S-t-r-e-t-c-h

[DD/102]

I'm considering stretching my 102A3 , and was wondering if anyone here had done this on an MCI, can I get away with all 3 ft. at the rear or am I going to have to do part at the rear and part in the middle?  For now I'm looking to gain more interior room and put a larger radiator in to make certain it stays cool, depending on how things go as far as emissions are concerned I want to be able to stuff some kind of 4 stroke in there without having to rework it again. TIA, DD/102

[RJ]

DD -

To answer your question more intelligently, we need some more information.  For example, what are you trying to accomplish?  Are you wanting to stuff a Series 60 in the tail?  Do you want more interior room?  More insight into what you have in mind will produce more useable information.

FWIW & HTH. . .

 


Thanks for updating your original request.  That makes it much easier for folk to answer you, as you can see.

 

[prevost82]

If you add it on the backend you'll turn it into a white elephant ... it will look funning the motor will be stuff 3 ft into the rear .... If you add it into the middle it'll be a big job and have you got the energy and time to add that on top of ALL the work of the conversion. If you want to stuff a series 60 into it, look at a mid 90's 40' Prevost .... they do it without adding lenght see haw they do it. It might be cheaper to buy a 45 footer.
Ron

[captain ron]

I say if you really want to do it go for it. I know a guy in Wisconsin that stretched a 9 and put in a 60 series. By stretching it 5 ft and putting in the 60 series he actually gained 10 feet in his interior because he eliminated the raised area in the rear for the radiators. Now the floor is flat the full length of the bus. If you can dream it, it can be done. Don't let someone else change your mind about what you really want to do. We all have our reasons why we want to do what we want to do.

[TomC]

If you'll notice the difference in overhang between a 40 and 45.  If you stretch the back about 3 ft, then as previously stated, lower the radiators to below floor level, you'll have the space of a factory 45ft in a 43ft space.  Then instead of using a behemoth engine like the Series 60 or Cat C15 and stay with a more compact engine like the Caterpillar C12 or C13 or the Cummins ISM, the floor will remain flat all the way back.  If you put in the Cummins ISM, you can use a 1300 sq in radiator of which will fit below the floor level if you use a horizontal flow radiator core.  Sounds good to me.  Good Luck, TomC

[ChuckMC8]

As I understand the Prevost, they increased the length of the bus 3' in 1994 to accomidate the series 60.

Theres a way to Install the 60 series in your MCI with the stock bus length.
 Theres a "step" valve cover now made that if you remove the front 2 jakes, the step valve cover clears the step in the engine compartment.
   You want to use a B500 World tranny (much sharter than the HT series) and the change differentail ratio to 4:56. With it's 2 overdrives, you gain startabiity and road speed.
     Welcome to modern powertrain!  The engines that Tom C would work as well.............I'd want 1600 ft lbs of torque................aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!
  I dont know about the radiator relocate, but I like that Idea also.........do it!

Instead of streching the length, I'd consider slides..............gasp! in an MCI!
   Theres several MCI's that I know of that  have slides are successful. (How about Gus da bus!) If you observe new big $$$$ motorhomes, the slides are the way to expand the space. The cool thing is that with slides, you gain space when parked (when you need it) and not when driving (when you don't!)

http://busbuilding.com/bus-conversion/gus-the-bus-mci-mc9-before-and-after-conversion/

As Ron said, Don't let folks tell you it cant be done. What they are saying is that THEY can't do it, not YOU!
 Good Luck!

[prevost82]

Not so Chuck .... friend down the street has a 1998 40' XL seated coach with a ser 60 / B500. I didn't think they put ser 60 in a 40' ether. The 1st H3's were 41' with a ser 60.
Ron

[niles500]

The first H series was the H5-60 circa 1985, the H3-40 was the next circa 1989, and both were originally powered by 8v92's.

[Sammy]

We had one H3-41 with a Series 60 with DDEC 2 and an HT 748 with ATEC in the fleet we ran.
We ran four H3-40's with 8V-92's too. Then in '96 we got our first new H3-45's with Series 60's and B500's.
Hope this might help.
Sammy 

[ChuckMC8]

My Bad. It's hard to filter information and discern what is truth or somebody just talking.
Sometimes, for me at least, stuff that "sounds right" (like the lenthing for the longer engine) I just assume to be correct.
  I learn something every day!

[Rodsmc5c]

   
  I saw a 48'  "mega-liner" on the bay. Kinda looked like fun. might be some ideas in there somewhere.
       Rod

[Tom Y]

DD/102, I added 15 inches to the rear of my 5C to put in a Cummins. I also removed 37 inches fro the center to shorten the bus up. I also have  the rad on the side with a hyd fan. The engine deck is across the back and well above the floor. But I was not worried about the height, I can climb across the top of my motor and get behind it but it is tight. After 4 years and 3 months I took it off the blocks borrowed some tires and wheels and backed it out of the garage. Turned it around and backed it back in, it is now back on blocks. I am slooooow. But still having fun.  Tom Y   

[Flight102C3]

I have a 102C3 W/8v92. Just getting started on conversion. I though about a repower to a 3406B. I have not did the math but need to add 2ft +or- to the rear??? If there is a will there is a way!!!! BY the way I'm new to this but, been reading for months. Yery good info!!