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11-25-2017, 10:13 PM
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#1
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: N.C.
Posts: 1,136
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 34
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Finally shot that unicorn...
... that I've been tracking for 18 months.
'97 Int BB, 180K miles, DT466e, 5-speed Spicer manual.
Runs and drives very well, no slop in steering or shifting. Cruises a hair over 60 mph. Brakes seem very good too. Every gauge and light works. Passed inspection in June, taken out of service in August. No cracks in any glass and all windows operate smoothly. Runs quietly enough for conversation, if you use your outside voice. Heater works TOO well.
After spending a solid hour looking it over, could only find 1 rust spot that needed attention....there were a few other areas of surface rust, but none on the underside (except leaf springs). No fluid leaks that I could spot. 1 cracked and 1 missing mirror, and will need new rear tires pretty soon.
To say I'm tickled pink would be an understatement......I'm tickled Pepto Bismol pink.
The main point of this post is to give an ENORMOUS thank you to all you regular posters. Had I bought a bus before I found this site, there's no telling what kind of dog I might have purchased. I've spent literally hundreds of hours here reading, and there have been countless times y'all have written something that made me rethink my plans of action, or at least encouraged further research into the matter. Y'all definitely helped me visualize my perfect bus, and this one checks off almost every box.
A particular shout-out to ECCB, who advised me on several occasions to pass on a bus I was considering, and kept telling me mine was out there, and I'd find it eventually. Thanks, Charlie.
Can't wait to get this thing home next week and start tearing it up.
Don
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11-26-2017, 07:44 AM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,758
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
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this bus rocks! a 466 in that thing will do nicely on the hills for sure!. esp with control over your gears.
-Christopher
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11-26-2017, 09:32 AM
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#3
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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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Glad it worked out, man!
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11-26-2017, 05:56 PM
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#4
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Ashtabula, Ohio
Posts: 1,494
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: International
Engine: T444E 7.3L
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That is a great setup you got there! Congrats!
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11-26-2017, 06:04 PM
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#5
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Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Pensacola, Fl
Posts: 122
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: not sure
Engine: Catepillar 3126B not Cummins
Rated Cap: not sure
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Good luck with the bus. What's the internal dimensions?
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11-26-2017, 06:32 PM
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#6
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SE Florida
Posts: 1,108
Year: 2003
Coachwork: International
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 65 pax
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And this is why we're all here. I'm tickled pepto pink for you!!! Congratulations!
Sandi
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11-26-2017, 10:43 PM
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#7
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: N.C.
Posts: 1,136
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skytz
Good luck with the bus. What's the internal dimensions?
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76" high, about 18' from back door to dash. And it will all be used, as I plan on 2 swiveling captains chairs up front, with the entrance door skinned over and a new door cut amidships.
Don
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11-26-2017, 11:09 PM
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#8
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Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Pensacola, Fl
Posts: 122
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: not sure
Engine: Catepillar 3126B not Cummins
Rated Cap: not sure
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Quote:
Originally Posted by plfking
76" high, about 18' from back door to dash. And it will all be used, as I plan on 2 swiveling captains chairs up front, with the entrance door skinned over and a new door cut amidships.
Don
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I've seen that done, how much will it cost and where will you get the door?
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11-26-2017, 11:37 PM
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#9
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: N.C.
Posts: 1,136
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 34
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Unknown at this time. I haven't priced anything yet, and not sure if I'll fab a door (likely) or use an old one from a graveyard. I plan on using the bus on a couple of camping trips first, to see if the plans in my head are workable in real life.
Which is seldom the case.
Don
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11-27-2017, 08:29 AM
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#10
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,758
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
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Quote:
Originally Posted by plfking
Unknown at this time. I haven't priced anything yet, and not sure if I'll fab a door (likely) or use an old one from a graveyard. I plan on using the bus on a couple of camping trips first, to see if the plans in my head are workable in real life.
Which is seldom the case.
Don
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THIS!!
drive it into the places where you think you will use it most, make sure it fits, get ideas for your build as you sleep on an air mattress in it and such..
plus it gives the drivetrain a good shakedown too running it around..
-Christopher
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11-27-2017, 08:31 AM
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#11
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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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You should join the ride game, man.
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11-27-2017, 09:25 PM
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#12
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Weeki Wachee, FL
Posts: 3,056
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 72
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Dat 5 speed..... Jealous!
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
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12-01-2017, 09:15 PM
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#13
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: N.C.
Posts: 1,136
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 34
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Houston, we have touchdown.
Got the bus home and settled this evening. It performed flawlessly.....cruised the whole 400 miles in 5th, and didn't downshift once while traveling through the Smokies on I75 and I40 -- just charged up the hills at 55 with no problem.
