MCI 9

[wal1809]

A buddy of mine is looking at a 1979 MCI 9.  Yep it is church owned.  They claim the service records show regular oil changes though I have not seen it yet.  Steer tires are brand new the others are not rotted but just don't look so hot.  It has not been converted yet.  They are asking $5000 so I am sure they have a set hold back amount they will take.  I am guessing it at $4000.  The motor is a 8V71 with no turbo.  Surpisingly it was really clean in the engine compartment. The battries were dead so they let him take them home to charge them or get them tested.  Today after he gets the batteries figured out we are going to fire it up.  Last night we could only get it to click at the starter.

Any and all advice will be accepted here.  Tell prices, what  we should look for and what not to do.  Thank you.

[robertglines1]

Ck dates on tires...age out at 10 years or earlier  (debateable but my limit no older than 5yrs don't use after 10)  should be a series of numbers stamped on sidewall ending in date...8 tires could cost as much as bus....ck mechanical start no vibration..trans fluid color (auto) not brown or black..rust around rear bay wall or frame right behind that bay...how does she drive...good start... Bob ps:ck the hubometer it is practice to change when the engine is overhauled.

[wal1809]

I climbed all over the bus and could find no frame rust at all.  We we not able to see a date on the tires.  We definateky see eye to eye on the tire issues.  I don't believe I would not take on the project.  I have enough going on as it is.  I hope he does it though.  It needs some loving and caring to get her back on the road.

[grantgoold]

Church owned means your friend will be blessed!

Lots of tires on the market right now for a 9. Once you get the unit running and can take it for a test drive, see if you can find a pit and get a good luck at underneath.  Did the unit have a bathroom? Anywhere on the floor seem wet or weak? Musty? Signs of leaking around the windows? All the bay doors line up? OTR AC work? .....

Good luck!

Grant

[HighTechRedneck]

Any chance of finding out what shop did their maintenance?  If so, go to the mechanic there and ask him his thoughts on the bus.

Quite a few church buses get serviced here at the Choo Choo garage.  Some churches have all PM done and the buses are in excellent shape.  Others don't have the budget for it and only fix what they absolutely have to after it breaks.

[bowmaga]

for 4k to 5k....can you even go wrong?  I mean its a 1979....., i think i owned one real similiar, its not like you are going to find one it anywhere's close to new shape.  and you say you climbed all over a 1979 and found no rust???  wow, that sounds like more of one of those fancy dreams i had when i was a kid!!!  she's probably worth 3k in scrap.  if she runs good, drives good, shifts good, I'd say buy it....they all take about the same amount of work and money when you are buy a standard bus, can't go wrong starting with a cheap one.  Barring no engine or tranny issues.  you could put 10k in that bus and get every penny back out of it if you had to sell it.... if you get it for 4k-5k. 

good luck to your friend.....you might want to check and make sure he's feeling OK.  I heard people who want and/or own busses are certifiably crazy!!!!

[TomC]

Tires should not be a deal breaker.  The amount of time it takes to convert (sometimes in years), by the time you are ready to hit the road, you'll want fresh tires (at least I would).  Good Luck, TomC

[wal1809]

All good advice.  We were only able to get it to turn over a  quarter turn when trying to start it.   We load tested the batteries and they are good.  Today he went back with completely recharged batteris and same thing.  When you hit the starter button it just bumps the motor a quarter if turn. 

[luvrbus]

Wayne, check the water make sure it is full then check the air box drains to see if water is coming out of the tubes sounds like it is water locked or a piston hole full of fuel it may also be a gear train failure  


good luck

[wal1809]

Hello luvrbus.  That doesn't sound good at all.  I will have him check the air boxes and get back to y'all.  I am assuming your meaning water has fill the cylinder chambers?

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Clean the battery cables at both ends and clean the ground straps.

[luvrbus]

Wayne I am sure you know but that is a 24v system not like your 12v Eagle make sure the batteries are tied together right  + in - out to + and - to ground for 2 batteries


good luck

[wal1809]

The ground is good I had him take it off and brush I really good.  The batteries are installed the right way.  Sometime this weekend I will get a volt ohm meter on it and start tracking it down.

[Ed Hackenbruch]

But did he clean the cables at the starter?

[wal1809]

But did he clean the cables at the starter?

he ran out if daylight so sometime this weekend we will get at it again.  A volt ohm meter on the bolt holding the cables at the starter will tell me if it is getting 24V.  If not then we will start by removing all the cables and cleaning them and trying again.