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Message |
Esther (209.86.241.212)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 31, 2003 - 11:03 pm: | |
Hi,
My name is Esther, I am a 2 year old Border Collie mix. I travel with my daddy, and the rest of his family. We travel the country in a GMC 4108. I have been hearing them talking about getting differant bus. They are talking about getting an MC-9. I think that is good choice. My daddy said this will be the last one he converts, and that's final (he has converted 3). I want to help him select the best bus he can afford (which isn't a lot!) I have a few questions. [1.] I need to know which is better: the 8v-71 or the 6v-92. Why? [2.] What is Integral steering, and do we need it, or is it just a nice thing to have? [3.] The last ceiling he did cost way too much, and was way too hard. What he wants to do this time is take down the panels in the ceiling, remove the isulation, and then using the cans of spray foam, fill up the cavities. Then he wants to put the panels back up. Is that a good idea? Has anyone done it that way? If so, what brand of spray foam did you use and why? Did you have any trouble with condensation on the ceiling afterward?
[4.]Do you have any tips or suggestions for him? [5.] Has anyone out there ever driven BOTH an MC-9 and a GMC 4108? What type of roads? And what did you think of the differance? |
RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 3:11 am: | |
I've driven 4108s and MC-9s. They are quite different in their "feel" as you motor down the hiway, or even putter around town.
Personally, I'm not fond of the 35-foot Buffalos, both the 4107 and the 4108. IBME that when you get into really windy conditions, the tall sides create a "sail" that contributes to blowing the coach all over the road, making it a handful to control, especially at freeway speeds. The front end also feels "light", like a Corvair or first generation VW Bug. The longer 4905s are not cursed with this phenomenon, the extra five feet of wheelbase seems to eliminate the problem.
Compared to the light 4108, the MC-9 has a "heavy" feel to it, which makes sense, as it weighs almost four tons more empty. Equipped with the 8V71 like the 4108, the MCI is slower getting up to freeway speeds, and will slow down a little faster climbing the 6% grades we've got out here in CA, but they'll both end up on the governor in second gear at about 30 mph near the top of the hill when loaded. The tag axle has a tendency to take the "wiggle" out of running down the freeway, contributing greatly to straight-line stability. The turning radius is larger, but that's to be expected from a longer coach.
If you find a really nice, clean, well-maintained MC-9 from the SW US, you'll be real happy. But you'll pay for it - quality doesn't come cheap.
Debate over which is better between the 8V71 and the 6V92 will go on as long as the two engines power coaches. The 92 gets a little better fuel economy (maybe 0.5 mpg), and with the turbo, the power doesn't fall off as much at higher elevations. Plus it's easy to pump it up to 350 hp, while the 8V71 takes a rebuild and conversion to a turbo motor to achieve the same power rating. But provision must be made for additional cooling capacity with the higher HP engine, something that MCIs are a little marginal on, compared to GMs. But not insurmountable - you just have to pay attention to the details. Expect (budget for!) between 5 - 7 mpg with either engine in an MC-9. I wouldn't worry about which engine your coach has when you purchase it, if it's fairly low mileage and has been well maintained, you'll probably never break it unless you do something stupid. That's when I would consider alternate engine choices. . .
What's integral steering? Look under the front of your 4108 at the steering gearbox mounted on the axle. Do you see hydraulic lines coming out of the box? If you do, you've got integral steering. If you don't, but you see hydraulic lines going to a long cylindrical thing mounted on the steering linkage, you've got power-assisted steering. Biggest difference is in the feel and response of the two, many say the integral is easier to steer and control, others like the more manual steering highway feel of the power-assisted units. MCI made the switch from power-assisted to integral in late 1981 or early 1982. Sheppard is the most common brand. Do you need it? No. Is it nice to have? Yes. If you come across two otherwise identical MCIs, and one has a integral and the other power-assisted, all other things being equal, buy the one with integral - resale will be better, if nothing else, plus you won't have to spend the bucks to convert it over.
HTH,
RJ
PD4106-2784
Fresno CA |
Skorpio (Skorpio) (24.92.193.195)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 01, 2003 - 11:00 pm: | |
Well being a Border Collie you'll probably be happiest in a really long bus with lots of obstacles to jump over, you need to convince your daddy to make a kind of zig-zag path from the front to the back and use ottomans where ever possible. As far as engine type, I don't know how much input you'll have as humans can be difficult to train some times and kind of do their own thing, but make sure it has a turbocharger, it makes more interesting sounds. If the wind is blowing right a 6v-92T can make good sounds to sing to. Spray foam is not nearly as fun as Styrofoam, humans get wigged out when you play with it, which makes no sense because it's all over the place and makes fun little shiny balls. They seem to be more apt to let you play with Styrofoam, and it shreds up really good and kinda looks like snow, but the shapes are boring. I've heard MCIs sway a lot which can be lots of fun and might give you something to freak out over, although being a Border Collie this may distract from your normal psychotic behavior. MC-9s have nice high floors so the stairs are lots of fun, but it's harder to get in the way when the bus is moving. Also it would be nice to get something that is 102" wide, because it allows for more spinning room. |
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