Parting out 4106 - maybe

[windtrader]

Here is a strategy you can ponder; it worked for me. What you do is focus on getting the payoff as high as possible. Since you have the luxury of time on your side, drag it out. Meanwhile hold up the salvaging of the wrecked coach. Once you get stuck on payout, you then agree to the amount if you can get some items off the bus. That way you can extract some of the stuff without incurring any costs to you. The storage is on them and you can bet they will want to get the claim off the books and costing them money/space at storage.

This worked for me when I wrecked a beautiful collector BMW. At the end, I said give me access to the car to get some stuff off of it and we can close this out. Pulled off custom BBS wheels, stereos, etc. Still sad to let it go but helped just the same

[luvrbus]

You are right about the generator head,only problem if you tried to sell it people look at it a used generator head with no warranty and won't pay anything for it

[richard5933]

You are right about the head,only problem if you tried to sell it people look at it a used head with no warranty and won't pay anything for it

Not sure we're on the same page...

While I'd love to have the whole bus back at my place, it's not looking practical. That being the case, I'm leaning towards pushing the insurance company to let me pull what I can.

If I don't get the whole engine, then I'd want to at least strip the Jake Brakes. The Jakes should work on my new bus, with the exception of the 12v components.

Problem is, my knowledge of the Jakes is marginal. That's why I'd need to do some reading up on the subject to be sure I get the necessary parts.

Richard

1974 GMC P8M4108A-125 (Current bus)
1964 GM PD4106-2412 (totalled Sept 2017)
Located in beautiful Wisconsin
KD9GRB

[luvrbus]

Let me know about the Jakes I will trade you 24V solenoids even for the 12v solenoids   

[richard5933]

Let me know about the Jakes I will trade you 24V solenoids even for the 12v solenoids 

They would be great. Can you point me towards some type of instruction or photos that shows what I'm going to be pulling? Is there a list of the necessary parts somewhere?

Richard

1974 GMC P8M4108A-125 (Current bus)
1964 GM PD4106-2412 (totalled Sept 2017)
Located in beautiful Wisconsin
KD9GRB

[luvrbus]

Just go to Jacobs Brake site and look under 71/92 Jake Brake it is all there for your reading enjoyment   

[richard5933]

Just go to Jacobs Brake site and look under 71/92 Jake Brake it is all there for your reading enjoyment 

Tnx. That's what I needed to know. I've always said that it's not necessary to know everything, but it helps to know where the knowledge is kept.

Richard

1974 GMC P8M4108A-125 (Current bus)
1964 GM PD4106-2412 (totalled Sept 2017)
Located in beautiful Wisconsin
KD9GRB

[richard5933]

Just go to Jacobs Brake site and look under 71/92 Jake Brake it is all there for your reading enjoyment   

So if I have this correct, there is one unit per cylinder, and each unit is held on by two bolts. You mentioned 'bridges' - is that the same thing as the forks described in the parts listing? Or, am I missing this altogether?

Richard

[eagle19952]

I assume that the Jakes are on both heads. Can both be accessed from the engine bay?

Anywhere you can point me to see this in photos? I don't have a clear picture of what it is I'm removing.

Richard

i admire your gumption...but you have to know that you are reaching down the lions throat.
Maybe Scott Crosby would meet you there. it would probably be worth it for both of you...
i guess there is a first time for everything, this just doesn't seem like this is the right time to be that..
i do hope it all goes how you want, i really do. if i was in Iowa i'd help you.

[richard5933]

i admire your gumption...

Sometimes gumption is the only thing that keeps me going when all else fails.


