Non-affiliated buses for sale - thread

[oricha1984]

If you don't plan on doing repairs yourself and don't know about engines, does it really matter what you get???
In the end, the shop will charge what ever they want, and all you can do is walk away with the problem unsolved...

Sent from my Life One X using Tapatalk

[Twigg]

Originally Posted by Robin97396

Cats aren't something to be afraid of. It's not a deal breaker is you're looking at a nice cat engine. That said, you know what an old POS engine looks like. I'm not a cat guy but a decent clean looking engine would carry a lot of weight in my book if I was in the market. Basically if you can do the mechanical work yourself, there's not a great difference other than slightly higher parts prices. Shop repairs are higher than other vehicles, but taken care of correctly they tend to last as long as a lot of other engines.

Honestly Cummins is not my favorite diesel, but it's common and easily serviced.

Parts are a consideration.

So is the ability to perform the work without removing the engine.

It's not that any of them are inherently more reliable (VT365 excepted), but how much work has to be done IF they do break down or need a rebuild.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by oricha1984

someone buy this thing.
https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...910&acctid=226

Ok, I'll try. Maybe it will stay cheap, I've seen some nice stuff go CHEAP lately.

[Robin97396]

Wasn't someone looking for one of these about a year ago?

Auction #1994747 - Super Ten CDL TRuck Transmission
Condition: - Working when pulled out of a 1996 Freightliner FLD 120

https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/au...ew?auc=1994747

[cadillackid]

the VT365 can be good too if its well-cared-for.. people I know that have trucks they bought new with them are well into 3rd trip around the century mark.. but buying them used.. you have no idea if they were maintained properly. however there are **LOTS** of them out there on the reman used market so if you nblow one up you buy a long block, put it in and drive forever..

id do the same if I had major major repairs for a CAT as well. .. unless its in-frameable. then id rebuild it myself...

the only time any engine scares me is if I blow it up 700 miles from home...

-Christopher

[802trees]

Used Thomas Minotour school bus for school bus conversion sale at Buswest Preowned, California.

Beauty!

[Robin97396]

Perfect for conversion to tiny house or hippy school bus

Hey, we resemble that remark.

[o1marc]

30 years old and "only" $8K

[jjhwick119]

An oldie up for sale in tx
https://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/ct...454396712.html

[jjhwick119]

https://littlerock.craigslist.org/fo...411951354.html
Flatbed conversion

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

the VT365 can be good too if its well-cared-for.. people I know that have trucks they bought new with them are well into 3rd trip around the century mark.. but buying them used.. you have no idea if they were maintained properly. however there are **LOTS** of them out there on the reman used market so if you nblow one up you buy a long block, put it in and drive forever..

id do the same if I had major major repairs for a CAT as well. .. unless its in-frameable. then id rebuild it myself...

the only time any engine scares me is if I blow it up 700 miles from home...

-Christopher

Navistar employees call the VT a "real boat anchor".

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Navistar employees call the VT a "real boat anchor".

they do because most people dont maintain them, (or any engine) correctly.. that engine is obviously very sensitive to oil and coolant maintenance.. 2 things that get forgotten the most.. esp coolant..

I do know of some that run long.. but they were boiught brand new and are single owner to this day.. telling skoolies here to avoid them is probably good advice.. though id still buy one if the right bus came along cheap enough..

just like my 444E, I can replace it wit ha completely all reman unit turbo to oil pan t owater pump.. bolt it up and go for well under 10K. if I were to blow mine up..

a LOT of an engines failure rate is how it was cared for in its first life..

just like your 466E, its obvious the schools botched the maintenance.. along with a somewhat known issue, spells trouble.. doesnt mean the 466E is bad motor.. its up there as one of the good ones.. the known issue doesnt plaugue them all.. but will shpw up in the slacker-maintained ones first..

there are plenty of cummins 5.9's out there that have never had their tappet cover leak or the dowel pin pop out.. yep they are known issues.. but in my opinion how they are treated has a lot to do with it.. esp the tappet cover leak.. bad oil - eats the seals.. the dowel pin is probably luck of the draw.. some will be tight enough to never move out.. others will..

some say the 8.3's have a timing cover cracking issue.. no RED-DOT had an issue with the A/C brackets (dual compressor) that caused it to crack.. since 8.3's were put in a lot of the busses that ran trips.. higher percentage were AC'd and therefore makes some people think it was a stay away from engine..

-Christopher

[cadillackid]

wow! 8.3 in a conventional bus really seems to exist....

https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/c...445533379.html

-Christopher

[ben2go]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

wow! 8.3 in a conventional bus really seems to exist....

https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/c...445533379.html

-Christopher

There is potential to build a powerhouse Skoolie right there. I think it's priced about $2000 to high.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by ben2go

There is potential to build a powerhouse Skoolie right there. I think it's priced about $2000 to high.

That was the only downside I saw also.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by ben2go

There is potential to build a powerhouse Skoolie right there. I think it's priced about $2000 to high.

Pricing is based on supply....and demand.

I don't see too large of a supply of 6CTA conventional, therefore I think it is priced more than fair.


The School paid more for the bus when they ordered it with significant upgrade.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Pricing is based on supply....and demand.

I don't see too large of a supply of 6CTA conventional, therefore I think it is priced more than fair.


The School paid more for the bus when they ordered it with significant upgrade.

My comment was based on my budget, not the value of the bus.

[Trailer2]

That is a 5.9. Look at valve cover.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Trailer2

That is a 5.9. Look at valve cover.

Intake snorkle on a 5.9 faces forward, 8.3 faces left. That's a left facing snorkel.
Already gutted and titled as an RV, that's a plus.

[Trailer2]

Intake direction makes no difference. 5.9 has 6 individual valve covers and 8.3 has one.