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03-29-2019, 10:05 AM
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#1
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Skoolie
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: GTA
Posts: 159
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas Built Buses
Chassis: FS-65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 66/44
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2003 FS-65 Conversion (no name yet.)
After 8 months of looking, I've finally found my bus. 10 window Thomas FS-65 with a Cat 3126 and, shockingly, a MD-3060 behind it [emoji44]
It's in Albany, NY and I'm in Toronto, ON, Canada. I will have to drive down, pick it up, export it, make it legal for Canada and then title and plate it here.
Best thing is, I will be paying $2000. I want to have a bus for a road trip that is planned this August, so the longer I wait the more I have to do in a panic.
I could have held out for a more "perfect" bus but this is so close to what I want that I can make it work.
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03-29-2019, 10:39 AM
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#2
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Skoolie
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: GTA
Posts: 159
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas Built Buses
Chassis: FS-65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 66/44
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About me & my background
While I've never built a skoolie of my own... I have been involved with some school bus related misadventures
I've actually built two things involving school buses.
The first is heavy meta, a dragon. It's really just a microbird dually. And the TTZ(if you're from Toronto you'll understand) a super basic short bus conversion painted like a zebra, and with my friends who are also involved and own the buses, driven them across North America to Nevada (for Burning Man obviously).
Pictures because who doesn't want to see pictures
As for me, I grew up around power tools, and I have a love for all things big crazy and mechanical. I have lots of experience working in both wood and metal, and in my spare time (what little of it I have) I restore vintage machinery. My latest project on that side is a 36" bandsaw, but I've worked on anything from table saws to metal lathes. I'm excited to use my skills to make something I can live in
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03-29-2019, 12:20 PM
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#3
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Claremont, NH
Posts: 482
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DT466E (195hp, 520tq)
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The 03 looks like a good rig. Hope the paperwork getting it back to Canada isn't that bad. Love the dragon!
__________________
Dave
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03-29-2019, 12:25 PM
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#4
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Skoolie
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: GTA
Posts: 159
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas Built Buses
Chassis: FS-65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 66/44
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ermracing
The 03 looks like a good rig. Hope the paperwork getting it back to Canada isn't that bad. Love the dragon!
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It doesn't seem to be. Just two online forms and a few modifications when I'm back in Canada, mainly bilingual stickers and running lights. No biggie
Thanks it's been a 2+ year ride. We've taken it all over North America, and it's been a huge part of my life. Come may it will be our 3rd year.
Warming up cold windy Toledo Ohio
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03-29-2019, 12:28 PM
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#5
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,848
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
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Love the dragon!!! and it looks like you landed yourself a nice bus too!!
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03-29-2019, 12:32 PM
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#6
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Skoolie
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: GTA
Posts: 159
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas Built Buses
Chassis: FS-65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 66/44
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid
Love the dragon!!! and it looks like you landed yourself a nice bus too!!
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Let's wait till I get it here but I certainly hope so!
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03-29-2019, 12:37 PM
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#7
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ab01ns
It doesn't seem to be. Just two online forms and a few modifications when I'm back in Canada, mainly bilingual stickers and running lights. No biggie
Thanks it's been a 2+ year ride. We've taken it all over North America, and it's been a huge part of my life. Come may it will be our 3rd year.
Warming up cold windy Toledo Ohio Attachment 31252
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great project, but I should have never looked at the dragon pictures because now my mind is picturing a bus that looks like a big dog to haul my sleddogs around in - lol
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04-01-2019, 10:30 PM
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#8
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Skoolie
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: GTA
Posts: 159
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas Built Buses
Chassis: FS-65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 66/44
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sleddgracer
great project, but I should have never looked at the dragon pictures because now my mind is picturing a bus that looks like a big dog to haul my sleddogs around in - lol
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You should do it, the art car life isn't difficult or hard at ALL.
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04-02-2019, 07:13 AM
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#9
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Claremont, NH
Posts: 482
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DT466E (195hp, 520tq)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ab01ns
You should do it, the art car life isn't difficult or hard at ALL.
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Does this count?
__________________
Dave
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04-02-2019, 03:08 PM
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#10
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Skoolie
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: GTA
Posts: 159
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas Built Buses
Chassis: FS-65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 66/44
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Pickup date is locked in for this Thursday. Taking the bus down to Albany Wednesday night. Wish me luck and I'll see you on the other side, hopefully across the border back in Canada and with a bus
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04-02-2019, 10:32 PM
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#11
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 3,856
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas Built Bus
Chassis: Freightliner FS65
Engine: Caterpillar 3126E Diesel
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger- 30,000 lbs.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ab01ns
Pickup date is locked in for this Thursday. Taking the bus down to Albany Wednesday night. Wish me luck and I'll see you on the other side, hopefully across the border back in Canada and with a bus
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Good luck and enjoy the drive!
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04-02-2019, 10:40 PM
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#12
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Skoolie
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: GTA
Posts: 159
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas Built Buses
Chassis: FS-65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 66/44
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Native
Good luck and enjoy the drive!
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5.77 rear end and I've never driven anything this big before. It certainly going to be a long one
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04-03-2019, 01:06 AM
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#13
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Palmer, AK
Posts: 279
Year: 2004
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf T Liner MVP 11 window 32’
Engine: CAT 3126E
Rated Cap: 72
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Safe travels & good Luck!
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04-04-2019, 11:08 AM
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#14
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Skoolie
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: GTA
Posts: 159
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas Built Buses
Chassis: FS-65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 66/44
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Bus acquired. Picture with my new toy
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04-04-2019, 11:13 AM
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#15
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ab01ns
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Now you can fill out your profile in the UserCP in the upper left. Tell us where you're from and bus details.
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04-04-2019, 05:59 PM
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#16
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Skoolie
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: GTA
Posts: 159
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas Built Buses
Chassis: FS-65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 66/44
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Shakedown cruise was a success. Drove 260 miles from Albany to Rochester. Bus runs like a dream, plenty of power and very smooth. So happy I decided to pull the trigger
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04-04-2019, 06:02 PM
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#17
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 3,856
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas Built Bus
Chassis: Freightliner FS65
Engine: Caterpillar 3126E Diesel
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger- 30,000 lbs.
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Congratulations on your new toy! I can see you are happy.
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04-04-2019, 07:39 PM
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#18
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ab01ns
Shakedown cruise was a success. Drove 260 miles from Albany to Rochester. Bus runs like a dream, plenty of power and very smooth. So happy I decided to pull the trigger Attachment 31456Attachment 31457
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that's the size of bus I think I need - what motor and transmission does it have? - good looking bus
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04-04-2019, 07:43 PM
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#19
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Skoolie
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: GTA
Posts: 159
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas Built Buses
Chassis: FS-65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 66/44
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sleddgracer
that's the size of bus I think I need - what motor and transmission does it have? - good looking bus
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Cat 3126 and an Allison md-3060. It's a reasonable size, 10 windows is still a lot of space but it's not a monstrous type d 40 footer
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04-04-2019, 07:58 PM
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#20
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ab01ns
Cat 3126 and an Allison md-3060. It's a reasonable size, 10 windows is still a lot of space but it's not a monstrous type d 40 footer
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that sounds good to me
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