BNO BBS - BNO's Bulletin Board System
TOPICS => THE BOARD => Topic started by: dreamweaver on December 02, 2013, 11:27:50 AM
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I am new to the game and would like input concerning the fun and pitfalls of an MC-6
I hear a lot of horror stories but none come from actual owners.
Is there anyone out there that has actually owned one or knows someone who has that has stories to share?
thanks
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try this, may still be there, he recently sold it, Www.my69mci-6.blogspot.com?m=1 ,lvmci...
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do you know how to reach Gary? I have tried a couple of ways, I would really like to talk to him even if he has sold the rig.
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I don't think they would be any more horrible than any other 1969 - 1970 MCI. They were "Hounds" since they were all run by Greyhound, they were re-engined to 8V-71 from 12V-71 so they will have a nice large engine compartment, they are 102" wide which is nice, they are two level in the living space which can be awkward. Rust underneath, in the air boxes for the springs, all the usual. Running gear is probably standard MCI. At that age, condition of the individual coach means a whole lot more than anything else.
Brian
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I saw one 6 that was re engined with a Series 60. The engine compartment is so huge, the S60 actually looked small. There is room to install most any engine. The only real weird thing is they had a bigger diameter wheel stud mounting circle. Most have had conversion plates made to run normal 10 stud wheels. They came with 12R-24.5-which are only available in construction type tires. All that I've seen were converted to 11R-24.5. Good Luck, TomC
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Tom - one of the big issues I am finding is the tire size. do you know anyone that has done something to standardize? not sure what that would take.
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George Todd, who is a very helpful Guy, also has a MC6 and is in the members list here.
I believe Gary said he had to change to some kind of an Adapter so he could put standard tire and wheels on it.
Dave5Cs
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Hello Dreamweaver,
Sorry I took so long to get back to you! I've been down in Idaho remodeling a house and didn't have my computer with me.
As mentioned, I did sell my MC-6 a couple of months ago (I'm going to regret that forever) it in my opinion it was the bus to have if you wanted an older MCI. It is 6" wider and is mostly stainless steel so all your work won't rust away on you. The biggest pitfall is the wheel stud pattern and the amount of work it will take to level out the floors to get the headroom you will need.
My bus had custom built wheel adapters to accept standard aluminum wheels and I've heard of some guys having custom wheels built. The floors in my bus were dropped a few inches and the front half of my roof was brought up to the level of the rear half. It looked really good and had 6'5" of headroom in the front.
Do you have any information on the 6 your looking at? There are so few left that I'd buy it and go for it if you have the time and ability to do the build. There are so many bus nuts out there that haven't even seen one and probably never will.
Good Luck
Gary
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thanks for the input guys.
Gary, would you mind if I called you and chew on your ear a little while? I am planning on making the 12 hour drive this weekend to check out the rig and I need to know what I should be looking for in particular.
my email is greg@ai-ent.com if you would like to send me your contact info.
thanks again to all and I look forward to the coming posts....
greg
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The cazy thing after installibg the 12V-71 in the MC7, it was clear the 7 was designed with the possibility for the 12V, it fit nice & clean, about 1" clearance around the air intake on the blowers and same around the bell housing, alternator, hydraulic pump & air compressor, just stand back and laugh, used he origional engine mount at water pump end, moved the ears on the slid in craddle back about 11.5 ". And weld back on. Other han cooling was finding the short driveshaft with the slip joint, had to be 9.5" center in slip joibt and center of U Joints.
Was a fun project best toy I ever had by far.
Dave M
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so Dave, how did the 12v compare to the 8v as far as economy.
the typical argument seems to be more power, less work, comparable economy.
any truth to that?
thanks
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Economy was not a thought as fuel was under $1.00 gal, but with th 8V mpg ran around 6.8-6.9. Going with the 12V the mileage was exactly 5.9 mpg' same 483 rpm 11R24.5 with the 3.73 rear and direct high gear this was running I-95 Richmond va to south Fl& return.
The beauty of the 12V was how smooth, big torque off idle, many truckers crowded around to see it. Attracted both Fats Domino who insisted I stop so he could see it, that was on I-95 north side of NC, Fats is a bus nut. Charlie Danials found it was tine for a new bus after his bus could only run down hill with me on I-40 east of Knoxville. Get on top of grade and wait for them.
