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Frodnew's 1989, Model 15, 6v92, 102" wide

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frodnew
Posts: 63
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2018 8:55 pm
Bus Model: 1989 Model 15, Silver Eagle, 40'

Frodnew's 1989, Model 15, 6v92, 102" wide

Post by frodnew »

Hello All:
First time here, on the board, in the forum and personally owning an Eagle. I have a beauty which my wife and I named The Phoenix. It was a church bus in NC but with no driver anymore it was put up for sale and I found her sitting in a lot online up for grabs so I took a leap of faith and purchased it. However, I only know that it runs well, been looked over by a mechanic, solid, strong, no rust. It still has the seats in it (47 passengers), all in great shape, too. Fan units, A/C units (two) in the ceiling which only work off a generator (been taken out) but there is a large plug to plug in IF one was below in the bay. Bathroom is still there but the floor needs replacing. Very weak. As far as everyone who looked her over said, nothing can be found that's bad from the skin, body frame, engine, tranny, suspension, etc..
What it doesn't have is something to make the A/C units work while on the road. The engine is only the engine, nothing else. There is no generator and I'm not sure what brand/type/size people use. The A/C's on the roof are large, maybe 15,000 btu? If so, then maybe this info helps? I do know if it's hot outside, the small fans in the passenger seat area work. There are only 4 and they're maybe 5" in diameter.
My wife and I want to renovate it but need help from the community. Finding anything on the web for Eagles is nearly impossible.
The things we're looking for are:
1. Floorplan: We want to strip the seats out but would love to know if a floorplan of such exists from the company or other
2. Engine: We were told a service will be needed since it's been used for driving church members on Sundays only and sitting about 8 months. What does that include and what is an average price?
3. Air Conditioning: We live in Florida. We want to travel. We want to live in this full time. What do we need to research to always have the ability to run an A/C while driving and/or camping/boondocking? We have two at the moment and are not sure size/condition.
4. Headlights: This model comes with two square headlights. Ideas for upgrading and a link or phone? Special instructs needed?
5. Closed cell foam: We would love to strip the bus out completely and have it foamed for insulating purposes. Anyone have experience on this? We do not want to do this ourselves! Any advice, tips, names, numbers, links appreciated!
6. Front door: We have a dual or two sided door, not a single. We heard the it's best we have it retrofitted to a single. Again, advice?
7. Our seller agreed to replace the batteries of the engine to new ones and to also put 6 new tires on it. There was a crack in the passenger windshield but at his cost would replace it, too.

Please throw feedback at us on how we can take get started on getting the seats out, looking a dimensions of this bus stripped without seats and how to remove a nasty bathroom. Engine and A/C, spray foam details appreciated as well. Talk to us people, we're glad to be part of the Eagle family!
Attachments
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DoubleEagle
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Posts: 280
Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2018 9:26 pm
Bus Model: 1975 Model 05 Eagle
1982 Model 10 Eagle
1984 Model 10 Eagle
1994 Model 15-45 Eagle
Location: Dayton, Ohio

Re: Frodnew's 1989, Model 15, 6v92, 102" wide

Post by DoubleEagle »

Welcome to the Eagle World, you are really in for a lot of work and/or expense! First off, this Eagle looks pretty good as is, and will be a good starting point. The two roof-top A/C's and the multiple interior fans indicate that the original coach A/C has failed and will be very expensive to fix. The not so good news is that running this coach in summer heat with just those two roof-tops will not cut it when going down the road, only while parked. Unless you have a large central air unit, you will need a minimum of three roof-tops, with four or five being more workable, especially if the driver wants to be cool. The generator you will need will have to be 12.5 Kw for three A/C's, and up to 21 Kw for five. Heat and altitude affect the output of generators, so you have to go bigger than necessary on the specifications. Don't forget to eliminate some of those side windows that are solar collectors, and install some slider windows with screens in case the generator or A/C fails.

