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Old 10-15-2018, 07:12 PM   #1
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Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Aurora, Colorado
Posts: 7
Year: 2000
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 102-DL3
Engine: DD 12.7L L6
Unicorn Soldier - 2000 MCI 102-DL3

Hello! I am new here and have thoroughly enjoyed everyone's projects!

We just purchased a 2000 MCI 102-DL3 from MN and plan to make it into a tiny home / RV for our family of 6. We have land up in the Colorado Mountains and want to use this as a method to get our relatively large family up there more often. I/we are brand new to RV-ing and so far I have been getting an education on costs and complexities of doing a bus project.

I will try and post as we make progress or run into issues.

Lastly, as for the name, our oldest kiddos choose it and we thought, why not. Unicorn Soldier it is.

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Old 10-16-2018, 11:06 AM   #2
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
Welcome --- Great looking unit! Should make for a fun build.
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Old 10-16-2018, 11:36 AM   #3
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Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Aurora, Colorado
Posts: 7
Year: 2000
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 102-DL3
Engine: DD 12.7L L6
Thanks Tango! Your bus looks amazing, love that era!
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Old 10-16-2018, 12:07 PM   #4
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Picton,Ont, Can.
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Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: GMC
Engine: Cat 3116
Rated Cap: 72
Amazing looking coach and family also! Glad you are into bus life, all the best on your journey. It's not all play you know...but it's a good life. Great folks on here to relate to.
How does that big soldier run so far?


John
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Old 10-16-2018, 12:23 PM   #5
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Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: The West
Posts: 1,210
Year: 1998
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 102 EL3
Engine: DD 60
Welcome, Congrats, and Yay - another MCI!!
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Missy - 1998 MCI 102-EL3 - 1.7kW Solar - 10kWh Lithium
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Old 10-16-2018, 02:24 PM   #6
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Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Aurora, Colorado
Posts: 7
Year: 2000
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 102-DL3
Engine: DD 12.7L L6
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackJohn View Post
Amazing looking coach and family also! Glad you are into bus life, all the best on your journey. It's not all play you know...but it's a good life. Great folks on here to relate to.
How does that big soldier run so far?


John
Thanks BlackJohn! She's run well so far. We bought her in MN and drove back to Aurora Colorado without issues. ~900 miles and got 9.5 MPG. I am happy with that. My 2 oldest kiddos enjoyed the drive home WAY more than I expected. They actually prefer the bus and are really excited about building a house in there.

Currently I am in the middle of re-titling (bus to rv), vin check, insurance, and emissions so she's not been to the mechanic yet. She made it home, that was good for me, but I am pretty sure there's an air leak so we shall see. Let the fun and education begin!

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Old 10-16-2018, 02:25 PM   #7
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Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Aurora, Colorado
Posts: 7
Year: 2000
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 102-DL3
Engine: DD 12.7L L6
Thanks JDOnTheGo, I have spent quite some time on your thread's and website. I love what you have done!
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Old 10-16-2018, 04:06 PM   #8
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,758
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
I love these coaches!!!!! all the big windows!
-Christopher
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Old 10-16-2018, 08:49 PM   #9
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Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Aurora, Colorado
Posts: 7
Year: 2000
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 102-DL3
Engine: DD 12.7L L6
Some pics of progress...

Parked in our driveway, barely. Do you think anyone will notice?

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My wife is super excited. . . except for how long everything has taken thus far.

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Seats coming out.

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Little helpers

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Grinding the seating hardware for the handicap accessible stuff off. The door has come in super handy for getting stuff on and off the bus although I am having a hard time incorporating it into the design.

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Racks coming down

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Seats out, ceiling coming down

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Pulling ceiling insulation. Found some surface rust and will need to grind, prime, and paint. I will also check for leaks.

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Old 10-17-2018, 11:34 AM   #10
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Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: The West
Posts: 1,210
Year: 1998
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 102 EL3
Engine: DD 60
Hmm... that would mean the D chassis's are not made of stainless steel. Interesting...
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Old 10-17-2018, 02:25 PM   #11
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Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Aurora, Colorado
Posts: 7
Year: 2000
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 102-DL3
Engine: DD 12.7L L6
Quote:
Originally Posted by JDOnTheGo View Post
Hmm... that would mean the D chassis's are not made of stainless steel. Interesting...
Hi JD, the chassis is stainless, however most everything else that is not in the high risk corrosion zone's is regular steel.

"Although MCI's are famous for their stainless steel chassis. They only build stainless and aluminum in areas where they have had problems with corrosion in the past. For example, the front and rear end of the bus, the under carriage and the surrounding luggage bays would be constructed of stainless and aluminum. But the walls that hold the windows are built of regular steel AND WILL RUST SEE BELOW ..."

Buying a MCI Bus ?

The website looks old, but I have talked to Sam the owner and he appears to be very knowledgeable about MCI's.
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Old 10-17-2018, 04:22 PM   #12
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Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Aurora, Colorado
Posts: 7
Year: 2000
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 102-DL3
Engine: DD 12.7L L6
Also, as far as I can gather, MCI did go to a full stainless on their J4500 model starting in 2003 - current. As for everyone else, it's stainless only in the high corrosion spots. Below is what I could scrape together between mci's website and this mci102 site.

MCI D4005 / D4505 | Motor Coach Industries

"Stainless steel lower frame and high-tensile low-alloy steel in upper-body framing and high-stress areas"

MCI J4500 | Motor Coach Industries

"Semi-monocoque low-corrosion stainless steel body"

Lastly....

MCI Specifications

vs

MCI Specifications
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Old 10-17-2021, 03:54 PM   #13
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Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Southern Ohio
Posts: 51
Progress?

How did your conversion work out?
I am interested to know more!
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Old 08-16-2023, 04:07 PM   #14
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It would be cool to see final product
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