| Author | Message | ||
| Henry Boehm (Hank)
Rating: N/A |
Well, after months of exhaustive research, talking to many bus folks and a lot of laying awake at night thinking about buses, I will be picking up my first bus later this month. It's an '85 96A3 w/6V-92 coach...and provided it checks out I will be driving it home! This message board is an amazing resource and even though I don't even have a bus yet, I've learned so much from it. My question is: can anyone recommend some bus nut sympathetic mechanics and good shops in my area where I can bring my baby in for its regular home-based tuneups and maintenance? Much obliged. Hank Madison, WI | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A |
Congrats, prematurely - Make friends w/ your local public transit mechanics? If they won't do it on the side , they'll know who will - HTH - Niles ((( GO BADGERS! ))) | ||
| Robert Wood (Bobwoodsocal)
Rating: N/A |
Hey, welcome Henry. Hope it checks out OK, if not walk away. There are lots of good buses out there. Good luck Henry! Bob | ||
| Bill 340 Rating: N/A |
Great comment YOUR FIRST BUS good luck Bill 340 | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks)
Rating: N/A |
Welcome to the insanity, Henry! Remember when you're in the thick of it::: I will do today what other people won't So that tomorrow I can do what other people can't. | ||
| DMDave Rating: N/A |
A true bus nut.... laying awake at nite thinking about buses! Welcome to the party. | ||
| Cliff (Floridacracker)
Rating: N/A |
Hank, Congrats on your find.... If you havn't already, you will find that people will think your crazy, or really smart with this bus conversion thing. Of course on here we know your crazy, but will never tell you! Welcome aboard. Cliff | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Ok Henry, here goes: 1. Owning a bus gives you a lot more things to talk about. 2. No-one you know; no friends or family, care to hear about you and your bus....again. 3. You now have an legitimate excuse to the wife, for where all your money went. 4. You find spending all your nights alone in the bus, actually more pleasurable than sleeping on the sofa. 5. The middle eastern family running the local 7/11 appreciate your diesel business by hosting "Henry Day" at the fuel pump. 6. The neighbors are afraid to complain about your bus, after watching you back it over a Hummer during a temper flare. 7. Your 3 year old niece blows the air horn as Miss Prudie walks by, causing the 87 year old's relapse into a manic depressive state. 8. The oil puddle and it's consequential stream under the rear of the bus now extends almost 3.6 miles across town. 9. You find it interesting to hear that both OSHA and the EPA have you listed. 10. You have become addicted to diesel exhaust. 11. It took three weeks of constant use, but you finally learn not to roll your fingers under the outside door release button while you hammer it in. 12. It's only three cars, and a modest amount of mailboxes, but you finally remember that the bus automatic doesn't have a "park" position. 13. Just because the neighbor's cat went missing the last time you fired "ol' Bessie" up, does not mean it had anything to do with it. And no, you don't know why there's orange fur between the belt pulleys. This list will grow, as will the adventures and the good times! | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks)
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GUILTY!  " It took three weeks of constant use, but you finally learn not to roll your fingers under the outside door release button while you hammer it in." Good one, John.  | ||
| Henry Boehm (Hank)
Rating: N/A |
Excellent! I have found My People at long last. Thanks guys for the warm welcome. Everyone I know aleady thinks I'm completely nuts for doing this but to me it make perfect sense. My wife has given up on me long ago with all my "great" ideas but I think she's coming around on this one and is cautiously enthusiastic. Thanks JohnMC9 for that list. Now I have clean the coffee I spit out off the computer screen. I think I can see most of those scenarios applying to me. I'll post some pics when I get back home with my new girlfriend. Sincerely, Hank | ||
| H3-40 Rating: N/A |
"My WIFE has given up on me long ago with all my "great" ideas but I think she's coming around on this one and is cautiously enthusiastic" "I'll post some pics when I get back home with my new GIRLFRIEND." Did he say, Girlfriend? Hmm, and I thought I was... oh nevermind! | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A |
Ace, I think his girlfriend is named "bus". Richard | ||
| Mike Jackson (Mike4104tx)