Floor plan wise, there is no set arrangement, but there are common plans that have arisen over the years, the most common of which is a center isle through the coach with living room and kitchen up front, storage & bunks in the middle, and bathroom and bedroom in the rear. Some people have used side hallways, but it uses precious space for one purpose only. You have to ration every square inch of space carefully, especially if you are going to live in it full-time. This is a custom process that you will have to think about, unless you want to turn it over to a conversion specialist that will need to check your financial status before they even start. Professional conversions cost hundreds of thousands to over a million dollars. That's okay for country and rock stars, but not for most of us.

Engine maintenance wise, it will be cheaper if you learn to do this yourself. I have not paid anyone to do anything on my buses for the last twenty years because the cost is not trivial. Just doing an oil change, changing fuel and air filters, lubricating all of the grease points, checking drive belts, universal joints, and wheel bearings, adjusting the brakes, etc., will be (my guess) $500 to over a thousand without too much trouble. Of course, they might find something further that needs fixing, like a leaky power steering hose that runs the length of the bus. The only things that are more expensive to maintain are aircraft and boats.

Don't worry about the headlights, you have much more to be concerned about.

Closed cell foam is the best form of insulation and sound deadening, but it is also the most expensive, and the most complicating when it comes to wiring and plumbing interference. It seems like the average cost to spray it is around $2000, if you can find someone willing to do it. They will expect that the interior is completely stripped, the wiring and plumbing is in place, and everything that you do not want sprayed is masked. Many people fit pieces of Styrofoam in between the truss fame members, and then caulk them in. That can be done by yourself at much less cost.

Most conversions have a single entry door, and they were all custom fabricated. Unless you have metal working and welding skills, it will cost over a thousand to have someone do it. There are postings on this board and others about how to do it.

It is convenient that the seller is replacing batteries, windshield, and tires, but I am sure that cost is built into the selling price. The batteries you get might be lower rated economy ones, and the tires might be Chinese tires that are super cheap. Inquire as to what you are getting. You are the one that will be rolling down the road, not them.

As far as stripping the seats out goes, you need some some penetrating oil, wrenches (9/16's, if I recall correctly), and the willingness to stoop and crawl a lot, repeatedly. The bathroom will require crowbars, chisels, hammers, and cursing.

Sorry I could not sugar-coat it all, but you are facing a lot of work and cost, but it can be very creative and fun. The pride of going down the road in a coach that you created with your own hands, is priceless, even if the parts did have prices. ;)
Walter
Dayton, Ohio
1975 Silvereagle Model 05, 8V71, 4 speed Spicer
1982 Eagle Model 10, 6V92, 5 speed Spicer
1984 Eagle Model 10, 6V92 w/Jacobs, Allison HT740
1994 Eagle Model 15-45, Series 60 w/Jacobs, Allison HT746
frodnew
Posts: 63
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2018 8:55 pm
Bus Model: 1989 Model 15, Silver Eagle, 40'

Re: Frodnew's 1989, Model 15, 6v92, 102" wide

Post by frodnew »

