| Author |
Message |
WesJackson (152.163.204.198)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 16, 2001 - 11:10 pm: | |
Whats the story with the 4104. My lovely wife and I have the opportunity to close a sweet deal on a 58 4104. An over-all dream.Its our first bus to convert. I have read articles recently that state parts are going to be hard to come by really soon, and that the 4104 and others will be basicaally dinosaurs. Can i buy this bus with a certain degree of confidence that i am not buying a nice yard ornament. HELP!
Any input will be greatly appreciated.
Wesjcksn@aol.com |
FAST FRED (63.215.236.156)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 17, 2001 - 7:08 am: | |
Almost everything can be found for these great coaches.
The most expensive is the rear axle , so be sure its serviced and it should last almost forever.
Body parts to re do the baggage doors and block out panels for skinning are available.
The running gear is as close as your phone , stuff wont be in NAPA .
The trick is to find one that was converted early , after Greyhound , but before indifferent charter co's that only cared about the DOT , not keeping the coach top notch.
If your handy , and can do the work , all the little stuff , front wheel bearings , steering slop , ect can be worked out over a couple of work sessions.
Most folks get her running , and work on any small hassles over time .
A converted coach maintained by Da Book is worth much more than a clapped out cheap shell, no matter how fine the heated Corrian toilet seats are.
Most items die VERY slowly , giving loads of warning of their coming demise, so its usually easy not to have road hassles.
The hardest to figure is a coach that isn't used frequently , these things DIE with out proper use and Maint., and then become a BIG fix , rather than a once in a while small part.
IF the coach comes with Da Book and its filled with dirty finger smudges , its a good sign.
Think of the coach as a battery , you want a clean , maintained , well charged one,,,
NOT one with only a start or two left.
The coach will need a check out by a BUS company , not a truck stop .
FAST FRED |
J.L.Vickers (209.34.1.187)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 17, 2001 - 7:33 am: | |
Old Fast Fred is right on the money.After all he has a PD-4106 the next model after the PD-4104.
The PD-4104 are the best little 35' coaches that GMC ever built.Fred please don,t get your feelings hurt.
I just like 4104,s as they are like a old 57 Chevrolet.Back then GMC had the "KISS" idea (Keep it simple stupid).
It,s a good old bus go for it.
JLV |
Ted Calvert (Chowbus) (192.132.225.130)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 17, 2001 - 7:42 pm: | |
My 1960 GMC PD 4104, #4850, just completed a 1500-mile trip from S.E. Ohio to Memphis and back! That's typical. It'll be a yard ornament if you let it, or it will be a fun ride.
Fast Fred is knowledgeable. Most parts are available. They are built to last.
Welcome to a great hobby & good luck!
Ted Calvert.
Chowbus@AOL.com |
Jim Stacy (12.87.108.115)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 17, 2001 - 10:24 pm: | |
We have put nearly 40,000 miles on our '04 in the last two years and are planning on Alaska next year (after we winter in Brownsville).
Garry Dean (919)383-4780 is a great source of parts and info on older GM's.
Jim Stacy |
Usher (162.40.198.207)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 - 9:02 am: | |
I have a 59 4104, and we love it. I just don't get to use it enough. We own a business that keeps me tied down ( for now) and we foster children. ( I have 5 now). It is an adventure around our house every morning. (BTW, We have 3 birth children also.) Feeding 10 at a meal is like having a family reunion 3 times a day. And no, I can't sleep all the kids in the bus, so we carry a tent for the 4 boys to sleep in. Problem solved. They have slept in the middle bay, with the door open at times. They love it. Anyway, back to the bus. The only time it has left me stranded was right after we bought it. The bushings that hold the rear end in place were worn and let the emergency brake hub wear a hole in the right side front air bag. I had to rent a car and drive 300 miles round trip to pick up a bag in Augusta,GA, then install it in the parking lot of a gas station in Pinehurst, NC. I didn't know anything about the bad bushings and busted the same bag again driving into my drive way 6 hours later. But I now have new bushing, new bags and over 7500 miles more on the bus with no problems. Most of our driving is less than 200 miles right now, because of the time constraints of our business, and the fact you can't take foster children across the state line without all the paperwork from DFACS. With 2 different agencies and 4 different case workers, it takes a full time manager just to get the papers in order to go out of state.
Well enough of our tales. Get the 4104, they are really nice buses, ride well and can haul all the equipment you need underneath. And ours gets almost 10 mpg. Not to bad for an antique, heh? |
mark murray (144.92.164.201)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 - 2:15 pm: | |
I also own a 4104. Parts availability isn't a problem, but resale maybe something to consider.
