Oh My!
1965 Bus is 59 years old....I bet it's cool looking.....
BUT......
There are so many things that wear and need attention at that age, and for what it sounds like you're wanting to do, and not wanting to do (wrenching on the bus).....I HIGHLY recommend an alternative plan!
Even if you have thousands of $$$ to make this adventure happen, there's just the basic physics of things being worn out and needing to be repaired/replaced.
Think of it like this;
If the engine is shot, and so old you can't find replacement parts, but some miracle worker mechanic gets it running.....what about when it needs to be fixed again (and it will....they all do).
If the engine is unhealthy, there's the rest of the drive train to consider needing attention
Transmission
Drive line (U-Joints)
Rear differential and wheel bearings
Engine control linkage
How about brakes?
Brake shoes and drums
Brake hydraulic system
Steering
Steering Box
Steering Linkage
Suspension
Shocks
Bushings
Springs
Electrical
Alternator
Fuse Panel
Heater
Wipers
Lights/turn signals
Well.....that's my 0.02 worth on the considerations for getting a 59 year old bus and hitting the road for the adventure it sounds like your really wanting to do.
There are some busses up for auction at GovDeals.com here in Washington (Spanaway)....just down the street from me! They're not converted yet tho.
Hi
I'm the seller of the bus this thread is discussing and would like to chime in:
Reading through this discussion I am finding a lot of good comments and ones that really need to be talked about. I am totally willing to answer any and all questions that the experts throw this way
To: ChallengerExpress
From what I am understanding your plan is to tow the bus to Tacoma to have a mechanic have a look and see about getting it road worthy and fully would agree with that plan of action. Best scenario he find that the head gasket is blown and can have on the road with in a week or so and have it down the road. Worst case he tells you that the entire engine is shot and needs to be replaced. You really need to be prepared for either and anything in between.
When we face-timed you saw that it does turn over and even started to run before I shut it down because all the fluids had been drained.
My question is and I ask have you thought about what your will to do if the engine needs more that just the top end of the engine worked on or even a replacement.
This board had brought up some very valid point about the age of this engine and will attempt to answer as many as I can.
DeMac wrote:
(Do you know if the head has been removed and pressure tested? You won't find a replacement head for this motor. The 190s are made out of unobtanium.)
I have located a replacement head at Vander Haags, here is the link
https://www.vanderhaags.com/detailview.php?part=24897651
$1,633.69 with core exchange.
New head will answer any and all head ?'s
How much time & money will you invest to uncover the truth about the rest of the drivetrain? - motor, transmission, suspension, brakes, steering, belt, hoses, seals, gaskets.... Before you start down this road, set a limit on the amount of time & money you'll invest. Be prepared to bail or cut your losses.
Let me speak to the transmission. The transmission was removed and reinstalled at Kenneys trucks after being sent to Weller Truck Parts in Kent Wa. Weller transported the tran to Allison shipping and recieving in Grand Rapids Mich where I paid $3970 for the rebuild and another $2324.66 for remove and install at Kenney's. Kenneys as part of the R&R replaced U-joints ($272.64), R&R of Bendex D-2 govenor ($180.58), Adjusted brakes $55.00), trans cooler flush ($114,00) and a few other misc supplies and hazmat disposal. Test drive and adjusted linkage"Ok at this time" My total R&R with rebuild was $6294.92. Have reciept
fj40dave wrote: (If the engine is shot, and so old you can't find replacement parts, but some miracle worker mechanic gets it running.....what about when it needs to be fixed again (and it will....they all do).)
No arguments here,
How about brakes?
Brake shoes and drums
Brake hydraulic system
All 6 tires were replaced by Les Schwab with 11R22.5/16 RI-150 Ecorun Highway and all were spin balanced with weights total 3234.6
Les Schwab checked brake pads and no recommendations made.
Steering
Steering Box
Steering Linkage
Suspension
Shocks
Bushings
Springs
Electrical
Alternator
Fuse Panel
Heater
Wipers
Lights/turn signals
All I can attest to is all above everything operated/worked very well last time out on the road. It really is a solid ride. The wipers do work but varies depending on vacuum loads
Nikitis Wrote:
Is my investment a sunken fallacy? To be determined. But I also consider it a learning opportunity and education costs as well and when I consider the education, it's worth the cost to me. If you aren't willing to get down and dirty yourself on your investment and do the work yourself, it's going to cost you far more. It honestly may be cheaper to find a newer engine and retrofit it into that bus if you're dead set on the body style (Which I can understand and even appreciate), but for most of us a cracked head is a new engine so a $12-15k bill, or you can waste $4-6k in repairs and find new cracks start shortly afterwards and be right back where you started and still end up paying 12-15k for a new engine.
Having this said, he is a wise man. I have always been a do-it-your selfer.
If I want to to realize the best bang for the buck it is worth getting your hand dirty for a while and not be too much is a hurry and able to understand how things work for knowledge down the road.
Like I said at the beginning i am willing to answer any questions from this board and to you
ChallengerExpress you have my number, feel free to call and we can talk further on any of your thoughts and ideas or concerns.
in Washington that needs work done to the engine before we can drive it down to California. Do any of you know a reputable shop that I can take it to? I don't want to google search, I'd much rather find a shop that the forum approves of so I don't get the run around.
and I was told it most likely has a cracked head. I want to get that fixed and have the bus gone thru so I can drive it from Washington to California then off to hit the road. Likely the generator will need work as well. I really am at the point where I don't want to work on the mechanics myself as this is a big first time (never owned a bus before or worked on them) so I'd like to know it's road worth and ready for a few years of adventure with proper upkeep of course. I have attached a picture of the engine for reference
