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07-29-2016, 10:25 PM
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#1
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: N.C.
Posts: 1,136
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 34
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VIN question
Hey......trying to find some info before I start driving around looking at buses. I did a search here but didn't find anything on this.
1) Is there an online decoder that actually gives full info ? I've looked at 6 or 7, but have yet to see any transmission info listed.
2) Under 'Drive Line Type", does 'set back axle' mean a flat-front transit type body style ? And what does '4 X 2' mean ? (I assumed 4 wheels. 2 drive wheels, but of course there are duals on the rear axle).
Any help would be appreciated. My ideal would be a TC2000 9 or 8 window, with a 466 and 5 speed manual. Excited to be past the 'thinking' stage and at the 'actively searching' level.
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07-29-2016, 10:35 PM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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WHy not an All-American?
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07-29-2016, 10:43 PM
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#3
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: N.C.
Posts: 1,136
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 34
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Either/or. I haven't seen many AAs that short. Or MVPs, for that matter.
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07-29-2016, 10:48 PM
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#4
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Oklahoma aka "God's blind spot"
Posts: 2,446
Year: 1989
Coachwork: 1853FC International/Navistar
Chassis: 35' Retired Air Force Ambulance
Engine: DT466, MT643
Rated Cap: 6 souls and a driver
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My vin search didn't produce my transmission either...
4x2 refers to 2 wheel drive
4x4 refers to 4 wheel drive
Typically
__________________
I once complained I had no shoes....
Until I met a man with no feet
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07-29-2016, 11:49 PM
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#5
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 2,362
Year: 1993
Coachwork: bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins, Allison AT1545
Rated Cap: 2
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here is the only vin decoder i've seen - for bluebirds
Blue Bird Body Company VIN Equipment Codes
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07-30-2016, 12:02 AM
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#6
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: N.C.
Posts: 1,136
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 34
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07-30-2016, 12:18 AM
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#7
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by plfking
Either/or. I haven't seen many AAs that short. Or MVPs, for that matter.
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THere are more TC's because they're lower cost.
Check out some AmTrans, too. Solid buses.
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07-30-2016, 12:18 AM
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#8
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: N.C.
Posts: 1,136
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 34
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And this is the only one I found for International. But it has ALL International vehicles listed....you just have to sift through it for the bus info.
ftp://nhtsa.gov/MfrMail/01-022-N11B-7559.pdf
Really frustrates me that no one provides transmission info.....I don't know why they wouldn't, since they list the engine.
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07-30-2016, 12:26 AM
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#9
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: N.C.
Posts: 1,136
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB
THere are more TC's because they're lower cost.
Check out some AmTrans, too. Solid buses.
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Thank you, sir, I've been looking at those as well. Can't find any online VIN info for them, though.
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07-30-2016, 12:57 AM
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#10
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Garden State (rural NJ)
Posts: 378
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Quote:
Originally Posted by plfking
And this is the only one I found for International. But it has ALL International vehicles listed....you just have to sift through it for the bus info.
ftp://nhtsa.gov/MfrMail/01-022-N11B-7559.pdf
Really frustrates me that no one provides transmission info.....I don't know why they wouldn't, since they list the engine.
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This is bureaucracy at its best. The people who list the buses for sale/auction know nothing except that they are big and yellow. I just don't think they want to be bothered. If you call the contact numbers, you can usually have basic questions, like tranny model, answered by the maintenance garage.
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07-30-2016, 07:14 AM
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#11
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: near Christiansburg VA
Posts: 692
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freightliner
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 44 or 66? 11 rows
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Thanks for posting those links, folks!
Here's the one I found; not sure if it yields all of the info above, but it's fast and may be of use as a first step:
Gates VIN Decoder
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07-30-2016, 02:58 PM
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#12
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: N.C.
Posts: 1,136
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BusFiend
I just don't think they want to be bothered.
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I think you're right. One guy I called said he didn't know, and when i asked if he could check the service records, he said "the service records don't specify the transmission model." Riiiiiight.......a couple of others did give it out, but acted like I was asking for their first-born male child.
That's when I thought the VIN decoder would help.....but......wrong again.
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07-30-2016, 03:37 PM
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#13
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Garden State (rural NJ)
Posts: 378
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Quote:
Originally Posted by plfking
I think you're right. One guy I called said he didn't know, and when i asked if he could check the service records, he said "the service records don't specify the transmission model." Riiiiiight.......a couple of others did give it out, but acted like I was asking for their first-born male child.
That's when I thought the VIN decoder would help.....but......wrong again.
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Buying a bus is a difficult process when we can't easily inspect them in person before purchase. :-\
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07-31-2016, 04:01 PM
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#14
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: N.C.
Posts: 1,136
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 34
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Thought I'd add another.......maybe this thread can help someone else in the future.
Freightliner VIN codes
http://www.rvtechlibrary.com/chassis/fliner_VIN.pdf
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08-04-2016, 10:24 AM
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#15
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: SW New Hampshire
Posts: 1,334
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Quote:
Originally Posted by turf
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This one has worked pretty well for me, even if it's intended to allow a parts company to cross-ref your vehicle and sell their parts.
Vin Decoder For Automotive Parts | Gates Corporation
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08-04-2016, 04:51 PM
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#16
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Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Hempstead Tx
Posts: 213
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International
Engine: t444e
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Bluebird decoder says mine has a cat3208, actual is a t444e
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08-08-2016, 06:15 PM
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#17
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: N.C.
Posts: 1,136
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 34
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08-08-2016, 08:42 PM
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#18
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Skoolie
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Hempstead Tx
Posts: 213
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International
Engine: t444e
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The gates decoder worked for mine
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01-04-2017, 11:00 AM
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#19
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lebanon, IN
Posts: 272
Year: 1998
Chassis: TC 2000 bluebird
Engine: 5.9 cummins
Rated Cap: 66
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interesting, When I use the gates decoder on my Bluebird TC2000 model year 1998, built in 1997, it is wrong for the engine and the GVW. I imagine all the belts and hoses listed will be wrong too.
My bus is one of the last ones to have the 12 valve 5.9 Cummins engines. But it lists as the ISB engine.
Bill
Birch Run, MI
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01-04-2017, 01:14 PM
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#20
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,264
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: IH
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by miltruckman
interesting, When I use the gates decoder on my Bluebird TC2000 model year 1998, built in 1997, it is wrong for the engine and the GVW. I imagine all the belts and hoses listed will be wrong too.
My bus is one of the last ones to have the 12 valve 5.9 Cummins engines. But it lists as the ISB engine.
Bill
Birch Run, MI
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Sometimes this "year overlap" happens; it's common with cars. This way a manufacturer can stock dealerships with "next year's models" before the beginning of that year. It can happen with larger vehicles when complying with certain laws such as emissions.
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