1974 Crown conversion came home with us!

[Alsbus]

Hi everyone. My wife and I just purchased a 1974 Crown bus conversion. Drove it 100+ miles home. Ran perfectly. Going through all the systems and lubing everything. Oil, filter and all other fluids will be changed soon before our first big trip. Loving this bus! Gets lots of attention. Not sure hot to upload pics yet!

[o1marc]

Welcome to the madness. Where are the bus and you from? Go to the UserCP and fill out your profile, it will help answer your questions. I just happen to be looking at a 74 International local.

[Alsbus]

We are both from the UK. Living north east of Sonora CA at 5000'. The bus was a San Jose School bus originally. We purchased it in Hayward CA. Someone did a pretty nice conversion. I will be upgrading some of it.

[EastCoastCB]

Was it Stu's bus?
Once you get to 5 posts you can upload pics.

WHat part of the UK?

[Alsbus]

No, we bought it of a guy called Jerry. We are from Birkenhead. It's near Liverpool for the people that have never heard of the town. Yes, we are plastic scousers!

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Alsbus

No, we bought it of a guy called Jerry. We are from Birkenhead. It's near Liverpool for the people that have never heard of the town. Yes, we are plastic scousers!

Ah, I see.
Liverpool have a great football team. We're huge fans of big Virgil.
My wife's from Glasgow, and we're Tims.

Another post or two and you can show us this beautiful bus!

[Alsbus]

Glad you have a Glasgow girl in the house! Good people. Thanks for the reply. We are so looking forward to hitting the road at some point. Loving the Crown buses! Just a great looking classic design. We have traveled quite a bit over the years from sailing from San Francisco to Nicaragua and starting a charter business down there. We have converted two Sprinters and a Freightliner bus over the last few years. Sold our Sprinter last week to buy our Crown. Only thing we will miss is the economy of the Sprinter. Oh well! You can't have everything!

[Iceni John]

Hi there, fellow Brit with a Crown. I guess we're the only two Crown-owning Brits in the entire New World. If you're ever in Southern California, with or without your Crown, PM me so we can meet.

John

[Alsbus]

Hi John. Thanks for getting in touch! Definitely will contact you one way or another. There is a good chance we will head that way in the bus when we finally Break away from the house restraints. And catch up with the bus maintenance needed for a reliable trip. Tell me about your bus when you get a chance. Regards, Alan.

[Crown_Guy]

Me Too. Contact me as well and I can help with your Crown. John and I are good resources for you along with some other guys in the area here in SoCal.

You aren't that far away and if you get down this way you'll tap into a deep well of Crown experience and support. Use this, it's much better and we can attach pics back and forth. mikemcc2k@yahoo.com

Congrats on the new toy and just wait till you start getting some real road experiences with it and see just how awesome to drive and how reliable they are.

P.S. I almost forgot.... What engine does it have?? If it's a Detroit 6-71 2-stroke you need to use the correct oil in it. That's not an option. The correct CF-2 low ash Delo 100 straight 40wt mineral oil is harder to find but is the only correct oil to use.

If it's a Cummins it's OK to use any good multi-grade diesel oil available today. Much easier to find.

Let us know the particulars of it, engine, trans etc.

P.P.S. I love the Sierra Gold Rush Country. Good Crown driving as well.
Country roads with open windows to smell the countryside and handle the
road like it's on rails....You'll see.

[Iceni John]

My Crown was from Mid-Placer Public Schools in Auburn CA so it was built for use in the Sierras there. I've had it for eleven years now, doing some mechanical work to it and completing the conversion grunt work (tanks, batteries, solar, generator, propane), and now I'm finally building the interior. The bed is done, the shower only needs a door to complete it, and I'll work next on the remaining interior walls for the closets and bathroom, then the kitchen after that to fundamentally complete the interior. Obviously bus conversions are never truly finished, but as long as mine is usable in a year or so I'll be happy. I can always faff about with the finishing touches later. As far as I know it is the only Super II anywhere undergoing a serious conversion, but there are one or two back east that may also end up being converted; it's fun to have a bus that's rarer than any Bugattis or Koenigseggs (I saw my third Veyron here last weekend). I just topped up the bus's diesel this evening - I love driving it!

John

[Native]

I am thinking our next purchase (some long time in the future) will be either a Crown or a Prevost. I have heard so much praise for both on this site.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Native

I am thinking our next purchase (some long time in the future) will be either a Crown or a Prevost. I have heard so much praise for both on this site.

crown or gillig!

[Alsbus]

Hi Mike. Thanks for contact info. I did do my research before going to look at this bus. Although it's hard to remember everything you read when you are going over the whole bus looking for the good, the bad and the ugly! But when I opened the boot! Ok, trunk.i found a gallon of Delo 400. I immediately asked the seller about the use of the wrong oil. He was just selling it on so he didn't know what was actually in it. Anyway! Yesterday I finally got around to giving the old girl her favorite drink! Delo 100. And a new oil filter. Also new fuel filters! I'm loving this bus! I've been working on it every day since getting it home. Our weather has been cold and icy so it's not left the driveway too many times. Thank you guys for the friendly welcome and offer of help. That means a lot to me and my wife. Safe travels. Alan.

[Alsbus]

Thanks John. Great info! I've converted 3 vehicles from scratch so I know what's involved! It's a huge undertaking if done correctly. Looking forward to meeting you one day. Excited about seeing some more Crowns too! I think my bus has a major problem though. It doesn't leak oil! Yes, I've checked the dipstick! Actually, joking aside. It leaked quite a bit after getting it home. But after a good going over underneath, I fixed the leaks. Just mostly loose bolts. I'm sure other leaks will appear but I am pretty good at keeping on top of maintenance. One thing I am disappointed about is...the Kohler generator isn't working. I've messed with it quite a bit now and I think the rings are worn out. No compression and it pops the oil dipstick out if you turn it over a while. It's way under the bus, up front, in the middle so it's not been easy working on it. Anyway, I'm thinking of pulling it out eventually and either rebuilding it or just throw it away and get something else. What are your thoughts on having a generator on board?

[Crown_Guy]

I sent you an email with pics.

[Alsbus]

[Alsbus]

[Alsbus]

[EastCoastCB]

Beautiful.
I like the colour scheme.