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Sounds like you are being confronted by some of the same challenges most of us who own sKoolies have....and have raised the same kinds of questions we all ask when we start out.
The maintenance on a diesel rig is VERY expensive compared to that of a gas rig, so if this is a consideration you may want to look for a gas-powered engine. Also, if you have to replace or rebuild a diesel engine you are going to sink well over $5,000.00 into the project, even if you do it all yourself, which takes considerable mechanical skills. Any gear-headed teenager should be able to rebuild a nice 366 or 427 Chevy/GMC big block V8 engine in their dad's garage. the 366 and 427 commercial/industrial engines have 4-bolt main bearing caps, a.400 inch taller cylinder block, and an extra ring pack on each piston for oil control. They can run 250,000 miles with good maintenance and proper operation.
Since you plan on running your rig so few miles every year, it is likely that a gas rig would be easier to start, run, and maintain than would a diesel rig.
There are a lot of Chevrolet/GMC rigs out there pulling any number of different coach bodies...BlueBird, Wayne, Thomas, etc. Stay clear of the Carpenter bodies, as they are known to pop rivets and rust out badly. If any of you in your group are over 6:02 in height you will want to check out the raised-roof Thomas coaches...they are a couple of inches taller inside than most other buses.
The most common engine placed in the Chevy/GMC gas rigs is the 366 cubic inch engine, which is the smallest "big block" engine made by General Motors. If you and others will be swapping driving chores you will likely want one with an AT545 Allison automatic transmission, but if you find one with the MT643 Allison jump on it, as the latter model has a lock-up torque converter in 4th (top) range.
I would shy away from any bus with a small block Chevy/GMC 350 cid engine...the stroke on these engines is 3.48 inches in length...definitely not made for torque production, and your rig is going to weigh at least 16,000 pounds EMPTY....so you will need as much torque as you can get!
You can look around forever for a rear axle to swap in your rig, but it is also gonna be used, and in unknown condition. The best way to go is to change the ring and pinion gears and replace the bearings when you have the pumpkin opened up. You will then have the equivolent of a new rear axle. Depending on the engine size and torque, I wouldn't go much lower than a 4.10 ratio in a sKoolie or you will find yourself lugging the engine on a few of the steeper hills, much less how it will labor in the mountains.
Good luck to you, buddy....ignore all those cats who warn you off of going that fast in a sKoolie....you are in more danger from travelling 55 and having an 18-wheeler blow your doors off when it passes you going 90!
John |
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