commando1
Old Man with a Hat
Well, first of all, what's the biggest tire that will fit in the back that won't rub the....
Scenicruisin'..?
- Thread starter amazinblue82
- Start date
Skip it... she needs white walls anyhow...
as nature intended (prototypes and early marketing materials had wide whites). production models did not.
Just track down where the Futurliner guys get theirs... remember that budget thing? we're gonna help you break the dog poop outa that...
Yesterday .. storage building where it resided is about 25 yards to the left obviously out of view
Today ... rolling down a hill toward the street.
getting loaded on the street.
at the repair facility. quick check out is she's in good shape. engine turns freely like we confirmed earlier, so we're changing fluids, and try start up next week. owner recommended (and shop agrees), start it up from under the hood so we can stop a "Runaway Detroit" issue as long non-running diesels sometimes can do I hear?
A few vids (sorry bout quality -- dunno why that is)... we dragged her *** a bit at bottom of drive (no power, puller kinda shanked the turn, etc). no harm no foul.
Today ... rolling down a hill toward the street.
getting loaded on the street.
at the repair facility. quick check out is she's in good shape. engine turns freely like we confirmed earlier, so we're changing fluids, and try start up next week. owner recommended (and shop agrees), start it up from under the hood so we can stop a "Runaway Detroit" issue as long non-running diesels sometimes can do I hear?
A few vids (sorry bout quality -- dunno why that is)... we dragged her *** a bit at bottom of drive (no power, puller kinda shanked the turn, etc). no harm no foul.
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Now I've got something to look forward to Monday...
polara71
Old Man with a Hat
Love the Vids Ray. It confirms that anything can be hiding anywhere , no matter what it is.
The tow truck driver was going too fast for my comfort . Glad she made it to her destination safe and sound, look forward to the restoration stories .
The tow truck driver was going too fast for my comfort . Glad she made it to her destination safe and sound, look forward to the restoration stories .
thx dave.Love the Vids Ray. It confirms that anything can be hiding anywhere , no matter what it is.
The tow truck driver was going too fast for my comfort . Glad she made it to her destination safe and sound, look forward to the restoration stories .
ur right on both points. in a Pennsylvania out building, unseen for 2 decades, was one of the 150 PD-4501's left in the world. lotta rare stuff out there can come to light.
the tow guy was crusing along in the last clip - it was a 50 mph road and he had his foot in it . tho i was very happy they were professional and took great care with the whole job.
so yep no incidents during the 7 mile trip...nothing fell off, wheels were stone cold (no brake rubbing after sitting so long), tires bad but all held together, etc .
it did draw a "crowd" (couple of cars followed the truck) tho when it got into town and for 3-4 customers at the facility. they all seemed to know what it was.
i am now officially $275 into the resto -- a whopping 0.4% of the budget spent.
commando1
Old Man with a Hat
Funny how in a Mopar C-body forum that one of the most popular threads is about a bus.
Goes to show ya...
Goes to show ya...
Wait ah ding-dang minute Amazinblue82. You found this Beauty somewhere in Pennsylvania and dragged it to somewhere in Meeshigan for $275????? Did I miss something? HUH HUH, DID I? I'm tryin' tah keep up, Jer
Naw Jer .. See post #1067.
its getting a local once over to try to get her started. $275 was just to move it 7 miles. The former owner graciously allowed me, since I bought it in dead of winter Dec 2018, to keep it in PA (he had snow and mud too) until ... now.
After we start her up, its going to my warehouse in Western New York now that snow has melted. But i wanted it running for (1) that reason (there's no puttin yer back into it and pushin it around), as well as (2) its no longer an "in-op" for flat bed transport for the next 250 miles of the trip to WNY. that trip is gonna be a bit more $$.
About a mile from my warehouse is a HD repair facility. They are doing all the mechanicals to make it roadworthy (including the engine swap if necessary) .. and I can slip it up there and back easily IF its running.
Ironically it will go back to PA for interior outfitting ... and a couple of years from now I am trying to bring it to Carlisle where I can meet as many of you fine people as i can.
Funny how in a Mopar C-body forum that one of the most popular threads is about a bus.
Goes to show ya...
lotta non-FCBO folks I'd think Stan (i know this from the bus crowd I have joined)... but maybe 40 or so different members have chimed in too.
We've already established here in numerous threads that in addition to C bodies a LOT of us just like cool, old stuff. "Planes, trains, and automobiles", buildings, boats, and anything else someone has tried (successfully and unsuccessfully) to save from the scrap heap of history.
My problem .. i aint gonna live long enough, nor amass enough dough (absent a PowerBall lightning strike), to preserve/enjoy everything that catches my eye. Glad though there are many others like me here at FCBO just doin' the best we can with whatever we got
WHEW amazinblue82, you had me scared there with that $275 number for what I thought waz 'bout ah 500 mile trip? I hauled ah bunch of O.D. stuff all over the contiguous 48 from the '50s thru' the '80s and it paid well and if you paid attention to what you were doing you could keep "Deadhead" to a minimum and still afford to lay in the sun ah few days if you knew their waz another well paying load at the end of the wait. I'm going to P.M. you. I've got a question I'd like an answer too If you don't mind, JerNaw Jer .. See post #1067.
its getting a local once over to try to get her started. $275 was just to move it 7 miles. The former owner graciously allowed me, since I bought it in dead of winter Dec 2018, to keep it in PA (he had snow and mud too) until ... now.