Walter (Dayton, OH):
I can't thank you enough for replying quickly and honestly. I was ready for the truths to be told when I posted only because I knew that if it was sugar coated I would be more confused or possibly disgruntled. I love this bus and I know that the price, tires, batteries and such are probably incorporated into the deal but for $10,000 selling price, I had to jump on it. I have been reading Bus Conversions magazine for quite some time (older issues from the 90's given to me as either a way to get rid of the stacks this guy had or to, like you, show me how expensive an Eagle can be and/or inspire me to still go thru with it. Maybe all above?) and when I see the selling prices before or after a conversion, the asking price of this bus was almost a miracle.
In either case, the seller has been truly a helpful, wonderful person who understands why this bus needed to be a solid, safe vehicle even before I considered buying it. The reason is because my wife has 2 TBI's, is young and has never seen the country. In my younger days, I had a beautiful '74 VW camper bus and traveled and lived in it full time before selling it to a family. Much has changed since those days with travel and adventure but we still have hope in this project and with our new Eagle family that everyone, like you, can be honest and offer as much detail of product types, sizes, costs and anything else that spells out...BE CAREFUL!
Cost warnings are appreciated. Truly, they are, but we don't have kids, pets or other creatures that sleep in bunks. We're also minimalists and Buddhist practitioners. Think of us and the project as Zen, nothing. We feel less is best. No sofas, no mirrors on the ceiling, no custom leather work or oak furniture.
We started out as Tiny Home enthusiasts years ago. We made friends in the TH community, stayed in many as BnB's and even traveled to TH shows. However, like anything that shows demand, the prices went up exponentially. In those shows we met another style of living off grid and those were the skoolies. Awesome group and super helpful, like you Walter. We tried for almost a year scouring the country looking for the right school bus, Florida having some of the better ( no rust) but again, like demand, the citrus owners were buying them up and selling their older, beat up buses for twice the price. It wasn't until a friend mentioned a coach.
One day, while driving down the road I looked to my left and saw an Eagle sitting in a drive way. I turned the car around, met the owner who is still working on his and we hit it off immediately. He had stacks of Bus Conversion magazines and said his wife has been hounding him to get rid of them. He gave me a lot! I was impressed at the beauty of an Eagle and started looking and then I found ours.
Attached is a YouTube video of some photos that my wife and I collected as inspirations and ideas to our school bus project but that has now changed over to this bus. The video was done as a promotion and it can also offer insight as to what we would like to do. Many friends who are independent contractors say the same as you Walter, and that is to do the work ourselves or hire good, honest contractors with the right tools and skills to make the project go quicker.
Please review, share and offer any advice as you have done above, maybe after watching the video? We are looking at this bus project not by skimping on the big gun items but instead doing what you mentioned which is to go a little over-board. We simply don't know the names of the products or numbers, ie, on board generator (name/brand, size or hp, etc...) Even A/C units. If you suggest 3-5 units, what size, brand, type, etc..?
I must plan this way because my precious cargo is my wife and I want her happy, comfortable and safe.
Thank you Walter and anyone else reading this. I already feel the Eagle love of family in this forum and hope and pray that as time goes on, my photos are shown with upgrades and eventually, a final out the door and on the road Eagle.

Bus Video/Slideshow
*Be aware, music might be a little loud*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKU-M9ilLTM&t=26s
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DoubleEagle
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Posts: 280
Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2018 9:26 pm
Bus Model: 1975 Model 05 Eagle
1982 Model 10 Eagle
1984 Model 10 Eagle
1994 Model 15-45 Eagle
Location: Dayton, Ohio

Re: Frodnew's 1989, Model 15, 6v92, 102" wide

Post by DoubleEagle »

I would caution that you be careful about advise from "schoolie" types and Tiny Home enthusiasts, those circles are full of mis-information and questionable practices. You will find a higher quality of expertise in the bus conversion community. Bus Conversion Magazine is a prime source, this forum, Bus Nuts Online, and Bus Conversion Magazine forum. There are thousands of postings on these boards going back decades. Also be cautious about dealing with converters, some are honest and fair; others are not and will take your money in a flash. Learn as much as you can before you jump into spending serious money.

One point about your bus that I forgot to comment on, is that the bus seems to be riding a little low. The Torsilastic suspension has adjusting bolts that need to be turned to keep the ride height at the correct level. Since you have a seated bus at the moment, the distance from the ground to the inner top of the wheel arch trim piece should be about 47-48". There are instructions on this boards archives about doing these adjustments. It is not an easy task. A garage would charge around $500 per wheel position to do it. It can be done by one clever person with the right tools.
Walter
Dayton, Ohio
1975 Silvereagle Model 05, 8V71, 4 speed Spicer
1982 Eagle Model 10, 6V92, 5 speed Spicer
1984 Eagle Model 10, 6V92 w/Jacobs, Allison HT740
1994 Eagle Model 15-45, Series 60 w/Jacobs, Allison HT746
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beltguy
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Bus Model: 1985 Eagle 10 with Series 60 and Eaton AutoShift 10 speed transmission (SOLD)
Location: Evergreen, CO
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Re: Frodnew's 1989, Model 15, 6v92, 102" wide

Post by beltguy »

Welcome Eric

As Walter has said, you have a big project ahead of you. You seem to be doing the right thing by doing your homework. I watched your video and it certainly has a lot of good ideas and thoughts.

