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Old 06-19-2014, 09:12 PM   #121
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Re: Good deal for a bus?

Someone should call on these.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ ... 68440.html

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Old 06-19-2014, 11:17 PM   #122
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Re: Good deal for a bus?

Quote:
Originally Posted by sdwarf36
Called, there all too small for me
Thanks for the suggestion
Jake
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Old 06-21-2014, 07:45 PM   #123
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Re: Good deal for a bus?

Jake, I Paid $1500 for mine last year.
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Old 06-21-2014, 08:50 PM   #124
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Re: Good deal for a bus?

Thanks, sorry have been away and haven't been able to call you yet. Where I am doesn't have cell service for att.
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Old 06-24-2014, 09:48 PM   #125
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Re: Good deal for a bus?

I found a carpenter re
there is a hdx I am bidding on but if that doesn't work I'll get this. Does anyone have any idea of the engine model most of these were equipped with. I can't find the engine model through a vin decoder. For more pictures:http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/auc...ew?auc=1154318
Thanks
Jake
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Old 06-24-2014, 11:31 PM   #126
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Re: Good deal for a bus?

That would be an 8.3 Cummins with a 643 transmission.
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Old 06-25-2014, 07:52 AM   #127
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Re: Good deal for a bus?

Quote:
Originally Posted by opus
That would be an 8.3 Cummins with a 643 transmission.
Thanks opus! I'm definitely going for it then
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Old 07-10-2014, 11:08 PM   #128
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Re: Good deal for a bus?

Right now I am looking at 2 units
One is a 2003 Freightliner Thomas high roof 77 passenger. It has a CAT 3126 engine and a Allison 2000 Transmission. Air breaks.
Another is a 2001 International Thomas High roof 71 passenger. DT466 Engine and Allison 2000. Hydraulic breaks. $500 more than the freightliner.
Is the Allison 2000 series better than the AT545 or is it the equivalent? I hear its a 5 speed but I dont have any idea about what people think about it.

I am edging towards the freight liner due to the more interior space, but i dont like the engine. I will be able to tell rust wise on them tomorrow, that will probably be a big factor. They are both pretty close, and even though I want a nice rear engine bus, pricewise and locationwise its not working out.
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Old 07-10-2014, 11:11 PM   #129
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Re: Good deal for a bus?

I was advised by a school district mechanic to stay away from freightliner. Expensive parts and non typical parts. That's all I know.
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Old 11-13-2014, 09:04 PM   #130
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Re: Good deal for a bus?

I know this thread has had little action lately but here are some updates on where my searh is today.
So over the summer I've looked at more buses but I haven't ended up buying any. I'm really looking for a nice RE but most schools around here don't use them. The only contractor in my area that uses them is first, and by the time there done with them the buses look and run like crap.
I found this one the other day, and considering it's close, has a decent conversion already and the price, I'm really interested. I know it's the 444e but I really haven't found many good engine res. First runs cats, and almost every other contractor in MA other than Durham (Worcester) does not use re buses. I'm guessing it has the at545 but I could be wrong. Any thoughts on this one.
https://southcoast.craigslist.org/rvs/4711814731.html
Thanks
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Old 11-13-2014, 09:23 PM   #131
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Re: Good deal for a bus?

Thats a lot of hours for a 7.3!
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Old 11-13-2014, 10:41 PM   #132
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Re: Good deal for a bus?

127k is alot of hours for a 7.3??

For $3000 it looks like a steal to me.
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Old 11-14-2014, 07:34 AM   #133
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Re: Good deal for a bus?

It has 9421 hours.
How many hours does a 7.3 normally lastm I though they lasted about 15000. It seems like its been mantained well.
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Old 11-14-2014, 09:41 AM   #134
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Re: Good deal for a bus?

Depends on how it was maintained. Ask if you can have an oil sample done.
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Old 11-14-2014, 12:14 PM   #135
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Re: Good deal for a bus?

I didn't see the hours - just the 127k miles.
My 7.3 had 230k when I bought it. It was an airport shuttle- making a 25 mile round trip and god knows how much idling time. When I went inside it at 250k (after I cracked a piston with my own stupidity) the rest of the motor looked great. I read of a van with 675k on it- but also read of worn out ones with 300 k. Kinda boils down to how it was looked after.
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Old 11-14-2014, 12:22 PM   #136
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Re: Good deal for a bus?

The hour meter is the thing to look at when buying a school bus. They generally do lots of idling. Mine has 6200 hrs on it and 202k miles. In theory, that puts it at about 350k miles.

I do an oil sample every other oil change. I have a base line and it never moves from that. Thats about all you can do.
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