| Author | Message | ||
| james (Dieseldust)
Registered Member Username: Dieseldust Post Number: 5 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 207.81.36.205 Rating: N/A |
hello there again to all of you bus nuts,i have not fully decided yet on purchasing a 1970 Eagle Entertainer it looks great in the pictures,we all know pictures are decieving,salesman says it runs and drives fantastic, i thinh Ian was going to put my thread in with the pictures i sent in ,please have a look and please comment on the bus,i know not alot about Busses ,i have driven for the last 35 years all over north america,if any one wants to email me at dieseldust@telus.net and i can send you some pictures and a couple of short movies that i have of the bus,any help on making my mind up for me would be wonderful lololol Cheers to all James Beamish | ||
| George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member Username: George_mc6 Post Number: 151 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 207.231.81.59 Rating: N/A |
James, I will be just the first of many to tell you to HAVE THE BUS THOROUGHLY INSPECTED BY A QUALIFIED BUS MECHANIC! There are two fairly recent threads here concerning "sight-unseen" purchases, and the THOUSANDS of dollars lost, unkept promises, etc. Do you know how to tell if a car salesman is lying? His lips are moving! The same thing applies to bus salesmen! I am not bashing Eagles, but they are prone to two problems not as prevalent in MCI, GM, or Prevost. One, they SEEM to rust more. Two, the torsilastic suspension eventually runs out of adjustment, and if you buy a bus with the adjustment on one or more bars at the end of its travel, replacement bars are expensive. The air ride buses just LEAK, and air spills don't require an EPA cleanup. Strongly consider the THOUSANDS you are going to spend on it, versus the HUNDREDS you will spend having it checked out??? If an independent mech calls it good, and the price is right, buy it! I'm not going to look at your pix, YOU have a MECHANIC LOOK AT THE BUS!!! I'm not being a wise___, my terrycloth shirt is in the wash, and I don't want to get my shoulder wet! HTH, George | ||
| Ian Giffin (Admin)
Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 989 Registered: 7-1997 Posted From: 64.187.39.62 Rating: |
Hi James, You'll hear from many people about east coast buses and the additional rust they seem to accumulate. With an entertainer, it usually doesn't matter where the bus was originally bought and housed; fact is it has probably traveled all over north america and has seen it's fair share of salted roads. Additionally, you will also hear people say the funniest things specifically about Eagles and rust. I think the funniest thing I ever read was where a fella said he had to wear hearing protection on the west coast because the sound of an Eagle rusting on the east coast was so loud. That said, I have included a picture, of those you sent to me to post here, that has some arrows on it. These three areas, inside the wheel wells, are likely the most susceptable to rust and it would behoove you to take someone with you to take a detailed look at this beautiful Eagle from the underside, concentrating on the drives, bogies and bulkheads in these areas. Of the ton of advice you will take, please take this: Be dispassionate about a qualified audit and if your qualified source says this bus is about to split in half, turn around and walk, no, run away. And do not look back. If, however, he gives this bus a clean bill of health, then you can likely go ahead and take the next steps. George, above, makes an excellent arguement about torsilatic suspension components, for example. Watch, though... some of these pictures contain the telltale color that you want not to see in any bus and it looks like this bus may be a little worn out. Although any part of this bus can exhibit the rustiness, it may also have been very well maintained underneath or perhaps even restored recently. Try to find out... and ask for documented evidence, not just someone's word. Best of luck to you in your search for the right bus for you. This may not be it. But then again... Regards, Ian www.busnut.com            | ||
| Gary LaBombard (Garylee)
Registered Member Username: Garylee Post Number: 131 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 152.163.100.13 Rating: |
James, Take Ian's, and Georges advise and if you want a real extension of what is under your bus by the photo's I see here then go to my web site and this is not an advertisment for my site, but only perhaps an eye opening to what your "Inspector" I hope you will pay to use will find in your bus that you will probably not. Everyone, I mean everyone probably knows of my bus I am still fixing by the way, called the "Rustless Money Pit". There is no such thing as a "LITTLE" rust when I look at your photos this is common with my experience now that You can expect from these older buses. Now, If as Ian also suggested, if your mechanic that is taking perhaps maybe 4-6 hours to thoroughly inspect for you says this bus needs very little repair or none, then by all means go for it, I love Eagles but have to tell you I am nearly at my limit of love. If you cannot do extensive frame repairs, torsilastic replacement if needed, complete wiring which I am sure will be needed because of age and the list goes on then you better be sure you have deep pockets to pay someone to "Get-R-done. I have seen some Eagles just out of this world and of great undercarriage shape I would give my eye teeth to own right now and the owners of them are very proud of them and rightfully so. I sure envy them and hope someday after I get mine on the road that others will think this of my bus, but that is STILL a long way off. I wish you luck for sure, DO NOT INSPECT YOUR BUS BY YOURSELF AND DEFINATELY LEAVE YOUR "HEART" at home!!!!!!!!! To pay someone to do the exact repairs to my bus so far that I have done at $75 per hour which is modest now I guess, but it would cost over $300,000 and no less if done exactly as I have done the past (5) years now. WE are trying to help you here, the decision is up to you but at least go look at