BCM Community
Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Sebulba on July 23, 2021, 11:05:28 PM
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Hello all,
Quick question. In my search for a bus I found an MC8 Crusader that says Remanufactured March 1998.
What does this mean?
Thanks
Seb
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Hello all,
Quick question. In my search for a bus I found an MC8 Crusader that says Remanufactured March 1998.
What does this mean?
Thanks
That means the bus was a 85% total rebuilt ,some states allow one to be titled the year it was rebuilt Ky and Illinois do I know I bought a 1971 Eagle titled in Illinois as 1996 and I had the title changed back to 1971.ABC Bus did a lot of remans on MCI's
Seb
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My bus is titled as an RV and the title has the original vehicle year.
I bought an old truck that is titled as an RV and the title said "Remanufactured 2014", and it also has a replacement VIN number. I think this was part of the process of converting the title to an RV. A basic interior had been added, but it definitely was not 85% rebuilt.
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Entertainer coach converters would widen and stretch a old 40 ftx96in Eagle making it 45ft L x 102 W and sell it as later model as long as they rebuilt it 85 % it was done for years .I don't know about a old truck.ABC bus rebuilt tons of MCI 9's for Greyhound,a tile reading remanufactured seems like gray area in that state
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Alright, thanks for the info.
Interestingly it is an 8, but it has an automatic in it. Did 8s come with automatics, or was this maybe a part of the rebuild?
Then, as I understand cooling can be a bigger issue with that era bus when an automatic is installed. So, I'm thinking that could be a concern here.
Thanks
Seb
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Yes the MCI 8 could have a automatic 740 Allison from the factory
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My 1974 MC-8 has the HT 740 Allison Automatic. I'm pretty certain it is OEM.
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My 1974 MC-8 has the HT 740 Allison Automatic. I'm pretty certain it is OEM.
Thank you Glennman, good to know.
By the way I am enjoying your videos on YouTube.
Seb
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Yes the MCI 8 could have a automatic 740 Allison from the factory
Great, Thanks
So then, I was eliminating the 8s from possibility. But if they can have the Automatic, that changes my thinking.
So, what essentially would be the difference between the 8 and the 9?
Seb
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I wouldn't go with less than a 9 personally. For the small difference in price, go with as current as you can possibly afford. There is a place in Basset Virginia, that last time I was past had scores of 9's. At the time the owner was a $%#& to deal with from others reports, but has passed away, so may be much better for dealings.
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I wouldn't go with less than a 9 personally. For the small difference in price, go with as current as you can possibly afford. There is a place in Basset Virginia, that last time I was past had scores of 9's. At the time the owner was a $%#& to deal with from others reports, but has passed away, so may be much better for dealings.
That has kind of been my thought. the 9 and then the 12 was a very successful platform.
Hmmm, Bassett VA? That wouldn't be the busses101 guy? or someone else?
BTW, Thanks chessie, I truly appreciate your help -- as well as everyon's help here.
I have spent counteless hours reading on here over the last 3+ years or so. We may be pulling the trigger later this year if we find something we like.
Seb
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No Bobby Easter was the guy in Basset Va ,the main difference between the 8 and 9 was the windows and no hump at the front,the 9 has a better suspension, the 8 was a good bus just under powered with the 8v71 N/A engine
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No Bobby Easter was the guy in Basset Va ,the main difference between the 8 and 9 was the windows and no hump at the front, the 8 was a good bus just under powered with the 8v71 N/A engine
Aaaah, I see the hump now. I never noticed that before.
Thanks
Seb
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I found Easter Auto and Truck sales in Bassett, VA.
Maybe I'll see what they have to say.
Seb
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Get an MC9 1982 or later, after the change to integral style power steering.
You really don't want the ram assist in 2021... and you really don't want to have to source the parts to upgrade, at this late date...
MC9 with a tuned up mechanical 6V92 would be a lovely blend of economy, power, and difficult to overheat.
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
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Get an MC9 1982 or later, after the change to integral style power steering.
You really don't want the ram assist in 2021... and you really don't want to have to source the parts to upgrade, at this late date...
MC9 with a tuned up mechanical 6V92 would be a lovely blend of economy, power, and difficult to overheat.
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Hello BusWarrior,
I like the way you think.
So what are your thoughts on a 1989 with an 8v92. I'm guessing you're going to say less efficient and harder to keep cool.
My thought: We like mountains, think the 8 would better.
Anyone?
Thanks
Seb
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8V92 is the hardest to keep cool, and you would have to get the thicker radiators upgrade to begin with. What about a 12?...
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8V92 is the hardest to keep cool, and you would have to get the thicker radiators upgrade to begin with. What about a 12?...