This site has several good build documentations. I would spend some time looking at what has been done by other Eagle owners. My conversion is pretty basic and I did quite a bit of documentation on the conversion on my website (see signature).

I think it is always best to break down your questions into separate threads. That helps build our database (making it easier for others to search).

One of your focus points is AC. Lots of ways to approach that. If the bus AC is dead it is probably not worth trying to bring it back to life (lots of $$$$ and it will probably require more work down the road). Our bus is not well insulated and we can get by with two ACs (out of three) most of the time. We address the over-the -road AC via a very large Red Dot dash air with an automotive AC compressor mounted on the engine (again documented in my project pages. We close off the front of the bus so that we are only cooling the front half. It has done a good job and we have not had to run the generator going down the road for the conditions we have encountered.

Do not skimp on the inverter or the generator. Many of us have Wrico generators (http://wricointernational.com/ - great product and service and Dick Wright is a longtime member of the bus community. For the inverter, the best option is a full sine wave. Many of us have Trace pure sine wave inverters, but they no longer make them. The new inverter of choice seems to be Magnum (Wrico carries them as well).

There are several RV wrecking yards around that might be sources of both the generator and inverter. Just make sure you understand what you are buying.

Jim
Jim Shepherd
Evergreen, CO
'85 Eagle 10 with Series 60 & Eaton AutoShift 10 speed transmission SOLD
2005 Dodge 2500 with 5.9 Cummins and 6 speed manual 2022 Sunset 28 foot trailer
Bus Project pages: http://beltguy.com/Bus_Project/busproject.htm
Blog: https://beltguy.com/Travelogue/
Email: eaglesinternational.email at gmail.com   NOTE this email box is only for general correspondence related to the forum and not technical advice.  Technical questions will not receive a response.
frodnew
Posts: 63
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2018 8:55 pm
Bus Model: 1989 Model 15, Silver Eagle, 40'

Re: Frodnew's 1989, Model 15, 6v92, 102" wide

Post by frodnew »

Thank you all for the positive feedback. I wish this forum/link wasn't going away since I just got here but I understand as I used to be a moderator as well for a large company and understand the time/effort it takes to answer so many questions and keep things organized. This site is a gold mine for Eagle owners so I've been off the grid working and researching as much as possible, taking notes as always and doing my homework.

As it stands with my bus since my last post. The seats are out. Passenger windshield replaced. It has two roof A/C's (Not sure of make/model) but the back one works as the guys were using it to keep cool while working on the seats. The front one is lacking freon or something else is wrong. They said it might also have a leak around the gasket? Again, details keep alluding me when I ask but I'll stick to it till I pick it up.

6 new tires are going to be put on it (I'll be asking to be sure I don't get something cheap as suggested above) and a service. I'm going to be researching this site for tire and A/C roof types, insurance companies and servicing. I want to do it right the first time. M

Measuring more than 3 times!
Bus & Car
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Bus Model: 2011 Fiat Van, my daily driver.

Re: Frodnew's 1989, Model 15, 6v92, 102" wide

Post by Bus & Car »

The picture of your coach is rather interesting.

I am only aware of two Model 15's that left the factory with a rollsign beneath the windshield like on yours. If my idea is correct, it was one of the first two 15's built. I think your bus was delivered new to Trailways Dixie Lines as were the other three Model 15's Trailways bought new before they went under and sold out to Greyhound. Greyhound bought 50 more but that was the end of the 15 to nationwide operators.

The other thing I noticed was the sign said Kansas City. That indicates a line bus no matter who owned it. Not a charter, church, school or other bus. Trailways and Greyhound both served Kansas City back in the day and Greyhound still does.

