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Old 05-02-2016, 05:12 PM   #1
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Found a shortie?

Does anyone have any feedback, or things to watch out for? I believe it's a 3500 platform with Bluebird body. Not sure which diesel engine it is (yet).

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Old 05-02-2016, 05:48 PM   #2
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Whaaaaat? Can't you afford a whole bus?

I hate that when they just say "it's an automatic."
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Old 05-02-2016, 05:49 PM   #3
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Whaaaaat? Can't you afford a whole bus?

I hate that when they just say "it's an automatic."
I would love a whole bus, but divorce is expensive
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Old 05-02-2016, 05:54 PM   #4
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Old 05-02-2016, 05:57 PM   #5
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I was hoping for advice more along the lines of "the 6.5L diesel is good as long as no magic blue smoke escapes from it" rather than matrimonial
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Old 05-02-2016, 06:03 PM   #6
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I was hoping for advice more along the lines of "the 6.5L diesel is good as long as no magic blue smoke escapes from it" rather than matrimonial
What fun would that be?
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Old 05-02-2016, 06:20 PM   #7
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I think it's more rare for buses to attract couples than to attract old divorced men with skills.
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Old 05-02-2016, 08:10 PM   #8
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It may have a Detroit Diesel engine or a Duramax.

I don't have any personal experience with the Detroit Diesel or Duramax engines but they seem to be well regarded. 2001 was the first year of Duramax production and the common problems were injector failure, overheating and blown head gaskets. It was a pre-emmissions engine. Here's a link to the Wikipedia articles.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duramax_V8_engine

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Diesel_V8_engine

The body is a Bluebird which is considered a well built body. It's from Ontario so there may be rust issues but the mileage is pretty low so maybe the rust is minimal.

Price is about par for 15 year old shorties.

It would be nice to have more condition history and service history but they probably won't give it to you. The lawyers have put the kibosh on that.

Is it driveable? They aren't saying. I'd want way more info before breaking out my checkbook.
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Old 05-02-2016, 08:22 PM   #9
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I'd place a (small) bet its not a really a diesel. Look at the size of the exhaust pipe. Either way its still a good deal.
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Old 05-02-2016, 08:28 PM   #10
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I'd place a (small) bet its not a really a diesel. Look at the size of the exhaust pipe. Either way its still a good deal.
2001 - that will have a 4L80E in it most likely if its a 1500.. if its a 2500 or 3500 series it will have the made-for-GM Allison 4 speed in it (Yes it is lockup)...

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Old 05-03-2016, 04:49 AM   #11
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It may have a Detroit Diesel engine or a Duramax.

<snip>

The body is a Bluebird which is considered a well built body. It's from Ontario so there may be rust issues but the mileage is pretty low so maybe the rust is minimal.

Price is about par for 15 year old shorties.

It would be nice to have more condition history and service history but they probably won't give it to you. The lawyers have put the kibosh on that.

Is it driveable? They aren't saying. I'd want way more info before breaking out my checkbook.
With my very limited knowledge, the Bluebird body is something that attracted me.

I think the price is good. Quite a few of the other buses I've seen advertised recently are double or triple that for no apparent reason.

The guy selling it says it was safetied about a year ago and has been sitting in his shop (not a mechanic's) ever since.

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I'd place a (small) bet its not a really a diesel. Look at the size of the exhaust pipe. Either way its still a good deal.
That didn't even dawn on me. I will double-check! A diesel would be my preference, and it'd be a warm weather bus.

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Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
2001 - that will have a 4L80E in it most likely if its a 1500.. if its a 2500 or 3500 series it will have the made-for-GM Allison 4 speed in it (Yes it is lockup)...

-Christopher
Having a lock-up is good for fuel economy (and the transmission in general), right?

My other alternative right now is a safety and e-tested wheelchair E350 with Powerstroke 7.3. However, they want more than twice as much money.

Thanks gang for your input!
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Old 05-03-2016, 06:25 AM   #12
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Q: Why are divorces so expensive

A: Because they're worth it.


That they are. SWMBO Mk1 would have *never* let even consider buying a bus
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Old 05-03-2016, 07:22 AM   #13
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I don't think that's a diesel either.
Don't buy a 4 window, too small.
my 3500 was 20' bumper to bumper. Same as my ford f150....
you may as well get a conversion van.

honestly...
I spent six months semi converting mine only to sell it and buy a big boy bus and had to start all over again.
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Old 05-03-2016, 08:03 AM   #14
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I don't think that's a diesel either.
Don't buy a 4 window, too small.
my 3500 was 20' bumper to bumper. Same as my ford f150....
you may as well get a conversion van.

honestly...
I spent six months semi converting mine only to sell it and buy a big boy bus and had to start all over again.
For a number of reasons, I can't get a 40' bus.

What were the inside usable dimensions of your shortie?
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Old 05-03-2016, 07:08 PM   #15
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For a number of reasons, I can't get a 40' bus.

What were the inside usable dimensions of your shortie?
I don't recall off hand, but it was only enough room for one couch/bunk bed combo and one rear facing seat behind the driver. with leg room for the rear facing seat.

Aprox 110" or just over 9 feet!!
on the other side it was basically the same b/c the stairs take up about as much room as the drivers seat.

why cant you go bigger?

I totally understand space constraints, if thats the reason. I live in Downtown Atlanta, and we can barely fit two cars in out 18' long driveway as it is. flat nose/ transit style busses are better on parking, and you get way more bang for buck in sense of useable space vs. bumper to bumper length.
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Old 05-03-2016, 09:00 PM   #16
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You've got that right.

This bus is 26' long. My shortie 5 windows are 25' long. I have at least 40% more floor space in this 26' FE BB than in my old 5 window shortie. That's a big space gain for a vehicle 1' longer.
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Old 05-03-2016, 10:45 PM   #17
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My 24' shuttle has 16' behind the driver's seat and about 7'6" inside width.
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Old 10-21-2016, 11:11 PM   #18
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Can anyone tell me the exact differences inside lengths and outside between a 4 window and 5 window?
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Old 10-21-2016, 11:43 PM   #19
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Not right offhand, but you can figure each row (depending on chassis builder) adds between 16 and 24 inches to the length.

Tell us what kind of shorty you have (or are looking at) and maybe someone who has one like you have (or want) can give you a more specific answer.
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Old 10-21-2016, 11:56 PM   #20
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Not right offhand, but you can figure each row (depending on chassis builder) adds between 16 and 24 inches to the length.

Tell us what kind of shorty you have (or are looking at) and maybe someone who has one like you have (or want) can give you a more specific answer.
Well I know one of them is 17 feet and it makes me wonder what the other is. I'm trying to figure it out because of shopping online for my first short bus. Should I start a new thread? I'm new to the whole forum thing
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