Air Bag Upgrade for 1976 Coach

[Dave Jordan]

I would like to know if air bags can be installed on a 1976 model to improve the ride. Would it be a expensive major undertaking, or would it not be worth it on a coach this old? The coach was recently had the interior redone, the diesel rebuilt and a new Isuzu generator installed. I am trying to decide if I would be better off to purchase this coach or look for a newer model.

[TechTalk]

You should understand some of the challenges. 1) The suspension under a 1976 is totally different than the air bag equipped coaches. Therefore, you would have to modify to chassis to accept a new suspension. This would require largely unpredictable, but certainly significant amount of labor by a skilled fabricator. 2) A complete air bag suspension would be costly, certainly in excess of $10,000 front and rear. 3) Some of the parts have been out of production for several years, so availability may be an issue. 4) When you were successfully finished, from a resale standpoint, you'd still have a 1976. A nice 1976, but a 1976 nevertheless. That having been said, some people do these kind of projects for the fun of it. But it would not be inexpensive, and the investment would not increase the value of the coach nearly as much as it would cost.

TechTalk

[Don Koenig]

Before we purchased our 1984 Newell I converted a 1974 bus into a motor home. If your hobby is improving an older vehicle, do not expect to get more then half of your $$$ back. I did not. When a friend saw my 1984 Newell after he had put over twice what I paid for the 1984 Newell into a 1970 GMC, he was not to happy. He tried to sell his very nice 1970 converted GMC earlier this year, asking $150,000. Many lookers but no offers at the Bus Conversion Convention.