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Old 11-02-2008, 03:10 PM   #1
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
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Year: 92
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Re: Should I buy this Bus? Help please!

The trans can be adjusted to correct the shifts, nearly any Alli shop can do it.
If the engine bogs down, maybe you need more power

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Old 11-02-2008, 05:14 PM   #2
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Year: 2003
Coachwork: 2003 Thomas E-350 shorty
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Re: Should I buy this Bus? Help please!

Questions for coach busses should go to
http://www.busnut.com
or some such site. Ask the experts. I am not an expert, but shouldn't an MCI 8 have a Detroit v 71 or 92 series? And I'd think they all have the same general powerband characteristics, meaning the trans shift points shouldn't be that far off???. Sounds to me like something got very messed up. I'd hope the bus is $Cheap. Cause seems likely you'll run into something else. I've seen MC-7's and MC-8's for pretty reasonable prices.
Me, being on the West side of the country, would wait for a 40' Crown or Gillig. There was a 3 axle 10 speed Gillig in the SF Craigslist about a month ago for $2700. Less money and a much cooler bus!! But quite a bit harder to find.
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Old 11-02-2008, 08:34 PM   #3
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Chassis: E350
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Re: Should I buy this Bus? Help please!

A quick web search shows the MC-8 came with a Detroit 8V-71. I'd think the only reasonable re-power option would be the bigger Detroit 8V-92. A 6V-71 is a downgrade. 8V is number of cylinders in a V configuration, the 71 and 92 is displacement per cylinder. Both are 2 stroke diesels. First order of business is find out what's in it, and find out if it's a reasonable repower option. So has the owner driven the bus 100,000 miles by manually shifting an automatic??? That sounds VERY FISHY.
Good luck
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Old 11-03-2008, 06:50 AM   #4
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Re: Should I buy this Bus? Help please!

more info on th engin please, DD nade a 53 series 2 cycle engine, in the inline 2,3,4, &v6 configuration, they currently make a 50 series 4 cycle engine.
I would think that you would want at least 250 HP and that would be pretty gutless in the hills or a headwind.
Th original 8v71 was 318hp natural and 350hp turbocharged.
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Old 11-03-2008, 09:43 AM   #5
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Re: Should I buy this Bus? Help please!

Detroit made the series 50 4 stroke. It seems to be a popular repower for the older MCIs. I think what you have there is the older tranny is set up for the faster revving 2 stroke. It does need to be reconfigured but I wouldn't have a clue how to do it.
The previous owner tell you it was rebuilt BUT he didnt tell you it was rebuilt for that bus. That could be the problem!
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Old 11-03-2008, 11:19 PM   #6
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Engine: 3208 na boat anchor
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Re: Should I buy this Bus? Help please!

Don't know about a DD series 50, but a four-stroke four cycle diesel engine big enough to push a coach would rattle that thing to dust in short order.
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Old 11-03-2008, 11:24 PM   #7
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Re: Should I buy this Bus? Help please!

Quote:
Originally Posted by bus-bro
Don't know about a DD series 50, but a four-stroke four cycle diesel engine big enough to push a coach would rattle that thing to dust in short order.
Not at all! All the newer busses are running the series 60s, cummins and cats.
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Old 11-03-2008, 11:51 PM   #8
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Re: Should I buy this Bus? Help please!

Brain fart, I meant a four cylinder four-cycle engine that would rattle the old bus.
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Old 11-04-2008, 01:37 AM   #9
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Year: 1992
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Rated Cap: 84
Re: Should I buy this Bus? Help please!


I think bus-bro is talking about the inherent imbalance of an inline four cylinder engine. This is why many inline four-cylinder car engines have "balance shafts" -- extra internal rotating parts that resemble camshafts, with counterweights on them to... yes... counter the vibrations from the crankshaft. A six cylinder inline, on the other hand, has perfect balance, so makes the bus rattle and vibrate less.

But I know nothing about the Detroit 50 series, except that the 50 and 60 series Detroits are essentially Mercedes designs, and the 60 Series has an excellent reputation in trucking.
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