#1= save that piece, big and heavy, but you have the space... it will never be worth more than it is with your bus.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.
I just don't want sloppy/incomplete planning to do me in. Could be something else that poops the party, but hopefully not a lazy mind upfront.
- 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.
#2=
#3= Let the Whisperer be your guide... but you have some options, not being a V-Drive bus... you have some more modern and more powerful drivelines to choose from.
#4= Good call, too big a project to not want to work with your home team.
#5=An automatic would make her drive a lot easier, so would power steering... I get that it's a tough a delicate balance to figure out modern comforts vs. nostalgic pleasures. I'm of the opinion that with your age of use, the possibility of taking on a co-driver along the way and lack of bus/truck driver experience... the nostalgia of the manual, especially the original 4 gear, would wear out fast.
I don't have enough familiarity to be of any use, but there is a whole new generation of big truck automatics out there... If the Whisperer talks about any of them as being an option, pay close attention. Other than size and turning ratio, there's no reason she shouldn't be a joy to drive with a good repower.
As far as driving is concerned, I read a full timer's blog long ago... they established "rules" for themselves about avoiding driving under pressure to reach a destination. No night driving, no foul weather driving, planning ahead to avoid the worst of traffic, buat also taking their time to enjoy the journey... I'm not saying I have it in me to get all of that right, but I can see where those "rules" would help anyone enjoy a trip a lot more.
Unfortunately, especially as a novice (like me), it adds a lot of comfort to preplan your routes with a big girl like this. She is tall enough to be safer sticking to truck routes, rather than chancing she will have enough clearance to operate on secondary roads... but she will be a little more forgiving height wise than a 13'6" box.
