After talking with Doug a few days ago, while they were still in El Paso, I recommended they get the bus away from the Freightliner dealer as quickly as possible. I've had dealings with that place where they wanted to charge one of my drivers over $1100 for a rebuilt 135A Leece-Neville alternator including installation. The installation was remove 3 bolts, remove belt,remove alternator, remove pulley, install pulley on new alternator, install alternator, install belt, install bolts... an hour worth of labor on my IH9670. I also figured they were going to try to sell him an engine, which as far as I can tell, it shouldn't be needing. At most it sounds like it may need a head gasket kit and a real engine driven fan, not those funky little electrics.Doug and family are going through some difficult times right now, although I'm not at liberty to say what exactly.SO here's my plan if he happens to go for it, and since it's worth about scrap price as it sits, where it sits, it may be a good plan.First, I'm looking around for a free or cheap used 8V71 that runs in the El Paso, Albuquerque, Midland, Yuma area. (If anybody knows where one is, let Doug or me know, preferably Doug.Second, As has been said, it may not need an engine, but instead a head gasket kit, of which I have one. I would need another one to do both heads. It will also need to have the fan replaced on the torus and the Rube Goldberg stuff removed, and possibly a shroud built for it.Now for my part.....I don't have a lot of money and can't afford to finance the whole trip from where we are to El Paso... 700 miles one way, plus camping and food.But, I will donate what parts I have, and all my labor, along with some extra oil and filter and coolant I have handy. If anyone wants to chip in, maybe we can all work together and Get Doug and Family back up and running again.Oh, one other thing that is needed.... a volunteer to administer the funds if and when they come in.... Who's it gonna be? Not me! That's for sure, I'm not good with money.So there you have it, I'll help as I can, maybe someone else can help too.Dallas
just curious, was the seller an individual or a dealer? Jack
Doug that doesn't sound like quote Edmond would give for a inframe did he check the bus for you a fiend of mine blew his 8v92 and the repair bill on his with 2 new heads was around 13 grand.If you have a left hand engine I see a lot of transit buses setting in El Paso maybe a used engine would be the to go David
I typed this under my other persona, but will try to copy and paste it here:Doug,Of COURSE other stuff is gonna break when you don't want it to.... It's the nature of the beast.What you have is a 40+ year old used car that was taken out of revenue service because it was costing too much money to maintain. Then someone else bought it and did this and that to it and obviously didn't do it well, or with any knowledge of the skills needed.It's also probably not had much in the way of maintenance since it was in revenue service... Many Churches and Gospel Groups depend entirely on the Big Mechanic in the Sky to take care of them.(I'm sorry to say it, but after working at a few car and truck lots that displayed the Christian FISH insignia [IXOYE], I run anytime I see that displayed on a used car that I consider buying).This bus is going to cost you a LOT of Money. It's going to cost you a LOT of heartache. It's going to cost you a LOT of pain.But it will pay back every bit by giving you and the family a new outlook on the world, You will learn skills that you never thought you could learn and you will be amongst some of the BPOE.. (Not the Elks...) THE BEST PEOPLE ON EARTH!The offer is still open, think long and hard before you turn it down. We are all here and have all been in the same boat at one time or another in our lives. The problem is, we are an independent bunch, and don't fit in with the rest of the world.You might say we kind of roll to the beat of a different brake drum.What ever your decision, don't give up the dream, you may not think so, but you are now in a very good position as far as the worst that can happen to a newby. It's happened, now we deal with it, fix it and go on our merry way.Dallas FarnworthModerator,Bus Conversions Magazine and Forum
What an offer Dallas, hats off to you! and I'll second what Lin said. Possibly just a simple communication thing might help with the seller?? Worth a try.