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Old 08-22-2019, 09:55 PM   #1
Bus Crazy
 
banman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Moved to Zealand!
Posts: 1,517
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freightliner FS-65
Engine: 7.2L Cat 3126 turbo diesel
Rated Cap: 71 passenger 30,000 gvwr
New to buses...

My wife called from work the other day -- "Honey, would you like a free bus?"

I knew there'd been an ol' bus behind her place of work they picked up for a "graffiti the school bus" party a few years back. Suddenly they need the space for a new project...

It's hard to turn down free sh!t... Sure! Now we got a bus...

I was remembering something smaller and older but what I agreed to make go away is a 2002 Thomas built Freightlighter 71 pass. 40' BIG BUS... oh my...

I call it the Murder bus 'cause they repainted it flat black to cover up the graffiti...

It's only got 178k miles on it. Last registered in 2014 so it hasn't been started in a 2 to 3 years and has some rust underneath coming from R.I./MA

Good news is it has the 2000 series Allison 5sp. Gonna put a battery on it tomorrow and turn the engine over...

Not exactly sure what direction we wanna go with it...
Probably a mobile Tiki Bar Bus with a view deck on the roof...

Anyone have an idea what the fuel consumption is on one of these?
Not concerned -- just had to ask...
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Old 08-23-2019, 06:19 AM   #2
Bus Crazy
 
Johnny Mullet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Ashtabula, Ohio
Posts: 1,494
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: International
Engine: T444E 7.3L
Welcome to the site! Enjoy your stay.
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Old 08-23-2019, 09:09 AM   #3
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
Welcome.

Fuel mileage will vary depending on engine, gearing and driving habits.

Most of us with full size buses get somewhere between 8.5-10.5 mpg.
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Old 08-23-2019, 09:15 AM   #4
Bus Crazy
 
banman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Moved to Zealand!
Posts: 1,517
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freightliner FS-65
Engine: 7.2L Cat 3126 turbo diesel
Rated Cap: 71 passenger 30,000 gvwr
Actually impressive considering my '75 IHC Scout (with a SV 304) only gets 12.5mpg!

The engine is the 7.2l turbo (3126 CAT) The allison has lockup and o/d. I have no idea yet what the axle gear ratio or tire size is --standard school bus size...
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Old 08-23-2019, 09:24 AM   #5
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
Quote:
Originally Posted by banman View Post
Actually impressive considering my '75 IHC Scout (with a SV 304) only gets 12.5mpg!

The engine is the 7.2l turbo (3126 CAT) The allison has lockup and o/d. I have no idea yet what the axle gear ratio or tire size is --standard school bus size...
CAT 3126 & Allison 2000 is a respectable drivetrain.

Sounds like a nice bus.
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Old 08-26-2019, 04:43 PM   #6
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,757
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
nice FS-65.. the 3126 and ally 2000 is a nice setup.. they still run some of these in Columbus Public Schools in central ohio..



on the return leg of a 1400 mile roadtrip as I speak, where I caravanned with a friend who has the 3126 / ally 2000 in a Big bus and that thing is a trooper!
-Christopher
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Old 08-26-2019, 05:12 PM   #7
Bus Crazy
 
banman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Moved to Zealand!
Posts: 1,517
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freightliner FS-65
Engine: 7.2L Cat 3126 turbo diesel
Rated Cap: 71 passenger 30,000 gvwr
Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
nice FS-65.. the 3126 and ally 2000 is a nice setup.. they still run some of these in Columbus Public Schools in central ohio..



on the return leg of a 1400 mile roadtrip as I speak, where I caravanned with a friend who has the 3126 / ally 2000 in a Big bus and that thing is a trooper!
-Christopher
That's great to hear.

As an aside -- I tried to send you a PM but your mailbox here is full so I left the message on your profile page.

Safe Travels!
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