| Author |
Message |
John Lawson (216.93.228.174)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 5:53 pm: | |
Can anyone tell me what is involved? |
John Lawson (216.93.228.174)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 5:55 pm: | |
it's on a GMC PD4107 |
TWO DOGS (67.209.132.180)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 10:43 pm: | |
A BUNCH of work...does your head hit the ceiling...or do you want to do it because "everybodys doing it" |
Phil Dumpster (24.16.243.37)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 11:16 pm: | |
"Can anyone tell me what is involved?"
"It's on a GMC PD4107"
For that coach, you'll need a lot of excessively poor taste.
The GMC buffalo coaches are classics of late 60s/early 70s design and look horrible with the roof raised and fiberglass caps tacked on the ends. ESPECIALLY the 4107 because it is only 35 feet long.
If you MUST have a raised roof (because you're seven feet tall, for instance) at least do it to something like an MCI. There's no shortage of those and they look OK with a little more height.
If you can round up the poor taste, consider this. Taller vehicles are more of a pain to drive than shorter vehicles as there are lots of things you can run into once you get off of the highway. You have to watch out for low clearances, which makes driving your coach more like driving a truck.
If you can deal with the low clearances, then consider this. That coach is a monocoque design made of aluminum. The roof and the members attaching it to the rest of the bus are structure components of the coach. A misalignment will cause all kinds of problems. The aluminum construction means you'll have to learn to weld with a MIG or TIG setup.
At the 2000 NMRA convention in San Jose, I saw what looked like it started life as a 4107 or 4906 (don't remember if it was 35 or 40 feet long) which had the roof raised and the characteristic buffalo ridge removed and a homemade MCI like cap above the windshield in its place. What a horrible thing to do to a GMC motorcoach.
I guess to some people nothing is sacred. |
4905 (152.163.252.163)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 11:35 pm: | |
hi we have a 4905 with a raised roof and the gent that said that thay are high is right. BUT mmmm it sure is nice to have the room. if i had any sug. it would be to put a belly air in it. that is the thing that i wish we would have done and still might >O> have fun and rember you are the one that owns the bus not any one else >O> . have fun Butch |
P Muncy (152.163.252.163)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 02, 2004 - 11:52 pm: | |
Hello, I try not to say much but i will say something on this, I have a 4106 that I raised the roof on and looks pretty cool and its 35 ft also have raised a roof on a 4905 and it looks good also so my advice to you would be it your bus you have to live with it and if you don't do it now you sure don't want to tear everything out to do it again would be glad to help you if you need direction.
Just my thoughts Pat |
RJ Long (Rjlong) (66.229.97.200)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 12:05 am: | |
John -
I spent many thousands of miles in the driver's seat of GM 4106s, 4107/8s and 4905s in the middle 70s. Based on my experience, the 35-foot Buffalos were my least favorite coach to drive in abnormal weather conditions. Especially if it was windy.
The shorter wheelbase and tall "sail" area really made them wander all over the road, something that wasn't a problem with the lower 4106, nor with the longer 4905s. Raising the roof six or more inches is just going to add additional "sail" area.
If you decide to do this, might I also suggest sailing lessons? You'll need to know how to keep it moving forward in heavy crosswinds. LOL
FWIW,
RJ
PD4106-2784
Fresno CA |
Phil Dumpster (24.16.243.37)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 9:13 am: | |
A 4106 is a different animal from a 4107.
Personally, the only GM with a roof raise that, in my opinion, looks great if done correctly is the 4501 Scenicruiser. Of course, it's already massive in original form and the roof raise doesn't alter that. The other GM coaches are far more nimble in appearance and just look aweful with a roof raise. |
John Lawson (216.93.228.174)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 11:08 am: | |
Well, thanks all. I wasn't really thinking about raising the roof on our bus but, the featured bus in Bus Conversions Magazine had the roof raised and got my wife asking questions. It is an Eagle, however. Since I am 6'2", the ceiling is a bit close and it eliminates increasing the insulation thickness. |
FAST FRED (65.154.177.171)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 04, 2004 - 5:53 am: | |
Just install basement air cond ,
rather than rooftop carbunkles.
And your 6'2" will be fine.
FAST FRED |