Picked up my Schoolie Yesterday

[gmrubin]

Been looking for a while and finally found a bus that hit most of my must have points.

It's a 10 window 1993 International with 6'6 headroom an all mechanical after-cooled DT466 and an Allison MT643 with lock-up converter. Miles are in the high 200k's. The only point it didn't hit was having an overdrive transmission. Driving it home last night it seemed very happy between 55 and 60 (2200 to 2400 rpm). I took it up to 67 and it may have had a bit more to give but it was a "new to me" vehicle and I didn't want to push too hard. My intended cruising will be mostly back roads at 55ish mph. They can all go around me on the freeway ...

Seller was asking $3700 but I got it down to $3000 due to 10 year old tires. I'll probably change the steers immediately but wait a bit on the drivers. I'm excited to get started. I have an event in Quartzsite in January so hopefully I'll have the solar, bathroom and bed in by then.

Thanks ..... Gregg

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by gmrubin

Been looking for a while and finally found a bus that hit most of my must have points.

I have an event in Quartzsite in January so hopefully I'll have the solar, bathroom and bed in by then.

Thanks ..... Gregg

Looks like you got a solid base. Former Party Bus?

Looking forward to your build of the Dark Beast at the gem show.

[david.dgeorge07]

Looks like it already has a pretty good paint job! Are you working on the project full-time? January may be pretty tough to meet if you have much of a comprehensive plan and other things to do.


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[Johnny Mullet]

Congrats on your bus!

[EastCoastCB]

Nice setup. You won't typically find buses of this vintage with OD. That 643 is bout as good as it gets. I like mine.

If it gets too hot you can always paint the roof white.

Congrats!

[gmrubin]

Plans include painting the roof white. Not a party bus, it still has all the school bus seats in it.

For Quartzsite January 2018 I only want a bathroom, a bed and solar. I already have 400 watts of panels, the controller and two 400 amp 8D AGM batteries. The bus should be finished January 2019.

I fixed a few lights and took out the divider between the driver's seat and the passenger area so I can move the seat back to fit my large ass. Man these things are built strong. The pipe support for the divider was a piece of steel tubing inside another steel tube with welded gussets to the floor plates.

All the seat floor plates are through bolted to the heavily undercoated underside of the floor. I think I will have to grind off the bolt heads, punch the bolt stubs through the floor and fill the holes rather then constantly going underneath and squeezing vice grips on the nuts.

Tomorrow I check if the ceiling and sidewalls are insulated. The nose and rear overhead storage compartments are insulated with fiberglass batting. I'm hoping they are as this bus has four interior heaters, undercoating and sand spreaders in front of the drive tires. It was originally from the Sequim, WA school district where it gets cold in the winter.

Gregg

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by gmrubin

Plans include painting the roof white. Not a party bus, it still has all the school bus seats in it.

For Quartzsite January 2018 I only want a bathroom, a bed and solar. I already have 400 watts of panels, the controller and two 400 amp 8D AGM batteries.

Man these things are built strong. The pipe support for the divider was a piece of steel tubing inside another steel tube with welded gussets to the floor plates.



Tomorrow I check if the ceiling and sidewalls are insulated. The nose and rear overhead storage compartments are insulated with fiberglass batting. I'm hoping they are as this bus has four interior heaters, undercoating and sand spreaders in front of the drive tires. It was originally from the Sequim, WA school district where it gets cold in the winter.

Gregg

Lol. You will find these things are way overbuilt. Every time you make a hole in a panel, you will be reminded this isn't a car.

Read-up on the Board here- save your self a bunch of grief- Moat have found remove the usually gross fiberglass and replace with spray foam gets it more comfy.

Looking forward to your build.

[EastCoastCB]

I doubt a 93 has interlocks. My 98 and 92 didn't.

[gmrubin]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I doubt a 93 has interlocks. My 98 and 92 didn't.

What are "Interlocks"?

[gmrubin]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Looks like you got a solid base. Former Party Bus?

Looking forward to your build of the Dark Beast at the gem show.

We camp in Scadden Wash at the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR) gathering. I'll be out there the first week in Jan for two weeks then move to the Las Posas long term area for a couple more weeks.

Stop by and say hi....... Gregg

[Twigg]

Originally Posted by gmrubin

What are "Interlocks"?

I believe it's a reference to the devices that prevent the engine from starting if the doors are open.

[gmrubin]

Originally Posted by Twigg

I believe it's a reference to the devices that prevent the engine from starting if the doors are open.

Thanks for clarifying. Engine starts fine with doors open. Alarm buzzer rings when either emergency door is open and the ignition is turned on.

[Tango]

You need to be careful if disabling any alarms or buzzers. Unless the system is re-wired properly it can be a nightmare. Several folks here have yanked them out then spent weeks trying to get their engines to start.

[meteoricide]

Me and Lucille will be there at Scaddan Wash ... we’re almost there now!


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[gmrubin]

Originally Posted by meteoricide

Me and Lucille will be there at Scaddan Wash ... we’re almost there now!


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It's a long way till January....

[gmrubin]

Originally Posted by Tango

You need to be careful if disabling any alarms or buzzers. Unless the system is re-wired properly it can be a nightmare. Several folks here have yanked them out then spent weeks trying to get their engines to start.

Its a full mechanical aftercooled DT466. Worst case, I could rig a starter button and it will start. Shut down is via a mechanical "fuel shutoff" pull handle on the dash. Absolutely no electronic controls on the engine. There may be a few on the Allison MT643 but it is shifted with a mechanical cable from the dash mounted shifter to the trans.

My bus was built in much simpler times....

When the EMP attack comes my bus will still start and run...

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by gmrubin

Its a full mechanical aftercooled DT466.


When the EMP attack comes my bus will still start and run...

Oh, it's coming. We are ready.

[gmrubin]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Oh, it's coming. We are ready.


Attachment 16979

Put sheet meta over a bunch of the bus windows and it should become a reasonably efficient Faraday Cage. Maybe I'll store a spare transmission controller in a steel box in the bus.

[2kool4skool]

https://www.facebook.com/events/416769698707835

Like your bus!

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by gmrubin

Its a full mechanical aftercooled DT466. Worst case, I could rig a starter button and it will start. Shut down is via a mechanical "fuel shutoff" pull handle on the dash. Absolutely no electronic controls on the engine. There may be a few on the Allison MT643 but it is shifted with a mechanical cable from the dash mounted shifter to the trans.

My bus was built in much simpler times....

When the EMP attack comes my bus will still start and run...

Yeah, you'd know if you had an interlock.
My bus and yours are very similar.