my site and see if this information which is FREE now, but see if this information will help in your inspection. Go to.: http://community.webshots.com/user/converter101 This information is not intended to bash Eagles or any bus, only educate what the in-experienced newbie can expect if they do not put their trust into a professional inspection before a sale of any bus. By the way, you will find rust on most any bus no matter what, but a well maintained bus by a proud owner will sure minimize major costly repairs and take the wind out of your sails fast. I was a hard learner of this, now I am trying my best to help anyone asking for information and I interpet your post as just that. The best advise is to buy the newest bus possible in years of age with most if not all the features you would want for you and your families comfort, get one you can drive now and have fun with now and just have to "Tinker" around with if you want to do some little things. Good luck again, contact me anytime you wish for any further information I may have that could help you. Take your time, get the engine and tranny you want also, SHOP AROUND, This is not a cheap hobby by any means but man wait till you meet the great people also doing this. Go to some Rally's, on the East Coast I can surely recommend the one put on by Jack & Paula Conrad at Arcadia, FL in late December. This is almost a must see rally to see every kind of bus you ever dream about. TAke your camera and a pad to write down all the names and address of great bus nuts like you want to be that will surely be friends you want in your life. My address is in my profile if you need to contact me anytime. Gary | ||
| evan (Legaleagle82)
Registered Member Username: Legaleagle82 Post Number: 10 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 69.245.4.209 Rating: N/A |
could have sworn I saw this bus in knoxville, tn at the flying j over the weekend. where is it? | ||
| Douglas Wotring (Tekebird)
Registered Member Username: Tekebird Post Number: 176 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 71.59.75.212 Rating: N/A |
with the extent of rust in the photos in exposed areas I would bet that there is extensive corrosion throughout. Walk down the side of the bus thumping the painted area with the heel of your palm......will expect you to hear stuff (rust/metal) falling off. I know of eagles that are rusted to the point they are deemed unsafe for road use that ride and drive terrifically. one of these buses as far as I know is still on the road but in a different state. pictures do lie...both ways in fact....but often pose a better image on the positive side. go see it for yourself...then get it inspected by a bus mechanic, preferable one that knows eagles and thier inherant issues. If it were me I would not even bother with what is seen in the photos.........with that said....depending on the price, what you intend to do with it and how long you intend on letting it live with you......... consider all the issues and make a sane and wise choice | ||
| norcal kyle (Kylexisxrad)
Registered Member Username: Kylexisxrad Post Number: 145 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 216.220.216.157 Rating: N/A |
I really cant say more than the guys here, but here goes: I'm an Eagle lover to the bone, no doubt. its the only bus I ever really wanted, and its exactly what I bought, and I couldn't be more proud of her. she's absolutly beautiful to me, BUT, I will be the first to admit that the birds are prone to rust. being built like a birdcage, they have more steel, and that means more steel to rust. it just comes with the territory. follow everyones advice, get it looked at. dont get overwhelmed by her pretty shape. some good advice so far here(actually, its all awesome), is to leave your heart at home. we all love buses, but its best to treat it like what it is. just a machine(at least in this case). check the suspention. torsilastics with no adjustment left can be re-indexed, but that costs money, and the bars might not even be in a condition that would make it worth it. there's new buses for sale everyday, and its definetly a buyers market right now. I shopped for a full 2 years before I found mine, and it was worth it. I got an awesome suspention, practically ZERO rust, and a ride that rivals a 500 Benz(better if you ask me.  ). also, one place that I found had issues on every single Eagle I looked at was the fuse panel under the drivers window. definetly look there. good luck, and shop smart. kyle in norcal 1980 Eagle 10 #30223 | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Registered Member Username: Kyle4501 Post Number: 329 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 65.23.106.193 Rating: N/A |
James, Read up on 'The Rustless Money Pit', Gary has tons of good info there & is doing a great job on his . "there's new buses for sale everyday, and its definetly a buyers market right now. I shopped for a full 2 years before I found mine, and it was worth it." SAGE advice for sure Kyle in norcal, after riding in my 4501, my S class Mercedes ride felt like a wagon on a rutted road | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 3 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 64.40.223.242 Rating: N/A |
Our Eagle is a 68 01. Yes there is some rust, but what doesn't at that age. Wheel wells are the worst, then I found extensive rust under the front windshield down to the aluminum siding. Although I know it's there, I live with it and will get to it someday. If it was so bad that I could put my finger through it I would not drive it. I guess I am lucky as the previous pictures are worse than mine. It will cost a lot of labor to fix it unless you are qualified to do it yourself. I also love the shape of the Eagle, but I just love older busses period. Good Luck, Paul | ||
| Len Silva (Lsilva)
Registered Member Username: Lsilva Post Number: 116 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 71.31.108.96 Rating: N/A |
James, Keep in mind that entertainers have often been badly abused with minimum maintenance. The generator has probably been run 24/7 for weeks at a time. Be careful, be very very careful. Len |
