonal DOT inspector by any means but I am sure experienced in replacing the bad stuff If I got it. Everyone is so quick to jump into how they would do this and that to prevent themselves into getting into the situation I have described, the only reason they can say that I feel is because of the (Education) they are getting on the internet from people with the previous experience like me of making so many mistakes that I have and am not ashamed to admit to but pass on to prevent others from experiencing. You can not make me feel any worse than I have myself already, but I am correcting my situation and again my intent is to help those already with a bad coach, not necessarly Eagle either and perhaps think of alternative ways after inspecting to repair. If you think your bus does not have any rust because it is of stainless or aluminum etc. let me under your bus after the time I have spent under mine. There is steel parts on every bus, brittle air lines, old air tanks, rotted fuel lines, and yes there has to be some steel framing in there as well. I just think my point is being missed here and do not want to ruffel up problems amongst us, I just want us all to help each other with knowledge to make our rigs safe for all. Professonal inspections by a garage is absolutely best, I choose to think I had the knowledge to do it myself. I saw rust all over but kept saying, I can fix that, I can fix that and I have believe me. But what I did not add up was how much of it was not visual at the time until I started replacing the frameing I have. I did not have the knowledge to inspect to do what I thought I could, how many of you really, really have taken your rigs to be inspected before purchasing?? Honest now?? Yes I do stand corrected in my math, thank you for that as well, I have invested $350 per mile or $35,000 actual cash in cost of bus and materials so far invested in it. My time is another story, to do exactly what I have already done would be maybe another $40-$50,000, all the double framing and end capping of every piece I reinstalled in my bus takes much time. That price may be low but I guarantee, guarantee the "Rustless Money Pit" will be on the road many more decades, how many really can say they feel that way about their bus? I am making a silk purse out of a sow's ear as I once was told years ago. It is truly kicking my butt but it is nearly done and the rusting of my Eagle will never keep any one awake again at camp sites either. But as I said I know I can find rust on every bus that is in the 20-30 year old age era of longivity, every bus!! My bus was already converted inside by the previous owner. It is an old style not any expensive remodeling but comfortable and I plan to keep as is for some time to figure out what I really want if anything to change later on. I want to meet some of you on the road at camp sites etc. and not just on the internet, and let you physicaly see the fruits of my labor and perhaps you will be appreciative of the information I am offering to further educate as many as I can throught experience. I love my Eagle, want to enjoy her and will, maybe one more year to go, it is all paid for as I go, do not have all the bells and whistles of a modern prevost etc. but I will still be going the same distance as those beautifull other buses but I will have the pride like many of you other converters have of saying "I did it my way" as Fast Fred always advises us to do. My further pride personally will be that I may have prevented a tradgedy through sharing, no matter how much brow beating I may have to take, I am (Getting "R" Done) you might say. Because of my investment initally and with materials I can not and will not quit, and I do know that I will be leaving a member of my family quite a legacy of their grandpa and only hope they appreciate all I have done. Now if you have real issues with your Eagle and could use a few individual pictures to help you out please feel free to contact me and I will do all I can to let you know what I have done to help you correct your situation. You do not have to wait for the sale of my repair / inspection Guide CD. As I also noted above, I have seen "Professional Conversions" done and look just beautiful inside and outside with their $10,000 paint jobs etc. and looked under at least 3 of these girls and I was not impressed at all by the "Pretty Stuff" and found situations underneath the body of the coach getting close to my original condition of my bus?? Why would professionals do this kind of work? I will not mention names of any, I have enough people upset with me now but even some of the less reputable professionals will not get into frame repair if they can get away with it. It would surprize you who they are. I think I have bored you all enough with my answers to some of your questions, just remember If I can help you with your frame damage with pictures etc. do not hesitate to ask and through personal mail contact or phone as well I will do all I can to assure you that