Stopped every hundred miles and checked all the fluids.....no usage, and only 2 drips of oil after parking for an hour on my 3rd stop. 2300rpm at 57mph, 2500 at 62.....I think with taller tires I can nudge that up to 64 - 65, which is all I think I want. Still had plenty of pedal at 62, but didn't want to stress the bad rears too much on the trip home. Water temp at 185-190 all the way....got up to 205 on a couple of long hills, but cooled right back down on the downhill side. And averaged 11.2 mpg for the trip.
Interesting thing I learned -- driving is MUCH more relaxing when you're not scanning every overpass and median strip for a law dog.
Don
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12-01-2017, 09:24 PM
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#14
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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 plfking
Houston, we have touchdown.
Got the bus home and settled this evening. It performed flawlessly.....cruised the whole 400 miles in 5th, and didn't downshift once while traveling through the Smokies on I75 and I40 -- just charged up the hills at 55 with no problem.
Stopped every hundred miles and checked all the fluids.....no usage, and only 2 drips of oil after parking for an hour on my 3rd stop. 2300rpm at 57mph, 2500 at 61.....I think with taller tires I can nudge that up to 64 - 65, which is all I think I want. Still had plenty of pedal at 61, but didn't want to stress the bad rears too much on the trip home. And averaged 11.2 mpg for the trip.
Interesting thing I learned -- driving is MUCH more relaxing when you're not scanning every overpass and median strip for a law dog.
Don
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YEah, apparently these 466E's DO get fantastic mileage.
Glad to hear you got it home! Enjoy!!!
Post some PICS!
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12-02-2017, 01:20 AM
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#15
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Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Pensacola, Fl
Posts: 122
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: not sure
Engine: Catepillar 3126B not Cummins
Rated Cap: not sure
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Quote:
Originally Posted by plfking
Houston, we have touchdown.
Got the bus home and settled this evening. It performed flawlessly.....cruised the whole 400 miles in 5th, and didn't downshift once while traveling through the Smokies on I75 and I40 -- just charged up the hills at 55 with no problem.
Stopped every hundred miles and checked all the fluids.....no usage, and only 2 drips of oil after parking for an hour on my 3rd stop. 2300rpm at 57mph, 2500 at 62.....I think with taller tires I can nudge that up to 64 - 65, which is all I think I want. Still had plenty of pedal at 62, but didn't want to stress the bad rears too much on the trip home. Water temp at 185-190 all the way....got up to 205 on a couple of long hills, but cooled right back down on the downhill side. And averaged 11.2 mpg for the trip.
Interesting thing I learned -- driving is MUCH more relaxing when you're not scanning every overpass and median strip for a law dog.
Don
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I'm glad things went well with no unexpected surprise. Now the real fun begins👅👅
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12-02-2017, 08:44 AM
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#16
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,758
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
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the 'E' engines do good on gas.. my T-444E gets solid 11-13. sometimes 12-14 at 65 MPH.. the overdrive helps.. these E engines seem to like running at lower RPM and loaded up a bit as opposed to higher RPM less load...
-Christopher
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12-02-2017, 01:29 PM
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#17
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Swansboro,NC
Posts: 2,973
Year: 86
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Ford B700
Engine: 8.2
Rated Cap: 60 bodies
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Quote:
Originally Posted by plfking
Unknown at this time. I haven't priced anything yet, and not sure if I'll fab a door (likely) or use an old one from a graveyard. I plan on using the bus on a couple of camping trips first, to see if the plans in my head are workable in real life.
Which is seldom the case.
Don
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Where are you at in NC? There are a handful of skoolies around and a few post and a handful of others usually don't?
Anyway I have been debating an NC SKOOLIE meetup and have access to a field and access to a dump station if needed or if everyone's in shortie I can put us around a building with bathroom and kitchen with a fire pit set up for boys scouts but it's surrounded buy trees.
I have had my full size in and out of there many times with nothing more than a planned 3-point turn.
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12-02-2017, 04:46 PM
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#18
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: N.C.
Posts: 1,136
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 34
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I'm in High Point, about 2 hours west of Raleigh. I'd be up for a meetup in the spring.
Don
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12-02-2017, 04:53 PM
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#19
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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 plfking
I'm in High Point, about 2 hours west of Raleigh. I'd be up for a meetup in the spring.
Don
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What about coming down for a weekend this winter?
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12-02-2017, 05:01 PM
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#20
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: N.C.
Posts: 1,136
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 34
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Let me get my build going first!
Will definitely shoot for sometime in 2018.
Or you Floridians could caravan north to the Carolinas.
Don
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