Need advice on my bus search

[Robert D]

Looks like it still has the upper bunks in the rear 'bedroom' as well. Those fold down from the ceiling.

We have a similar setup, and I didn't have much trouble converting the two couches to twin beds. We find the twin beds much more convenient than having to move things between night & day.

It also looks to have the original CC a/c units, which should be able to be put in working order easily. They use off-the-shelf commercial refrigeration components still available, but like it needs nothing more than a recharge and new air dryer, if that.

It has the original A/C units and they do work. I don't remember the brand and I unfortunately I didn't get a picture.
Also, the OTR A/C works well.

[dtcerrato]

Sure don't build them like that anymore!

[Robert D]

I have been on that bus, and know the mechanics who maintained it. Art Pepin often let charitable groups use it to raise money and if you were lucky enough you might end up at the gulf front compound with a yacht ride. Of course there were complimentary AB beverages and Eagle snacks. Pepin took care of all his vehicles with his own in house mechanics- FWIW

They said that it has a current D.O.T. and has been maintained well.

[Robert D]

I don't see drive train specs on the bus I am guessing a 8v71 and the MCI 7 could have a 4 speed manual or Allison most 7's with a automatic were the old H70 wet torque converter transmission,no matter what bus he buys with a 871 N/A engine it will struggle pulling a 24 ft enclosed trailer

It has a 8V71 automatic. The shifter shows 6 speeds. I thought these would only have a 4 speed.
The towing capacity is the reason I am still on the fence about it. I will be towing a 20' trailer weighing 7500lbs at it's heaviest, hopefully around 6000lbs most of the time.

[richard5933]

How fast do you plan to pull that trailer and will you be pulling it through the mountains? I think those will be the deciding factors.

[RJ]

The towing capacity is the reason I am still on the fence about it. I will be towing a 20' trailer weighing 7500lbs at it's heaviest, hopefully around 6000lbs most of the time.

Robert -

An MC-7 equipped with a restroom operating in revenue service was normally set up for 47 passengers. A full bus-load, at an average, say, of 160-165 lbs each. . . well, you can do the math.

Oh, and that number doesn't include three full baggage bins, either.

Point being? You're majoring in the minors here.

If you like the bus, buy it.  Hook up your trailer and go.  Downshift manually when you come to grades.  Be prepared for 28-30 mph sitting on the governor in 2nd gear while pulling 6% grades, aka sit back and enjoy the scenery. 3rd gear with the Jake brake on coming down the 6% grade. Easy peasy.

If you're worried about structural damage to the coach from your trailer, buy a TrailerToad (www.trailertoad.com) to handle the tongue weight. Cheaper than attempting to repair the bus itself, you might even consider a TT as an insurance policy.

FWIW & HTH. . . 

[Robert D]

Yes - there were a few AB buses converted by Custom Coach. I've attached the build number inventory for the CC buses.

Good points about livability on exec coaches, but a lot of that depends on how the bus is going to be used. We have a 35-ft CC which has a similar layout except shorter. The tradeoff of the smaller kitchen and bathroom is the larger living spaces. After refitting the couches in the rear bedroom to be twin beds, we have a really nice bedroom which still includes a large sofa (we kept the rear sofa) and lots of space to move about. Our kitchen is smaller, but we've spent weeks at a time in the bus and for the two of us it works out nicely. The front parlor with the dinette and sofa is also nice.

Custom Coach generally installed large tanks for fresh water and waste - ours are 90 gallons each but I've seen larger on the 40 and 45 ft buses. Counter space is really the biggest lacking we have, but storage overall is great for a 35-ft bus.

In the end, it all depends on the intended use.

I'm not sure about the tank sizes. I didn't think about the possibility of them being smaller.
I didn't see the number for this unit on the list.

[luvrbus]

It has a 8V71 automatic. The shifter shows 6 speeds. I thought these would only have a 4 speed.
The towing capacity is the reason I am still on the fence about it. I will be towing a 20' trailer weighing 7500lbs at it's heaviest, hopefully around 6000lbs most of the time.

That is the old H70 Allison shifter it has a overdrive gear

[richard5933]

The Custom Coach number is NOT the same as the MCI nunber. There are a few places it will be, but it won't be on the MCI plaques.

[luvrbus]

I cannot find who the bus was delivered to new I can find the bus before and after but no 9572 so it wasn't a Greyhound or tour bus 

[Robert D]

Where on the bus would I find the Custom Coach number?

The bus was converted new for Anheuser Busch then sold to the Anheuser distributer in the early 80's that currently owns it so I'm told.

[luvrbus]

Where on the bus would I find the Custom Coach number?

The bus was converted new for Anheuser Busch then sold to the Anheuser distributer in the early 80's that currently owns it so I'm told.

The price is not that great I don't think 50k will buy a nice bus now days with lower mileage and a better transmission and engine ,the DOT inspections are ok but don't cover the drive train

[richard5933]

Where on the bus would I find the Custom Coach number?

The bus was converted new for Anheuser Busch then sold to the Anheuser distributer in the early 80's that currently owns it so I'm told.

Finding the Custom Coach build number can be a bit of a wild goose chase. I've found mine written in a few different places, but none of them are out in the open or on some type of plaque.

The easiest place to find it is if he seller has the manual issued by CC when they originally delivered it. Hopefully they still have that and the original manuals which were delivered with the bus to Busch. The manual is where I found my number the first time. After I started working on the bus I started to find it hand written in a number of places by someone at CC during the build.

If the destination sign roller curtain is the original, and it very well could be, the number is likely written on one end of the curtain itself. These were made by Transign and had some details printed on one end from the original order. It might also be written on the pot metal end caps for the roller - these are inserted into the metal tube the curtain is rolled on.

I've also seen my number hand written on the back side of numerous panels throughout the coach as I've opened them for inspection and service. It looked that the crew at CC wrote the number on all the interior components while they were being worked on prior to installation to make sure they went into the correct bus.

Sorry that I can't point you to a single plaque or something to find the number. If it was built for Busch. Since we know that my bus is from 1974 and was assigned CC #1915, my guess is that this bus is one of the two Busch builds just before it in the inventory.