Potential MCI 8 converted bus purchase

[Jim Blackwood]

Unless I am mistaken the 102DL3 is still the sweet spot for an unconverted bus. Mid to late 90's gets you the DDEC4 S60 and B500 trans without getting heavily into networked systems, maybe a 90K btu aux heater and r134 refrigerant. Many have alloy wheels. Sub 10K purchases have been available.

Jim

[luvrbus]

You will be into the bus another 4k for the cooling system

[BusNit]

I left a message with the RV place to see if I could take it for a test drive on Saturday. I really do not want to invest in converting another bus from scratch. I am 51 and my time clock of life is already ticking. Time to enjoy for a bit and tackle things along the way. I figure about 20k should more than iron out any potential issues this one may have but it is in pristine condition aside from the oddly painted engine. Much money has been spent on the exterior and interior but I think they dropped the ball and reused hoses and oil lines that have been approaching their expiration date at time of rebuild.

[windtrader]

Unless I am mistaken the 102DL3 is still the sweet spot for an unconverted bus.

Give me a break. The sweet spot is buying a cabin on a few acres and enjoying nature without all the BS from owing a bus. PLUS - it may actually increase in value over time.


There is no sweet spots in buying an old used up bus. Let's not kid ourselves, it is a costly hobby, much like racing and boating. They are all big black holes that suck all your free cash. As long as you enjoy the journey, then just do that but don't try to convince yourself that any bus conversion is anything other than that black hole.

[Jim Blackwood]

True for most I suppose Don, but for what I have in my bus at this point I could sell the engine alone and turn a profit. Can't say how long that will hold true but it's a heck of a head start.

Jim

[chessie4905]

those multi colored hoses are probably Gates green stripe, Goodyear blue, and Generic black. Usually silicone hoses in older coaches have 2 hose clamps per. Check if hoses are really bulging right next to clamps or clamps are cutting into outside layer, indicating time to change. Otherwise, engine looks OK. Probably had a recent steam cleaning.

[buswarrior]

Nothing strange about the paint at all.

There's no rule it needs to be painted Alpine Green, whatever paint happens to be nearby, and paint does like to come off an engine that sits.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[BusNit]

I went to drive the bus today. There is definitely something going on with the engine. Excessive blue smoke clouding out three lanes of traffic. Multiple air leaks and the radiator really is springing a leak. That said it will also need an alignment. When I returned to the parking lot, you could see oil had been blowing out of the leaky exhaust clamps. Not sure what to think. I’m pretty certain that engine will need a rebuild. There was no power and on flat ground it could not get out of its own way. Disappointed to say the least as I really want this bus however I do not want to drop another 30k into an engine let alone finding someone that can do quality work. They negotiated to 40k. I’m not paying that as it is. Any good words of inspiration?

[Tedsoldbus]

That has to be disappointing. So sorry. It is a cool looking bus but I think the mechanics on this site ( I am NOT one) will say run away.

[buswarrior]

absolutely NOT, at that price point, for that bus, at this time.

Even if I had a low mileage donor drivetrain waiting on a cradle.

I am not one to talk about buying and selling prices, but $40k is way out of line, i do not want someone taken advantage of to this degree...

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[BusNit]

Thanks guys. I will say that this bus is built well and proper. Looks like a factory installation. Having said that, in my humble opinion and what I told the lady at the consignment place is that I would think the price has to come down by at least 30k to 10k to sell it. They want it gone. Even the under storage area is built well with clean grey carpet finished with aluminum corner angle. There are no wires exposed. Everything electrical is in sealtite conduit and secure. (New house and engine batteries too) Truly built with pride and I can see the seller thinking he would want top dollar. Conversion looks like it was done in 2000-2002. All paperwork and manuals are there. The whole trouble is finding a shop that can do an engine overhaul. If I were into it for 40k after tires, engine build and a couple of leaky air hoses, I would feel very happy. (Including bus price) Hard to find a nicely done bus which keeps pushing us into RV's. I do not want an RV. I want a bus dammit!! (I also do not want to convert one. Been there done that and have the financial scars) My life's clock is ticking and time to enjoy some road time.

[chessie4905]

25k TOPS. Even that may be high. If that number would seem fine for you to pay with those issues, write that number with your phone number on a piece of paper and give them 2 weeks to 30 days to let you know. Let them know that offer is firm.
Btw, does it have power steering? And if so, power assist or full power? I wouldn't  even touch a power assist system. Price out replacing a radiator while you are at it.
If that engine has serious internal issues, better walk away.
Are you in a location where someone familiar with Detroits could be paid to check it out?

[lostagain]

Engine rebuild: $20 to 30,000, tires: $5 to 10,000, rad $4 to 5000 to do both, plus who knows what... Offer $10,000, not a penny more. Then think you can find one that doesn't need anything for $40 to $80 or $100,000 if you take your time. They are out there.



























































































4

[BusNit]

There is a Detroit shop in Phoenix but they haven’t returned my calls after speaking to them twice. Bus has power steering but not sure what type. I’ll include a pic of the front spare tire access area if it helps.

I found a place in Wyoming that has rebuilt engines for 20k which includes a $6500 refundable core charge. It is titled as an industrial engine if it means much. I would need to call them for more info. Not coming up with much on my online search for shops but plenty of parts kits available. I’m not looking at a DIY rebuild. I have a crap ton of tools but nothing that might be capable of pulling the engine out and doing a swap. Not many hours accumulated on YouTube University to fine tune this on my own either if I did do all the grunt work. Today I had a 6” slab of 50’ concrete poured for my next bus… it’s curing as I write this!

I wanted to add that there are two radiator shops that I trust to redo the radiators once I remove them. Hoping the originals can be made to handle better cooling and be stronger than they have been before. (Famous words from the six million dollar man show)

[chessie4905]

looks decent there, maintained. I would have expected nothing touched for years.
The power assist system I was talking about has a large hydraulic cylinder with hydraulic lines going to it.
 The full power has just steering box with two hydraulic lines connected to it. Not sure what MC8's had available.