| Author |
Message |
Pat Bartlett (Muddog16)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 09, 2004 - 1:05 pm: | |
I purchased a 1982 Prevost LeMirage, so far i've torn the interior out, completely, next the windows are coming out,(1st question, does anyone make curved dual plane windows for a LeMirage?) Moving right along....in raising the roof i've read everything or reason why to, or not to, raise the roof, i'm going to raise it that is for sure, (2nd question is how much height do i want to add 6, 8, or 10 inches?) This is my first conversion, and yes i'm still excited about it, it took two years of reading and searching to reach this point, i'm still young (55) and retired (medical), this bus may have to last a lifetime, however long that is. (3rd question 8V71, 8V71T, 8V71TA, or 8V92TA, just how long before parts are not available for the 71 series engines?) I've looked at MCI, Eagle, and Prevost, it didn't matter what make it was, it turned my head. I've spent 35 years in maintenance and the construction industry, probably the only items i won't tackle are, painting of the exterior, and rebuilding the engine or transmission, there aren't enough days left to learn the finer points of building or rebuilding those. Most areas of the converstion i know which direction i'm going, which brings me to this forum, i enjoy starting my day reading the new posts and searching the archives, and i don't believe there is an item that is missed or well covered, thanks for the input, great information, and those absolutely wonder stories and quips....OH!...(i think the rain stopped......time to go back out and work on the bus) Have a good one! |
niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 09, 2004 - 1:13 pm: | |
Pat - unless you have height considerations (such as high profile roof airs) - I would go the max roof raise as the volume greatly improves the visual perception of the size of your interior and makes it easy to run electrical/mechanical systems and allows for extra insulation - while your doing it there is no extra cost for a couple more inches -
Niles |
Ron Walker (Prevost82)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 09, 2004 - 2:40 pm: | |
Pat...standard roof raise is 8 inches. I went with Dometic penguin roof airs 9" tall, I'm 12'-10" air up.(click on my name to see bus) It has a 8 in roof raise, caps are from R&M. Prevost has the double glazed windows for your bus...very pricey. I haven't heard of any other supplier. You raise the roof from the bottom of the window, leave all vertical members attached to roof. I used 4 old bumper jacks to raise the roof.
here's a site to look at, Prevost Le Mirage raising the roof
http://www.collinburnell.com/thebus/index.htm
You can chose to raise the drivers area or not...it's a lot less work if you don't.
Ron
PS I re-power mine with a silver 8V92 TA...what a differance over the 71. |
Don Fairchild
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 09, 2004 - 3:56 pm: | |
Pat, Parts will be around for the two stroke for a long time, If it were my money I would find a good two stroke mechanic, Have him build the 8V71T with 400-500HP and add a charge air cooler to the coach. It will run as good as the 8V92TA. It will be quieter, run smother and use less fuel and it will live. If you need a list of parts to look for E-Mail me off the board.
Don |
jimmci9 #2
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 09, 2004 - 4:13 pm: | |
the company i work for is a detroit diesel/allision affiliate... 2 strokes... mainly oil-field stuff...71's and 92's that are industrial...like fire pumps and generators... and some automotive thrown in.... the parts dept has genuine detroit parts, in addition to ipd (aftemarket).. i work for the caterpillar part...lol... |
Don Fairchild
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 09, 2004 - 4:43 pm: | |
Jim, IPD no longer makes two stroke parts. Who do you work for, if you dont mind my asking.
Thanks, Don |
TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 09, 2004 - 4:58 pm: | |
next time you are watching a WW2 movie...'listen' to the tank....dd diesel...they will be around for a while...been here 50+ years & will be around till we die...diesel is getting cost prohibitive tho..
Don't raise your roof unless you bump your head...(tall guy)...or unless you have to put a/c ductwork up there....... |
Bob Oakman (Bobsbus)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 09, 2004 - 5:19 pm: | |
Pat, Good to see another getting started on a do-it-yourself conversion! The Prevosts always seem to come out real pretty. My Eagle is going a lot slower now that I work longer hours and have many other projects, but we hit it hard at first and made incredible progress in a short time. You are lucky to have found this forum and smart to have done lots of research. I wish I had done the same before I started.
