Buying a rusty bus for it's drive train?

PNW_Steve · 12-19-2016, 02:28 PM

Hey Everyone,

I was looking over the auction sites and classified ads and started daydreaming...

I see these NJ and NY buses that are pretty much swiss cheese as far as rust goes. Many of them are under 100k miles and some pushing 150k..

I see some like this one: Public Surplus: Auction #1755263

DT-466 & MD-3060 with 111k miles and will likely sell cheap.

I see a number of 1940's-1950's 2-2.5 ton trucks for sale that would be sweet with a 300hp DT466 & six speed auto....

Anyone here taken a project like that on? How did it play? Would you do it again??

EastCoastCB · 12-19-2016, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

Hey Everyone,

I was looking over the auction sites and classified ads and started daydreaming...

I see these NJ and NY buses that are pretty much swiss cheese as far as rust goes. Many of them are under 100k miles and some pushing 150k..

I see some like this one: Public Surplus: Auction #1755263

DT-466 & MD-3060 with 111k miles and will likely sell cheap.

I see a number of 1940's-1950's 2-2.5 ton trucks for sale that would be sweet with a 300hp DT466 & six speed auto....

Anyone here taken a project like that on? How did it play? Would you do it again??

I often think about stuff like this too.

An older Ford F800 would be rad as they had 8.3 cummins.
I bid on one a couple months ago. had a 6 speed manual.

Versatile · 12-19-2016, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

Hey Everyone,

I was looking over the auction sites and classified ads and started daydreaming...

I see these NJ and NY buses that are pretty much swiss cheese as far as rust goes. Many of them are under 100k miles and some pushing 150k..

I see some like this one: Public Surplus: Auction #1755263

DT-466 & MD-3060 with 111k miles and will likely sell cheap.

I see a number of 1940's-1950's 2-2.5 ton trucks for sale that would be sweet with a 300hp DT466 & six speed auto....

Anyone here taken a project like that on? How did it play? Would you do it again??

I like what you are saying. Haven't seen any projects like that.

EastCoastCB · 12-19-2016, 03:38 PM

If anyone can think of way of stuffing a bus engine in my 86 Ranger, let me know. I'll go buy some jersey swiss cheese and we can build the "jersey legend".

Carytowncat · 12-19-2016, 05:08 PM

How cool; was just walking with a friend last night about the same thing. I also day dream about putting a dt466 in almost every car and truck i see lol

Scooternj · 12-19-2016, 05:12 PM

Or...pull the T444E and AT545 with a much better driveline

cadillackid · 12-19-2016, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scooternj

Or...pull the T444E and AT545 with a much better driveline

then you could give me the 444 because I personally Like em.. well in short busses anyway..

-Christopher

jazty · 12-20-2016, 07:56 AM

If there's rust all over through the body then there's a good chance that there's at least an irritating amount of rust throughout the engine and driveline.

For the engine it could mean needing to replace a bunch of little things like steel hoses and other delicate steel parts. And maybe an oil pan.

Drivelines seem to hold up well to rust, though surface rust is inevitable. Leaf springs, on the other hand, can get pretty crusty.

All that said I do expect to pick up a swiss cheese mobile one of these days as a parts vehicle (and shed!). The trick is to poke all the little steel bits. If your finger goes straight through then it may not be worth it

And as for the T444e, I'll put myself in the queue with CadilliacKid for another! In a type 'C' shortie they work just dandy.. And there's no doghouse to contend with!

EastCoastCB · 12-20-2016, 08:20 AM

444's are fine engines. I have nothing against em.

But since I've been driving, I rarely seem to end up with the big, good engines in stuff. Nowadays I'm getting more picky. Especially in a bus. Granted, my 466 is a low-hp version @195, but I'd HATE to have any "less" of an engine.
My "ultimate work truck" would be a 6 window with 466 and 643 with retarder. Something from around 90-95 or so.
I won't have cash on hand to actually buy one till next year, but if one pops up at auction cheap enough, I've got a credit card lol.
Its been an expensive year getting my lil side business going. I'm fixing to pop 8 grand for a commercial mower. I've been holding out using my forest gump snapper and my folks' 42" toro, but with some of the accounts I'm picking up lately I'm gonna need a REAL mower come spring.

leadsled01 · 12-20-2016, 09:30 AM

Drivetrain swaps are common on the Pirate 4x4 board.

