Author |
Message |
Bobby Swatz
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2005 - 4:03 pm: | |
Hi, I am looking at purchasing a 1958 GMC PD 4104. It is an older rv conversion. It has not seen the road in 10 years.The price on it is $2,500. It does run in idle ,but dies after 5 minutes. (Sounds like a fuel problem to me.) The clutch also needs replacing.Also tires & alot of TLC. Is the price fair for this older coach? Even if it may need major repairs? I have resored antique cars. Never anything this big. I dont want to get in over my head with this project. I appreciate any help and advice given. Thank you, Bobby |
Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2005 - 5:30 pm: | |
If you buy any old bus, you can easily get in over your head. That's what this hobby's about! You'd need to get a handle on the major repairs before you agree to buy it. The fuel issues could be something as simple as a hole in a fuel line or bad filters on up to needing a new rebuild. Clutch is doable on the cheap, esp. on a v-drive like this, if you're handy. Anything rubber like tires, airbags, diaphrams, air line regulators, etc. will be suspect. Does the price include an old genset? Figure on maybe another $6k to $12k, depending on what you find, to get it road worthy. Plus, a LOT of your time. Are you up for it? bb |
Tim Hoskinson (Tdh37514151)
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2005 - 5:45 pm: | |
Hey Bobby I have a 1957 4104 and have been using it for three years. I can give a few things to look at. If the bus has sat that long look at the air suspension bags they are fairly expesive when replacing all eight. You really should jack the front tires off the ground and check for king pin play. Also check the rubber bushings on the front and rear suspension link bars. Look at the rear bulkhead where the rear axle mounts as well as the engine cradle mounting areas for cracks. If the body is in really nice shape a few of these things would be tolerable but they all add up and can get very expensive. If many of these things are in disrepair the bus would have to be very very cheap to be worth fixing it. More often than not for every thing you see wrong with a old bus there are two or three more you over look or can't see until you disassemble something. If you have any other questions give me a call I would be glad to help with any knowledge I might have. Best of luck to you. Tim 740-404-0853 |
BruceS
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2005 - 7:56 pm: | |
Sound like your air pressure is pumping up and shuting off the engine shut-off air cylinder which is controled by a magnet type valve mounted on the bulkhead. |
gusc
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2005 - 9:24 pm: | |
Bobby, The second switch from the right of the four at the RH top rear of the engine compartment is the engine shut off switch for mechanic's use. It requires air pressure to shut off the engine. It is easy to hit this switch accidentally when starting the engine from the rear (Don't ask me how I know). Try moving this switch to the opposite from where it is now. (Should be up but switches sometimes are reversed or installed side to side.) If the bus still has the original primary fuel filter on the RH engine bulkhead (Accessible from the RH corner door) take it apart and clean it well, it is probably full of crud. Don't lost the small spring under the stacked disc filter. Since it at least runs the filter probably is not the cause of your problem but it will be once you get it moving. Tim has some very good advice and after having said all this my advice is to forget it. 10 years sitting is too long unless you are a young guy and willing to wait a long time for your conversion and fully realize that you may spend some big bucks before it is ready. The upside to this method is that you can spend at your own pace. There are a lot of very good conversions out there for $15-20K you just have to look for awhile. I've had mine three months and love it. Tim, Glad to see your post. I'll emai you off forum. |
Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Sunday, November 13, 2005 - 1:09 pm: | |
Bobby went out to the bus this morning (Sunday) and sent me these pictures for posting here: http://www.brownland.org/bus/4104/4014.htm bb |
david anderson (Davidanderson)
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 11:46 am: | |
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