Eagles International Forum

We have added quite a few members in the last few months and I want to make sure that they are aware of some of the resources available on our website.

We probably need to step back and recall that the Eagles International Chapter of FMCA sponsors both this forum and our main website.  This forum contains a wealth of information if the reader is willing to do some poking around.  The website also contains quite a bit  information that might be useful.

A good example is the article "category":  https://eaglesinternational.net/category/articles/

Over the years I wrote several articles for Bus Conversions Magazine.  I received permission to publish them on our website provided I mentioned the magazine. Most of these articles contain information that is still relevant.  There is also one article from one of our newsletters.

I will discuss a some of them in the next couple of posts.

Jim

With the exception of the headlight article, the information in the other articles is relatively current.

Since the headlight article was written, headlight bulb technology has improved a great deal.  The current "top dog" technology is LED.  That said, there are lots of folks who hate this technology because other vehicles using aftermarket LED headlights (that are of suspect origin and/or not aimed properly) can be really irritating.

The other major subject in that article discussed adding relays for the headlights.  That is really important on Eagles that are using the OEM light/dimmer switch and/or the original breaker system.  If you are using the original breakers, you will have a problem sooner or later.  The breaker snap in clips get weak over time and do not make good contact.  Installing relays reduces the current through the switches and breakers to almost nothing and assures you get full voltage to the headlights.

Jim

The three part engine conversion article series always brings a smile to my face.  Sonnie Gray (RIP) and I developed a seminar on engine conversions for buses that we first presented at the Busin' 2006 Rally in Arcadia, FL.  We had a great time collecting all the information and generally collaborating on the article.  BUT, we had even more fun doing the presentation.   We played adversaries -- Sonnie advocated mechanical engines and I advocated electronic engines.  Not only did we enjoy ourselves, but I think the attendees did as well. 

The engine conversion series that was published in Bus Conversions magazine in 2009 (based on our work for the seminar) is still a strongly suggested read for anyone thinking about doing an engine conversion in their Eagle.

When we first started working on the seminar in something like 2005, engine conversions were a frequent subject on the bus boards.  Now that there are a vast number of buses with four stroke engines available at a reasonable price, you just don't see much discussion any more.  However, Eagle buses only had two stoke engines with the exception of the very last few production units.  Engine conversions in Eagles is pretty straight forward and the results can be very rewarding.

Jim