FAST FRED (38.26.182.49)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 05, 2001 - 6:10 am: | |
"It has been my understanding (from what I 've read) that parts are
getting harder and harder to come by for the 410X....."
It is true that your local truck stop wont have much BUS SPECIFIC
stuff for a GM,, but that goes equally well for ANY bus, even a brand
new one.
Almost any part can be had by mail , or with a phone call, so the
trick {HOPEFULLY} is preventave maint.
The parts in most coaches are VERY robust , and die a slow death.
IF you keep most any coach in good mechanical condition, the reward
is no tow rope rides.
D'a book is very specific on how to maintain every coach , so its
only a matter of going thru the coach to SERVICE, not necessarily
replace everything .
This takes time and dirty hands , but not big cash or very special
skills.
IF you replaces the front brakes in a 40 Ford or 60's VW its mostly
the same,, just a bit different , and a whole lot bigger stuff.
But a wheel bearing is a wheel bearing , weather its an 1 1/2 in
diameter or 4 in.
Leave home with a well serviced coach and you will usually get where
your going.
A great advantage of a DD is the fact that they advertise their ill
health , usually for a long time , before giving up.
The old GM make a fine conversion , as the early monocoque bodies are
extremly strong , with almost all alluminum construction , and only a
small amount of steel to worry about.
You also get the floor leignth of most 40 ft coaches in a 35 GM, due
to the V drive.
Finally as this V drive style unit is being constructed today , as
transit .
When the transits hit the scrap heap [ not from old age ,, but from
unlimited "free" cash for mess transportation from Uncle Sucker} the
new modern drive trains , engine , tranny ,front and rearaxles , huge
transit brakes will all be had , at auction for a grand or two.
Drive it home , spend a couple of weeks changing over , an item at a
time , to stay drivable.
AND you now have an almost indestructable coach , that will not
disolve , with a year 2000 running gear !!
For some dirty hands , and a bit of time.
The engineering will be newer and better than most of the busses
running now.
Parts will STILL not be at a truck stop tho.
The recent crash of coach prices . makes the cost of a shell almost
meaningless in the cost of the conversion.
A great shell can be had for $5000 to $10,000 , so there is NO reason
to use a Skoolie as a conversion.
The disadvantages outweigh the cost ? advantage .
Only exception is someone that NEEDS a short Skoolie w/ 4 wheel
drive, coaches are not at their best in rock climbing on a dirt path.
FAST FRED |