Of course, 12s are good. Just exploring possibilities as I find listings.
Radiators? How much are they and how long/hard are they to replace. I learned that Prevost's are a lot if labor.
Thanks
Seb
Of course 12s are good
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This is interesting because I have a 1981 MC-9 with an 8v92t. At least that's what the current VIN tags attached to it say. I know very little about its history. Last year I drove it over the mountains and had no trouble with overheating.
Also I am pretty sure the power steering is the "new" version.
I have had it listed for sale online for a few weeks.
One person sent a message "would you take x dollars" a very low number. No other inquiries.
I am wondering what I need to do find someone that would want to buy it. Take better pictures? List it somewhere other than Facebook? Reduce my asking price? Include in the listing that it has no problems with power steering, or overheating?
Any insights would be helpful.
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I got 2 new 8V92 big radiators from MCI, something happened in shipping. A forklift accident and MCI replaced the new damaged one, for free. When I took out the newer old radiator, the fins were rotting out in a difficult to detect area, would have been a bad failure. It was just a little more expensive, less than shipping from other companies. lvmci...
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The 8v92TA MCI used was low HP 350 to 365 hp with tiny injectors you bump one up to 425 to 475 hp they are a bear to cool in a MCI with the tiny side mounted radiators ,DDEC versions are not as hard to cool it takes the driver out of the picture and has a mind of it's own lol they do heat huh LVMCI 7070 :-*
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They all slow in the mountains.
Busnuts have spent tons of money on drivetrains, and find themselves climbing only 5 mph faster than before they started, and burning a lot more fuel for the inadequate improvement.
Those busnuts do not get on here to brag about their experience...
As luvrbus notes, MCI kept the horsepower down on the stock 8V92, to keep it reliably cool.
I would find the bus with the best all around combination of clean body, life left in the drivetrain, mechanical condition, some previous history/records, minimum of rust.
What ends up in it for a drivetrain will "just do it" no matter what it is, for a busnut.
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
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The 8v92TA MCI used was low HP 350 to 365 hp with tiny injectors you bump one up to 425 to 475 hp they are a bear to cool in a MCI with the tiny side mounted radiators ,DDEC versions are not as hard to cool it takes the driver out of the picture and has a mind of it's own lol they do heat huh LVMCI 7070 :-*
That makes sense. So essentially the 8 is tuned down, so probably not a lot of gain over the 6.
Thanks for the input
Seb
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The 8v92TA MCI used was low HP 350 to 365 hp with tiny injectors you bump one up to 425 to 475 hp they are a bear to cool in a MCI with the tiny side mounted radiators ,DDEC versions are not as hard to cool it takes the driver out of the picture and has a mind of it's own lol they do heat huh LVMCI 7070 :-*
How can you tell. DDEC version? Did those start in a certain year?
Thanks
Seb
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DDEC has a metal computer box mouted on the top of the engine, and no mechanical fuel controls for throttle and shut-off.
Started showing up later 80's.
Of course, all bets are off, if re-engined.
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
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DDEC has a metal computer box mouted on the top of the engine, and no mechanical fuel controls for throttle and shut-off.
Started showing up later 80's.
Of course, all bets are off, if re-engined.
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Thank you. I will watch for that. The one that prompted this thread is a 1989, so probably a DDEC model.
So, would say this is "drive by wire" -- no throttle cable/rod or such?
My initial impression is that I'm often hesitant about anything that takes control away from me.
With that in mind, can this be bypassed, at least in emergency or test situations.
Will explore the ins and outs of this.
Thanks again
Seb
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They all slow in the mountains.
Busnuts have spent tons of money on drivetrains, and find themselves climbing only 5 mph faster than before they started, and burning a lot more fuel for the inadequate improvement.
Those busnuts do not get on here to brag about their experience...
As luvrbus notes, MCI kept the horsepower down on the stock 8V92, to keep it reliably cool.
I would find the bus with the best all around combination of clean body, life left in the drivetrain, mechanical condition, some previous history/records, minimum of rust.
What ends up in it for a drivetrain will "just do it" no matter what it is, for a busnut.
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Bw is normally right, for anyone reading this. However I will say my s60 swap was completed for cheaper then totally rebuilding an 8v92, and transmission, and now slowest I’ve been thru several mountain ranges with toad is 50mph. Doing really good on heat so far, on flat in Nebraska we can’t get hotter then 185. In the mountains I’ve seen it run up to 205 and stabilize. I’d like to install a fan clutch next. Any suggestions on brand or model?
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Bw is normally right....
I’d like to install a fan clutch next. Any suggestions on brand or model?
