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Old 02-09-2017, 07:56 PM   #1261
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It is at 3100 now(reserve not met SURPRISE)
I didn't notice who did the conversion, but things looked pretty nice. The walls were covered with what looked like 3/4" white ??plastic type material, with fiberglass between it and the exterior walls. Floors were covered with the "G" type flooring, that is in another post. It had been parked for about 6 mo. and they list the batteries as "dead", but they look like they might be OK. The only signs of rust that I saw were on bumper bolts, and the like. There is enough wire left in the bus to rewire 3 or 4 buses. (the light bar stays on it (whooHoo)
It is parked on a city lot at IAH Bush airport, if you want to drive it home.

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Old 02-09-2017, 08:00 PM   #1262
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Originally Posted by ourmefa View Post
How in the world is that not above $1000?!!!!
You wouldn't by any chance looking at the opening bid, would you?

Because, on my screen, it's at $3,100 and the reserve isn't met.
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Old 02-09-2017, 08:19 PM   #1263
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You wouldn't by any chance looking at the opening bid, would you?

Because, on my screen, it's at $3,100 and the reserve isn't met.
Yeah, it's at $3,100 w/reserve not met and I'm guessing the reserve will never be met. Still, whoever ends up with the highest bid will probably be able to talk the city into accepting the bid. (I've done this before with government/city/state auctions.)

This really does look like an ENG conversion: ENG Mobile Systems, Specialty Vehicle Manufacturing

Top quality parts, and if you can find the public records I bet this thing cost in excess of $100k to the tax payers.

Probably used very little; expect to replace all rubber hoses and break it in. It's also likely depending on city regulations that maintenance records will not be released.

7.3 seems a bit underpowered but it'll still go and generator probably has very few hours. I'd also assume from previous experience that this thing was very well maintained whether it needed it or not.

I honestly can't talk myself into another bus but I think whoever gets this thing is going to be more than happy with it. ...probably even stored inside before it was replaced with something better.
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Old 02-09-2017, 08:49 PM   #1264
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A couple of REAL nice buses out there and no real takers.

As soon as they're gone we'll have folks coming on to ask if five grand is a good deal for a clapped out CL bus with a tired Cat and six bald twenty year old tires.
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Old 02-09-2017, 08:56 PM   #1265
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A couple of REAL nice buses out there and no real takers.

As soon as they're gone we'll have folks coming on to ask if five grand is a good deal for a clapped out CL bus with a tired Cat and six bald twenty year old tires.
*grin* You nailed it. But then again, there's going to be a couple people who are going to be real happy with what they got and the time they saved getting on the road.
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Old 02-09-2017, 09:08 PM   #1266
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i like this

Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
A couple of REAL nice buses out there and no real takers.

As soon as they're gone we'll have folks coming on to ask if five grand is a good deal for a clapped out CL bus with a tired Cat and six bald twenty year old tires.
if I were closer to cali...
https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...=2&acctid=7190
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Old 02-09-2017, 09:48 PM   #1267
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250hp mechanical Cummins 8.3 and an MT643.
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Old 02-09-2017, 09:49 PM   #1268
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250hp mechanical Cummins 8.3 and an MT643.
Yes!

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Old 02-09-2017, 10:18 PM   #1269
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Will be interesting to see what it goes for. A rust free full sized RE with a desirable motor/trans combo! Just what I have been looking for! I wonder how much the head gasket leak will bring the price down?

I would be considering it but my Maryland adventures have scared me away from super long distance purchasing!!
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Old 02-09-2017, 11:39 PM   #1270
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That bus looks really nice. Gotta love well maintained West Coast rust-free finds.

Only thing I wonder is how many hours are really on the engine? Definitely not ~277. (Did I read that right?)

Anyways, nothing on that thing would scare me away from looks. Leaks or not.
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Old 02-09-2017, 11:46 PM   #1271
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I would be considering it but my Maryland adventures have scared me away from super long distance purchasing!!
One thing: Don't let it scare you that it's far away. Do your best getting it inspected, either through pictures, description, and conversation, or have a 3rd party look at it. But more often than not it mostly depends on finding a "less weathered" bus and discovering details about the particular district and how they take care of them.

I've called maintenance facilities for school bus districts on auction buses and have been pleasantly surprised on what they'll tell you.

More than that I love the drive once you fly in and pick it up; even if the bus is full of problems. ;) ...plan accordingly and enjoy the journey.
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Old 02-10-2017, 06:26 AM   #1272
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250hp mechanical Cummins 8.3 and an MT643.
But WHY??? When you can go on Facebook or CL and get a nice well used Cat for only triple the price.
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Old 02-10-2017, 09:07 AM   #1273
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Originally Posted by serpent View Post
One thing: Don't let it scare you that it's far away. Do your best getting it inspected, either through pictures, description, and conversation, or have a 3rd party look at it. But more often than not it mostly depends on finding a "less weathered" bus and discovering details about the particular district and how they take care of them.

I've called maintenance facilities for school bus districts on auction buses and have been pleasantly surprised on what they'll tell you.

More than that I love the drive once you fly in and pick it up; even if the bus is full of problems. ;) ...plan accordingly and enjoy the journey.

ive had a great time on both my Bus purchases.. and i even broke down on the first trip in the first bus.. However I knew both busses pretty well once those maiden voyages were complete!. and no major breakdowns since.. I knew what to fix so it surely helped..

-Christopher
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Old 02-10-2017, 09:32 AM   #1274
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In my noob opinion,
if you are not mechanically inclined (like me), buying far is like flipping a coin.
I will probably do it again, but if I don't know to fix it myself, might as well drive the vehicle down a clift or into a lake.

My last bus had troubles, some mechanic in the middle of nowhere wanted to drop transmission to change both front and rear seal (and that was not even the problem).

There are pros and cons to everything, but I agree it is still better to buy a better quality bus far away than a lower-end one near by.




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Old 02-10-2017, 09:54 AM   #1275
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buying any bus is definitely like flipping a coin.. some school systems are known to maintain busses better than others.. and some auction sites likely represent them better too...

even buying local couldnt have predicted an over-heat condition on the transmission in your other bus.. blowing a tire you may have been able to see if the tires looked bad before you bid.. but at most an auctioneer woulkd let you start one and do the 15 foot forward and 15 feet back thing...

if you can find a bus far away and learn what school system it has then contacting the fleet manager has some merits.. the fleet managers have nbothing to lose by being trithful about a bus... once at auction that bus is gone as far as he is concerned.. and he doesnt get any kick-back if it sells for more money...

-Christopher
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Old 02-10-2017, 10:02 AM   #1276
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Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
buying any bus is definitely like flipping a coin.. some school systems are known to maintain busses better than others.. and some auction sites likely represent them better too...

even buying local couldnt have predicted an over-heat condition on the transmission in your other bus.. blowing a tire you may have been able to see if the tires looked bad before you bid.. but at most an auctioneer woulkd let you start one and do the 15 foot forward and 15 feet back thing...

if you can find a bus far away and learn what school system it has then contacting the fleet manager has some merits.. the fleet managers have nbothing to lose by being trithful about a bus... once at auction that bus is gone as far as he is concerned.. and he doesnt get any kick-back if it sells for more money...

-Christopher
Thanks, that's something to keep in mind.

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Old 02-10-2017, 10:02 AM   #1277
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Agree with u Christopher, I was referring to if it breaks near, you still have a local trust worthy mechanic vs someone that can take advantage because of situation.

Either way , I'm a van guy now !!!


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Old 02-10-2017, 07:21 PM   #1278
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Today's installment of "maybe the zero key got stuck".



Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/112297328565
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Old 02-11-2017, 02:39 AM   #1279
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fixed link

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Today's installment of "maybe the zero key got stuck".



Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/112297328565
Fixed link

I offered 24,000. He's thinking about it.
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Old 02-11-2017, 03:27 AM   #1280
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rameses
250hp mechanical Cummins 8.3 and an MT643.

Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
But WHY??? When you can go on Facebook or CL and get a nice well used Cat for only triple the price.
Somebody slap me, please.

I'm considering two Blue Birds for Project Albatross -- one with Detroit 8.2, and one with Cat 3208.
The 8.2 is near, and the 3208 is far -- so that's a wash, sort'a.
In either case, I would be entering an 8.3 or better on my Christmas list.

Both are All Americans. Stronger frames and more, if I understand it right...?
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