That said, I feel you can't find a better 35'Coach to convert. Also you will be able to navigate most campgrounds. 4104's are great, simple, reliable machines! Mark M |
Donald Peter (Don) (172.181.250.63)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 - 3:12 pm: | |
Just a quick comment on resale. Don't even think about it. Keep a rough track of your parts cost and the original coach cost and if you have to sell hope you can recover most of that. The problem is really one of financing. No one wants to loan money on an older, home built bus conversion. You'll have to carry paper yourself or find a cash buyer.
Besides, why would you ever want to sell it? :-) |
Jim-Bob (199.181.167.68)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 - 5:26 pm: | |
Fast Fred is right on! We have had our '59 4104 for just over 2 years. It was already converted but the chassis had not been maintained well after conversion. I have overhauled most of the small stuff on ours, bearings, steering , brakes, radiator, etc. Haven't found anything you can't get IF YOU HAVE TIME. This has convinced me to do the service at home rather than on the side of the road. These older buses are extremely simple & rugged. The 4104's body is all aluminum unlike later GMs & MUCH thicker metal than the '75 4905 we also have. No rocket science needed to fix anything, just good craftsmanship on your part & Da Book. Having said that, we just went 4200 miles without her even hiccuping! Not one problem. 9.5 MPG, terrific ride, very quiet. I want to find a non converted 4104 to build one from scratch! |
DOUG WOTRING (12.90.22.223)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2001 - 8:27 pm: | |
i AGREE WITH THE GROUP...THE 04 IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST BUILT AND MOST SOLID COACHES OOUT THERE....i HAVE MY DAD'S 59 04 WHICH HE LET GO TO BUY AN 4108....MINE NOW HAS OVE 2.5 MILLION MILES ON THE cHASSIS....WITH CONTINUED REGULAR MAINT....AND SOME ELBOW GREASE HERE AND THERE FROM TIME TO TIME...i SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE IT TO MY KIDS...OR EVEN MY GRANDKIDS...
PS: Parts and manuals are not a problem....rear glass is but can be done in fiberglass.... |
Jeanne Hare (128.210.172.31)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2001 - 9:45 am: | |
We have a p-d 4104 1959. We love this coach very much we were new to bus conversions and bought this one
form a great couple who bought a newer MCI
When we got it the coach was 70% done we have since then put in new windows and took out ones that were covered and put new aluminum to cover where we took some out . We have been to WY,UT,Fl,ND,SD,NM she runs great and moves right along on the highway . I didn't ever think I would drive a big bus but my husband said you can learn
I prefer to drive her on the open road but will drive her in town. You can enjoy alot of time in her we still gets stares when we pull into some campgrounds since she is so old . We took it to Ill for our first bus bash if you get a chance there is one coming up in Florida in May memorial weekend we plan to attend . You can learn all kinds of things and meat great people and meet others who have the same make and model you have.WEe get our parts from Deans coach out of Nc parts are not hard to find there.She has a lot of miles on her but she just keeps going!!! |
04 bud (152.163.207.213)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 04, 2001 - 7:22 pm: | |
Have a 1960 04 here pull 6000 lb race car trailer up and down the hills of calif ...ya a little slow but a great way to go ...try luke at us coach for parts. |
Jim Stephenson (216.180.4.13)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 02, 2001 - 6:43 am: | |
I 'am soon to take delivery on my first converted bus 1964-4106. I have had it checked out and even talked to a bank appraiser who check it out for a bank on another buyer that deal did'nt go through. To make a long story shorter, I think I have done everything I can do make sure I'am getting what I paid for. Any suggestions, misstakes or hints to watch out for? Does anybody know the cargo bay measurements? Any help on where to get the best advise trying to maintain the 4106?
Thanks in advance
Jim |
FAST FRED (209.26.87.49)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 03, 2001 - 5:37 am: | |
There is ONLY one place for info on maintaining your new baby , in Da Book from GM the coach builder.
Be sure to get a complete book with the wiring diagrams .
These coaches are among the simplest to maintain , to "stop the clock" , just follow Da Book!
Luke at Us Coach 1 888-COACH 34 , or any of a bunch of sources can get a copy.
If your going to do a "smash to the bones" conversion , rip all the stock walls and cieling out , its the only book you will need.
If your going to keep the fine coach interior , the parts book will be usefull to know where everything is , and give you many ideas on modifying the coach to suit your needs.
EG. You can tear out all the floor ducts , and then if you chose a quiet basement air cond system , get to replace them all with something you get to build.
Or you think how to just modify the stock ducts, for your purposes.
FAST FRED |
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