| Author | Message | ||
| captain ron (Captain_ron)
Rating: N/A |
I went and looked at the bus and it is in very good shap but I have a few concerns. One is the sloped floor. How did most of you that converted mci's deal with that? the other is the smaller bays, they seem conciderably smaller than mine. He took the windows out of the center section and has posts made to weld in so it can be reskined, but I think if I buy it I will raise the roof 8 to 10 inches. The engine is an 8v92 with only 38000 miles on rebuild. it does not have the larger radiators and he said it would start to over heat if you ran it faster than 69 mph. it has all new guages, air bags,and is very clean. no rust and will make me a very nice bus. there is alittle discrepancy in the price his wife gave me and his price she says 5000 he says 8000 if i get it for 5 I will take it not sure about 8. I can leave it where it's at and work on it so that's a plus just not sure I realy want to start over again but know I would have a much nicer and more desirable bus when done. and sell mine to recoup some of the money. | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Ron- "The engine is an 8v92 with only 38000 miles on rebuild. it does not have the larger radiators and he said it would start to over heat if you ran it faster than 69 mph." The rebuild has got to be worth between 5 and 8k. How does he know it'll overheat over 69mph? How far did he run with it overheated? There goes that rebuild.....? I'm in the process of building. The sloped floor isn't a problem. Treat it like an old 19th century house. If I were you, Ron... I'd keep what I have until something really great came along. It doesn't sound like you feel this is the one. Go with that "gut" intuition. | ||
| Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Rating: N/A |
CR, the bays on the MC8 have less volume by about 25% (300c.f. vs. 403c.f.). Largely because of the extra axle on the MCI. Unless you haul a LOT of stuff, you can fit a ton of stuff in 300c.f. A sloped floor you will not notice, and can take it out in trim, etc.. By comparison, I'd think that the Buff's lower front area to be more difficult from a conversion standpoint (but it gives it it's lovely shape). I think the stock rads are a bigger deal killer. "Going over 69mph" when? What about across the Mojave in August pulling a grade? Maybe 45mph or not at all without overheating. You just don't want to overheat a DD... ever. So, the bus would need bigger rads before I'd drive it anywhere. It might still be a good deal, at $8k (or esp. at $5k), but IMHO you'll have to put some rads. in it and account for that expense, time, PITA factor, etc. bb | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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4 or 5 thousand worth of rads | ||
| David Dulmage (Daved)
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The sloped floors are not a problem. You need to line up cabinets, etc. with a horizonatal reference line such as the top of the windows or some similar transition point. You won't notice the slope when all is completed. Parts are plentiful. My experience has been that MCI Parts provides good service. I've never had to wait any appreciable time for anything I've needed. Dave D (MC-8) | ||
| Matt Rating: N/A |
I don't know where two dogs comes up with these figures, I put two new 9 radiators and two of the larger squirrel cages fan in. the fan where used for around. 2500.00 | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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were they for a 8v92 ? | ||
| Marc Bourget Rating: N/A |
I believe 2Ds means "were the [radiators] for an 8V92?" FYFI - Checking Gumpydog's site will give text and pictures for switching from the smaller to larger radiators. Marc Bourget | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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thanks Marc, I forgot ...you have to explain things to MCI owners....  | ||
| Marc Bourget Rating: N/A |
Yes, 2Ds, I own two and it appears that my prompting you has finally taken hold! Reminds me of the end of the Tom Sawyer movie in the 50's. Feel like whitewashing my fence? | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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I knew a guy that looked at the moon over his left shoulder....& three years later....broke his leg | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
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That guy was you, wasn't it, 2D? | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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it was in the book Huckelberry finn | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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you probably never read a book R.J. have somebody read it to you sometime | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
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Hmmm. . . Wasn't Huckleberry Finn a relative of yours, 2D? No, wait. That was Ol' Jim, my mistake. | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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that sounds like a racial remark...I'll send a couple of guys to fairlyland to visit you | ||
| Marc Bourget Rating: N/A |
No, RJ, it wasn't (Ol' Jim a relative). The difference is obvious. 2D's (on the left!) is nowhere near has handsome as Ol' Jim  But, for some reason, he attracks the girls  Ol' Jim had character, intelligence and integrity He wouldn't drive a Z car (wrecked or not) to save his life!  2Ds, RJ and I live in the Central Valley of Northern California and can spell. "Fairyland" is typically Hollyweird or San Francisco, the "other side of the mountains" from us.  | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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figured you 'guys' would know how to spell it | ||
| Matt Rating: N/A |
Yes double dog, they where for a 8v92, I bought them at diesel radiator, this was about 3 years ago and the squirrel cages from sam at caylor supply. | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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they where ?? | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
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Hello captain ron. Best not to inherit someone elses's mistakes. Walk away, lots of other buses out there. That MC8 will be hard to keep cool. To properly keep a high HP 8V92 cool would require a lot of work and money. I would also not trust that guy's engine, he has overheated it, for sure. How else does he know how fast to run it without overheating? You don't repower without doing the rads at the same time. This has all the signs of a lack of cash for the project, and what else has been short changed? For not much more money, find an MC9 that came with the 8V92 stock. That way all the pieces are there from the manufacturer. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A |
or look at tah rei's bus on ebay section | ||
| captain ron (Captain_ron)
Rating: N/A |
Getting an engine to the edge of the red zone or seeing your gauge start to go up does not constitute overheating an engine."He said it starts to overheat at 69 mph" this guy is the service manager for a Harley shop and is a Master mechanic building top fuel drag bikes. He is very anal about his stuff and would not over heat an engine. he has put a ton of money in this project and like some of you has lost interest or just has too many irons in the fire and has to sacrifice something. I trust what he says, he has been nothing but straight up with me on every dealing we have done. now , will MCI 9 radiators fit in that coach as there are some available on the flea market page? I paid $3000.00 for the piece of shit I have now and put several thousand in it and still have a basicaly piece of shit still, just looks and runs a little better. If I can start out with a very nice looking and great condition coach with the big dollar upgrades already done I am much farther ahead of the game than before and will end up with a coach that will be worth more and I can be very proud of. I put 2 trany's in this one at the tune of about $6000 I can put radiators in the next one for 2 to 4 thousand no problem. | ||
| Matt Rating: N/A |
I believe you said that this was a mc8. If so to make the radiators fit all you have to do is smack the back wall with a hammer to make a little more room, no big deal, or you could cut and patch. Iam only talking about a area 3 to 5" and in just a little. | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
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Hello C.R. Sounds like a better situation now. I'd be betting that your seller will have had a powerful motor built, and you'll need all the rad you can fit in there. Since you will be making adjustments to the skins in the forward part of the rad spaces anyway, you may have some flexibility in having some rads built, and then making the space fit them, instead of the other way around. You may also want to consider some Fred Hobe style radiator ram scoops. He's keeping a 400+ HP turbo 8V71 cool. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Monty Rasco (Montymg)
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I have a fix for air beams that leak down overnight. | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
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Monty, please share! (buying another coach without air beams is a stock answer, it has to be better than that!) happy coaching! buswarrior |