New member from Cincinnati, Ohio - Page 2

WimMorre · 07-09-2017, 06:56 PM

Thanks CaptSquid!
Yes, $3300 is for sure a great price. 'Available NOW. 2003 IC RE SCHOOL TRANSIT RE. Capacity is 78Lug Passengers DIESEL fueled with AIR Brakes and a T444 Engine.'
Are they good buses compared to the Bluebird etc.? Does the body rust easy? What about the engine, are they good quality and last a long time?
Again, this is all new to me and have lots to learn.
Thanks!

cadillackid · 07-09-2017, 07:35 PM

I have a T-444E in my Red Bus.. its a 190 HP variant.. its plenty powerful for a short bus, if the 03 is a 210 or 230 HP and has something other than an AT545 transmission then it has a chance at doing just fine under normal conditions.. take it in the mountains and it will slow down on the uphills, as a diesel V-8 doesnt have the brute torque that an inline 6 like a cummins or a DT-466 has. if you dont mind poulling hills in the slkow lane, no issues..

the T-444E is made by international, and is Very similar to the ford powerstroke 7.3 used in the diesel pickups and vans from 94-03. they are a good engine.. (international made them for ford).

I run my short T-444E bus regularly to florida and back and out to the east coast and the engine has been fine.

any body can rust just like a car.. esp here in the midwest.. best thing is to ask for lots of pictures of the underside to gauge the severity of any rust.. usually if the ribs are really rusty you can have issues with some of the body panels.. school busses almost always leak water inside at some point in their lives..
-Christopher

PNW_Steve · 07-09-2017, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WimMorre

That's a great deal. But how did you know if the bus had lots of rust, the engine, the tires etc. without seeing it in person? How did it turn out for you? Did you have a lot of work to do on it?
Thanks for the places to check out out west. There is of course the option of buying it there and building it once we get out there, a year or so from now, but would prefer to get started here and now and just drive it out there. Ready and done, you know...
Thanks

If you are asking about my Bluebird:

It was a Western Oregon bus. No salt/chemicals on the road. I had a pretty good idea that it would not have rust issues.

The auction listing indicated the mileage and that it had no known issues.

I drove it 300+ miles today over three passes in 75-90 degree temps. Ran great!

I have had the bus for 10 months and so far I have had to do the following:

Add 1.5 gallons of coolant to bring it up to level.

Change the oil.

To be fair. I did have an issue with the windshield wipers today when I tried to clean the bugs.

I have put a couple thousand miles on it so far.

PNW_Steve · 07-09-2017, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptSquid

Try this: 2001 IC

That link comes up as a 2003 with 114k miles.

I think that in 2003 they had quit installing the AT-545. All of the '03s I have looked at had 2000/3000 series transmissions. If this one has 114k on a 7.3 and a 2000/3000 series trans I would take a serious look at it. For $3300 if it has no issues it is a really good deal.

I still prefer the wet sleeve 6's. The DT-466 and Cummins 8.3. But the 7.3 (T444) is a very good motor.

WimMorre · 07-10-2017, 06:40 PM

Hi Christopher and Steve,
I called the place today about the 03 IC and he told me that for that price there's probably something wrong with it. And to for sure come out first and take a look...

I don't feel too comfortable about bidding on one, because I'm a bit worried that there might be something wrong with it and i'd be stuck with it.
I do like the idea of seeing one up close and even being able to have it inspected by a mechanic. I know it'll cost more at a dealer, but in the long run might be better.

Anyway, I found another place today in Indiana called Kerlinbus and they have several 84 seaters, 5.9 cummins and others, but no 8.3. He told me that he hasn't had one of those in his lot in over 3 years. And that they go quickly with a high interest from the people of Guatemala.
So do you guys think that we only plan on driving it out west and then park it for at least 5 years that a 5.9 would do? I'd like to have the 8.3 but... Unless I found one in WA in a few weeks when we're down there, but would have to drive it back to OH and let me plane ticket go. (which would be ok I guess).
I can keep looking this summer, but I'm also ready to get started and go to work on one.