Far from normal... but I'll take what i can get, thanks!
With an Eagle, you still have that gear box?
Check out the fan drive in an E or J MCI, belt to a shaft to a gear box. The Horton fan clutch is at the belt/shaft interface.
Doesn't have to go at the fan...
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
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Mason this is the fan clutch setup in my 15
Wayne
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I would go with the newer hydraulic drive fan, the CC is the 1st RV I ever had with the hydraulic fan and I am loving it,the only thing I do not like is when the rear and dash compressor driven AC is on it defaults to high speed
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Bw is normally right, for anyone reading this. However I will say my s60 swap was completed for cheaper then totally rebuilding an 8v92, and transmission, and now slowest I’ve been thru several mountain ranges with toad is 50mph. Doing really good on heat so far, on flat in Nebraska we can’t get hotter then 185. In the mountains I’ve seen it run up to 205 and stabilize. I’d like to install a fan clutch next. Any suggestions on brand or model?
Good info to log away for the future.
Thanks
Seb
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Since no one else has mentioned it. I saw that you liked the 9 or 12 platforms.
A 12 is a 9 that was re-manufactured by ABC or some other companies they got an upgraded front suspension, better A/C, and new engine/trans along with redoing interior, and exterior.
Other than the upgraded suspension & A/C there is no difference in the 9 or 12 (as the 12's all started out their first life as 9). Yes you will find some 9's with the updated square headlights that MOST, but NOT ALL 12's have! (I know of at least 3 12's that did not get the square headlight conversion, and there are probably a lot more that I haven't personally worked on!)
;D BK ;D
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I thought the MC-12 was a bus specifically designed for Greyhound? It has the 96A3 chassis with mostly an MC-9 body. At least some had the Series 50 engine.
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I thought the MC-12 was a bus specifically designed for Greyhound? It has the 96A3 chassis with mostly an MC-9 body. At least some had the Series 50 engine.
No the MC-12 is a refurbished 9 that has upgraded 96A suspension and A/C!
Yes some of the were refitted with 50 series engines and yes were all redone for Greyhound and used until they were sold off.
A friend of mine owned an authorized company that did a lot of the refurbs!
;D BK ;D
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No the MC-12 is a refurbished 9 that has upgraded 96A suspension and A/C!
Bryce -
MC-12s were NOT refurbished MC-9s.
MC-12s were a custom order specifically for Greyhound, using the 96A3s chassis below the floor and a slightly modified -9 above the floor, with the roofline being a visual cue. They were built from 1991 to 1998, and were also sold as prison transfer buses. I see a retired one here in Coeur d'Alene every couple of weeks at one of our hotels. And, as Brian mentioned, the tail-end of MC-12 production came with Series 50 engines.
The 96A3 chassis is quite different than the MC-9s, primarily due to the integration of long-overdue anti-roll bars, of which there is no provision on the -9 chassis for retrofits. The HVAC is quite different also, with much larger condenser compartment with different blowers, a higher capacity compressor, plus an improved evaporator in the HVAC compartment. The rectangular taillight pods, rectangular headlights and different rear view mirror mounts are all part of the 96A3 chassis changes.
The rehab program MC-9s were known as an MC-9S, and these incorporated some of the 96A features, but not all.
Most of this info comes from Larry Plachno's book "Modern Intercity Coaches" and archived articles from "National Bus Trader" magazine.
FWIW & HTH. . . ;)
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Strange I have a MCI prison bus I been working on for a couple of years the vin plate says MCI 9/12 done by Stewart and Stevenson in 1991 according to the plate,it is a bitch to find parts for I know that
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The webpage I found on the MC-12 said that some were sold as prison buses. The MC-12 was designed for Greyhound, but MCI sold them to anyone who wanted one and some were sold to others.
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Well I might stand corrected and I might not.
Clifford I understand EXACTLY what you are saying as I have seen the same plates and had the same issues with parts.
Jeff told me that during the late 80's early 90's his company refurbished many 9's and installed those 9/12 badges when done.
His exact description of what they did was rebuilt the front bulkhead and installed 96A suspension, rebuilt the HVAC system using the larger 96A components and put 96A front and rear caps on them and sent them back to Greyhound.
He had a scrap yard of 9 parts some of them were 1/2 buses, but most were just a bunch of scraps and junk. (no complete buses unless it was badly wrecked and most of those were cut in half or more for parts too)
He always had whatever part I needed for a 9, 12, 96A 102A, 102C, D or DL. They got out of the rebuilding part long before the E & J models and refused to operate or work on "that plastic computerized crap"
But he ran A's, C's, D's and DL's until he shut down and sold everything off about 2006.
;D BK ;D