After we start her up, its going to my warehouse in Western New York now that snow has melted. But i wanted it running for (1) that reason (there's no puttin yer back into it and pushin it around), as well as (2) its no longer an "in-op" for flat bed transport for the next 250 miles of the trip to WNY. that trip is gonna be a bit more $$.
About a mile from my warehouse is a HD repair facility. They are doing all the mechanicals to make it roadworthy (including the engine swap if necessary) .. and I can slip it up there and back easily IF its running.
Ironically it will go back to PA for interior outfitting ... and a couple of years from now I am trying to bring it to Carlisle where I can meet as many of you fine people as i can.
azblackhemi
Old Man with a Hat
Just an FYI, this one is still for sale with a price drop to $15 G's. 1961 CROWN COACH BUS 40' Converter into Motor Home
My offer wasnt going to be nearly that high. Its a decent coach, though the ad hasnt changed as to its running status. From what we saw, it had little chance of starting. Or if it did, its wasnt gonna run long.
EVerything is fixable .. maybe it has been since I was looking at it four months ago.
I still like it though .. Crown's are rare in the RV conversion world and this one has a lot going for it. If i was local I woulda tried hard to buy it (not at $15K tho) but the acquisition price plus 2000 mile transport for something NOT turnkey wasn't in my wheelhouse.
I hope it finds a good home .. for the right person I am sure a fair deal can be struck.
Mixed results. my (and cantflip's ) gratification will be delayed ...
Initial detailed check reveals electrical issue. 24V system, but when hooked to two batteries, it tried to "weld" the cables to the batteries. there is a short somewhere -- evidence of critters knawing on wires likely culprit but could be anything/anywhere. Whisperer called this one as likely after we saw it, but Im bummin' anyway.
Bad fuel .. known before I bought but it could be run in the shop from alternative diesel source. Oil was relatively good .. dirty but full. suspension still good. differential is tight (in a good way). needs axle(?) seals all around.
Unknown but concern .. corrosion in the clutches. These old 4sp Spicers -- even on an indoor bus like this one -- are known to have this issue from extended disuse. so without disassembly, the visible evidence suggested to the facility that this is possible.
that would of course mean that though imminently startable (the old DD looked pretty good on close inspection), a "frozen" clutch would obviously mean "no go" defeating part of my purpose for this once over.
so.....
i am gonna button her up, take the "in op" (+ $400) transport hit vs. continuing to chew up three-digit per hour "shop rates" (NOTHING against them .. those are competitive rates but I just can't pay "retail" for all this work as that blows the budget wide open) only to potentially keep finding stuff wrong.
it goes straight to the shop (the one with better electrical guys is about 10 miles away now that I know I definitely have that issue) for mechanicals now instead of July like I planned. Its gotta move under its own power.
I was trying to finish my Green 68 imp ... now "El Galgo" (my daughter has named the bus) has jumped the line.
"All the news that's fit to print" for now.
) gratification will be delayed ...Initial detailed check reveals electrical issue. 24V system, but when hooked to two batteries, it tried to "weld" the cables to the batteries. there is a short somewhere -- evidence of critters knawing on wires likely culprit but could be anything/anywhere. Whisperer called this one as likely after we saw it, but Im bummin' anyway.
Bad fuel .. known before I bought but it could be run in the shop from alternative diesel source. Oil was relatively good .. dirty but full. suspension still good. differential is tight (in a good way). needs axle(?) seals all around.
Unknown but concern .. corrosion in the clutches. These old 4sp Spicers -- even on an indoor bus like this one -- are known to have this issue from extended disuse. so without disassembly, the visible evidence suggested to the facility that this is possible.
that would of course mean that though imminently startable (the old DD looked pretty good on close inspection), a "frozen" clutch would obviously mean "no go" defeating part of my purpose for this once over.
so.....
i am gonna button her up, take the "in op" (+ $400) transport hit vs. continuing to chew up three-digit per hour "shop rates" (NOTHING against them .. those are competitive rates but I just can't pay "retail" for all this work as that blows the budget wide open) only to potentially keep finding stuff wrong.
it goes straight to the shop (the one with better electrical guys is about 10 miles away now that I know I definitely have that issue) for mechanicals now instead of July like I planned. Its gotta move under its own power.
I was trying to finish my Green 68 imp ... now "El Galgo" (my daughter has named the bus) has jumped the line.
"All the news that's fit to print" for now.
El Galgo will keep somebody busy for a while... that's a lot of wiring to check or replace, but overall should be a pretty basic electrical system. Given the age of the wiring, I'm assuming you'd have her rewired anyhow.
