 |
|
02-26-2018, 12:23 PM
|
#1
|
|
New Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 2
|
ISO flat nose/front engine bus
It's been difficult finding a bus lately and I'm running out of time. These buses were all over the place a couple months ago before I knew exactly what I was looking for and now that I know, there are none to be found. Jokes on me right?  I know it's most likely the season but I'm hoping I can get some guidance on where to search.
What I'm looking for:
Bluebird/International Diesel Bus
Flat Nose with a Front Engine (refuse to do rear)
dt466 or 5.9 Cummins engine w/ Allison transmission
9-10 windows preferred, but willing to compromise with a larger bus
As little rust as possible (will be a full-timer)
Budget: $5,000 or less.
I'm located in Pennsylvania but will be working on the bus in NY. I'm willing to travel really anywhere but would prefer to have multiple options in the area so I'm guaranteed to leave with a bus... So if there are any suggestions on bus sales with a decent amount of buses fitting this description I'd be eternally grateful.
|
|
|
|
02-26-2018, 01:52 PM
|
#2
|
|
Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 111
|
Wesellschoolbuses.com out of FL has a couple of front engine Thomas 9 row buses with Cat motors with Allison 2000’s. They want 6750 for them. I’ve never dealt with them so I don’t know if the price is neg. or not. Good luck with the hunt.
|
|
|
|
|
02-26-2018, 03:40 PM
|
#3
|
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
|
You'll pay twice the price for the same bus at a dealer, than at an auction. I just paid $2425 for the same bus you would pay the dealer $6750 for. Buses locally to you will have issues with rust you won't find on buses from other area. While the 5.9 is not a bad motor, it is the weakest in the line up. 99-01 5.9's had issues with the "53" block. The 545 was designed for the school route type runs, so it isn't fast, doesn't have a lock up, so mountains and highway speeds leave it seriously lacking. There is a thread in the "classified" section on "places to buy buses". Find it and start searching the sites. Welcome to the addiction.
|
|
|
|
|
02-26-2018, 04:03 PM
|
#4
|
|
New Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 2
|
I've checked out all of those listings online, including the auction sites. I usually check them every couple of days. But there's nothing that really fits what I'm looking for. I'm looking at a bus this weekend that is a 1998 Amstran Bus with a nav star dt466 210 hp motor diesel. 84 passenger which is wayyyy more than I want in a bus but the size seems like the most logical thing to sacrifice. The floor is rusted pretty bad and will need to be patched around the wheel wells (at least). Praying it's just the floor and not the frame. I'm just very discouraged at this moment with the search. I'm being laid off the beginning of March and moving out the end of March. 
|
|
|
|
|
02-26-2018, 04:26 PM
|
#5
|
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by RRRVBUS
Wesellschoolbuses.com out of FL has a couple of front engine Thomas 9 row buses with Cat motors with Allison 2000’s. They want 6750 for them. I’ve never dealt with them so I don’t know if the price is neg. or not. Good luck with the hunt.
|
Most dealers sell at least 2X auction price, and that dealer is regularly 3 to 4X auction value.
|
|
|
|
|
02-26-2018, 05:12 PM
|
#6
|
|
Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 111
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Twigg
Most dealers sell at least 2X auction price, and that dealer is regularly 3 to 4X auction value.
|
I like their website because they have inside and outside length listed. I couldn’t buy a bus that’s not fairly local, anything I’m spending that much money on I want to get up close and personal with before I do the deal.
|
|
|
|
|
02-26-2018, 05:54 PM
|
#7
|
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,846
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by RRRVBUS
I like their website because they have inside and outside length listed. I couldn’t buy a bus that’s not fairly local, anything I’m spending that much money on I want to get up close and personal with before I do the deal.
|
dude!! its YOUR choice... you buy a bus where you feel most comfortable... I boight one bus at BGA, another at an auction.. both busses have been good runners.. I paid 3X for the bus at BGA than i did the auction bus.. I dont regret it because it fit what I needed at the time... I had a project to complete that summer so i needed a bus fast and the ability to drive it first ot make sure it would work for me... I got what i needed...
yes you may pay more at a deasler but sometimes the convenience is worth it....
the busses that the dealer gets are the same busses we biuy at auctions... thats how they get theirs..
but again you must go where you feel most comfortable.... its your bus, not ours 
-Christopher
|
|
|
|
|
03-05-2018, 07:54 PM
|
#8
|
|
New Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Route 66, Springfield, Mo.
