Non-affiliated buses for sale - thread

[Dapplecreek]

1990 Blue Bird TC2000 BUS, 5.9L L6 DIESEL. Condition: NO SEATS BUS RUNS AND DRIVES OKAY VIN 1BAAGCSA7LF037114 Band Bus

Auction ends 11/24 10:55 AM ET

Brick NJ





https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...52&acctid=3359

I spoke with the bus barn foreman and he seems like an awfully nice fellow. Said this was the older Cummins 5.9 that has the rotary injectors, so it won't have quite the horsepower of the newer ones. But already white and no seats? Since it was for the marching band, I would also think it might have a higher gear ratio, too.

[Tango]

Hey, I LOVE old Skoolies too, but...$15K...really!?

Somebody wants that one BAD. I just hope they show up here so we can all follow the ensuing madness. Should be fun

[Elliot Naess]

Well, it takes two to tango. And those two have taken the 1951 IH from $3,500 to $15,000. Both are new to eBay.

They could be real, but my guess is... they could be throw-away accounts with no intent to buy. Maybe even the same person. Maybe a friend of the seller, pulling a prank on him.

One guy might fall in love with... anything. But two?

[Rameses]

Originally Posted by Dapplecreek

1990 Blue Bird TC2000 BUS, 5.9L L6 DIESEL. Condition: NO SEATS BUS RUNS AND DRIVES OKAY VIN 1BAAGCSA7LF037114

I spoke with the bus barn foreman and he seems like an awfully nice fellow. Said this was the older Cummins 5.9 that has the rotary injectors, so it won't have quite the horsepower of the newer ones. But already white and no seats? Since it was for the marching band, I would also think it might have a higher gear ratio, too.

If you call a Blue Bird dealer's parts department and give them the VIN, they can tell you what rear end ratio was in it when it left the factory. Not a guarantee that's still what's in it, but I can't imagine a bus garage ever swapping in a different ratio.

[Elliot Naess]

The rear end ratio may be on a tag inside the bus.

[Rameses]

Originally Posted by Elliot Naess

The rear end ratio may be on a tag inside the bus.

Yeah, on a Blue Bird it should be on a tag inside, but I've run into a handful of sellers that couldn't or wouldn't check it out and let me know what it was.

A dealer can also tell you what transmission was spec'ed by running the VIN. I've used that a few times as well.

[Elliot Naess]

Indeed, sellers are all over the map in willingness to provide information.

At one end of the spectrum, First Student wants nothing to do with us. They sell their buses in batches to dealers, and we are just a nuisance to them.
The only reply I have gotten out of them in recent years is the price. Either send them that amount, or go away.

In contrast, a school district in Colorado answered all my technical questions, and even took photos for me.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by Elliot Naess

Indeed, sellers are all over the map in willingness to provide information.

At one end of the spectrum, First Student wants nothing to do with us. They sell their buses in batches to dealers, and we are just a nuisance to them.
The only reply I have gotten out of them in recent years is the price. Either send them that amount, or go away.

In contrast, a school district in Colorado answered all my technical questions, and even took photos for me.

Hey Elliot,

I just bought a bus from First Students. I had a really good experience dealing with them. I did get that the sales guy would have preferred that was buying 10 instead of 1 but he still was good to deal with. The service manager at the location where I inspected and later picked up the bus I have nicknamed: "The diesel mechanic from MIT". The guy blew my mind with technical explanations of the properties of different lubricants in various conditions and other topics.

Overall I had a very good experience with them and would buy another bus from them.

Perhaps this was the exception. One purchase does not a track record make. I think that there are a few others in our crowd that bought their buses from FS. Maybe they will chime in?

I have inspected buses at one of the local school districts. I bid on some of the buses but no purchase. The folks at the bus barns have been awesome. They have been willing to look up service history and answer question after question.

You know, I have to say that this "hobby" has led me to meet quite a number of really fine folks. An appreciated bonus.

Edit: Back to your opening comment, I cannot believe how many sellers are unwilling to take the effort to find out what transmission is in the bus being offered. That has been a sore spot with me.

[Rameses]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

Edit: Back to your opening comment, I cannot believe how many sellers are unwilling to take the effort to find out what transmission is in the bus being offered. That has been a sore spot with me.

You and me both.

I can't put into words how irate it makes me when I ask a seller what model transmission is in a bus and they think "it's an Allison" is an acceptable response.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by Rameses

You and me both.

I can't put into words how irate it makes me when I ask a seller what model transmission is in a bus and they think "it's an Allison" is an acceptable response.

