thanks again. good points on the Skyviews. I'd go with the shades/AC and deal with the leaks as a fact skylight life, be it bus or house. .. I like that natural light man.
Space to work I own. I have little mechanical/diesel capability, particularly not with a vehicle this size. I am handy with interior work, light electrical, etc. So, my labor contribution would be small, while my wallet will be huffin' and puffin' to keep up with the professionals i would need to employ.
I allotted myself four years, and $250K, including acquisition cost of the coach, to get this done. That was when I was firmly in the "build the one I like" mode.
During the course of this thread, I have seen several I would take as-is, presuming repowered (and NOT obsolete) already, and just modernize the interior. Really nice "starter" coaches can be had for under $40K.
Then it became more important to understand the history of that coach to determine the extent to which it was structurally overhauled in the decades since it was retired.
I aint a tirekicker by any means, BUT it is too early for me to engage anyone for actual work until i have acquired the actual coach.
. The acquisition of which could be anytime within the next 18 months.
Any reasonably high likelihood that NON-electronic powertrains will be obsolete? My assumption is NO they wont.
My repower goal is NOT to have the cleanest running, most fuel efficient 1950's RV coach conversion on the planet. I want a reliable, powerful, easy to maintain, NON-electronic managed powertrain, running at ITS best design parameters from the 1980s-90's I would guess.
By crude analogy, though it would be a cool project, I'd never put a Hellcat powertrain in and 1970 Hemi car. Likewise, I wouldnt put whatever is in a 2017 Prevost into a 1955 bus.
What is raising my eyebrows, is can I really ascertain whats going on in the "bones" of these old coachs WITHOUT doing the equivalent of a "frame-off" inspection? My feeling is YES, but all the fatigue issues may NOT be evident.
I am comforted by their "million mile" body designs .. but they coulda be REALLY hard miles. I am gonna look into what the airplane guys do .. the folks flying WWII fighters, DC-3's, Lockheed Electras -- with this issue. Do they rebuilt the airframe?
Thanks Cantflip. Again, a gentleman and a scholar you are. Appreciate your insights