One more question. What the difference between all the transmissions? Automatic I understand, but what about AT545, 2500, 3000, MD... different manufacturers? Is one better than the other? and do they ever go bad or is not that common?

Thanks so much guys!

EastCoastCB · 07-10-2017, 06:59 PM

Just find a closer auction or one that a forum member can inspect.
All three folks I know who've gotten dealer buses had to make immediate repairs. There's no magic bullet for getting a bus and having nothing go wrong. But when you buy an auction bus, you can use the THOUSANDS you save to fix whatever comes up.

cadillackid · 07-10-2017, 08:14 PM

im one of those.. I got a bus from a dealer... it ran great... 450 miles into my trip my Air-brakes compressor went bad..

these are used vehicles like any other..

my auction bus has run great... I recently did a transmission. but I got the bus so cheap that even with all ive done to it im still less money than i have into my dealer bus and ive got one fantastic little bus..

my dealer bus has run great since that incident, but ive still replaced some parts... fan clutch, Tires, and i had to add the A/C...

theres no magic sauce.. theres people here who break down the minute they get a bus, theres others who drive for yearsd and never do anything to it.. like any used vehicle...

dealewrs MAY repair something thats obvious when they get a bus but will mark up the price plus labor / markup to reflect..

most of the auctions ive seen do tell if the bus runs and drives or not.. and if they wont answer when you ask, then you bid on another bus.. these onli e auctions last a long time.. days or weeks so you have plenty of time to ask the seller a Q, see if theres a forum member in the area who can go look at it for you, etc..

some auctions post the service records for a bus.. or you can ask for them via the auction site.. this lets you know what has been done to a bus in its lifetime...

only you can make the choice where you buy a bus.. keep any and all options alive.. and the more time you can take to find a type of bus that fits your needs and also busses to look at then the better informed and more likely to score a good deal you are...

-Christopher

PNW_Steve · 07-10-2017, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WimMorre

Hi Christopher and Steve,
I called the place today about the 03 IC and he told me that for that price there's probably something wrong with it. And to for sure come out first and take a look...

I don't feel too comfortable about bidding on one, because I'm a bit worried that there might be something wrong with it and i'd be stuck with it.
I do like the idea of seeing one up close and even being able to have it inspected by a mechanic. I know it'll cost more at a dealer, but in the long run might be better.

Anyway, I found another place today in Indiana called Kerlinbus and they have several 84 seaters, 5.9 cummins and others, but no 8.3. He told me that he hasn't had one of those in his lot in over 3 years. And that they go quickly with a high interest from the people of Guatemala.
So do you guys think that we only plan on driving it out west and then park it for at least 5 years that a 5.9 would do? I'd like to have the 8.3 but... Unless I found one in WA in a few weeks when we're down there, but would have to drive it back to OH and let me plane ticket go. (which would be ok I guess).
I can keep looking this summer, but I'm also ready to get started and go to work on one.

One more question. What the difference between all the transmissions? Automatic I understand, but what about AT545, 2500, 3000, MD... different manufacturers? Is one better than the other? and do they ever go bad or is not that common?

Thanks so much guys!

If you are going to drive it to a destination and park it for 5 years then I would be much less concerned about drivetrain. A 5.9/AT-545 equipped
bus will cross the country. It will simply require a bit more patience for the trip.

Short answer on the transmissions:
545 - 4 speed, no lockup, no overdrive
643/647 - 4 speed, lockup, no overdrive
2000/3000 series - 6 speed, lockup, double overdrive. However, most skoolies have 6th gear disabled leaving you with a 5 speed overdrive. Some have been successful with getting the 6th gear unlocked. I am working on that for mine.

PNW_Steve · 07-10-2017, 10:51 PM

I wish I had been thinking earlier. Somewhere today I saw a 5.9 equipped bus for sale in Marysville, WA.

Look at today's posts and you should find it.