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so do you wait for them so you can see the sadness on their faces or just so they have the chance to see you do it again !
that's just fun right there.
thanks for the feedback
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Here's some more info from another MC-6 owner.
There were 100 built in 1969 and 70. All were originally equipped with a 12V71 and an 8844 four speed non synchro trans. Eighty two were re-engined into an 8V71T with a 740 Allison auto.
The drive and steer axles were made with 13.5 X 24.5 bias ply tires. The tags are standard 12.5 X 22.5 tires and wheels. The bolt pattern is the same as the Van Hools, etc, except they are stud-piloted instead of hub-piloted, making them almost impossible to find. The standard steel Budd wheels don't stand up well on 12R24.5 steel radials, and tend to crack between the bolt holes.
A different cooling system than all the other MCIs, with one slab radiator on the lower left like a GM, and they cool well. The radiator is hinged, with a hydraulic driven fan on hoses, so you can get at the road side of the engine easily.
The crank pulley is IN the rear bumper, which is also the belt guard for a Spicer auxiliary drive unit in the right rear corner, which drove the air compressor, alternator, steering pump, cooling fan and condenser fan pumps, and the A/C compressor, as there was no room in "front" of the V12 for the auxiliaries. The dog left them with this aux drive because it was easy, many later people with shorter engines have used the Detroit cam and blower drives on V8 engines.
These buses are all stainless steel and aluminum, so they will have less rust than others.
Huge bay space, but the bus is theater seated about six rows back, so the side floors are not flat until halfway back, where the sides jump up a foot at the last roof raise. The aisle is the same height from the front all the way into the rest room.
five 3 zero 9 zero 6 five 7 five two pacific time, or toddelec@att.net
G
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Correct on the 100 MC6 being built, do not forget only 99 left the plant as 1 MC6 got totalled in the parking lot when it rolled over when some idiot decided to test drive it.
Was told that tidbit by an ole time Universal Parts, Des Plains, Ill (MCI-Greyhound) employee who had become a sales-trouble shooter, met him at Wynn Bus, Richmond Va about 1988 before the Big Strike and Greyhound was only the Grey Dog, all others came under the Armour Meat Co name. Greyhound was a very large outfit with many leasing outlets, Commercial aircraft, Railroad, container and food service was a biggie for Greyhound. AMazing how the "Strike" changed it all.
Dave M
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There was a guy in Tenn or KY that owns 6 of MCI 6's he still had the buses a few years ago I don't any where drivable though
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Lots of good info guys. I appreciate it.
Any contact info for the guy in Tenn or KY? This I the second time I have been told about this elusive being but can't pin a name or number on him.
Any hook-up would be appreciated.
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Sorry, I misspoke, Greyhound was split up after the strike, Dial became the new name, Armor just a spin off like the grey dog line. The only thing Greyhound now owns is the bus line, unlike before the strike, Greyhound was very large, the bus line, Armor meats, Dial soap, a cosmetic outfit, pharmaceutical outfit, leasing airliners, rail and container, food service etc, etc. Get the book Greyhound History, could not put it down.
Dave M
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Dial soap owned both MCI and Eagle the 1990 strikes with Eagle coming off record years they raided the bank accounts of Eagle and put it into bankruptcy that was the demise of Eagle it never could come back after the Greyhound deal even with new owners it was so far gone just a little more history of corporate greed
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There is a MC-6 for sale at busesonline.com
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That is the bus I am looking at.
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The more you dig into the Greyhound history, it becomes very interesting, foe example, when they bought Armor Meat Packing, that included their side lines of Dial, a cosmetic outfit and a pharmaceutical company. The strike ended the monopoly building.
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Looking at that one, it is one of the 82 that Greyhound re-engined into an 8V71 with a 740. It still has its original steel wheels, and I can't tell from the pics whether it has newer 12.5 X 24.5 tires, or some of the original 13.5 bias plies.
Don't laugh, it could very well have six FORTY YEAR OLD TIRES on it, and no spare.
The tags have a valve above them which can be turned to unload the air bag if you get a flat tire. Then you use a small bottle jack to raise the tax axle, and there is a hook on the frame to hook the tag up off the ground with a little piece of chain until you get to a tire shop.
The roof hasn't been raised, and they tend to leak at the two joints where they step up. The fluorescent lights down the middle of the coach ceiling are the original 120 Volt depot lighting, and there is a receptacle under the driver's door to plug in an extension cord.