I used what we called "high-lift" jacks. The bumper jacks I got from the scrap yard were not very dependable. I put 4 X 4s through the windows and lag bolted the jacks right to them. Photos Here |
ron and patti (Hayleyscomet)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 09, 2004 - 7:25 pm: | |
Hi, we have a Lemirage and we bought our opening windows right from Prevost. You can get sliders or awning style. (We bought the awning style for more air flow). They match the color of the fixed windows that we left in. Patti |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 09, 2004 - 7:33 pm: | |
Possible source for the windows is Peninsula. I think they have a stock dual glazed for Le Mirage.
I don't have an opinion on raising the roof except I certainly would not if it were not necessary for inside headroom. I lowered the floor in my Neoplan by 4", a formidable job, but easier than a roof raise in my opinion.
As for the engine, if it came down to a complete change-out I would not waste my time on even considering a 2 cycle--go modern, go 4 stroke (take your choice, there are pro's and con's to the 3 major makers.) As for trying to equal the performance of a standard set-up 8v92 by pumping a 71 up to max and beyond: a poor idea. Ask the US Army how long those hopped up 71TA's lasted (I know, supporters of the concept like to point out the bad drivers and hostile conditions they run in). Full-bore applications in the marine industry don't enjoy much better results. |
Don Fairchild
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 09, 2004 - 9:14 pm: | |
james, are you speaking from personal experiance, or just passing along something someone else said. Do you know what max power is of an 8V71T that the military uses. The high hourse power units they use put out over 100hp per hole.140 or bigger injectors with either 5/16 or 3/8 fuel jumper lines and they lock the racks in full fuel when doing battle. how many of the hi $$$ 4-strokes have you seen that don't last because they were cranked up. The two strokes dont have a problem with power, it is trying to keep it cool at higher HP settings.
Don |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 10, 2004 - 5:23 am: | |
In marine apps the DD use a very high power spec, but seldome last even 1000 hours.
Best concept is to consider the engine capable of burning ONLY so much fuel per lifetime.
Run it at 160hp , burn 10 gallons per hour with 10,000 hour service life.
Run it at 350 hp and burn 25+ gallons per hour for about a 5000 hour service life,
Tweak it to 600 hp , 45-50 gph and your'e back hopeing for 1000 hours.
"You only gets what you pays for"
FAST FRED |
H3 (Ace)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 10, 2004 - 7:42 am: | |
"You only gets what you pays for"
Your living proof to this statement!
Ace |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 10, 2004 - 8:50 am: | |
Don: Approx. 5 yrs. maintaining and repairing large tonnage field mobile refrigeration and A/C equipment, 10-500 ton. Much of it utilized high hp direct drive diesel engines. I didn't work on the diesels, but I certainly collected a lot of pay checks standing by watching some dsl. mechanic do a field overhaul on a screamer that had been pushed to the max for 1 minute too long. They invariably suffered premature failures while big displacement stuff just kept chugging along, keeping everything and everybody cool and happy. Same principle applies to just about any mechanical device that u can name: stress it and you shorten it's servicable life.
DD71's were never intended or designed to perform on a par w/ 92's and it's assinine to even suggest that they were. |
Johnny
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 10, 2004 - 9:24 am: | |
2D: Actually, very few tanks had DD's. Most had gas engines. |
Don Fairchild
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 10, 2004 - 12:22 pm: | |
James and fred,I have over 30 years doing this stuff, we have 8V71T 500hp with charge air coolers out in the field with 25,000 hours on them At 500hp they have 18 ftlbs torque less than the 8V92T with the same set up. most of our engines will go between 20,000 and 30,000 hours before rebuilds. I build engines for both the air force and the navy. Right now I am involved in a pilot program to change over ther 12V71N to turbo models for C.A.R.B. We have engines on mud pumps, drilling rigs prime power and stand by gen sets, some of the 16V92 engines are putting out 1600hp. I have 16V149TI,s at 2000 hp. And Fred I am looking for some raw water inter cooler set ups for my navy 12V71 engines can you be of any help.
