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Old 11-17-2019, 05:05 PM   #1
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Lebanon, IN
Posts: 153
Year: 2003
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466e/Allison 2000
Rated Cap: 65
New owner, am i crazy?

After about 6 months of reading on this site and others I finally pulled the trigger and bought a bus. 50%excited and 50%terrified!
2003 international AmTran dog nose, 37' 65 passenger with a DT 466e and what i am 99%certain is an Allison 2000 tranny. 79000 original miles, some rust around the wheel wells but otherwise seems mechanically sound. Will need new steer tires soon, but otherwise i am ready to start demo! Going to attempt the Vermont registration process asap, and then work on getting insurance. Am I insane??

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Old 11-17-2019, 05:09 PM   #2
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Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
Good base to start with. No hoops to jump through going the Vt. route. Good luck with the build.
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Old 11-17-2019, 05:50 PM   #3
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Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 6,995
Year: 2003
Coachwork: International
Chassis: CE 300
Engine: DT466e
Rated Cap: 65C-43A
Quote:
Originally Posted by cdrobbins77 View Post
some rust around the wheel wells
Uh oh. Not to depress you right off the bat, but check out my build thread to see what "some rust" can look like. Where is your bus from originally? Post some pics and maybe I can set your mind at ease regarding the rust situation (which is probably not as bad as mine, at least).
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Old 11-17-2019, 06:01 PM   #4
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Lebanon, IN
Posts: 153
Year: 2003
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466e/Allison 2000
Rated Cap: 65
Quote:
Originally Posted by musigenesis View Post
Uh oh. Not to depress you right off the bat, but check out my build thread to see what "some rust" can look like. Where is your bus from originally? Post some pics and maybe I can set your mind at ease regarding the rust situation (which is probably not as bad as mine, at least).
Pics will have to wait until next weekend, it's dark outside already, and we are still on the road home with the bus. Frame is not Rusty and that is what I was mostly concerned with. I have a sheet metal worker and a welder in the family so I should have good help if I need it. I am pretty sure we will have to do some patching around the wheel wells
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Old 11-17-2019, 08:06 PM   #5
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Lebanon, IN
Posts: 153
Year: 2003
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466e/Allison 2000
Rated Cap: 65
Quote:
Originally Posted by musigenesis View Post
Uh oh. Not to depress you right off the bat, but check out my build thread to see what "some rust" can look like. Where is your bus from originally? Post some pics and maybe I can set your mind at ease regarding the rust situation (which is probably not as bad as mine, at least).
Pics will have to wait until next weekend, it's dark outside already, and we are still on the road home with the bus. Frame is not Rusty and that is what I was mostly concerned with. I have a sheet metal worker and a welder in the family so I should have good help if I need it. I am pretty sure we will have to do some patching around the wheel wells
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Old 11-17-2019, 09:18 PM   #6
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Lebanon, IN
Posts: 153
Year: 2003
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466e/Allison 2000
Rated Cap: 65

https://imgur.com/a/jIMQ4rW
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Old 11-17-2019, 09:41 PM   #7
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Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 6,995
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Looks nice, and kind of unusual. A high-ceiling bus with short windows? And only one roof hatch?
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Old 11-17-2019, 09:44 PM   #8
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Lebanon, IN
Posts: 153
Year: 2003
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Chassis: International
Engine: DT466e/Allison 2000
Rated Cap: 65
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Originally Posted by musigenesis View Post
Looks nice, and kind of unusual. A high-ceiling bus with short windows? And only one roof hatch?
not a high ceiling--i wish it was! its about 6' 2" currently. I can just barely stand up without hitting my head in the middle (I'm 6'1")
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Old 11-18-2019, 01:37 AM   #9
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Join Date: May 2016
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,264
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: IH
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 14
Are you sure it's only 79K original miles? Sounds suspect to me. Dash replacement is *VERY* common on these IH's (the ECU will have a much more accurate reflection of mileage). The circuit board's solder joints fail over time (they can be fixed fairly easily) but most schools just replace 'em.
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Old 11-18-2019, 05:54 AM   #10
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Johnson City TN
Posts: 441
Year: 2004
Coachwork: IC/AMTRANS RE
Engine: T444E 7.3 w/ MD3060
Rated Cap: 36000lbs / 78pass / 39'
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad_SwiftFur View Post
Are you sure it's only 79K original miles? Sounds suspect to me. Dash replacement is *VERY* common on these IH's (the ECU will have a much more accurate reflection of mileage). The circuit board's solder joints fail over time (they can be fixed fairly easily) but most schools just replace 'em.
And some buses weren't used as often because they were substitute buses, mine was and had only 10k more on the clock. Then there are band/activity buses that aren't used a ton either.
Sure the cluster could have been replaced, it's common on diesel pickups too, especially ones owned by construction and landscaping outfits.
The ECMs get replaced too, mine was back in 2011 (date is stamped on the unit). So you can't always go by the ECM, chances are it will be replaced before the odo since they re usually on or next to the engine being baked (what a stupid idea, been meaning to relocated mine).
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If you would like to check out my website that has all sort of information especially for the T444E/7.3PSD engines check out www.PatrickTheSalvageGuy.com I've got helpful downloads and articles as well as a link to my YT for other how to videos mainly on the F series trucks.
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Old 11-18-2019, 06:56 AM   #11
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Lebanon, IN
Posts: 153
Year: 2003
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466e/Allison 2000
Rated Cap: 65
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad_SwiftFur View Post
Are you sure it's only 79K original miles? Sounds suspect to me. Dash replacement is *VERY* common on these IH's (the ECU will have a much more accurate reflection of mileage). The circuit board's solder joints fail over time (they can be fixed fairly easily) but most schools just replace 'em.
I suppose I am not 100% sure, you very well could be correct. I am going to reach out to the school system this bus came from to see if I can get service records for it. It’s a long shot, but worth a phone call I suppose.
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Old 11-18-2019, 07:05 AM   #12
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,752
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
Quote:
Originally Posted by PatrickBaptist View Post
And some buses weren't used as often because they were substitute buses, mine was and had only 10k more on the clock. Then there are band/activity buses that aren't used a ton either.
Sure the cluster could have been replaced, it's common on diesel pickups too, especially ones owned by construction and landscaping outfits.
The ECMs get replaced too, mine was back in 2011 (date is stamped on the unit). So you can't always go by the ECM, chances are it will be replaced before the odo since they re usually on or next to the engine being baked (what a stupid idea, been meaning to relocated mine).

POSSIBLY on the ECM, but rarely does a Navistar ECM die 100% where the J1708 doesnt allow it to be read out.. its usually the IDM inside it that bakes and dies..



if its been replaced correctly, the old ECM data is read and applied to the new ECM, the software will show the ESN and VIN so you can see if someone just junkyarded a new ECM without programming it..



-Christopher
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