Rating: N/A |
"2. No-one you know; no friends or family, care to hear about you and your bus....again." So very true... "4. You find spending all your nights alone in the bus, actually more pleasurable than sleeping on the sofa." I don't know why it is true... but number 4 is very true. "6. The neighbors are afraid to complain about your bus, after watching you back it over a Hummer during a temper flare." Or they think your some kind of Gypsy. When we moved into our house one of the neighbers ask me if we used to live in it... while I was thinking "I wish", I was also wondering what gave him that kind of idea... he was putting me down I just couldn't figure out his angle. "9. You find it interesting to hear that both OSHA and the EPA have you listed. " While I never really thought about this one... it's probably true. "10. You have become addicted to diesel exhaust." Why is that??? also addicted to the sound of a Detroit Diesel. I sold my 4104... but I have been longing to get another bus. Still lay awake at night thinking about bus's... or look at them on Ebay... or on all the other busnut web pages. Excellent reply... | ||
| Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Rating: N/A |
Great list, John! Welcome aboard, Henry. bb | ||
| Pat Bartlett (Muddog16)
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Welome Henry!: I probably work 2 to 3 hours a day on my bus, but I know I spend 3 hours a day thinking about it, added to that. I read all the Bus Conversion magazines that I have maybe 2 hours there, then I visit all of the bulletin boards on here another 2 hours, then I visit as many home conversion sites as possible maybe another hour, I believe that comes out to 11 hours a day! No madness here! When did i ever find time to work?http://prevostlemirage.blogspot.com/ | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
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Pat, absolutely a fantastic job. One of the best I have ever seen. BTW, FF should take a look at this. He is apparently of the belief that only Eagles rust. LOL. Richard | ||
| Pat Bartlett (Muddog16)
Rating: N/A |
Thanks Richard! Believe me Prevosts do rust, the older ones anyway! I finished all of the baggage compartment walls, now i'm in the process of cutting the bottom wall sill on the drivers side, this is the side i mentioned at my site where Prevost runs their air conditioning lines along the floor, it is completely eaten out. The passenger side doesn't have any rust at all. When i get this finished probably this weekend that should just about finish my last replacement. Getting out of the rust will definately make me happy! Thanks again!: : Pat | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
"He is apparently of the belief that only Eagles rust. LOL." No they ALL rust , but Eagles are the most likely to rust out to the point of needing an entire new frame . Usually not done, = scrapped. FAST FRED | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A |
Scrapped? Really? In all the years on the boards and thousands of posts I have never heard of one being scrapped because of rust. Richard | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj)
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Henry of Cave Junction calling our new Henry....come in Henry!!! You also will know you are now "one of us" when you ON PURPOSE start your '81 VW Rabbit diesel toad WITHOUT on purpose letting... ....the cold weather cold start glow plugs glow up properly just soosss the mill will belch clouds ... ..of gray smoke upon start up just soossss you can IMPRESS your friends and enemies by.... ...smogging them out early in the cold morning when you use the glow plugs on your '81 VW Rabbit Diesel toad. He he he!!! The mind boggles. Well, my feeble mind anyway. Welcome aboard and a GREAT coach choice/selection. Carry on and stuff like that. | ||
| Henry Boehm (Hank)
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Henry, I read you loud and clear! We have a '00 VW TDI Golf and at this point it isn't too much of a smoker on startup...but even in cold weather I roll the window down a bit just to get a little whiff. I'm sure the 6V-92 will deliver a sufficient fix! I'm picking up the 96A3 on the 29th...am nervous and excited. It sounds like a winner: still in service, just passed inspection, all service records available, operator bought it new, new 134a AC, inframe 55K ago, good rubber, operator has great reputation for maintenance, etc. I don't know what else I could ask for sight unseen. I have the option of walking away but I hope I won't have to. I'll keep ya'll posted when I get back. Hank, over and out. |