Whatever you do, DON'T buy a one-way plane ticket! You may well find a bus with eight ancient tires, ten older air bags, and no spare! The bumper CANNOT be used as a trailer hitch to get your toad home, and the bus is 24 Volt anyhow, which is not a bad thing.
Someone else here tried to get one of these home about this time of year, and made it from LA to about Tennessee, enroute Pennsylvania if I remember right, when a wheel broke. The garage said they could have an MCI wheel in two days, yeah right! It was a rental car to get home, and three weeks to get a borrowed wheel to get home with if I remember the story correctly.
The fuel tank holds 200 US gallons.
The pics are poor, but it looks like the aisle was raised up to the level of the seat floor behind the first six rows, as if the floor was lowered, it would intrude into the bay picture of the water tank. This is going to mean a low headroom bus, and with roof top airs, a high bus.
See if you could get them to post some better pictures, please.
G
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There is a MCI 6 setting outside Ft Stockton Tx on I 10 at a repair shop it's been there for 3 years now looks to be a Mexican band bus has Mexico plates
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George - thanks for the info. My son and I are going this weekend to take a look and LOTS of pictures. Anything else you can think of that I need to check out while I am there would be great.
luvrbus - sounds like TX has a parts rig for me huh ! Always good to know where these things are, dead or alive.
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Morrisburg Ontario, neat. I was there two weeks ago, for about 10m minutes. Great if you are looking for a Canadian bus, importing from the US can be a hassle, I don't know about importing from Canada to the US. Says 8V-71T, which would be a good engine for that bus of that vintage.
Brian
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Just wondering how you made out with your MC6 viewing?
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I was pretty disappointed. 25 hour round trip....
The rig is not near as far along as it says. The tires I know were bad but when your can stick a quarter in the sidewalls it gives a new definition to bad.
I thought the steering was going to be good but the built up oil in the front section and the rag on top of the steering gear seemed to me to be "odd"
The batteries are bad now so we could not start it. it did however try to turn over once so I don't think it is froze
Though the ad said that it had a Detroit 318 in it, I had high hopes for a 12v71, for a number of reasons. 1 she said it did, 2 it was a manual, 3 it was in Canada. Paul Harvey version... it is a 8v71, automatic transmission, and came from Florida.
I do not mean that I was not told the truth, the man had a stroke and his wife was trying to tell me what she could. I feel for her, very nice lady. I think she would have had me stay for dinner.
Short story, I am sad.
happy trails
gk
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How does the bus look generally speaking? Any obvious corrosion issues? I was pretty sure it wasn't a 12v71 from the pics, given it had a single turbo but a manual trans would have been a plus. Any chance the Allison is a 5 spd?
I haven't bought a bus yet but when I am buying big trucks general appearance can tell me a lot about how the truck was maintained and how far it might go before it needs major $$ spent. For example under hood accessories like A/C missing or not functioning or dash gauges missing or broken, wires hanging, lights missing/don't work and holes drilled to mount stuff where nobody with a brain would drill etc speaks volumes. If you can't afford an A/C compressor clutch chances are oil and filter changes and grease jobs get neglected too and she's all down hill from there.
I only live about 30 miles from there but if the coach itself is beat I don't want to waste her time or mine. As far as the conversion goes it looks like all the hard work is done at least. I really do like the style of that coach tho...
Kevin
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Kevin - as far as the body it isn't in too bad of shape. Definitely needs a paint job but otherwise not bad.
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It looks pretty good in the pics but I looked at a 35' Prevost last year that looked much better in pics than it did in person. Coach was advertised as only 90,000 miles. Only short a million or 2 LOL.
Kevin
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DW,
Did you take any pictures of the inside? I couldn't tell how the aisle was flattened, and I was wondering how much headroom there was?
Its a lot of work to take out the floor under the seats, and lower it into the bays to get a lot of room, and the batteries sit on top of the rear axles, and get right in the way of things.
Does it have a spare tire?
Thanks,
G
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George
I will email you some pics.
it does have a 2 spare tires but they are bald.
the floor was raised rather than lowered. for a 5'4" man I didn't have any problem but I would say that the front did not have 6'
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I would like to see those pics too if that would be OK.
Thanks
Kevin