1988 MCI 102C3 - 6V92

[douglas@djwoodyard.com]

Hello everyone,
I am looking at a 102C3 that has been sitting for more than 3 years, it is a church passenger bus and I was looking to make an offer (if it cranks) and then make an RV out of it.
Does anyone have a floor plan / blue print that shows the measurements of the luggage bays, the windows, the drivers area, just something that would help me layout a good design. I am considering a side aisle, but not totally sold on that.

I am looking to figure out where the best placement of the plumbing and power.
I have looked and searched around the Internet for such a diagram, but have not found what I need.

Plus, any advice as to what to look for on the coach before making an offer? This is a Florida bus and has been a church bus for two different churches for the last 18 years or more, I know a little history, but that does not mean I know how well it was taken care of.

Thanks, everyone

[Jim Blackwood]

You might want to consider looking for a DL instead. The better Series 60 4 stroke and the other improvements make it a better starting point a number of us have found. Generally something mid 90's on.

Jim

[luvrbus]

The C-3 is a good bus if you can find one with a Cummins or Cat engine with the radiator in the rear and not the 2 side mounted style. The C3 is transition model with the 2 side radiators you need check the blower cooling system close most of the time they are rotten out from rust and require a lot of steel replacement, LVMCI  C3 was sort of rust free except the blower fan compartment that needed attention .  The D is better bus but the 40 ft D's are hard to find, I have been looking for 1 with a series 60 engine

[lvmci]

Hi Douglas,  here's the sketch of my floor plan on my C3. I ended up moving the sofa to the other side and adding another seat behind the driver's seat,  and swapped the shower and bathroom sink also to the other side, to keep all the water lines in one area, tom...

[peterbylt]

We have a 1989 MCI 96A3, similar Bus but 6 inches narrower.

The wife and I went over and changed the interior design many many times.
We also did the obligatory laying out the design on the floor with Blue painters tape.

If you are using a Blacktank and flush toilet, your design will probably start with the placement of the toilet.
The rear most Bay we used for water, the front bay has The power wall, house batteries, Generator and outside unit for the MiniSplit.
The middle bay is for Storage.

I have included what we eventually settled on, we are quite happy with it.

Peter

[Busted Knuckle]

One thing I was told when I first got started working on buses is MOST (not all) churches rely on GOD to get them home!
Meaning maintenance is usually lacking. And to be very honest many of the church buses I have worked on followed that mold.
Now that said there were several churches I did maintenance for that spent the $ on anything I told them needed fixed, but most others either put it off or ONLY FIXED what was absolutely necessary at that moment!

ALMOST EVERY church bus I ever worked on because it happened to break down in my area barely had me fix whatever it took to make it run, telling me "We'll have our mechanic fix it right when we get home. (and it was obvious they didn't have a mechanic at home!)

Now on the other hand I know a church in Memphis that has buses that better kept than MOST charter companies I know of, but they are an exception to the rule.   

As said a C3 is a nice platform if it is in decent shape to start with, but a comparable D would be a better set up.
  BK 

[Coach_and_Crown_Guy]

What Busted Knuckle said.

My experience with Church buses is exactly the same. In all cases they were always a danger to me
and others on the road whenever I was driving them. They let God keep them working. I was never
driving them with passengers or as the designated driver for the church who may or may not have
even had a proper license. I was doing ferry/delivery trips and in one case my life was in danger
because the bus had no heat or defrosters but at least the W/S wipers worked to keep the snow off,
mostly, and it was a raging Utah blizzard. It was barely running and leaking oil and trans fluid and
was a real survival trial to get the thing home to L.A.. As it happens it was a 102A3 with the vertical
door handle. Ex-Greyhound with untold millions of mile on it and just plain wore out with no obvious
maintenance having been done on it by the church.

I didn't want to be a Debbie Downer but it is what it is. Be very careful in your picking a church bus and
have it checked out thoroughly by a qualified mechanic. Then have the courage to walk away if he says
so. You can always find another bus. But the one that puts you in the poor house is not good for you.