glad you liked sam. we did 180 miles last wed night from Philly to Binghamton NY. did 85 miles the next morn to Cooperstown NY. left Cooperstown late afternoon and drove the 265 miles back to Philly. bus ran great. looking like a CA trip next year. its going to be a haul.
Too bad it was converted to automatic. I had a chance to buy a 48 Clipper in the mid 70s that was all original, one owner with stick and Buick straight 8. It was in real nice shape. $3000. It was more than I could do at the time, but I've always regretted not buying it. I would have kept the original drive train.
Gad you like G. The stick trans had a broken bellhousing. Replacement bell existed nowhere. The pot style SAE 3 flywheel on the GMC engine was cracked all the way through. It was a complex flywheel and was quoted $3500-$4000 to scratch build. And without a bellhousing the flywheel issue wouldn't have mattered anyway. The stick was cool if you were putt putting around to shows or parades but it was a non synchronized trans and pretty strenuous for driver. We had many days out that lasted til after midnight. And a lot of days at or near 100 degrees and 1 day at 106 in IA. Steering is manual as well. Typical trips are 4,000 miles in 3 weeks. Typical day on a trip was 250-350 miles. Tachometer was at 3k on a 3600 rpm engine at 55 mph. With the overdrive automatic we travelled 650 miles in 1 day. 64 mph in 2200 rpm. Better mpg, the ability to build speed before an uphill climb and effortless downshifting on a climb all make it a different bus with the automatic.
@@tommurphy116 If I had one of these I'd want it to be original, but, as you say, I'd be putting around town and going to shows. So I see your point. A lot of guys have old Silversides Greyhound buses that are still stick, non-synchro, but I don't think they travel as much as you're talking here. Thanks for the reply. That's an old video. I never expected to hear back from anyone.
It is a Starliner, the clipper pecedded it in the thirties and fourties then Flxible switched to war production and destined the Starliner for after the war. many baseball teams had them including the Indianapolis clowns.
Hello I was talking with Sam and he told me you were working on the seats and to check out the Video, Nice job on video! Tom i'd like to know more info on the seats, I am working on a set my self. President of FOI David crowe.
Hey Tom, What a bus, looks beautiful...she reminds me of why I still do this for over 55 years now, we never really worked on many Flexibles, we started with the older GMC PD 4104s and moved up from there.... but I have always loved the looks of the older Flexs.. Good Luck to you, it's like looking at an older Movie...if ever we can help please let me know... Sam, buses101.com
I'd replace the old engine with a modern, more compact diesel, replace the transmission with an alternator, and put a modern electric drive motor on the existing drive shaft. Probably reclaim a little space in the back for the interior. Put a bunch of lithium battery modules in the underfloor compartments for electric mode. Convert the rear axles to active steering, and put electric drive on the front wheels too.
if I could own a flxible clipper or a visticoach I would keep the T6V53 or T8V53 Detroit diesel engine with the MT 643 Allison automatic transmission and the air dome in the rear customized it and make a shark fin style air dome with vents that's it or maybe put a 8V71 N or 6V71 N Detroit diesel engine with HT 740 Allison automatic transmission
Hey Tom that’s amazing love it!
Roger that Payton. Thx man
Great video, Thumbs Up and happy weekend yo you also.
I'm so glad to see people keeping Flxible Clippers alive. A truly iconic bus and piece of history.
glad you liked sam. we did 180 miles last wed night from Philly to Binghamton NY. did 85 miles the next morn to Cooperstown NY. left Cooperstown late afternoon and drove the 265 miles back to Philly. bus ran great. looking like a CA trip next year. its going to be a haul.
Beautiful bus, looks so modern compared to British buses of that era, and later even, that I'm used to seeing. Lovely.
It's a nice-looking by that we cannot hear you talkin speak up
Love these buses
Too bad it was converted to automatic. I had a chance to buy a 48 Clipper in the mid 70s that was all original, one owner with stick and Buick straight 8. It was in real nice shape. $3000. It was more than I could do at the time, but I've always regretted not buying it. I would have kept the original drive train.
Gad you like G. The stick trans had a broken bellhousing. Replacement bell existed nowhere. The pot style SAE 3 flywheel on the GMC engine was cracked all the way through. It was a complex flywheel and was quoted $3500-$4000 to scratch build. And without a bellhousing the flywheel issue wouldn't have mattered anyway. The stick was cool if you were putt putting around to shows or parades but it was a non synchronized trans and pretty strenuous for driver. We had many days out that lasted til after midnight. And a lot of days at or near 100 degrees and 1 day at 106 in IA. Steering is manual as well. Typical trips are 4,000 miles in 3 weeks. Typical day on a trip was 250-350 miles. Tachometer was at 3k on a 3600 rpm engine at 55 mph. With the overdrive automatic we travelled 650 miles in 1 day. 64 mph in 2200 rpm. Better mpg, the ability to build speed before an uphill climb and effortless downshifting on a climb all make it a different bus with the automatic.
@@tommurphy116 If I had one of these I'd want it to be original, but, as you say, I'd be putting around town and going to shows. So I see your point. A lot of guys have old Silversides Greyhound buses that are still stick, non-synchro, but I don't think they travel as much as you're talking here. Thanks for the reply. That's an old video. I never expected to hear back from anyone.
awesome!
AWESOME!!! I love the Flxible Clipper!!
How much can cost a bus in these conditions?
Automatic transmission would turn me off. I can live with the engine, but not an automatic trans.
cool tom!
cool old bubble bus
It is a Starliner, the clipper pecedded it in the thirties and fourties then Flxible switched to war production and destined the Starliner for after the war. many baseball teams had them including the Indianapolis clowns.
Newark Eagles as well. Def a Clipper. Starliner was the later version of the Flx--late 50s-mid 60s. Check out tag at 6:16.
Hello I was talking with Sam and he told me you were working on the seats and to check out the Video, Nice job on video!
Tom i'd like to know more info on the seats, I am working on a set my self.
President of FOI David crowe.
Hey Tom, What a bus, looks beautiful...she reminds me of why I still do this for over 55 years now, we never really worked on many Flexibles, we started with the older GMC PD 4104s and moved up from there.... but I have always loved the looks of the older Flexs.. Good Luck to you, it's like looking at an older Movie...if ever we can help please let me know...
Sam, buses101.com
Roger all that Sam. Glad you like it. Thanks
Great vidio Tom I have some more info I will email you
sam
WOOOOOOOOW!
I'd replace the old engine with a modern, more compact diesel, replace the transmission with an alternator, and put a modern electric drive motor on the existing drive shaft. Probably reclaim a little space in the back for the interior. Put a bunch of lithium battery modules in the underfloor compartments for electric mode. Convert the rear axles to active steering, and put electric drive on the front wheels too.
if I could own a flxible clipper or a visticoach I would keep the T6V53 or T8V53 Detroit diesel engine with the MT 643 Allison automatic transmission and the air dome in the rear customized it and make a shark fin style air dome with vents that's it or maybe put a 8V71 N or 6V71 N Detroit diesel engine with HT 740 Allison automatic transmission