Thanks guys
Don |
niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 10, 2004 - 12:31 pm: | |
Don - you've aroused my curiosity - is there any wisdom you could share with this ddec 8v92 owner that would extend the life of his mill in our applications w/ buses - are these continuous operating units? what kind of loads do they carry, under what cycle ? - inquiring minds want to know - Niles |
Jim Stewart (H3jim)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 10, 2004 - 6:38 pm: | |
Pennisula Glass will take your old windows, cut them off at or below the curve. You reuse that curved part, thats where the bucks are. They add a ferame and slider for the bottom part, and its quite reasonable, even for double pane. Color matching may not be there though. Have to be careful that whoever cuts your orginal glass does not break it, then you are back to the pricey stuff. Pennisula has done this a lot, best to talk to them.
I am very pleased with what they did for me on my H3-41. They have even replaced some screens I buggered up - at no extra charge.
I did not opt for a roof raise, and am not qualified to give advice on that. I'm already at 12', and it was beyond my current skills to do.
Gotta love buses! |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 11, 2004 - 5:30 am: | |
" And Fred I am looking for some raw water inter cooler set ups for my navy 12V71 engines can you be of any help."
IM sure you have cruised Boats & Harbors ,
why not put an add there?
Adds are inexpensive and bring out amazing stuff , that in the corner of some shop.
I would also call many of the rebuilders advertised there , you never know whats in the back yard of a place that has been in business for a couple of decades.
FAST FRED |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 11, 2004 - 5:33 am: | |
"You only gets what you pays for"
Your living proof to this statement!
My last employer (UAL) used to pay about $200 per hour for my skills,
Last I saw rug kickers or linoleum layers got about $8.00hr in FL.
"You only gets what you pays for",
Yup!
FAST FRED |
H3 (Ace)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 11, 2004 - 7:37 am: | |
As always, your still living in the old days Freddy! Rug layers gettin paid 8 bucks an hour was 20 years ago the last I remember. Last year I alone made well over 100k and Susan complained I was home too much getting home around 2pm and getting on the job around 9:30. Besides hourly installers are beginners. I happen to be a piece worker. You know, the more you lay, the higher the pay! Getting 5.00+ per sq yd doesn't take many yards to make a REALLY decent living if you know what your doing! YOU do the math pal!
8 bucks... that's funny but nice try though and this too is another one of those topics you obviously know nothing about!
Ace |
Jim-Bob (Pd41044039)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 11, 2004 - 8:12 am: | |
"and Susan complained I was home too much getting home around 2pm and getting on the job around 9:30."
Damn, Ace...now I understand how you can get so much done on the bus!!
I leave for work around 6:15 AM & get back around 7:00PM. (I commute 50 miles.) I'm doin' something really wrong. I gotta change careers.
Jim-Bob
PS: Hey Fred, My Delta pilot friend just took a 33% pay cut to keep his job. Life ain't like it used to be. |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 5:37 am: | |
"My Delta pilot friend just took a 33% pay cut to keep his job. Life ain't like it used to be"
That's for sure , in my era 95% of the drivers had over a million bucks worth of government training , and without 2000 Heavy hours , they wouldn't even take the application.(If you are white).
After slashing the military by over 50% in the 8 years of focus poll driven "governing" , there is no longer any pool of well qualified pilots.
Todays airline new hire has ZERO time in recovering from unusual attitudes , has never been beyond 60deg bank, inverted or even in a stall spin.
A couple of months at Embry Riddle , rather than 2 years of difficult training and 4 more years if intensive military flying.
Sure some folks will save a few cents on a ticket , but the RISK is in the savings.
Delta 12 year drivers still get $175 an hour , but TRIPPLE that wouldn't be enough to get me into an Air Bus!
Caviat Emptor,
FAST FRED |
Pat Bartlett (Muddog16)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 7:49 am: | |
Boy.........i sure wish that rain would stop, its getting deep in here............. |
Marc Bourget
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 12:13 pm: | |
Airbus Approaches, ex FF
My Commercial/Instrument Ratings with recent dual in King Airs got me up front in an Airbus for an approach into Montego Bay, Jamaica.
