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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Jsrcaptain on November 10, 2020, 06:51:30 AM

Title: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: Jsrcaptain on November 10, 2020, 06:51:30 AM
Newbie here. My recently acquired MC5B has an old truck air filter modified by the previous owner. A poor job at that! Anyways, does anybody have a good air filter mod for the older MCI series that works? Would two smaller filters work better than one? This one was so big, I had a helluva time just removing it. PVC pipe going to the intakes. Brackets lag-bolted to the muffler shield. I gotta do better. Thanks ahead of time!
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: lostagain on November 10, 2020, 08:15:26 AM
I use a ECO air filter in my 5C. It is a disposable, all in one housing and element. Very high quality. Look them up in the Donaldson site. They come in all kinds of configurations to suit your application. Make sure it meets your CFM requirement.
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: Jsrcaptain on November 10, 2020, 02:16:24 PM
Thanks for the quick reply! I'll check that out.
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: Jsrcaptain on November 10, 2020, 02:52:50 PM
How did you go from one filter to two intake pipes on the engine? A "Y" pipe? From the Donaldson site it looks like 1000 CFM will be plenty.
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: Jsrcaptain on November 10, 2020, 06:40:25 PM
This is puzzling. The PO said the engine was replaced a while ago. He didn't say where the new engine was from. I'll have to check the serial number to see what's up. Anyways, there are two intake pipes on top of the engine. Both out to the left side. I guess the original had one big one. Any ideas what this engine could be out of?
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: lostagain on November 11, 2020, 07:38:59 AM
Assuming your engine is a 2 stroke Detroit (8V71 is OEM in a 5B), there is only one air intake into the "horn" on top of the blower.
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: Jsrcaptain on November 11, 2020, 11:23:38 AM
I just took a good look. It's a 1976 8v71 in a 1972 MC-5b. The serial number says it's an industrial engine. So it's not OEM. The intake has two 4" I.D. pipes. It says MCI in the casting so it must be for some bus application.
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: lostagain on November 11, 2020, 12:04:31 PM
You could do 2 filters, but that would be a lot of piping. I would look for an intake horn with a single hole. That would be simpler.
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: luvrbus on November 11, 2020, 12:44:54 PM
MCI tried that on the MCI 7 combo unit sucking air from both sides with 2 air cleaners I haven't seen that set up for a long time.I wonder if the PO upgraded the industrial engine with main bearing supports the highway engines have those and the industrial engines don't   
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: Jsrcaptain on November 11, 2020, 05:18:29 PM
I'm sure he didn't. I'll have to check that out though.Thanks for the tip on the bearings. I'll try to find an intake horn with a single pipe. Much easier. Any ideas where to find one?
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: luvrbus on November 11, 2020, 05:26:46 PM
I have 3 or 4 different types you need to know where you are going to mount the filter so we can get the right one yours for shipping only
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: Jsrcaptain on November 11, 2020, 08:32:30 PM
Is the mod for the main bearing supports a big job? I can't find any reference to it online so far.
I figure to put the new filter just above the muffler shield on the driver's side of the engine.
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: Jsrcaptain on November 12, 2020, 06:22:47 AM
I just found information about the main bearing stabilizers you mentioned. Doesn't look too difficult. I'll have to drop the oil pan and take a look. I don't think I've ever seen an oil pan so beat up that wasn't leaking. Might have been dropped. Do you know who might have the stabilizer kit? I'll check with Luke for sure.
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: luvrbus on November 12, 2020, 06:39:50 AM
I just found information about the main bearing stabilizers you mentioned. Doesn't look too difficult. I'll have to drop the oil pan and take a look. I don't think I've ever seen an oil pan so beat up that wasn't leaking. Might have been dropped. Do you know who might have the stabilizer kit? I'll check with Luke for sure.


I have the supports if you need those
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: Jsrcaptain on November 13, 2020, 07:40:51 AM
Thanks luvrbus. I sent you a message.
Intake pics below.
It will be a lot easier to use a single pipe intake with the Donaldson air filter I'd like to use.
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: Jsrcaptain on November 14, 2020, 02:41:09 PM
I have the one support with the two 7/16" holes. I think I need the other that has one 7/16th hole if I am reading this right. Does that look like the right one? I think it is an older style as it doesn't have 71 stamped on it.
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: luvrbus on November 14, 2020, 03:07:36 PM
Takes 3 per side here is a photo plus the air horns 1 is a 5 inch,1 is a 6 inch then you have the low profile with the rectangle opening 
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: Jsrcaptain on November 14, 2020, 04:37:48 PM
I'm looking at a 1977 engine manual. It says the stabilizers are on #4 and #5 main bearing caps. Are they on all the caps now? You said three per side. So you need six? Sorry I'm a little slow. I really appreciate your help. Good information is hard to come by. The 6" intake looks kinda tall in your picture. I should measure the available height I have. Bigger is better with the intake I think.Is that a one piece unit with the flapper inside?
I'm in south central Wisconsin. If you aren't too far away I'd like to stop by some time.
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: luvrbus on November 14, 2020, 04:54:15 PM
They are on all mains now ever since 1979,lol there 2 on each side not 3 sorry 
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: Jsrcaptain on November 14, 2020, 07:16:42 PM
Thanks, I just watched a video showing the installation. It makes more sense now. If I don't have them on the engine now it looks like I will need longer bolts for the main bearing caps in order to install them. I'm gonna have to pull the oil pan and take a look. Maybe I'll get lucky.
Title: Re: MCI MC5B air filter retrofit
Post by: luvrbus on November 15, 2020, 07:55:12 AM
Thanks, I just watched a video showing the installation. It makes more sense now. If I don't have them on the engine now it looks like I will need longer bolts for the main bearing caps in order to install them. I'm gonna have to pull the oil pan and take a look. Maybe I'll get lucky.



Good luck
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