anything you find on the frame, anything can be repaired and reinforced to give you peace of mind and make your rig safe and DOT inspection roadworthy. Thank you for reading all this. Gary LaBombard | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Gary- "I saw rust all over but kept saying, I can fix that, I can fix that " A good friend once gave me some life advice: If you have any doubt about what you're about to do, don't do it. I try to follow that, because it's our built-in animal instinct protection, and it comes with every model produced. Bus companies sell a bus when it's nearing the end of it's profitable life. We bus crazed fools seem to ignore that simple fact. Buying a used bus from a major operator directly, like Greyhound, or Trailways, may give some benefit, since preventive maintenance usually prevails until the day the bus is parked aside the barn. The smaller companies will use a bus until the amount of problems outweigh the ability to repair them. Private sales, church groups, etc, can be the most hazardous to your wallet. The funny thing about all this? Commercially built motorhomes fall apart within the first two years of ownership. Roof leaks that cause hidden damage to wood and structure, rust in areas inaccessible, engines that are strained to the max from underpower, and frames that are not designed for as much weight as the owner adds. Yet, those too are purchased used, without counsel of an experienced mechanic, and usually for a lot more money than we pay for a bus.... converted or not. You're doing a great job Gary! And you're not being hammered here, as far as I can tell. What you're experiencing in pain with your used bus, is the same as what every one of us has experienced in one form or another. If it isn't rust, it'll be something else. We all start with a dream.... some are wet, some turn into nightmares. Either way, we still wake up sweaty. Cheers, man. | ||
| Russ Barnes (Neoruss)
Rating: N/A |
I can totally relate to Gary! I have a Neoplan that is built like an Eagle - carbon steel tubes. An '81 with 260k and was from AZ - as rust free as it can get. I looked it over and saw "a little rust". Here I am a few years later and I'm also replacing several frame rails that were hidden and only when panels were pulled was the cancer found. None were in suspension or major support areas, but same conditions as Gary found. I like to re-engineer things so this doesn't bother me, just slows me down while I get more steel and plug in the welder. I have also learned just like Gary that when reconstructing a bus frame that we must close all tubes, make umbrellas so water runs off, not onto areas and on mine - DON"T DRILL HOLES FOR RIVITS, SCREWS or other attachments. Those are the things that caused the hidden rust on my Bus. It had a pretty stainless steel, fluted belt around the upper deck, and when I pulled it the galvanized sheet steel skin underneath was swiss cheese. I can also relate that if you want something enough, like Gary wanted an Eagle, that all of this is worth it. I wanted a double decker and there aren't many. I also bought a 48' NASA double decker for parts and believe me, a Florida carbon steel bus (brand doesn't matter) is something to be avoided. Just the temperature change will wick salt ladden air into tubes or under panels and then watch it rust in front of your eyes. Learn a lot from Gary, I'm positive that many of you reading this would be shocked at what is under your "precious". | ||
| Jim and Myrna Lawrence (Daffycanuck)
Rating: N/A |
Gary...you're not alone here. There are lots of us out there who have been bitten by the 'rust' bug. I inspected our coach completely, except for pulling off exterior panels. The coach had a fresh beautiful paint job....under it all, in behind the panels....rust....everything. When I removed the strap from the air tank, a portion of the tank came with it, leaving a huge hole....we had just driven it 3000 miles....yikes. It took almost three years, and I won't say how much money, to reframe and reskin our coach. I'm happy to say I didn't give up on it. It has been over seven years since then and we have enjoyed full time living in 'DaffyC'...we're Daffy Canadians for this undertaking. See our website... http://lawrj.sasktelwebsite.net/ | ||
| Ron Walker (Prevost82)
Rating: N/A |
Gary ...I'm commend you on your work and effort. I have been working on my bus for a year and a half, and I’m about 90% finished on the conversion (just got the drivers area to do). When I ripped up the old floor I found a couple of pieces of framing that were rusted out, for the floor supports over the rear wheels, that I had to replace, that was the extent of my rust experience. If I had run into your situation, I think I would have given up, and I know a couple of bus nuts that did exactly that…when they found that much rust, they walk away and took their losses. Ron | ||
| DMDave Rating: N/A |
Very nice job and documentation. You have been very busy. Saaaaaa-lute!!! |