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06-18-2015, 11:29 PM
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#21
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
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Hey All,
I MADE IT BACK!!!! She is geared SO deep that I could only get 50 mph @ 2350 rpm. YUCK!!! 3 days of 16 hours driving each day...... The driver's seat was a piece of JUNK. I pinched my sciatic nerve with my femur and it STILL hurts.... Just my luck....
Many pics tomorrow... Sleep tonight.
M1031
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06-18-2015, 11:47 PM
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#22
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NUNYA
Posts: 4,236
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: 3800
Engine: DT408, AT545
Rated Cap: 23 500 gvw
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M1031A1
Hey All,
I MADE IT BACK!!!! She is geared SO deep that I could only get 50 mph @ 2350 rpm. YUCK!!! 3 days of 16 hours driving each day...... The driver's seat was a piece of JUNK. I pinched my sciatic nerve with my femur and it STILL hurts.... Just my luck....
Many pics tomorrow... Sleep tonight.
M1031
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Reminds me of my trip coming back from Tennessee. You are back home now. Rest up then tackle your bus. Maybe try a set of 12R22.5 tires before you do anything radical.
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06-19-2015, 12:25 AM
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#23
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Oklahoma aka "God's blind spot"
Posts: 2,446
Year: 1989
Coachwork: 1853FC International/Navistar
Chassis: 35' Retired Air Force Ambulance
Engine: DT466, MT643
Rated Cap: 6 souls and a driver
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M1031A1
Hey All,
I MADE IT BACK!!!! She is geared SO deep that I could only get 50 mph @ 2350 rpm. YUCK!!! 3 days of 16 hours driving each day...... The driver's seat was a piece of JUNK. I pinched my sciatic nerve with my femur and it STILL hurts.... Just my luck....
Many pics tomorrow... Sleep tonight.
M1031
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been wondering how you and Tropical Depression Bill were getting along! 
__________________
I once complained I had no shoes....
Until I met a man with no feet
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06-19-2015, 11:14 AM
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#24
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
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I missed Bill by a day, but drove through *116 heat from California to New Mexico. Drank 4 gallons of water but discharged considerably less....
So, here's a few pics as promised:
Before I left I got a complete service, replaced a faulty solenoid, and spent $700 (other small stuff was replaced as well - paid off big time!)
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06-19-2015, 11:16 AM
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#25
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
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My good friend Chuck helped with seat removal before I left as well:
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06-19-2015, 11:17 AM
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#26
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Congrats!
The drivers seat in mine sucks too!
800 miles I suffered in that thing on the return trip. Still a very fond memory though.
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06-19-2015, 11:19 AM
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#27
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
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Engine looked AWESOME for only 30K miles (replaced 4 years ago), new alternator - 14.2 volt output, new power steering, new brakes, so on and so on...
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06-19-2015, 11:21 AM
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#28
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
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Topped off the front axle oil, driver's side was a little low, new passenger's side bearings and cover...
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06-19-2015, 11:22 AM
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#29
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
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They even had the emergency door bolt secured, one less thing for me to do - Wo HOO!!!
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06-19-2015, 11:25 AM
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#30
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
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FINALLY got the seats OUT!!!! Was going to get $50, but they clocked me for the foam, so I got $17 instead... Oh well, I was in a hurry to get home, so I sucked it up. Chuck was so happy he dropped from exhaustion..... 
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06-19-2015, 11:29 AM
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#31
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
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Note the heater on the right in above pic, SCORE!!!!! Still looking for one more for the bedroom though......
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06-19-2015, 11:31 AM
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#32
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
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In Phoenix she was doing VERY well, the only exception was top speed. She pulls hills like a mountain goat, LOTS of torque! I'm in love with this engine!
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06-19-2015, 11:33 AM
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#33
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
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On the road AGAIN, onward to home! The tach shorted out about 5 minutes after the dash pic..... FIGURES!!!!!
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06-19-2015, 11:36 AM
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#34
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
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After I added my Prolong Engine Treatment the oil temp dropped rom *180 to *160. Good thing because the ambient temp. that day was *116. Better living through chemicals! One more thing is to change the thermostat from *190 down to *165. Cooler engines are happier engines!
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06-19-2015, 11:39 AM
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#35
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
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Now for some scenery... Here's a shot from the mountain in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, an airplane bone yard, and another mountain shot going home:
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06-19-2015, 11:42 AM
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#36
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
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West Texas was cool in the morning, *71, clouds, excellent driving conditions for a non-A/C bus. Once I hit Junction, TX the humidity wall hit me like a brick wall  . Oh how I CAN'T WAIT to get the A/C going in her!  
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06-19-2015, 11:50 AM
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#37
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Skoolie
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Monrovia California
Posts: 151
Year: 1984
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Engine: 3208 turbo Cat
Rated Cap: 78
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M1031A1
West Texas was cool in the morning, *71, clouds, excellent driving conditions for a non-A/C bus. Once I hit Junction, TX the humidity wall hit me like a brick wall . Oh how I CAN'T WAIT to get the A/C going in her! |
M1031A1, what is your gear ratio and tire size? I have a BB with same engine, 5.29 gears, tire size 12R and it does 65 at 2300 RPM, Love the looks of your bus.
J
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06-19-2015, 11:54 AM
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#38
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
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Juliol,
Thanks! I have 11R22.5 tires, Michelins. There was NO WAY I was going to attempt this trip on 9 year old front and 13 year old rear tires unless they were - you guessed it - Michelins! I LOVE Michelin tires! BTW, the tires through the heat stayed cool enough to touch! I'm suspecting my gear ratio is deeper than yours, probably in the mid 6's. Need to research what's available before making my final decision.....
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06-19-2015, 12:15 PM
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#39
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NUNYA
Posts: 4,236
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: 3800
Engine: DT408, AT545
Rated Cap: 23 500 gvw
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M1031A1
I missed Bill by a day, but drove through *116 heat from California to New Mexico. Drank 4 gallons of water but discharged considerably less....
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Maybe it was like my trip.
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06-19-2015, 12:52 PM
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#40
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Skoolie
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Monrovia California
Posts: 151
Year: 1984
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Engine: 3208 turbo Cat
Rated Cap: 78
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M1031A1
After I added my Prolong Engine Treatment the oil temp dropped rom *180 to *160. Good thing because the ambient temp. that day was *116. Better living through chemicals! One more thing is to change the thermostat from *190 down to *165. Cooler engines are happier engines!
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M1031A1, can you provide information on the Prolong engine treatment?, is it specific for diesel engines? very interesting on the temp drop
J
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