Hello from N Florida

[e90bmw]

Hi all,

A couple weeks ago, a friend and I went ahead and bought a bus with plans to turn it in to a camper It is a 1998 International Thomas Vista 3600 with the T444e. It’s a full size wheelchair bus from a local Florida school district which is everything we wanted. High roof line, wheelchair lift, tinted windows, and factory AC. It needs a little bit of TLC but will be great in no time. The high pressure power steering hose split, we are in the process of replacing that, and then we will move on to diagnosing and fixing a small fuel leak. After that, an oil and filter service and we will be good to go. Anything else anyone would suggest doing? I’ve attached some pictures of the bus, enjoy!

[o1marc]

O'Reilly Auto Parts makes custom hydraulic hoses, at least the store I worked in, and they are pretty much the same everywhere. Take them your old hose and give them length measurements and they can knock one out in minutes.

[e90bmw]

Originally Posted by o1marc

O'Reilly Auto Parts makes custom hydraulic hoses, at least the store I worked in, and they are pretty much the same everywhere. Take them your old hose and give them length measurements and they can knock one out in minutes.

Hi! We are actually having a new hose made at a local hydraulics shop as I type this. $40 well spent

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by e90bmw

Hi! We are actually having a new hose made at a local hydraulics shop as I type this. $40 well spent

.....

[TrailLifeBill]

Good lookin' bus!! Welcome to the group - you'll find lots of info here, regardless of the direction you take your build. We're just across the border, maybe our paths will cross sometime.

[brokedown]

What part of Florida? We're up in Jennings right now, living in our Vista while building a Bluebird.

[e90bmw]

Originally Posted by brokedown

What part of Florida? We're up in Jennings right now, living in our Vista while building a Bluebird.

I'm in Gainesville but the bus is being kept on some property about 30 mins East of Gainesville.

[e90bmw]

Originally Posted by TrailLifeBill

Good lookin' bus!! Welcome to the group - you'll find lots of info here, regardless of the direction you take your build. We're just across the border, maybe our paths will cross sometime.

Thank you! I love the bus. I grew up riding one exactly like this (minus the wheelchair lift and it was a 97) and always told myself if we did a project like this, this is the bus we'd get. And here we are!