OK, here's the deal. Please prove me right or wrong by giving me the last five digits of the VIN/Chassis/Frame Number. It may be located on a metal plate above the driver's side window, in the cupboard holding the fire bottle, on the title or registration forms and/or on the insurance paperwork. If the last five digits of your number starts with 70XXX, it was never a Trailways coach.

If it started with 800XX, it was Trailways and the rollsign must have been cheaper than an electronic sign.

By the way, a 6V-92 with a four speed automatic may just get you by in a 45 foot coach. Repowering may be an option for you once all the structural, electrical and air problems are sorted out. OK, Florida is mostly flat but the rest of the country isn't and if you're full-timing some more power would really be welcome as the landscape gets more vertical in different places.

One more thing to look at...

Looking closely at the paint, can you see ghosts of any lettering on it? Other than the church you bought it from, it may show a band or something. Maybe that church has some paperwork that shows the previous owner or owners? Who knows, it could be ex-Trailways or Greyhound.


Thanks and I'll tell you what your number tells me.


Joe///B & C
Stay Fine As A Porcupine!!!///Reste Trés Bien Comme Un Porc-Épic!!!
Bus & Car
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Bus Model: 2011 Fiat Van, my daily driver.

Re: Frodnew's 1989, Model 15, 6v92, 102" wide

Post by Bus & Car »

Looks like I made a small mistake. Your coach looks to be a 40 foot coach and not the 45 foot coach I mentioned. All the same, that extra six inches of width adds both weight and air resistance so what I said about extra power still pretty much applies
Stay Fine As A Porcupine!!!///Reste Trés Bien Comme Un Porc-Épic!!!
frodnew
Posts: 63
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2018 8:55 pm
Bus Model: 1989 Model 15, Silver Eagle, 40'

Re: Frodnew's 1989, Model 15, 6v92, 102" wide

Post by frodnew »

Wow, what wonderful feedback on the history of a bus!

The last digits of the VIN are: 80123

It is 40' long. 102" wide.

Recommendations on what type of engine to upgrade to? Where to get one or who to do the work?
The reason I ask is that today, so much has changed with businesses coming and going. I live in Jacksonville, Florida and though it might be the biggest little town in the country, it doesn't have much to consider when looking for a reputable mechanic. Based on most Eagle owners, they've had to take their buses elsewhere, cross country, across the nation, to other mechanics, dealers and enthusiasts.
I want to do everything right, the first time. When it comes to repowering the engine, I honestly don't know if that means switching it out for a larger engine? Upgrading it with turbo or nuclear? I'm a noob so I'm interested in being ed-u-ma-cated.
Anything else based on that VIN is appreciated. I love this forum!
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beltguy
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Re: Frodnew's 1989, Model 15, 6v92, 102" wide

Post by beltguy »

Eric, concerning engine conversions, I would start off by reading my three part series of articles that appeared in Bus Conversion Magazine several years ago. You can find them in the articles section of the main page:

http://eaglesinternational.net/category/articles

Those articles will give you an idea of what is involved in both a two stroke and four stroke conversion.

When I wrote that series in 2009, engine conversions were fairly common. Now, the market is almost flooded with buses that have four stroke engines. Obviously that is not the case with Eagles. They had a few strange birds in Europe with four strokes and a few of the final production models had four strokes. Other than that everything was two stroke engines.

As far as someone to do an engine conversion - good luck. As you will see from the articles, four stroke engine conversions are not trivial. They are huge costly projects and if electronics is involved, the chances of finding someone to do the work is almost nil.

Jim
Jim Shepherd
Evergreen, CO
'85 Eagle 10 with Series 60 & Eaton AutoShift 10 speed transmission SOLD
2005 Dodge 2500 with 5.9 Cummins and 6 speed manual 2022 Sunset 28 foot trailer
Bus Project pages: http://beltguy.com/Bus_Project/busproject.htm
Blog: https://beltguy.com/Travelogue/
Email: eaglesinternational.email at gmail.com   NOTE this email box is only for general correspondence related to the forum and not technical advice.  Technical questions will not receive a response.
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