Why Not International

[The Rockwood Colony]

We are converting a 1996 International AmTran currently and it has been an absolute joy! I love the oversized entry door! I also like that the bottom step is oversized. It not only runs like a dream but it looks great also. When I was doing my research before we picked it up I noticed that actual school bus drivers mostly didn't like them for 2 of the reasons that I love them. Oversized door and oversized step. They thought these features were dumb because the Amtrans had more narrow isles. They said it didn't make any sense. But that was actual school bus drivers. For us converting these buses it's wonderful features because we tear the seats out anyways obviously! I love the old school controls for everything too. And even though the drivers seat isn't air ride it's unbelievably comfortable with an arm rest on both sides which is huge to me for long trips! Another great thing about my AmTran is the wiring seems to be more straight forward and sample compared to other buses I've seen. I know you're not talking specifically about the AmTran body but I'm telling you if you find one definitely consider it to convert. Everything has been a breeze so far with the gutting process. Oh ya, and NO interior rivets! All screws! The only thing I'm concerned with this far is that above the windows on the exterior there is only one row of rivets, not 2 rows like a lot of buses so all of the research I've done on my roofraise is mostly a wash without two rows of rivets so I'll have to think on that more.

[mmoore6856]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

the buses of TODAY won't be around in 15 years. They're like new cars. Old stuff is fixable and re-usable. The latest diesel engines are SO BAD that schools are ordering buses with propane, gas, natural gas, etc.
The good buses for us folks to convert ended with tier 2 emissions.

sad as this news is its true after being a truck mech for 20 years (i went to driving 10 years ago)i quit when the gov forced emission (def) systems before we had the tech perfected. lots of the early systems were junk i was towed many times when it clogged( these motors only liked hot weather) the cost can be staggering (my cheapest tow and repair was over 5k) unless you understand tier 2 emissions id say stay away

[mmoore6856]

Originally Posted by Papajoe

I sort asked this in another thread. I am just ready to get a bus to convert. I have always liked the International IC RE as for as looks and the way it drives. So why does it seem that very very few are being used for converting and why are so many going with Blue Bird and Thomas? Am I missing something?

its the same as ford chevy dodge (ect) we have our own strange reasons but it still a bus

[Dropkicksmurfy]

What would you say would be a good year/make/engine/etc to look for? I am really wanting to do a schoolie, but JEEEEZE there are a lot of different options out there. I was about to fall into the newer must be better trap...

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Dropkicksmurfy

What would you say would be a good year/make/engine/etc to look for? I am really wanting to do a schoolie, but JEEEEZE there are a lot of different options out there. I was about to fall into the newer must be better trap...

About 1990-2000 is my year range for bus hunting.

[mmoore6856]

Yea cb has some good info. Stay away from any with the emission crap as maintance and repair can be costly. Commit at 6 months to study but dont buy even if you think its a good deal. And you will get a good education. Then arrange your funds and start looking. Do not buy the first one you can afford. Patience here young grasshopper or you will be roadkill

[mmoore6856]

I think there are lots more bb and thomis available

[boojiewoojie]

In Tennessee you can run a conventional for 12 years, a flat nose for 15 with one inspection a year. After that you can run extended for 3 more years with inspections twice a year. After the extended time you can run until you reach 200,000 miles with inspections twice a year. Rust is the biggest enemy to passing inspections. Everything else can be fixed.

[mmoore6856]

Navistar just lost a big settlement for making and selling engines that were bad

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by mmoore6856

Navistar just lost a big settlement for making and selling engines that were bad

Its near impossible to build good ones anymore.

[mmoore6856]

The lawsuit said that navistar knew about the defects and still sold them some exes that testafied admitted it

[mmoore6856]

This was newer stuff made in the last 10 years or so

[cadillackid]

ha!! its really tough like ECCB says to make engines that last. my guess is that the MaxxForce 7 and MaxxForce 9 are listed in the settlement.. they were some pretty bad engines.. even worse than the VT-365
-Christopher

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

ha!! its really tough like ECCB says to make engines that last. my guess is that the MaxxForce 7 and MaxxForce 9 are listed in the settlement.. they were some pretty bad engines.. even worse than the VT-365
-Christopher

Nothing is worse than the pos oil chugging lemon under the hood of my 2013 Subaru.
Newer mechanical things are, in general, crap when compared to the good old stuff.

[cadillackid]

not just mechanical, electrical too...

couple examples - I was feeling nostalgic today so I pulled out my old pioneer reel to reel deck.. first off, the thing weighs a good 40 lbs. (show me a stereo today made out of real wood and 1/4" thick aluminum for the front plate...).. I got this thing in the 80s, second hand .. it was built in 73.. I put a reel on, and it plays great.. (one pre-amp is starting to crackle.. not bad for almost 45 years old!)

second example.. im into vintage christmas lights.. for a long time ive used newer christmas lights in my nightlights around the house.. they last a couple months at most and gone.. a few years ago i bought some lights from a "less than stellar" seller on Flea-Bay.. oh they light up.. they are from the mid 1960s .. they are used and all the paint is scratched up badly.. so useless on a christmas tree.. I use those poor vintage bulbs in my night lights.. and wow! a couple have lasted almost a YEAR.. others were 6-9 months... heck even some of my CFL's and LED;s burnb out before that!!! (in household bulbs)..

and of course engines.. the 5.9 litre DT-360 in my DEV takes up twice the physical space that the 444E in RedByrd does and its 7.3 litres.. seems theres a lot more METAL in the DT.. granted the 7.3 is still running nicely but still it was the beginning of the end of the BRUTE and SOLID construction of diesel engines.. really these days Cummins is the only one who still makes solid engines.. (no wonder they are whats in any diesel school bus these days)...

-Christopher

[Tango]

Roger the above. And don't even get me started on the use of PLASTIC parts inside internal combustion engines.

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by Tango

Roger the above. And don't even get me started on the use of PLASTIC parts inside internal combustion engines.

im not sure why they did that.. esp the oil filter standpipe.. granted running your oil temperature up to 260 degrees is severe Driver error.. however shame on IHC for not providing an oil temperature gauge standard..

-Christopher

[Njsurf73]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Nothing is worse than the pos oil chugging lemon under the hood of my 2013 Subaru.
Newer mechanical things are, in general, crap when compared to the good old stuff.

I had the same issue with my 2013 Forester. 0w20??? Oil I think. They replaced quite a few engines that came from the factory consuming large amounts of oil. When they got up right they ran like a top when they got them wrong they suck down oil all the time. According to my mechanic it was a known issue. There were six months that I had that car but it's spent in dealership after dealership as I traveled across the country for work renting cars...


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