WimMorre · 07-11-2017, 04:21 PM

Hi Bus geek,
Yes, I agree with you. Man, not easy to make a decision. I'll just keep looking and reading and see what comes next. I just need to be patient, which is not always easy for me, I am excited indeed!
Thanks,

WimMorre · 07-11-2017, 04:28 PM

Christopher,
'only you can make the choice where you buy a bus.. keep any and all options alive.. and the more time you can take to find a type of bus that fits your needs and also buses to look at then the better informed and more likely to score a good deal you are...'
I like your line here, very true indeed! I'm just gonna keep reading, looking etc. and something will show up...
Thanks again guys for all your awesome replies!!

WimMorre · 07-11-2017, 04:31 PM

Hey Steve,
Short answer on the transmissions:
545 - 4 speed, no lockup, no overdrive
643/647 - 4 speed, lockup, no overdrive
2000/3000 series - 6 speed, lockup, double overdrive. However, most skoolies have 6th gear disabled leaving you with a 5 speed overdrive. Some have been successful with getting the 6th gear unlocked. I am working on that for mine.
Will have to do some more reading since your explanation is still confusing to me, but that's ok. Lots to learn indeed!
Thanks so much!! I very much appreciate it!

WimMorre · 07-11-2017, 04:36 PM

I wish I had been thinking earlier. Somewhere today I saw a 5.9 equipped bus for sale in Marysville, WA.
Look at today's posts and you should find it.

I found a bus, but is located in Everett, WA. Not sure if it's the same one you saw, and I did send him .a reply just a minute ago

PNW_Steve · 07-11-2017, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WimMorre

Hey Steve,
Short answer on the transmissions:
545 - 4 speed, no lockup, no overdrive
643/647 - 4 speed, lockup, no overdrive
2000/3000 series - 6 speed, lockup, double overdrive. However, most skoolies have 6th gear disabled leaving you with a 5 speed overdrive. Some have been successful with getting the 6th gear unlocked. I am working on that for mine.
Will have to do some more reading since your explanation is still confusing to me, but that's ok. Lots to learn indeed!
Thanks so much!! I very much appreciate it!

I'll try and add some clarity:

The transmission models above (all allison transmissions) are either 4 speed transmissions or 6 speed transmissions.

I school bus applications with a 6 speed most manufactures set the transmission up so that 6th gear is not available effectively leaving you with a 5 speed.

Some transmissions have a lockup torque converter. Some do not. Having a torque converter that does NOT lock up has some disadvantages as the converter is always "slipping". This causes a reduction in top speed and a loss of fuel economy. It also generates additional heat in the transmission.

Some transmissions have an "overdrive" top gear and some don't. Having overdrive is good for improved highway fuel economy and increased top speed. Note: If you take advantage of the higher top speed it can reduce the MPG benefit.

In a perfect Skoolie world you would have more gears, overdrive and a lockup torque converter.

In the real world the closest we come is the Allison 2000 & 3000 series transmissions (2000, 2500 and 3060).

Clear as mud?

WimMorre · 07-11-2017, 06:32 PM

Ok, that makes sense now. I like your version of a perfect skoolie world.
There sure is a lot to learn, and I've only scratched the surface...
Thanks so much!!

cadillackid · 07-11-2017, 06:41 PM

to confuse things if you buy an IC 'BE' body stryle bus you get an allison 1000 transmission... its also a 6 speed with 6th gear "locked out"
-Christopher

davehearn · 07-12-2017, 11:12 PM

Welcome! I'm new, too and also in Ohio. It will probably be a year before I can afford my bus so I'm looking forward to seeing your progress!

-Dave

cadillackid · 07-13-2017, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davehearn

Welcome! I'm new, too and also in Ohio. It will probably be a year before I can afford my bus so I'm looking forward to seeing your progress!

-Dave

ha!! a fellow CBUS-er!
-Christopher

WimMorre · 07-13-2017, 09:00 AM

Thanks Dave! And welcome as well!

Wim

WimMorre · 07-13-2017, 02:26 PM

Hey guys,
It looks like a bus weighs around 30.000 pounds, (considering we get a 40') so I was wondering how much it weighs once it's finished.
And is there a total amount that one should not go over, as to put not too much stress on the engine etc.
Thanks!!

Wim

You may also like: