Thomas Bus

[TeacherJoe]

Thank you very much. How will the 5.13 behave? Here’s the link. Is the rust by the wheelchair and rear door fatal?
https://www.centralstatesbus.com/listings/stock-284925

Joe

Originally Posted by cadillackid

the cummins 6.7 did a much better job of handling the EPA regs than did the CAT or MBE stuff often found the C2 busses.. (theres a reason the only diesel being sold in school busses pretty much today is a 6.7)..


the Safe-t-liner C2. admittedly its a bus I love the look of.. while im typically into old classics.. i love the modern look of that C2.. other than some oif the missteps with the CAT engines, the C2 had some issues from time to time with its smart-switch electrical panels.. I dont know alot about them, however it makes it a bit more difficult to repurpose the switches on the dash for conversion-related items..



by 2009 that system had been in use for quite some time so could be a good one..



a school letting ab us go in less than 10 years? a little dubious on that one.. other thing is to check for body panel rust around the wheel wells and the back of the bus.. this wont show up in under-carriage pics.. i was at a bus junkyard this weekend and noted there was a 08 C2 there which was amazingly clean inside the cabin (looked brand new). buit a walk around showed it was rusting from the inside out around its walls.. (the story ther scrapyard gave is it failed inspection so was sold to an individual who harvested its Cummins drivetrain then scrapped the body)..


you can definitely do worse than a 6.7 in an emissions bus.. in that year you may very well be able to open up the 6th gear on that allison transmission..
-Christopher

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by TeacherJoe

Thank you very much. How will the 5.13 behave? Here’s the link. Is the rust by the wheelchair and rear door fatal?
https://www.centralstatesbus.com/listings/stock-284925

Joe

I think they're fudging about the HP rating.
The rust looks like its set in pretty well. Is that from a northern state?
Check out this one, its got FRONT and rear air ride. Very rare.
https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/au...ew?auc=2228586
Decent miles, no rust visible, looks clean and straight. Its also not burdened with emissions equipment and multiplexed wiring. Dual AC is nice too!

[TeacherJoe]

The bus is in Illinois. How can they fudge the HP rating?

Joe

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I think they're fudging about the HP rating.
The rust looks like its set in pretty well. Is that from a northern state?

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by TeacherJoe

The bus is in Illinois. How can they fudge the HP rating?

Joe

I highly doubt anyone at a school spec'd a 325 hp engine in that shorty. Not saying its impossible but highly improbable.

[TeacherJoe]

Yeah, you’re right. Here’s the line from the build sheet. It also has a 270 amp alternator.

CUM ISB-220 220 HP @ 2400 RPM, 2600 GOV 520 LB/FT @ 1600 RPM

Any comment on the 5.13 rear end?

Joe

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I highly doubt anyone at a school spec'd a 325 hp engine in that shorty. Not saying its impossible but highly improbable.

[cadillackid]

look closely at the pics.. I cant tell from the outer pics.. but that one looks like its beginning to suffer the fate of rotting from the inside out..



look at the interior pic.. the one thats on its side of the sidewall area.. at the bottom you can see its rusting from the inside out... the rust around the bottom of the rear door looks like the lower corner of that door frame is all but gone.. that poor guy needs some TLC..

-Christopher

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by TeacherJoe

Yeah, you’re right. Here’s the line from the build sheet. It also has a 270 amp alternator.

CUM ISB-220 220 HP @ 2400 RPM, 2600 GOV 520 LB/FT @ 1600 RPM

Any comment on the 5.13 rear end?

Joe

With 5.13 and the OD transmission it should be good.
But I'd get one thats rust free and emissions free for that kind of money.
The rear door has "rusticles", the bottom of the door opening has bad rot and its totally rotted out under the handicap door. The frame doesn't look awful, but my 99 has zero rust so one this new shouldn't have all that paint peeling and rust starting like this one's.

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

With 5.13 and the OD transmission it should be good.
But I'd get one thats rust free and emissions free for that kind of money.
The rear door has "rusticles", the bottom of the door opening has bad rot and its totally rotted out under the handicap door. The frame doesn't look awful, but my 99 has zero rust so one this new shouldn't have all that paint peeling and rust starting like this one's.

there was one at the junkyard i was at saturday that was rotted just like this one.. seems to be an issuie with these rotting when they are not very old.. sad because they are really fantastic busses otherwise.. the ride quality of a C2 is very nice compared to alot of other school busses.. the dashboard is almost like a car so people find it eay to get used to.. the big windows make them easy to see out of.. but that inside-pout rot is a deal killer.. rotting on outer body panels is not bad to fix but inside-out is really tough!
-Christopher

[TeacherJoe]

How about...
‘98 International 7 window
DT466
MT643
4.78 rear end
188k miles
Texas bus

Joe

[cadillackid]

if it has 11R22.5 tires. you will be runningthat engine on its redline about 65 MPH.. nice engine and trans combo.. will run forever and comfortable at 55-60 MPH..

-Christopher

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by TeacherJoe

How about...
‘98 International 7 window
DT466
MT643
4.78 rear end
188k miles
Texas bus

Joe

Sounds pretty good.

[TeacherJoe]

Or this...

2003 International 8 window
DT466
MD3060
Rear gears?
354k miles

Joe

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by TeacherJoe

Or this...

2003 International 8 window
DT466
MD3060
Rear gears?
354k miles

Joe

Mines not feeling too fresh at 226k miles. I'd probably pass on one with over 250,000. Any idea of engine hours?

[TeacherJoe]

14251 The seller drove it 1000 miles and loves it...naturally.

Joe

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Mines not feeling too fresh at 226k miles. I'd probably pass on one with over 250,000. Any idea of engine hours?

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by TeacherJoe

14251 The seller drove it 1000 miles and loves it...naturally.

Joe

I've had buses with high miles and hours and they ran fine. But I'd not want to start a project with a bus that's got a ton of use. By 350k in a school bus any engine is likely getting fairly tired.

[TeacherJoe]

2005 Thomas FS65 23’ Texas bus
C7
Allison 2000 series
5.13 rear end
All white, no school lights
47k miles

I’m going to pay for an inspection.

Joe