Drove 120 miles with no air to the radiators in FLA?!!!

[Tenor]

  This one has been here before, but a new buyer drove it 120 miles like this??!!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MCI-MC-9-Motorcoach-Conversion-Bus-SHELL-Renaissance-RV_W0QQitemZ150417078879QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBuses?hash=item23058e7a5f

Glenn

[TomC]

I would run as far and as fast away from that fiberglass (read cracking) shell immediately.  And what's with that big side opening door at the right rear?  Is that so you can open it up in the morning so everyone can see you scratching?  I just don't understand some people's idea of what should and what should not be done.  Good Luck,TomC

[bobofthenorth]

Maybe he was going to have one of those patio/sundeck affairs like Country Coach (briefly) had.

[Jeremy]

The description says the side door was for a motocross bike garage. I have no problem at all with people 'doing it their way' - seems to me that is what the hobby is about, and I have little patience for those who wish to impose rules on "what should and what should not be done" (safety-related stuff excepted naturally).

Jeremy

[busshawg]

better not say what stage mine was at when I took it to a welding shop, haha

[busshawg]

mine I guess at least had air getting to it

[Dreamscape]

The description says the side door was for a motocross bike garage. I have no problem at all with people 'doing it their way' - seems to me that is what the hobby is about, and I have little patience for those who wish to impose rules on "what should and what should not be done" (safety-related stuff excepted naturally).

Jeremy

I totally agree. Although it looks different, I'm sure a lot of work went into it. It's not my taste, but that doesn't mean anything!

Paul

[bottomacher]

It's clear from the fiberglass work that someone knew what he was doing with the skin. I can't see any additional framing around the big door, but the thick fiberglass skin may provide the support needed where the door was cut in. I believe that someone with a bit of talent could make this bus well worth the effort to complete.

[Kwajdiver]

Didn't we discuss this motor coach a few months ago.  It must have popped up on e-bay again. 

Bill

[Busted Knuckle]

Yes Bill this bus was a topic probably a yr ago!

Still scary. But who knows?
  BK 

[JohnEd]

So is it lagit to strip out all the overhead bracing and replace it with 1 1/4 sq tube or whatever that is?  I thought the skin was an element of the frame and needed to be metal.  Not just the GM's.  I don't see any "1 inch of foam and fiberglass sandwich" and why would you do that instead of just using 2 inches of foam?  I get the feelng that this guy "was not always right but was never ever in doubt" and had the money to meke a kistake really really fast.  Is this bus to tall for almost everywhere?

John   more amazed than anything.

[JackConrad]

Looks like the bus still has the interior aluminum skin on the lower 1/2 of the walls. The upper area of the walls would have been windows. They probably used 1 1/2" square tubing for the framing in the upper walls, that is what is usually used.  Jack

[bottomacher]

There is no framing in the "window" area from the factory, so removing the windows won't have any structural effect. The foam and fiberglass sandwich is quite strong and is used in structural applications by various boatbuilders. In its application on this bus, it provides a lot of additional support at the window area that wasn't there when it left the factory. As Jack said, the lower aluminum panels are in place and provide much of the monocoque support when used in conjunction with the outer skin, so I believe that this bus if a lot stronger than a factory bus. As for fiberglass shells "cracking," there are a lot of very expensive and BIG fiberglass boats floating around the world with no apparent ill effects after being relentlessly pounded by waves and engine vibration. The ad said that a boatbuilder put this thing together, and to me it looks like he knew what he was doing.

[JackConrad]

I have to admit, if I was going to do another coach (Paula says "Read my lips, it ain't gonna happen!") I would definately look at this coach. Of course, you can't tell the condition of the entire unit from a few photos, but it would definately deserve an "in person" look over.  Jack