Posts: 8
|
I'm new to this site but have always wanted a Skoolie. Now it's time. Seems I am trying to locate the impossible short snub Bluebird.
|
|
|
|
|
03-05-2018, 08:01 PM
|
#9
|
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by OldSchooler
I'm new to this site but have always wanted a Skoolie. Now it's time. Seems I am trying to locate the impossible short snub Bluebird.
|
Do you mean one of these?
https://www.commercialtrucktrader.co...ion--112594372
|
|
|
|
|
03-05-2018, 08:22 PM
|
#10
|
|
New Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Route 66, Springfield, Mo.
Posts: 8
|
Yeah, I saw that one but now I'm wondering if these have the 545 trans that is disliked.
|
|
|
|
|
03-07-2018, 09:13 AM
|
#11
|
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 973
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid
dude!! its YOUR choice... you buy a bus where you feel most comfortable... I boight one bus at BGA, another at an auction.. both busses have been good runners.. I paid 3X for the bus at BGA than i did the auction bus.. I dont regret it because it fit what I needed at the time... I had a project to complete that summer so i needed a bus fast and the ability to drive it first ot make sure it would work for me... I got what i needed...
yes you may pay more at a deasler but sometimes the convenience is worth it....
the busses that the dealer gets are the same busses we biuy at auctions... thats how they get theirs..
but again you must go where you feel most comfortable.... its your bus, not ours
-Christopher |
Doesn't BSA help you get home? Plus, they got layaway...to me those are big pluses...IF my info is correct...I may go that route since I'm having such a hard getting a decent bit set aside...
Sent from my VS500PP using Tapatalk
|
|
|
|
|
03-07-2018, 09:15 AM
|
#12
|
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 973
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by o1marc
|
How old is that pic? Is that a crown?
Sent from my VS500PP using Tapatalk
|
|
|
|
|
03-07-2018, 10:35 AM
|
#13
|
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jdawgsfanasty
How old is that pic? Is that a crown?
Sent from my VS500PP using Tapatalk
|
Did you bother to open the link? It's a current listing, for a 98 Blue Bird.
|
|
|
|
|
03-07-2018, 10:42 AM
|
#14
|
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by OldSchooler
Yeah, I saw that one but now I'm wondering if these have the 545 trans that is disliked.
|
Most likely. It's not that it's disliked, it's just that it was not intended to do what some of us want it to do. It's been a good tranny in millions of vehicles with 100's of millions of miles on them. That bus also has the dreaded "53" block Cummins 5.9.
|
|
|
|
|
03-07-2018, 02:45 PM
|
#15
|
|
New Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Route 66, Springfield, Mo.
Posts: 8
|
|
|
|
|
|
03-07-2018, 03:36 PM
|
#16
|
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 973
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by o1marc
Did you bother to open the link? It's a current listing, for a 98 Blue Bird.
|
I opened the link...guess I didn't see the date...it's a cool looking bus... 
Sent from my VS500PP using Tapatalk
|
|
|
|
|
03-08-2018, 08:14 AM
|
#19
|
|
Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 38
|
|
|
|
|
|
03-08-2018, 08:56 AM
|
#20
|
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,846
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jdawgsfanasty
Doesn't BSA help you get home? Plus, they got layaway...to me those are big pluses...IF my info is correct...I may go that route since I'm having such a hard getting a decent bit set aside...
Sent from my VS500PP using Tapatalk
|
BGA has layaway... some people like to do that because I believe they will let you change busses once without a charge... so you camn lay one away and if they get a different one in you like better you can swap to that one.. (only once)..
getting it home they will charge you for I believe. of course since they are a dealer. you can go and crawl around in and look at a bunch of busses..
their prices are higher but there is the convenience of seeing the busses and negotiating in person..
-Christopher
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
