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07-03-2016, 06:50 AM
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#561
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark_In_MA
I've thought about it, and I think it could be pretty cool. . .the only problem is most of those buses are governed at 55. Maybe you'll reach 57 going downhill with a tailwind. . .
While I get that not all highway travel needs to be at 70+ mph, 55 can be a bit dangerously slow on some roads.
If its a low-floor model, then you might find it tricky to get under it to do work/service/construct your conversion.
Another reason to like skoolies - and truck frames - you can possibly find highway gearing with a higher top speed.
(In all fairness, I've totally considered getting an RTS bus. Supposedly, their construction is modular - so I could un-bolt a few sections in the middle, and get my own custom shorty RTS/camper. )
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There is a BEAUTIFUL Gillig transit conversion on here.
But I woudn't consider starting with one that has chassis rust and a bad engine.
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07-03-2016, 09:28 AM
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#562
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: May 2016
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 18
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 That's amazing! someone on this forum has that? i want to go read that thread!!
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07-03-2016, 09:31 AM
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#563
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SomeMomOutside
That's amazing! someone on this forum has that? i want to go read that thread!! |
Yeah "LuckyChow" is the owner.
One of the slickest conversions I've seen!
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07-03-2016, 09:38 AM
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#564
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Bus Nut
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 502
Year: 92
Coachwork: Thomas Built
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 5.9L
Rated Cap: 77
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07-03-2016, 09:51 AM
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#565
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BurlKing
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The prices certainly aren't horrible. Seems the further away from a port the location, the better the prices. 
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07-04-2016, 08:26 AM
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#566
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: May 2016
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 18
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https://greenville.craigslist.org/cto/5658063787.html
$3800
It's already painted white.. does that mean I can drive it without immediately having to paint?
Also, the seats are sideways.. how odd is that!
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07-04-2016, 12:02 PM
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#567
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 47
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1997 Thomas 3600
Bus Conversion
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07-04-2016, 02:01 PM
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#568
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Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 120
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Gillig
Chassis: Phantom Schoolbus
Engine: Detroit Diesel 6v92TA
Rated Cap: 84
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB
I think that belongs to Brant aka Mokibrah
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I bought the 40ft Gillig Phantom from him that he bought at auction last year. Did he buy a second one? This isn't his usual ebay user name.
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07-04-2016, 04:35 PM
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#569
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sammy
I bought the 40ft Gillig Phantom from him that he bought at auction last year. Did he buy a second one? This isn't his usual ebay user name.
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I believe he also bought a 37' non-turbo one. I could be wrong, but the ebay user name looked like one he'd use.
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07-04-2016, 08:10 PM
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#570
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,510
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
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Regarding prison buses and such rarities.... When I was hanging around an automobile museum a bit (as a volunteer docent), I learned that there are an amazing number of private collections/museums in this country. Most are open to visitors only by personal invitation. Such a collection is the most likely future home of a "notorious" prison bus.
__________________
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07-05-2016, 12:25 PM
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#571
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: KANSAS CITY
Posts: 751
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__________________
Former owner of a 1969 F600 Skoolie.
1998 Ford B700 Thomas body 65 passenger. 5.9 Cummins 12 valve with MT643 Transmission 123,000 miles.
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07-05-2016, 01:15 PM
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#572
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,828
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
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the prison busses around here are just RE skoolies with 2 bars across the windows and doors and a "cage" for the driver...
the ones i see here are all BlueBirds.. though I think I did see a thomas.. they buy them new with tinted windows and air-conditioning...
im sure they do something to the busses to beef them up in case of a crash so the prisoners dont get out? they look like normal school busses to me..
the county, and the state have a few each... the city has one... most of the city prison "busses" are E-350 standard vans with bars across the windows... also bought new with dual A/C units..
-Christopher
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07-05-2016, 01:30 PM
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#573
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Skoolie
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 120
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Gillig
Chassis: Phantom Schoolbus
Engine: Detroit Diesel 6v92TA
Rated Cap: 84
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB
I believe he also bought a 37' non-turbo one. I could be wrong, but the ebay user name looked like one he'd use.
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Re-reading the auction, it definitely seems like Brant's writing style. I suppose could be his. If so, it's curious that he switched ebay user names, for one with hardly any rating. But the video walk-around is not him? Maybe from the school? But that's not the stockton bus yard where the other ones were. Or maybe just a friend of Brants who did the walk around for him? Anyway, it's sold now. Would love to connect with whoever bought it. Hopefully they had better luck actually picking it up and getting a title than I did.
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07-05-2016, 05:07 PM
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#574
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Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: 495,270,340,9,7,28,66
Posts: 103
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC 2000
Engine: 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 65?
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07-06-2016, 09:50 PM
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#575
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,259
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: 8.3 Cummins ISC
Rated Cap: 75
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For anyone that wants a cheap newer pusher
2003 Thomas Bus
It probably has the Mercedes engine though 
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07-07-2016, 01:34 AM
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#576
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Garden State (rural NJ)
Posts: 378
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WIbluebird
For anyone that wants a cheap newer pusher
2003 Thomas Bus
It probably has the Mercedes engine though |
The CL listing states that it's a gasser. If accurate, I doubt it's a Benz engine. The fuel door does appear to read "DIESEL", however. It's a First Student bus. I think I'd stay clear, especially if they can't get a listing correct.
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07-07-2016, 12:48 PM
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#577
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WIbluebird
For anyone that wants a cheap newer pusher
2003 Thomas Bus
It probably has the Mercedes engine though |
I have a list of First Students inventory from last month (shows about 185 busses) and not one of them has a Mercedes engine. Most of the similar busses have T444's.
That certainly does not guarantee that this one does not have a Merc though. I have looked a details on several of their busses and I have not seen an example of a Merc yet.
Maybe it is a good one?
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07-07-2016, 02:35 PM
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#578
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,259
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: 8.3 Cummins ISC
Rated Cap: 75
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW_Steve
I have a list of First Students inventory from last month (shows about 185 busses) and not one of them has a Mercedes engine. Most of the similar busses have T444's.
That certainly does not guarantee that this one does not have a Merc though. I have looked a details on several of their busses and I have not seen an example of a Merc yet.
Maybe it is a good one?
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FS buys & sells thousands of buses a year all over the country. They've had plenty of Merc-powered Thomas buses in the past.
That sales page on First Student's website is a terrible source - no pictures on ANY of the listings and information is incomplete at best. I wouldn't waste time looking at anything on there tbh.
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07-07-2016, 02:51 PM
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#579
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
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Just for the record...has anyone ever heard anything good about those Merc engines?
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07-07-2016, 03:01 PM
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#580
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Skoolie
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Farmington, IL
Posts: 187
Year: 1990
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: AARE 3903
Engine: Cummins 6CTA 8.3
Rated Cap: 84
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tango
Just for the record...has anyone ever heard anything good about those Merc engines?
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Got one in a fuel truck with about 350k on it. Probably an 11 liter. Rarely in the shop. Our trucks with cat motors (the navistar cats) however seem to always be in the shop...
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