The approach seemed normal but the landing flare was a mind blower. Jets and Turbo-props, because of the huge weight differentials due to fuel load burnoff have a variable approach speed called Vref. We were proceeding down the glideslope at Vref, exhibiting good speed and glide path control, when the co-pilot, curiously, started calling out Radar Altimeter readings,
100, 90, 80, 70-FLARE!
The sorry driver - I never would term him a pilot - pulled the control wheel back as the co-pilot pulled the power. Apparent "No talent" equates to an arrival slightly better than a crash.
I was appalled - and still am. I talked with the pilot the next year after a repeat of the performance and he sympathized with my viewpoint but said there was no way a "pilot" could "feel the wing" on an Airbus, thus relegating him to being a "airplane driver" instead of a pilot.
I have no way of verifying his explaination, but, I've had people tell me the same about a Cessna 310, which I can "grease" at will.
Referencing FF's comment, a repetition of the DC-10 "miracle" at Souix City, may well be impossible in an AirBus!
Boeing Products to Arcadia!
Onward and Upward
Marc Bourget |
MCI Larry (Eurof3)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 10:24 am: | |
Hay chek out our forcast thid week....
Just to lighten or white`n this up!
Good afternoon, from Storm Team 8 Meteorologists Terri DeBoer and Matt Kirkwood.
WINTER STORM WARNING: through Monday evening for the following counties...Allegan, Barry, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Oceana, Ottawa, and Van Buren.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY: through Monday evening for the following counties...Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mecosta, Montcalm, & Newaygo.
In addition, there is a Coastal Flood Warning in effect for the immediate lakeshore through Monday evening as waves are expected to build overnight between 14 and 18 feet.
WEATHER WEAR: Heavy Coat, Boots, Hat, Snow Pants, Gloves/Mittens, (INSIDE SHOES!)
MONDAY FORECAST: Windy & very cold. Hign in the 20`s, Snow showers, heaviest W. of US 131. 1" possible GR to East. 3-6" possible W. of US 131. Blowing & drifting snow may create visibility problems, especially in the rural areas.
WOW WARNING WARNING DANGER I THINK I WILL GO WORK ON THE BUS AND WATCH THE STORM ROLL IN. Anyone seen my ice surfboard. 18 foot waves and 20 degrees, Cool !
Acradia is looking better all the time. |
Jim Stewart (H3jim)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 9:05 pm: | |
Ace,
Regarding carpet layer pay, just be thankful you are not in San Diego - too much competition from those south of us. One of my close friends is one of the best commercal carpet layers in SD and earns about $19 an hour, guys getting starts are making 48 to $10 an hour. I don't know how they can live here on those wages. |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 6:01 am: | |
A few hurricanes ,
with insurance companys following with big check books , could help San Diego as much as it removes / destroys competition in FL..
Might be nice if FL could send CA the NEXT 4 in a row!
FAST FRED |
H3 (Ace)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2004 - 9:07 pm: | |
FWIW, referring to a previous post, I've been making that for about the last 8-10 years. It wasn't because of any hurricane or disaster! It came from hard work from the last 35 years and proving what you know and how it can be done! More of what I do is residential high end homes! Not much rental property or commercial work. Been there and done that! It's too hard for what you get paid! I work from about 9:00/30 to about 2-3pm everyday and NO weekends what so ever. I have 1 kid around 28 yrs old that works withme and he loves his income along with the time off since we both have our racing hobbies!I schedule my own work and my hours. Only person I have to answer to is the customer! I can't beat that!
Ace |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 5:35 am: | |
"Back to working on the bus... I'm losing 8 bucks an hour wasting time here!
Later
Ace" |
H3 (Ace)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 - 7:23 am: | |
and your point is exactly what Freddy? You jealous that my 8 bucks is more than you bring home?
Ace |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 18, 2004 - 5:41 am: | |
No I'm "retired" so live in the lap of luxury with no income, and no envy of your entire $8.00.
Of course working 80 hours a month as a
"multi fingered switch flicker" (Pilot job description)
was far easier than retirement,
This winter I figgure about 2 years of house reconstruction & "honney do" projects to complete in 5 months.
AHH, but LAST winter I just had to pop an interior in our 50 ft Uniflite , so it was a vacation.
Every day a Holliday,
Every meal a Banquet ,
Thats retirement !!
FAST FRED |
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