Richard

[luvrbus]

Richard,you find the bridges in your engine manual with the settings, the Jakes have 8 special bridges and those bridges are getting hard to find for 71 series.
I don't do photos here it is to much trouble .
The bridges tie the valves together and are under the rocker arms when you remove the Jake housings just flip the rocker up and remove the 8 that have a round circle on top no special tools are required to remove those.
The Jakes are on both head the lower head is a snap to remove the and install the Jakes the upper head on a GM not so easy.Down load the installation manual for 71/92A from the Jake site and the picture will be clearer       

[richard5933]

As we get close to the end of negotiations with the insurance company, I'm putting together a list of things I want to retrieve from the 4106.

Does anyone have any specific parts they need from a 4106 that I can add to the list? Other than the obvious damage from the collision on the driver's front corner, most of the coach was still in good shape.

If the list is enough to make it worthwhile, I'll get a van and go for the day with a friend stripping out whatever I can using hand tools.

Let me know by posting a reply or (preferably) by PM.

Thanks.
Richard

[richard5933]

Negotiations with the insurance company have been completed. I will not be getting access to the vehicle per our agreement.

However, I was able to get the information about the pending auction of the coach. I'm passing it along for anyone that is interested. If you would like information about equipment, etc. please let me know.

My goal here is just to prevent the remaining parts from ending up in the crusher.

The information about the auction can be seen here:

https://www.copart.com/lot/43420887/

[HB of CJ]

This is too late and I understand.  However it might help others in future similar situations regarding insurance policies and the fine print.  Sometimes we find out after the fact that our implied coverage was only very dim smoke and mirrors.

Two ways to figure this out in future involvements.  Have your trusty friendly KNOWLEDGEABLE attorney go through the insurance papers with you before you obtain it.    Might cost some money.  Might prevent stuff like this from happening.

Then you would know exactly where you stand before any wrecks.  The first approach would be to lean on the insurance agent and make him do his job within the exact language of the policy.  Know where you stand beforehand.  Make him do his job.

Have the agent arrange everything delivering the wreck to you place.  He does everything.  You just accept delivery.  Too many little details that can de rail you with added costs.  Storage fees.  Hidden zingers.  Late demands.  What can you do?

Have the agent do it all for you.  The second thing is to document everything you have done to that collectible old 4106.  Get it all documented.  Take pictures.  Take video.  Save all receipts.  Save the daily personal log of all the hours of work, sweat and tears.

Keep it all together.  Do NOT give it to the agent.  But keep it available with copies with your attorney.  We do this.  Be amazed how much value we get tied up in old Bus Conversions.  Then if you have a claim you have legal documentation to present.

We must have car insurance.  Quite a racket if you ask me.  Legally required.  So if we are held hostage to the insurance industry be sure to be in a position of command and control.  Not the agent.  Sometimes lawyer letters get things rolling to suit you.

Respectfully.   

[richard5933]

Not sure if I clarified it or not, but I was able to come to agreement with the insurance company regarding valuation on our coach. I fully understand how the insurance game works, and we did better than expected. Right now I'm not going to go into details regarding dollar amounts, but the final settlement was done through the other driver's policy and I think fairly represents the value.

The reason I'm not getting access to the vehicle is because it just didn't make sense financially. Between the cost of transporting the disabled coach and the difficulty of finding a place to store it once I got it, I made the decision to come to the final settlement with the insurance company taking title to the wreck. That's the way nearly all insurance settlements happen when there is a total loss, and no matter how I worked the numbers it just didn't make sense to try and keep the coach.

I had many long conversations with my agent (private insurance agent - not a company rep) about options. Unfortunately the way the laws are written the insurance companies are largely in the driver's seat when it comes to settlements. By Iowa law (where the accident took place) they were obligated to reimburse us for the fair market value of the coach. Replacement value was not an option. We had a stated value policy on our end, but since the other driver had higher limits we went with his policy's terms. The only real issue for debate was the fair value on the 4106.

At this point, my goal for posting here is only to let others know that there is a 4106 going for auction very soon with many usable and rare parts. If anyone has interest please contact the auction company at the link below. I am not going to be involved in this auction. I can answer any questions about the coach and the condition of the mechanical systems.