| Author |
Message |
jim mci-9 (209.240.205.60)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 6:24 pm: | |
i am going to look at a '56 4104 tomorrow....or sunday... guy that has it owes me $3k.... and has for a couple yrs... he's offered to settle with me for the bus.... it has.. ( he says) a 6v71 and a 4 speed... don ks/tx told me it will probably be a 671 whenever i finally see it...but wat do i need to look for??... i know it'll need tires...i have those... i'm a mechanic, so i'm not asking for advice on the engine or tranny... but what do i need to look for on the chassis??? where are the weak spots??? |
Luke Bonagura (Lukeatuscoach) (12.75.168.4)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 7:28 pm: | |
Hi Jim:
With any GM you want to check out the "Basic Structure", and without being over a pit this can be problamatic.
Depending upon where the coach started its life, how it was maintained, who has owned it since, will all add up to where it is at today structurally.
What we are seeing today, in our shop, with the much older GM's, such as the 4104, is Flooring failure, and on the GM'S the original flooring is basic part of the structure, as it holds the "BOX" in square.
If you can get it somewhere over a pit you want to look at the structure in the front & rear axle areas. Namely the bulkheads, attaching points for the suspension, and the bottom of the fasteners that attach the floor to the structure.
If you can't find pit availability, then, with the coach aired up, look at the bottom of the fasteners in each wheel pocket. If the bolts are hanging down with the nuts and washers, seperated from the bottom of the wood flooring, then they have pulled through the wood.
If the coach runs, have someone in the drivers seat and you on the outside.
Have them move it forward and do a panic stop while you are standing next to the entrance door. If at the rear post of the door, the door moves forward you have some strucural issues in the front.
Now have the other driver put the coach in reverse with the engine door and trans. doors open.
Have the other driver put it into reverse and see if there is chatter, and if so, is the axle jumping, or is the entire engine cradle jumping??
And then you have to look closer at those areas, and of course it could be an indication of a clutch problem.
It is a shame , this came up suddenly or we could have spoken on the phone and I could have made sure you were clear on the issues and areas I am speaking of.
At any rate, I Hope this HELPS!!! and Good Luck!!!
Happy & SAFE!! Bussin to ALL this weekend.
LUKE at US COACH |
Larry (208.18.102.63)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 11:10 am: | |
Well if he owes you 3K and maybe the only way to get it is by taking the bus for the debt, then go for it. Bird in the hand thing. |
Larry (208.18.102.63)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 11:43 am: | |
Hi Luke,
That was good simple info, I guess the same for a 4106?
Larry |
Jim Wilke (64.12.96.105)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 12:25 pm: | |
Jim,
What Luke said, plus:
Sight down the sides of the bus. You are looking for bulging over the wheelwells which indicates serious flexing of the body. Look carefully at the front of the bus for signs of collision damage. Look inside the front wheelwells, there is an angle iron type support that is riveted to the front of the air beam which runs vertically downward, supporting the forward bulkhead. It should not be bent or cracked. If it is, it indicates the front on that side hit something & you then look closer to see if the bulkhead is pushed back which is what the front axle is mounted to.
Sit in the driver's seat & move the wheel back & forth just to where the "play" is taken up. Measure the play at the rim. 3/4 to 1" is pretty good, 3" is pretty worn.
Go to the rear & grab the driveshaft & rotate back & forth with transmission in neutral. Observe wear in splines, U joints & rear axle. Most old dogs will have an inch or so in the rear axle.
Just about anything you find wrong with the bus can be fixed & there are plenty of parts & used components around. The worst issue with a 4104 is that the original engine is only 170 hp & is not a race car! HP can be brought up to 240 without turbocharging & way more if you want to spend big. But the transmission is somewhat fragile at higher HP. When Detroit introduced the 318HP 8-V71, they had to go to a better designed transmission.
Jim-Bob
'59 4104-4039 |
jim mci-9 (209.240.205.60)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 6:57 pm: | |
didnt get the bus.... guy backed out on me when i got there..... so i guess my lawyer will gwt into it now dfor collection of a bad debt.... thanks to all that helped me with info... i did get a '83 grumman transit that i'll sell... it'll make an excellent donor for an older conversion....6v92t... 730>(i think).... needs tires.... |
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