Rameses · 12-20-2016, 09:39 AM

What's this? Big, good engine? Lawn mower? Drivetrain swap?

jazty · 12-20-2016, 09:47 AM

That Scag has plenty of room to pop a DT466 on, I'd say ;)

PNW_Steve · 12-20-2016, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

444's are fine engines. I have nothing against em.

But since I've been driving, I rarely seem to end up with the big, good engines in stuff. Nowadays I'm getting more picky. Especially in a bus. Granted, my 466 is a low-hp version @195, but I'd HATE to have any "less" of an engine.
My "ultimate work truck" would be a 6 window with 466 and 643 with retarder. Something from around 90-95 or so.
I won't have cash on hand to actually buy one till next year, but if one pops up at auction cheap enough, I've got a credit card lol.
Its been an expensive year getting my lil side business going. I'm fixing to pop 8 grand for a commercial mower. I've been holding out using my forest gump snapper and my folks' 42" toro, but with some of the accounts I'm picking up lately I'm gonna need a REAL mower come spring.

I have to chuckle. When I first found out what the mowers I was running cost I could not understand why anyone would spend $6k-$25k for a freakin lawn mower. The I went out and bough my own first new lawn mower for almost $2k. I hated it! POS! I could not get the deck to stay level for anything. I was embarrassed at what a poor job it did compared to what I was used to.

Real mowers have diesel engines......

EastCoastCB · 12-20-2016, 10:33 AM

The $15,000 mower I run on weds-fri is pretty nice, for a Toro.
Scag builds a GREAT deck, though, and they're running a 20% off sale till the end of the year. Better deck, better ergonomics, and the same efi engine the toro uses.

Sorry for the threadjacking...
back to buses made of swiss cheese!! lol

cadillackid · 12-20-2016, 10:36 AM

heres the thing.. in a Big bus you almost need a Ummins 8.3 or DT-466 with an MT-643 or lter transmission just to traverse anything but flyover or flat country...

what im trying to say is in a little shortie.. like the RedByrd and for what it is was relatively Cheap.. I zip around in that thig all over the place.. I run easily at 65 down the freeway 545 and all..

that said I wouldnt consider a 444e / 545 in an 11 row or larger bus... but for your work vehicle you could pick up a 444e / 545 short bus most likely on the cheap..

I do know there are shorties out there with DT-466s in them.. Columbus city schools has 2 6 window Bluebirds that are about to retire..one is a 466 according to my neighbor.. (he only knows that because it says DT-466E on the hood).. I dont know what transmission.. im guessing 643s? (a 545 would blow up behind a 466 right?)..

but of course they are bluebirds and in ohio whch means theres rustaround about every rivet.. (typical bluebird issue here)....

those busses will likely go in the spring (the school levy passed so he said new busses are on the map again)..

they recently Wrecked one.. but I got my eyes on that one as it has a 210 HP 444E and an allison 2100 in it.. it was a rear end collision that stayed behind the rear wheels but destroyed $8000 worth of A/C plus the body damage..

Columbus will sell busses to individuals bypassing the auction and buyers premium etc..

I have no idea how bad rust around rivets is for a work Bus / truck.. but I'll keep my ear peeled for when they get ready to unload the DT-466 Bus..
-Christopher

EastCoastCB · 12-20-2016, 10:41 AM

Most shorties with 466's are likely to have 545's. There are a TON of 466's with 545's here in the southeast.
Yes, do let me know when that shorty goes up for sale!
As I said- a 444 would be fine. But since I'm already going to have to wait I may as well wait till I can find THE ONE. A shorty with a 466 and 643 would be a tank!
I also keep watching for Isuzu NPR's on the auction sites. Almost won one last year. That would be the IDEAL work truck!

cadillackid · 12-20-2016, 10:57 AM

thats why I got my eye on the drivetrain from the crasher.. a 210 HP 444E with a 2100 would make a great road-trip cruiser in my bluebird.. that was a 9 row bus barely 100k on it.. I figured the ins co would want it.. but my neighbor said they only have insurance for liabilities but all property is self-insured.. and a bus that age was already depreceated out.. its an 03 i think he said..

seems for a work truck an old gasser cutaway would be cheap and easy to work on...chevy 350 or such.. how many miles would really be put on a work truck?

I know I hardly drive mine.. my truck is 2 nesrly 2 years old with 7,500 miles on it.

-Christopher

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