3 Different Busses, 3 Drastically Different Options

[Elliot Naess]

Originally Posted by cowlitzcoach

... ...
It didn't say which transmission was in the Gillig but I did see a manual stir stick with a range button so it will have a Eaton Fuller transmission of some kind. The most common would be a 10-speed Road Ranger with 10th gear direct drive. It might have a 10-speed with OD or a 12/13-speed with the top gear(s) OD.

Plain round knob = no splitter, so not a 13 speed -- at least not a "normal one" (which is a 9-speed with a second "box" in it).

I'm not familiar with any 12 speed, but from what I'm reading it would shift like a Super 10, which is to split each gear as you go. So probably not that.

With that range selector down below the knob, it is almost surely a 10 speed. Wonderful transmissions. Just don't pre-select more than half a second or so, which would wear out the shift fork and sleeve prematurely. I always shifted 5-6 basically in one motion.

[vroom]

Originally Posted by Elliot Naess

Plain round knob = no splitter, so not a 13 speed -- at least not a "normal one" (which is a 9-speed with a second "box" in it).

I'm not familiar with any 12 speed, but from what I'm reading it would shift like a Super 10, which is to split each gear as you go. So probably not that.

With that range selector down below the knob, it is almost surely a 10 speed. Wonderful transmissions. Just don't pre-select more than half a second or so, which would wear out the shift fork and sleeve prematurely. I always shifted 5-6 basically in one motion.

The owner did confirm that it is the original two range ten speed manual transmission.

[EastCoastCB]

Too bad the epa made em disable this one-
Public Surplus: Auction #1745074

Drilled block and cut frame!
bummer

[cadillackid]

why was the bus destroyed?

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

why was the bus destroyed?

They probably took federal money for new buses and the old ones were made inoperable/unusable to epa standards.

[cadillackid]

cash for clunkers where the old grandma in columbus almost traded a 1970 chevelle LS7 (something worth $40k) on a new impala.. thinking it was "just her old worn out car".. until the dealership begged and pleaded with her to sell the car and not fill out the government forms...

-Christopher

[Oldmopars]

Here is one more for you, 1991 FE transit style with a Cummins $2500 Very near the Seatac airport, short taxi ride to go get it.
1991 Blue Bird School Bus
That is half of the other buses you posted in 1-3 and you could fly First Class even during the holidays for less than $1500 and still have $1000 for fuel.

[vroom]

You definitely turned me on to the idea of looking in other markets. And I'm talking to a few of the owners of the ones you listed, so huge thanks to you for "opening my eyes."

I'm really damn glad I posted on here first before doing anything drastic and stupid (which will probably happen anyway).

[Oldmopars]

Glad I could help. I would like to see you get the best bus for your needs that your money can buy.
Start with a better bus and you will be happier with it down the road and save money in the long run.

[vroom]

I'm curious what ya'll think about this option, which is much closer to home and storage:

1997 Amtran 40' bus

1997 40' Amtran, International T444E engine with 84,000 miles, Allison transmission. Asking $7,000 which seems like quite a bit, but I'm pretty inexperienced with this.

Remember, I'm not planning on touring the country--this is just for weekend excursions every now and then, with the possible week long trip here and there.

Any thoughts on the bus in question and the asking price? I can afford $7k, but don't really want to spend that much because that kind of takes away the point in my opinion.

[EastCoastCB]

Its worth MAYBE half that.
Keep searching.

[Elliot Naess]

Well, $7,000 is an awful lot, but this bus may have quite a bit going for it.

It appears to be a full 40-footer. Many buses are a few feet shorter.

If that's an IH 444 engine... that's a reliable engine. No powerhouse for this weight vehicle, but generally good for a few hundred thousand miles if well maintained. (Ford has used it in their big pickups, calling it the 7.3 liter.)

83,000 miles is amazingly low.

And find out if that's an AT545 or MT643 Allison.
The fact that it has already been replaced is suspicious. But I suppose school bus route "abuse" could kill anything.
If you can get the GVWR off one of the data plates, that will give us one clue as to the transmission -- see the sticky post about identifying those two transmissions.

Condition and age of tires? (By now I have forgotten the details of the listing.)

And don't forget... to negotiate the price down. The asking price is rarely the final word.

HOLD THE PRESSES! I have identified the retarder (and deleted my question about it). I spotted the name KLAM. KLAM is an electric retarder similar to Telma. That's a Very Good Thing.