Author Topic: MCI 7 with water in oil, how hard to change head gasket?  (Read 6865 times)

Offline jdpilot

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  • 1988 MCI 102A3 8v71 with wheelchair lift
Re: MCI 7 with water in coolant, how hard to change head gasket?
« Reply #15 on: July 29, 2014, 06:53:29 AM »
Ok guys been following this board for a while. Now you have peaked my interest. I have a 88 MCI 102a3 with a normal aspirated 8v71/Allison trannie. It runs great but not happy with the power. I live in the Dallas area (Plano). Would love to repower the bus with something that has the power to overcome the hills. Would it be doable to replace the old 8v71 with the 50 or one of the other engines mentioned in this bus? I have a shop and a fork lift that I can do the work or who could this in the DFW area for me. I would also travel to someone who could make this conversion for me. Distance isn't a problem. Someone mentioned buying a Gillig transit with a series 50 and B400 Allison for 2000 to 5000 and have all the parts for a modern power train and better fuel mileage then sell the rest for scrap. Would this work in my bus? Thought the Gilig was mounted sideways at a tilt mine is inline. Is there enough room? Or what other options do I have?  I would appreciate all the help and wisdom you can bestow upon me. Thanks in advance... John

Offline luvrbus

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Re: MCI 7 with water in coolant, how hard to change head gasket?
« Reply #16 on: July 29, 2014, 07:05:41 AM »
Gerry installed one from a transit in his MCI I think it is a 102A,the one RJ  delivered to B&B in Vegas is going in a Flex,Gary and Van will install one for you B&B Coach in Vegas. It is best to buy the complete Gillig bus then you have everything when you start piecing one together it gets expensive in a hurry fwiw

good lucko
Life is short drink the good wine first

Offline napamikey

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Re: MCI 7 with water in coolant, how hard to change head gasket?
« Reply #17 on: July 29, 2014, 08:44:00 AM »
Thanks, if it were not a simple fix then I guess tossing in a 50 would be a good deal.  Do you know of a good supplier?  Are there any guides out there you know of?  From everything I read the 7 has some of the best bones of any bus out there and it would probably be worth doing the swap to have something for the next 20 years.  Thanks again for your input!
1967 MCI 5a 8v71
San Francisco, CA

Offline napamikey

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Re: MCI 7 with water in oil, how hard to change head gasket?
« Reply #18 on: July 29, 2014, 10:26:33 AM »
I just found this for a donor bus.  1996 8.3 Turbo Cummins Diesel engine.  Could this work?
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/rvs/4581665318.html
1967 MCI 5a 8v71
San Francisco, CA

Offline eagle19952

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Re: MCI 7 with water in oil, how hard to change head gasket?
« Reply #19 on: July 29, 2014, 11:05:26 AM »
 The bus has had the shift pad and trans computer stolen during storage and RV conversion so these parts will need to be replaced.
Donald PH
1978 Model 05 Eagle w/Torsilastic Suspension,8V71 N, DD, Allison on 24.5's 12kw Kubota.

Offline napamikey

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Re: MCI 7 with water in oil, how hard to change head gasket?
« Reply #20 on: July 29, 2014, 11:08:38 AM »
This has been a classic case of too good to be true!  Thanks for checking it over. 
1967 MCI 5a 8v71
San Francisco, CA

Offline Oonrahnjay

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Re: MCI 7 with water in oil, how hard to change head gasket?
« Reply #21 on: July 29, 2014, 12:25:51 PM »
  I just found this for a donor bus.  1996 8.3 Turbo Cummins Diesel engine.  Could this work? 

    Yeah, Clifford, what do you think of a 8.3L Cummins 24Valve Turbo with a B400R?   My bus originally built with a 150 HP engine, spec for this bus says that it's set for 325.
Bruce H; Wallace (near Wilmington) NC
1976 Daimler (British) Double-Decker Bus; 34' long

(New Email -- brucebearnc@ (theGoogle gmail place) .com)

Offline thomasinnv

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Re:
« Reply #22 on: July 30, 2014, 07:20:07 PM »
Hey Clifford you got me thinking seriously about doing that series 50 conversion. Party at your house in say March? Lol. Seriously though I just might do it.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Some are called, some are sent, some just got up and went.

1998 MCI 102-DL3
Series 60 12.7/Alison B500
95% converted (they're never really done, are they?)

 

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