Hi, new member and new skoolie owner.
I got my 92 TC2000 FE off craigslist, 3 hour drive from where I live. I think I got an ok deal, would love to get advice on what to do next. I am a tad hesitant on moving forward due to the drive train.
Cummins 5.9 + AT545
I bought it off someone who started to frame out a living space but ditched the idea after a year. They were asking $3500, I took it for $2000. When I crawled under and over it, I didn't see anything too alarming. Roof was solid, a little rust scale on the frame. The worst is the stair well into the bus - rusted out but still holding "true".
The test drive was a bit worrying, the owner said she had never driven it and had just kept it in storage. It started quick and strong, engine runs great. This has hydraulic brakes, and when I got to moving it felt like they were dragging. I believe I was facing the common issue of seized caliper pistons after sitting for so long. I couldn't break 35-40mph on the local highway.
So I bought it!
After about 20 miles towards home, I think I wore enough pad and/or rotor material to get up to 50-55mph. Any uphill was a drop to 35-45mph. Around 55-60mph the front end has a bit of a shimmy.
The oil pan and torque converter have a good amount of oil leaking, hoping some new gaskets will fill those holes nicely. Note, the bus made it home without to much of a hiccup in 140miles so I think that says something.
Oh yea all 6 tires are old/gouged/cracked - yay..
Did I buy a bunk of a bus or should I dive in head first and get her built? My thinking is, make this my first build, a learning one. I am budgeting a total of $10k, maybe I can off load it in a few years after improving the worst of it.
As for what I plan? Recently single, want to hit the road and find home. I want to explore different towns and lively hoods. I've lived in an RV for a year and a half and feel I learned a lot of how NOT to live life on the road from that experience.