Seems like you're getting close to needing to decide on the driveline soon, repower vs original... auto vs whatever manual you'd prefer. It'd be a real budget killer to start on one driveline, just to replace it. I think I'm grasping your plan is on similar wavelengths... get her safely to where she can sit while you think.
This may be helpful... once she "home", does the driveline remove on a separate frame? The original design allowed for that, but I've read mixed reviews on if it was kept as a feature when they got swapped to the 8/71's. Depending on your plan and who's doing what work, it may be easier to send the driveline on a trailer for work, while keeping the body in the warehouse for rewiring...
This has got to be scary/exciting as you watch this dream coming together and make some big decisions that'll have huge impact on the budget and ease of use.
Seems like you're getting close to needing to decide on the driveline soon, repower vs original... auto vs whatever manual you'd prefer. It'd be a real budget killer to start on one driveline, just to replace it. I think I'm grasping your plan is on similar wavelengths... get her safely to where she can sit while you think.
This may be helpful... once she "home", does the driveline remove on a separate frame? The original design allowed for that, but I've read mixed reviews on if it was kept as a feature when they got swapped to the 8/71's. Depending on your plan and who's doing what work, it may be easier to send the driveline on a trailer for work, while keeping the body in the warehouse for rewiring...
This has got to be scary/exciting as you watch this dream coming together and make some big decisions that'll have huge impact on the budget and ease of use.
El Galgo will keep somebody busy for a while... that's a lot of wiring to check or replace, but overall should be a pretty basic electrical system. Given the age of the wiring, I'm assuming you'd have her rewired anyhow.
Seems like you're getting close to needing to decide on the driveline soon, repower vs original... auto vs whatever manual you'd prefer. It'd be a real budget killer to start on one driveline, just to replace it. I think I'm grasping your plan is on similar wavelengths... get her safely to where she can sit while you think.
This may be helpful... once she "home", does the driveline remove on a separate frame? The original design allowed for that, but I've read mixed reviews on if it was kept as a feature when they got swapped to the 8/71's. Depending on your plan and who's doing what work, it may be easier to send the driveline on a trailer for work, while keeping the body in the warehouse for rewiring...
This has got to be scary/exciting as you watch this dream coming together and make some big decisions that'll have huge impact on the budget and ease of use.
You and the Whisperer think a lot alike boss.
1. Engine has appearance/dating (I dont know how they knew but they did) of an original re-power mill. No evidence either way of a rebuild or if original .. but its vintage.
2. So yes, driveline mounting is the original repower configuration it appears
3. We are always going to separate driveline from body and do as you suggest .. my inclination as noted in earlier thread is a more modern piece. But, given 1 above, I am asking Whisperer to talk me down off the ledge (of rebuilding current mill that may be an original repower unit)
4. Yep .. gotta get it under my control, around my guys, at my rates. The PA guys are GREAT .. i wanna emphasize that .. but they don't know me and as busy as their shop is, shoot, they don't need my business. probably would slow them down working on a 60 year old bus.
5. This Spicer thing is buggin' me. I wanna stay original but I am completely outta my depth with practical, day-to-day operation of a vehicle like this. The consensus among the bus-o-philes is IF you can go "auto", do it.
- Unless you've driven big rigs/big manual vehicles, i am told the shifting these old PD-4501's takes the "RV fun" out of it. Typical things .. steep hills, stop-n-go traffic, etc. .. you gotta do wear on you.
- And then there's the inevitable day when it needs a new home .. does an auto make it easier to sell?
- And when the time post-retirement comes, I'll be doing it in my mid-60s to whenever .. cant imagine it getting easier as I age.
So yup that while these early decisions are not irrevocable, they are as you note very important for all sorts of reasons that "we" (people taking on these kinda jobs, be it cars or buses or airplanes or whatever) need to keep in mind.
Lest we find ourselves in an unpleasant place .. not just the whole "money pit" thing but a busted dream on top of that. Both together are pretty bad.
Anyway, I'll stay positive and stay on it.
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GJS
Senior Member
Man, I haven't taken a minute to update on this thread in a while. I'm SUPER happy you found 'er! Best of luck with the work ahead!
LeBaron1973
Old Man with a Hat
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Probably the best (?) Option would be a modern driveline with automatic transmission. And modern power steering and brakes (if power brakes are possible on a coach/bus). Better fuel economy too I guess, although a bus will always be thirsty.
Certainly easier to drive with an auto, and likely easier to sell whenever that time comes, whether it be you, or your executor tidying your affairs.
Looking on the bright side, you purchased a solid bus which will be great once completed, new engine, transmission, brakes, rewiring- sweet.
Keep your chin up and best wishes.
Certainly easier to drive with an auto, and likely easier to sell whenever that time comes, whether it be you, or your executor tidying your affairs.
Looking on the bright side, you purchased a solid bus which will be great once completed, new engine, transmission, brakes, rewiring- sweet.
Keep your chin up and best wishes.
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