| Author | Message | ||
| Chuck Brush (Chuckbrush)
Registered Member Username: Chuckbrush Post Number: 1 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 64.12.116.138 Rating: |
Three of us bought a 4515 on EBay. We intend to drive it from Washington to Texas for fun and adventure. I wonder what sort of suspension this bus would have. It is a suburban model. Does it have springs or air-bags? Thanks, Chuck | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 574 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 64.136.49.228 Rating: N/A |
a suburban model....do you mean a 45 mph city bus | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1167 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 71.195.127.101 Rating: N/A |
Bob - This coach is what's known as an "Old Look", and even tho it shares the body with the transits of the same era, it doesn't have the rear exit doors. Also, because it's a Suburban, and due to the "M" in the model number, this coach probably came from the factory with a manual transmission. The majority of manual gearboxes also included highway ratios in the rear axle, so this coach would most likely run about the same speeds as a PD4104. At least as OEM, based on the limited info Chuck provided. Chuck - Chances are real good that this coach has air suspension. GM integrated air into the Old Looks fairly quickly after introducing it in the PD4104 in 1953. Easiest way to tell is to look underneath! Whatever you do, as you work your way from WA to TX, is DO NOT LUG THE ENGINE!! The stock in-line 6-71 Detroit Diesel is virtually indestructable, but will break fairly quickly if you lug it and overheat it. Unless it's been changed to an automatic, you need to know the maximum speed in each of the three lower gears. When pulling a grade, start your downshift about 5 mph faster than the next lower gear's top speed. Makes for much smoother shifts and avoids lugging. BTW, what's the complete VIN on the coach? TDM4515-XXXX?? FWIW & HTH. . .  | ||
| Chuck Brush (Chuckbrush)
Registered Member Username: Chuckbrush Post Number: 3 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 205.188.116.13 Rating: N/A |
Hi Mr. Long, Can you explain about the air ride suspension. Can the air bags pop or be so deteriated that we won't be able to get down the highway? Thanks, Chuck | ||
| Chuck Brush (Chuckbrush)
Registered Member Username: Chuckbrush Post Number: 4 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 205.188.116.13 Rating: N/A |
BTW, what's the complete VIN on the coach? TDM4515-XXXX?? Oops.... I haven't seen the plate and more or less extrapolated from info. that it would be a TDM 4515. The owner tells me that the vin # is MTK 807. Any ideas as to what that might designate would be appreciated. Chuck | ||
| Douglas Wotring (Tekebird)
Registered Member Username: Tekebird Post Number: 64 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 71.230.19.74 Rating: N/A |
that VIn is not correct it should be a 4 digit # following TDM4515- as you stated. if you have bad airbags you should not drive it.....and likely will be an expensive prospect for you to fix....read as cost prohibitive. | ||
| Robert Chamuler (Nemos88)
Registered Member Username: Nemos88 Post Number: 3 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 24.19.183.71 Rating: N/A |
Is this the GMC conversion bus from Hillauto body? | ||
| Chuck Brush (Chuckbrush)
Registered Member Username: Chuckbrush Post Number: 5 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 205.188.116.13 Rating: N/A |
Yes, this is the bus from Hill Auto in Washington. Do you know anything about it? Seattle seems to have an active bus club. I was hoping that I might come across someone that knew something about it, or would be close enough to take a look at it and report back. It's in Willapa Bay. I was told it was running when the owner had some sort of legal entanglement and the bus ended up in an impound lot. Thanks, Chuck (Message edited by chuckbrush on January 21, 2007) | ||
| Chuck Brush (Chuckbrush)
Registered Member Username: Chuckbrush Post Number: 6 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 205.188.116.13 Rating: N/A |
(Message edited by chuckbrush on January 21, 2007) | ||
| Robert Chamuler (Nemos88)
Registered Member Username: Nemos88 Post Number: 4 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 24.19.183.71 Rating: N/A |
Chuck, I sent you an E Mail with some info. | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 577 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 64.136.49.228 Rating: N/A |
is this the one that got 5 miles & the guy got arrested? ?? | ||
| Chuck Brush (Chuckbrush)
Registered Member Username: Chuckbrush Post Number: 8 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 205.188.116.13 Rating: N/A |
Yes , this is the very bus, perhaps I failed to explore the possibility of some poor Karma or bus curse. I was too preocupied with things like flat air suspension and battery polarity. Now you guys have me really worried. Chuck | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 579 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 64.136.49.228 Rating: N/A |
HEADLINES three guys,a all cavity body search every five miles THE BOOK TEXAS IS A LOOONG WAY | ||
| sylverstone (Sylverstone_pd4501864)
Registered Member Username: Sylverstone_pd4501864 Post Number: 250 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 216.173.223.253 Rating: N/A |
i'm in the area if you would like me to take a hard look at it for you. ... and can someone else share the story of this thing with me? -dd | ||
| Phil Dumpster (Phil_dumpster)
Registered Member Username: Phil_dumpster Post Number: 8 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 71.112.104.215 Rating: N/A |
It's a TDM4515, which is basically a 4104 as far as running gear is concerned. It also has air suspension, judging from the pictures of the body almost sitting on the ground. If an air bag pops while going down the road, the bus will have a noticable list and the ride will be very rough at the low part. The bags are made of rubber, like a tire, and rot out over time. If they haven't been changed in the last few years, then they are due. If you don't know how to change them out, you'll want to take it someplace and have the questionable ones done before they blow. The height control valves are also known to leak when they get old. The legal problems are probably pretty straightforward. If you are caught driving while your license is suspended, most jurisdictions in Washington state will impound your vehicle. The impound fee and the storage fees can add up quickly ($200+ for the impound, $50 a day for storage is not uncommon) and it probably got to the point where the previous owner just couldn't raise the cash quickly enough or, more likely, once it got to more than the coach is worth, just decided to abandon it at the towing lot. | ||
| Chuck Brush (Chuckbrush)
Registered Member Username: Chuckbrush Post Number: 10 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 64.12.116.138 Rating: N/A |
"It's a TDM4515, which is basically a 4104 as far as running gear is concerned." If we have to abandon bus, is someone with a 4104 going to need the "V" drive, rearend, and lefthanded engine or should we not suffer guilt for scraping it? Chuck (Message edited by chuckbrush on January 23, 2007) | ||
| sylverstone (Sylverstone_pd4501864)
Registered Member Username: Sylverstone_pd4501864 Post Number: 252 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 216.173.223.253 Rating: N/A |
you need to abandon it, you call me. -dd |
