Crazy purchase of the year award...... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

klaus kallas · #1 02-13-2010, 04:38 PM

.....goes to my buddy and me. How about a 1966 Mercedes 0302 bus converted to an RV? Very professionally done in 1984 at a cost of 100K plus (with receipts). 8v71 Detroit Diesel with an Allison automatic. Onan 3 cylinder diesel generator. Air suspension. Full kitchen and bath. 3 heaters including one Webasto fueled heater. A/C. Etc.......

Sitting for 4 years following owners death and needs TLC (mainly bodywork and paint).

Gave $3500 for it. What do you think? Are we crazy? Anyone know anything about these 35ft long beasts?

Klaus

P.S. I'll get some pictures soon.

tbomachines · #2 02-13-2010, 04:54 PM

holy schmoly, pictures pleeeeeease!!

jgranzier · #3 02-13-2010, 05:17 PM

You certainly came across an strange drivetrain set up ,I can only imagine the hours of work it would have taken to transplant that drive line

heres a couple of links to some busnut sites

http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php

http://www.busnut.com/home.html

lots of knowledgeable fellas - some one will be able to answer your questions

That drive line if in nice shape/documented history could bring some $$

winmutt · #4 02-13-2010, 05:21 PM

Nah thats not crazy. THIS is crazy: My new toy. 309D Monarch Motorhome

Aquaticedge · #5 02-13-2010, 05:33 PM

x2 on pictures, I'd be interested in seeing it

klaus kallas · #6 02-13-2010, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgranzier

You certainly came across an strange drivetrain set up ,I can only imagine the hours of work it would have taken to transplant that drive line

heres a couple of links to some busnut sites

http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php

http://www.busnut.com/home.html

lots of knowledgeable fellas - some one will be able to answer your questions

That drive line if in nice shape/documented history could bring some $$

Thanks for the info! There is a receipt for $17,000 for the driveline conversion and one for $7500 for the onboard generator. This was no backyard conversion, this thing is sweet. Mind you, the exterior is not pretty currently, but you can see it was in it's day.

It is in a field that is VERY wet with our recent snows (got both our trucks stuck getting to it) but once things dry out we will drag it out and hopefully drive it the few miles to my buddies house where the real fun begins.....

Luckily, the P/O was an engineer and everything is well documented with lots of diagrams and paperwork. Still, probably about 200 different knobs and switches here and there and 8 dead batteries so may be a while before everything is sorted out.

Klaus

kerry · #7 02-13-2010, 06:49 PM

Not familiar with that model but WE NEED PICTURES! Sounds like a great vehicle. What kind of generator does it have. I'm a bus guy. I have a 35' Bluebird Wanderlodge.

Pooka · #8 02-13-2010, 06:58 PM

A few years ago I saw one of these sitting in a wrecking yard located about three miles north of Bristow, Oklahoma. It was a window bus full of seats, but I don't think it was 35 feet long.

If you are ever looking to take a road trip it is located right on Route 66 just north of the Turner Turnpike.

I will likely be getting through there in a month or two so I will check to see if it is still there.

klaus kallas · #9 02-13-2010, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Not familiar with that model but WE NEED PICTURES! Sounds like a great vehicle. What kind of generator does it have. I'm a bus guy. I have a 35' Bluebird Wanderlodge.

Has an Onan 3 cylinder generator. Around 8 kw I think. Don't know any specifics on it yet but looks to be in great shape. Looks like the one in this link http://bp1.blogger.com/_hPTC_FI2HFw/R230FE66WdI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/ksOF7GUlra0/s1600-h/GenSet.JPG

Here is a link to some pics of converted 0302's in europe. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.schepers.net/albums/o302_ulf/buss3b.jpg&imgrefurl=http://bustribe.aceboard.fr/282167-1472-513-0-MERCEDES-O302.htm&usg=__b-mt_-B4HEofBFrtbNipxYwtQmM=&h=394&w=525&sz=58&hl=en&start=176&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=Ft37eEjwTGjoPM:&tbnh=99&tbnw=132&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmercedes%2Bo302%26ndsp%3D21%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D1 68%26um%3D1 This one looks most like the avatar for "dyker", although the one about 5 pics down with the open awnings (of which this bus has two) is very similar.

Klaus

Aquaticedge · #10 02-15-2010, 02:43 AM

Very cool, I diddnt even know you could get a MBZ bus like that here

KarTek · #11 02-15-2010, 09:35 AM

Nice! I can make the UNIMOG and the F-series available for unsticking...

You aren't too far away...

Pooka · #12 02-15-2010, 10:21 AM

I am sad to say that the bus in the Oklahoma wrecking yard is no longer there.

klaus kallas · #13 02-15-2010, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarTek

Nice! I can make the UNIMOG and the F-series available for unsticking...

You aren't too far away...

Thanks for the kind offer! It actually isn't too far off the road so with a lot of chains and my semi I think we can get it out (I think....).

Let the adventure begin!

Klaus

stimpy451 · #14 02-15-2010, 04:41 PM

Oh, this is VERY cool. Can't wait for pictures.

klaus kallas · #15 02-22-2010, 02:48 PM

Ok, here are a few pics. One is from when the bus was originally converted in 1984. The other was taken on my cell phone, so forgive the poor quality.

Anyway, went by last week with a couple new batteries and installed in the bus. This thing has been off the road four years, and not started in two. Went in and turned the key and it took half a second and it started and hummed like it had been running all day. No B.S., no coughing, no shudders, just a bit of smoke for 30 seconds. It runs PERFECT

!

Waited a few minutes and the air suspension came up, and pumped the brakes and they work. So, put it in gear and it moved it back and forth. Hmmm... ground looks dry. Backed it out on the road, gave the owner a check, and we drove it home!!!!!!!

Now, it ain't perfect. Lots of TLC to be done (electrical, air leaks, LOTS of bodywork, etc.) but it is one hell of a starting point. We will slowly get it back in mechanically sound shape and hopefully the first road trip will be this summer

!

Engine is not the 8v-71 Detroit I thought at first, but turns out to be an 8.2T "Fuel Miser". Kind of a mixed review on this from what I've read, but with 167,000 on the clock it seems to have proved itself. Allison automatic shifts great and don't anticipate any problems there.

Stay tuned!

Klaus

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