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Old 09-09-2018, 03:58 PM   #1
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Posts: 220
Year: 1990
Coachwork: Crown
Chassis: Supercoach
Engine: 6-71TA
Rated Cap: 90
Looking For Bus to Convert

I am fairly new to this site and looking for a bus with the following below to roof raise and convert to RV. I see dealers asking on average around 10k+ for a bus like this. Most of are in the Pacific Northwest with some in Arizona and Florida. I keep seeing posts that say these can be had for 3-5K but just not seeing them? I have been looking for a few months on various sites including auction sites like USGovDeals and Public Surplus etc. I live in the KC metro area so distance is a factor. Anyone know of any other potential sources?

1. Engine: Cummins 8.3 (ISC) or DT466.
2. Trans: Allison MD3060
3. 1998 - 2005 Rear Engine 84 pass (40') BlueBird or Thomas
4. No Rust/Leaks/Damage
5. Good Brakes/Tires
6. Under bus storage (Preferred)
7. Total mileage under 180K (Preferred)

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Old 09-09-2018, 05:59 PM   #2
Bus Geek
 
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Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
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Year: 1999
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Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
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Those dealers get their buses from the same sites we do, for the same prices before they mark them up 2 or 3 times. A quick search found Govdeals has regularly what you are looking for.

https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...4&acctid=11846
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Old 09-09-2018, 06:42 PM   #3
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I saw a bus on Government Surplus that met your spec last week sell for about $3800.

Check all of the auction sites daily with your morning coffee.

8.3/MD3060 equipped buses show up with some regularity. It can be a challenge to find them hidden amongst the mass of T444/AT545 equipped buses takes some effort.

Good luck with your quest.
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Old 09-09-2018, 09:45 PM   #4
Skoolie
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by o1marc View Post
Those dealers get their buses from the same sites we do, for the same prices before they mark them up 2 or 3 times. A quick search found Govdeals has regularly what you are looking for.

https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...4&acctid=11846
I believe I saw that one and passed on it. It is ok but prefer the Blue Bird or Thomas. It also has a bit more rust than I would like but not too bad from what I can tell. The problem with busses from that area is rust and weeding out the good ones. I am also finding that some schools just don't want to take many pics of the undercarriage. Perhaps, they think nobody will bid if they see the rust. Although, could not blame them. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone in that area and live to far away. Thanks for responding.
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Old 09-09-2018, 09:47 PM   #5
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www.purplewave.com is a Kansas area auction house that has buses from time to time.
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Old 09-09-2018, 09:50 PM   #6
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
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Engine: 6-71TA
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Thanks PNW_Steve, I must have missed that one as I was out of town on vacation riding deals gap (Smokey Mountains). Yes, finding them amongst the others can be challenging.

Thanks djdalfaro for the tip on purplewave.com
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Old 09-09-2018, 09:52 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GWRider View Post
I believe I saw that one and passed on it. It is ok but prefer the Blue Bird or Thomas. It also has a bit more rust than I would like but not too bad from what I can tell. The problem with busses from that area is rust and weeding out the good ones. I am also finding that some schools just don't want to take many pics of the undercarriage. Perhaps, they think nobody will bid if they see the rust. Although, could not blame them. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone in that area and live to far away. Thanks for responding.
I haven't heard any rust nightmares from Vir. Pics look pretty clean for that bus and the price it's at right now. Glad you're not interested as I am going to keep an eye on that one for myself if it doesn't spike. That bus could bring an easy $4k.
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Old 09-10-2018, 05:44 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by o1marc View Post
I haven't heard any rust nightmares from Vir. Pics look pretty clean for that bus and the price it's at right now. Glad you're not interested as I am going to keep an eye on that one for myself if it doesn't spike. That bus could bring an easy $4k.
VA?
Yeah they have some really rusty areas.
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Old 09-15-2018, 08:18 PM   #9
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Year: 1980
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Quote:
Originally Posted by o1marc View Post
I haven't heard any rust nightmares from Vir. Pics look pretty clean for that bus and the price it's at right now. Glad you're not interested as I am going to keep an eye on that one for myself if it doesn't spike. That bus could bring an easy $4k.
I was a bidder on this bus in the last 30 mins of the auction when it was in the 3-4k range. Final price was $9,900 with the buyers fee!!!!! That was a sweet bus, but not worth anywhere near that.
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Old 09-15-2018, 08:23 PM   #10
Bus Nut
 
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Coachwork: Crown Coach
Chassis: Supercoach
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GWRider View Post
I am fairly new to this site and looking for a bus with the following below to roof raise and convert to RV. I see dealers asking on average around 10k+ for a bus like this. Most of are in the Pacific Northwest with some in Arizona and Florida. I keep seeing posts that say these can be had for 3-5K but just not seeing them? I have been looking for a few months on various sites including auction sites like USGovDeals and Public Surplus etc. I live in the KC metro area so distance is a factor. Anyone know of any other potential sources?

