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04-11-2019, 05:24 PM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 2
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Thoughts on buying bus needing work.
Hello all I am new here but I have thought about doing a Skoolie conversion for a while and a bus has been posted for sale that fits my ideal size (24 feet) and fuel type (diesel).
It has a few costly issues. Currently only able to travel 15 mph due to mechanic saying turbo fins are damaged and more than half of the injectors are “bad”.
It’s a 1999 international T444E,
Allison transmission. Under 140,000 miles
Planning on paying less than $2000.
I am mechanically inclined so I think it’s something I can take on.
Any feedback would be appreciated. I am concerned with possible underlying issues, is it normal to have this expensive maintenance with the amount of miles?
Cost of parts is $2,000 without labor costs.
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04-11-2019, 05:29 PM
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#2
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MellowYellow
Hello all I am new here but I have thought about doing a Skoolie conversion for a while and a bus has been posted for sale that fits my ideal size (24 feet) and fuel type (diesel).
It has a few costly issues. Currently only able to travel 15 mph due to mechanic saying turbo fins are damaged and more than half of the injectors are “bad”.
It’s a 1999 international T444E,
Allison transmission. Under 140,000 miles
Planning on paying less than $2000.
I am mechanically inclined so I think it’s something I can take on.
Any feedback would be appreciated. I am concerned with possible underlying issues, is it normal to have this expensive maintenance with the amount of miles?
Cost of parts is $2,000 without labor costs.
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I'd pass it up
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04-11-2019, 05:37 PM
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#3
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Rapid City, SD
Posts: 993
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: CS RE
Engine: ISC 8.3 L 260 hp
Rated Cap: 36
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There are better buses that aren't broken out there for that price. I'd keep looking.
Ted
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04-11-2019, 05:37 PM
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#4
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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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Typically injectors on the T444E last about 250k but that's taking a few things for granted. It's not a hard job but as you note it is expensive. I would expect to find a bus in that same price range that doesn't currently need 2k worth of injectors.
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04-11-2019, 05:44 PM
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#5
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,264
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: IH
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MellowYellow
Hello all I am new here but I have thought about doing a Skoolie conversion for a while and a bus has been posted for sale that fits my ideal size (24 feet) and fuel type (diesel).
It has a few costly issues. Currently only able to travel 15 mph due to mechanic saying turbo fins are damaged and more than half of the injectors are “bad”.
It’s a 1999 international T444E,
Allison transmission. Under 140,000 miles
Planning on paying less than $2000.
I am mechanically inclined so I think it’s something I can take on.
Any feedback would be appreciated. I am concerned with possible underlying issues, is it normal to have this expensive maintenance with the amount of miles?
Cost of parts is $2,000 without labor costs.
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I'd not pay more than 500. You're looking at a replacement turbo which will be more than a couple hundred bucks (some turbos go for over a thousand); I'd expect this one in the 4-500 range or more. And injectors, there's 8 of them which are north of $200, *EACH*. I'd figure a couple thousand for that job, as you'll want to replace the valve cover gaskets/glow plug wiring harness (they're kind of made together), and that's just for parts alone.
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04-11-2019, 05:47 PM
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#6
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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The mileage is likely not correct, as 90% of buses this old have had the dashes replaced and they don't correct the mileage when they do. The money you are looking to repair would easily buy you a bus that doesn't need repairs right up front. Walk away from that one.
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04-11-2019, 05:52 PM
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#7
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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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Pretty premature for the injectors to be bad at that mileage. If you can get the bus for scrap value, then go for it. Otherwise keep looking.
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04-11-2019, 05:58 PM
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#8
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New Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 2
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Wow thanks to everybody that responded. Seems like a definite no. The search continues.
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04-11-2019, 09:40 PM
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#9
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Skoolie
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Posts: 220
Year: 1990
Coachwork: Crown
Chassis: Supercoach
Engine: 6-71TA
Rated Cap: 90
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Unless you can pick it up for almost free, I would keep searching.
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04-12-2019, 06:01 AM
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#10
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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 MellowYellow
Hello all I am new here but I have thought about doing a Skoolie conversion for a while and a bus has been posted for sale that fits my ideal size (24 feet) and fuel type (diesel).
It has a few costly issues. Currently only able to travel 15 mph due to mechanic saying turbo fins are damaged and more than half of the injectors are “bad”.
It’s a 1999 international T444E,
Allison transmission. Under 140,000 miles
Planning on paying less than $2000.
I am mechanically inclined so I think it’s something I can take on.
Any feedback would be appreciated. I am concerned with possible underlying issues, is it normal to have this expensive maintenance with the amount of miles?
Cost of parts is $2,000 without labor costs.
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You can buy one that runs and drives for that.
Offer em scrap price.
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