I have approached several sellers with:"I understand that your bus has an Allison transmission. Could you please tell me which model it is? (AT545, MT643, MD3060 etc?)" I have never gotten a correct answer to that question.

[Elliot Naess]

I try to keep in mind that most people have no reason to know that there is such a thing as two different flavors of automatic transmissions on the Planet.
The transmission itself is never seen, and vehicle builders do not put transmission badges on the outside of the vehicle body the way they do with engines. It's not even on any of the data plates inside.
So "it's an automatic" is actually all we can reasonably expect.

(When I become Emperor of the World, the transmission model will be emblazoned on the shift-lever or shift-buttons panel.)

One thing we can do, is ask whether the transmission has a lever for shifting forward and reverse, or push-buttons. I believe all the 5/6-speeds have push-buttons...? At least some do. Can anybody verify?

I bought both my buses from First Student, with no trouble, but that was 10 and 11 years ago. Things changed when FS bought Laidlaw. For one thing, they adopted Laidlaw's policy of not posting prices in their online listings.

Glad to hear that you had a good experience with FS anyway, Steve! May I ask who you dealt with?

[Rameses]

Originally Posted by Elliot Naess

One thing we can do, is ask whether the transmission has a lever for shifting forward and reverse, or push-buttons. I believe all the 5/6-speeds have push-buttons...? At least some do. Can anybody verify?

Negative.

The World Series transmissions all have electronic shifters, but some of those are a lever and not push-button. Those are pretty rare though, and even the lever shifted ones have a little digital gear readout on the shifter.

There are some 5 speed overdrive Allisons that aren't World Series and have a traditional non-electronic lever shifter. Those are the 2000 series. I have a truck with a 2400 5 speed in it.

It is true though that if something has a push-button shifted Allison, it's definitely an overdrive. But just because it's lever-shifted that doesn't necessarily preclude it being an overdrive.

[Tango]

Regarding Allison shifters...there is no such thing. Their shifters are made by Orscheln and are speced by whoever the chassis maker might be. That means there are LOTS of possibilities as far as the shifters go. Most are electronic these days and can take shape as either a push button or "handle" type. But, they can also be ordered up as an all mechanical, cable shifter too. That is what I ordered for my Gen 5, 6-speed, double OD 2200MH.

I also discovered that Allison does not make dipsticks for their trannies either. They too are ordered separately by the chassis maker.

[Elliot Naess]

That's wonderfully useful information. Thanks!

[DoubleO7]

Originally Posted by sammy

1977 Crown Supercoach on ebay - 1977 Crown Supercoach - School Bus | eBay

sold for $8,100

[WanderWoman]

Originally Posted by prof.fate

Need a bus?
midwest transit.low to high price sort briings up some good stuff.
With REAL prices- not auction guesses.

Used AIR Vehicles with keyword "School" for Sale - Midwest Transit

Wow! I look at that site and realize what an amazing deal I got on my 2003 International for $2K

[Rameses]

Originally Posted by DoubleO7

sold for $8,100

I was kinda surprised by that.

As clean as that thing is, I thought it was going to go higher than that.

[WIbluebird]

School district in WV has a pair of International Bluebirds with the DT466 + 6 spd manual combination on Public Surplus. Bidding is already at $4600 so people must really really want them, presumably due to the manual transmissions.

Otherwise it's a $2000 bus at best considering all the rust.

Public Surplus: Auction #1729849

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by Elliot Naess

Glad to hear that you had a good experience with FS anyway, Steve! May I ask who you dealt with?

Hey Elliott,

The whole transmission thing got to be really annoying for me. I passed on several buses simply because the seller was unwilling to make any effort to figure out what transmission is in the bus.

Here is Danny's info:

Danny Cozort
Fleet Sales Manager - Western Region
First Student
1131 Kathryn St. Nixa Mo. 65714

Office: 417-724-3365 ext. 3
Toll Free: 866-556-9729 ext. 3
Mobile: 417-343-1076
Fax: 417-725-0783
Email: danny.cozort@firstgroup.com
School Bus Transportation Provider | First Student, Inc.

[cadillackid]

when looking at Busses.. conventionals by international for sure the shifter is installed my international not by the biody maker...

the AT545 vs MT643 is hard to tell... however the allison 1000/2000/3000 is easy to tell... the MD3060 will have an electronic...

the 1000/2000 in a school bus will have 'RND4321' where as the AT545 and MT643 will have RND321'.. the AT545 vs MT643 has a different pan I believe so a simple picture of under the bus you should be able to tell from those 2 things which transmission is in a conventional.
-Christopher