1. Engine: Cummins 8.3 (ISC) or DT466.
2. Trans: Allison MD3060
3. 1998 - 2005 Rear Engine 84 pass (40') BlueBird or Thomas
4. No Rust/Leaks/Damage
5. Good Brakes/Tires
6. Under bus storage (Preferred)
7. Total mileage under 180K (Preferred)

This is the exact same list I have on my search, and I agree, I am having some trouble finding these busses for reasonable prices. I made a post here in classifieds with a list of all the sites I check regularly. Not sure how to link to a thread yet but if you look back in the classifieds section here you should be able to find it
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Old 09-16-2018, 09:15 PM   #11
Skoolie
 
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Rated Cap: 90
Ok, thanks. It appears that in order to get the things on our list, we will have to wait patiently or be willing to pay what some of the dealers are asking. However, I am noticing lately on some auction sites where several buses sold for amounts that exceeded what dealers are asking.
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Old 09-16-2018, 09:27 PM   #12
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patience is key! I searched for 7 months and finally found one that fit most of what I wanted. I am happy and got a good price. patience can save you a few grand that you will end up dumping into the project anyway. keep the faith!
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Old 09-19-2018, 07:00 PM   #13
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Rated Cap: 65 passenger
Consider a bus from a small school district in New Mexico. It's an air brake state, there's virtually no rust and state law requires the buses be replaced every 12 years. Mine was a 2001 IHC with 86,000 miles and the dt466. It was $2500.
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Old 09-19-2018, 10:24 PM   #14
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Olathe, Kansas
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Year: 1990
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Chassis: Supercoach
Engine: 6-71TA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by atthebeginning View Post
Consider a bus from a small school district in New Mexico. It's an air brake state, there's virtually no rust and state law requires the buses be replaced every 12 years. Mine was a 2001 IHC with 86,000 miles and the dt466. It was $2500.
I will take a look. Thanks for the tip.
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Old 09-20-2018, 12:08 AM   #15
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Unalakleet, Alaska
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Year: 2001
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Engine: 6 Cyl Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 46
This is it.

This guy called me back today... I thought he had probably already sold it because it took him so long to call me back and I already bought one.

Point being this one was my first choice before I found the one I bought and I am pretty sure it is the one we all were looking for. As far as I know it is still available unless he sold it today.

Even though I bought one already he sounded like he is an honest seller with a good bus.

https://yakima.craigslist.org/cto/d/...696818317.html
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Old 09-20-2018, 07:55 AM   #16
Bus Nut
 
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'99 8.3 RE in NE

I'm assuming that you've seen this already, but in case you haven't.

https://www.purplewave.com/auction/180926/item/DB8632

1999 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner MVP school bus
•76,151 miles on odometer
•5,819 hours on meter
•Cummins 8.3L 24V L6 turbo diesel engine
* MD3060 Transmission

From the looks it was an activity bus which means it won't have been in stop and go service.

If you were going to spend money on a bus, this is definitely one to look at.
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Old 09-22-2018, 11:08 AM   #17
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Posts: 220
Year: 1990
Coachwork: Crown
Chassis: Supercoach
Engine: 6-71TA
Rated Cap: 90
Quote:
Originally Posted by djdalfaro View Post
I'm assuming that you've seen this already, but in case you haven't.

https://www.purplewave.com/auction/180926/item/DB8632

1999 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner MVP school bus
•76,151 miles on odometer
•5,819 hours on meter
•Cummins 8.3L 24V L6 turbo diesel engine
* MD3060 Transmission

From the looks it was an activity bus which means it won't have been in stop and go service.

If you were going to spend money on a bus, this is definitely one to look at.
I had not seen this one. It does appear to have what I am looking for except it has more rust than I would like (undercarriage and driver side rear). It is definitely not bad for this area. The other area of concern is the wet seepage around a few areas of the drive train. I will keep it mind. Thanks for sharing!
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Old 09-22-2018, 01:15 PM   #18
Bus Nut
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GWRider View Post
I had not seen this one. It does appear to have what I am looking for except it has more rust than I would like (undercarriage and driver side rear). It is definitely not bad for this area. The other area of concern is the wet seepage around a few areas of the drive train. I will keep it mind. Thanks for sharing!

What rust? That's surface patina.
You're not gonna get much better then that for a 20-year-old bus.
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Old 09-22-2018, 09:40 PM   #19
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Posts: 220
Year: 1990
Coachwork: Crown
Chassis: Supercoach
Engine: 6-71TA
Rated Cap: 90
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark_In_MA View Post
What rust? That's surface patina.
You're not gonna get much better then that for a 20-year-old bus.

Perhaps some of it is patina? There is an area of rust a few feet past driver side rear wheel that looks like actual rot. There are definitely better out there that are 20 years old but they are way out west and price plus distance become a factor for me. As I stated in my earlier post, I will keep it in mind.
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Old 09-23-2018, 11:02 PM   #20
Mini-Skoolie
 
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VA?
Yeah they have some really rusty areas.
HMMM, where is that. I live here, this is not a"really rusty area"? Where are the areas?
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