Advice needed before I purchase a 1992, International 360

[Kaklehr]

I may have finally found the mid-size bus I've been looking for - but I'd really appreciate your comments and advice.

The bus: 1992 Navistar International DTA 360 diesel engine 5.9L in line 6 cyl. 5 speed manual transmission. 55,400 miles. Body model: Carpenter SB-2508. Wheelbase 218, 59 passenger, 30' long. They're asking $2,650

From reading lots of other threads, it looks like the 360 diesel is a workhorse engine, but not that great at speed - which isn't important to me. Given the mileage, I confirmed that the engine was replaced, but how do you know the mileage is for the installed engine?

I'm super excited to find a manual transmission - is there anything I should be aware of - or watch out for?

I know that Carpenter bodies are known to have the roof collapse if there is a rollover, but to be honest, I think a rollover would pretty much total the bus anyway.

The undercarriage looks pretty good - and I'm having a diesel mechanic inspect the engine.
- Is there anything else I should be looking at / for?
- The price seems about right to me - is it?

I trust and welcome your wisdom (and snidely comments), so PLEASE I'd appreciate your input before I pull the trigger and buy this bus!

Thanks & Cheers, Kathy

[HazMatt]

Oooo!!!

Originally Posted by Kaklehr

I may have finally found the mid-size bus I've been looking for - but I'd really appreciate your comments and advice.

The bus: 1992 Navistar International DTA 360 diesel engine 5.9L in line 6 cyl. 5 speed manual transmission. 55,400 miles. Body model: Carpenter SB-2508. Wheelbase 218, 59 passenger, 30' long. They're asking $2,650

From reading lots of other threads, it looks like the 360 diesel is a workhorse engine, but not that great at speed - which isn't important to me. Given the mileage, I confirmed that the engine was replaced, but how do you know the mileage is for the installed engine?

I'm super excited to find a manual transmission - is there anything I should be aware of - or watch out for?

I know that Carpenter bodies are known to have the roof collapse if there is a rollover, but to be honest, I think a rollover would pretty much total the bus anyway.

The undercarriage looks pretty good - and I'm having a diesel mechanic inspect the engine.
- Is there anything else I should be looking at / for?
- The price seems about right to me - is it?

I trust and welcome your wisdom (and snidely comments), so PLEASE I'd appreciate your input before I pull the trigger and buy this bus!

Thanks & Cheers, Kathy

Same post, more pictures! Yay!

[EastCoastCB]

Give Chris aka CadillacKid a shout. He's got a Carpenter with a DT360.
He likes it but he could tell you about any of its possible faults or shortcomings.

[musigenesis]

I really don't want to know what that pole in the middle of the floor was for. If it rotates, that's probably a dead giveaway of what this bus was used for.

[HazMatt]

I was gonna wait for the OP to reply before asking about the stripper's pole!

Originally Posted by musigenesis

I really don't want to know what that pole in the middle of the floor was for. If it rotates, that's probably a dead giveaway of what this bus was used for.

The black-out scheme and benches facing the pole made me think it was maybe once a whiskey-a-Go-Go that goes...

[Kaklehr]

Yeah - it was listed as a "Party Bus". I'm sure it's a stripper/dancing pole. Gonna have to scour and bleach every surface in there if I buy the bus! EWWWWWwwww

[HazMatt]

It does have that sketchy, decadent look to it...

Originally Posted by Kaklehr

Yeah - it was listed as a "Party Bus". I'm sure it's a stripper/dancing pole. Gonna have to scour and bleach every surface in there if I buy the bus! EWWWWWwwww

I recommend that Level A decon protocols be stringently adhered to:
Fully encapsulating suit, taped at wrists & ankles, with the self-contained breathing apparatus (Scottpak) inside it, full-face respirator, face shield, rubber overboots, and at least one full box of nitrite gloves.
Or you can cauterize it.
Can probably rent a flame thrower from United or Sunbelt Rentals... [emoji111]

[EastCoastCB]

Funny how "prison bus" and "party bus" both require the same level of decontamination. Those damned bodily fluids!

[HazMatt]

Roflmfo!!!

Originally Posted by eastcoastcb

funny how "prison bus" and "party bus" both require the same level of decontamination. Those damned bodily fluids!

[MarkyDee]

ehhhhhh


<shiver>

[o1marc]

And you'll need to verify that new/used unit. If used as a normal school bus, it likely has easily over 200K on it.

[WARGEAR]

Of all the colors, black is probably the worst to paint an RV haha

[HazMatt]

Yeah, but that makes it a Stealth Bus!

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by WARGEAR

Of all the colors, black is probably the worst to paint an RV haha

The hotbox!

[HazMatt]

(pun intended...)

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by haz.matt.1960

(pun intended...)

No pun there. When I first moved back to Calif. in the 70's for a few days I had to sleep in my brothers dark green Dodge van conversion. No knew about insulating these things back then. The sun was my alarm clock, 10 minutes after sunrise it was too unbearable to stay in that oven.

[HazMatt]

OK, maybe, double entendre might've been a better word choice...

Originally Posted by o1marc

No pun there. When I first moved back to Calif. in the 70's for a few days I had to sleep in my brothers dark green Dodge van conversion. No knew about insulating these things back then. The sun was my alarm clock, 10 minutes after sunrise it was too unbearable to stay in that oven.

Even with insulation, that combo'd still sweat you out in short order.
Lived in SoCal for a dozen years, so I know how considerable the Sun's power is there.
I made a fitted saddle cover from some old blue jeans for my bike.
Coz it got really old, really fast, getting flash-fried huevos after leaving it parked for several hours in the sunlight!

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by WARGEAR

Of all the colors, black is probably the worst to paint an RV haha

I saw one guy on youtube who painted his bus black because he was sick of school bus drivers waving to him.

[Kaklehr]

Well, I bought this bus and am bringing it home tomorrow. Super excited!!

[Gustav]

Congrats. Welcome to the madness. Pics of the clean-up would be interesting. Cheers!