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Old 09-17-2015, 11:02 AM   #1
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Moore
Posts: 8
Year: 1981
Coachwork: GM
Chassis: RTSII-04
Engine: 6V92TA (non-DDEC)
New To Skoolie From Charlotte NC

Hello!!!

new to the Skoolie lifestyle! Looking to buy an old Charlotte CATS bus that has been retired and turning into a party bus by a limo company. Wanting to do the RV conversion. My goal is to use this for vacations, long weekends, and track days. Looking to haul a small enclosed single car trailer, or open.

The rig is a 1981 GM RTS-04. shes got the 6V92-92TA non-DDEC with an Allison 730 Automatic non electric.

Bus has 12,961 miles
He has receipts in hand verifying complete rebuild of the Detroit Diesel engine, (not sure how long ago that was). Other receipts for paint and other services

Did some research and talked with some heavy diesel mechanics around my area and they gave it good marks especially for the price.

Just wandering what your thoughts are on this rig.

one of the mechanics said the 6V92 is loud but should be able to haul a small car hauler with out too much issue. he recommended not trying to haul anything bigger than a dual car hauler.

I'm really excited about all this and my wife is 100% on board!! usually she isn't very receptive of my automobile antics. for example I have an 89' toyota Van that I am Putting an LS motor Mid-Engine mount to drift and hit the track with. LOL

going to go check out the Bus today!! Wish me luck

And any advice is very very welcome!!!

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Old 09-17-2015, 11:39 AM   #2
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Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
I wanna see that Toyota!
Best of luck on it all.
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Old 09-17-2015, 03:33 PM   #3
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Moore
Posts: 8
Year: 1981
Coachwork: GM
Chassis: RTSII-04
Engine: 6V92TA (non-DDEC)
Good news everyone

So I just got done checking out the bus!!

exterior is OK, not worried about that, Tires have almost perfect tread, there is an air leak where the lines come together in a metal box under the bus but I asked my buddy and he said that is a cheap and easy fix. there is a small leak in the drivers airbag but he said a set of new airbags are around $300 so not too worried.
one headlight was out and the passenger side blinker wasn't working. not too worried about that either.
there was a little rust on all the inner fenders.
interior was good. not that it matters because Ill be stripping it down.
The Engine. . . . . . . The Engine was beautiful!!!! he had receipts of a $12k engine rebuild less than a year ago, and there is less than 500 miles on it!!! Clean around turbo, no flat black powder around the exhaust manifolds, belts looked great. there was a little oil leak but my buddy said that is no problem.
it started in a split second of touching the button and not a single puff of smoke came out the exhaust!
we drove it around the area for about 20 min. and it shifted beautifully, stopped on a dime, has an amazing turning radius by the way, and had plenty of pickup.
the AC turned on. I could hear the Compressor kick on and blow air, it was cooler than outside air but not cold. not worried about that. just as long as the engine, trany, and chassis is good, I'm not too worried.
so after talking with him for a while and pointing out the flaws that I found, without me trying to negotiate on a lower price he asked if I would take $3,500 for it!!!!!
I told him that I still want one of my buddies who knows a little about big diesels to look at it for me on sunday and he said no problem. I put some money down for him to hold it for me just in case.
So Looks like I will own a 1981 GMC RTSII-04 Bus by next week!!!






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Old 09-17-2015, 03:39 PM   #4
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Moore
Posts: 8
Year: 1981
Coachwork: GM
Chassis: RTSII-04
Engine: 6V92TA (non-DDEC)
this is the Leaky box thing



here is the drivers air bag



look at that engine



turbo



Front looking back



back looking front

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Old 09-17-2015, 03:51 PM   #5
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Chassis: RTSII-04
Engine: 6V92TA (non-DDEC)
Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
I wanna see that Toyota!
Best of luck on it all.
Here you go EasCoastCB

I photo shopped this panel van, but this is very similar to what it looks like and how low I would like it.

I'll take some pictures of the Van how it sits later today or tomorrow

I want it to look pretty stock from the outside minus it being slammed on coilovers. LOL



sorry a little off topic
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Old 09-17-2015, 05:25 PM   #6
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Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
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Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
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Very cool!
I LOVE those old Toyotas.
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Old 09-21-2015, 08:46 AM   #7
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Posts: 53
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Champion
Chassis: Ford E-350
Wow beautiful bus. Nice job!
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Old 09-21-2015, 10:31 AM   #8
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Make sure to build a nice under engine cradle for the rear hitch (check out MCI/Eagle/GMC buses for ideas)
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Old 09-23-2015, 10:34 AM   #9
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Moore
Posts: 8
Year: 1981
Coachwork: GM
Chassis: RTSII-04
Engine: 6V92TA (non-DDEC)
So I Picked up the bus Yesterday!!!!

Drove From a little South of Rock Hill South Carolina up to Mooresville North Carolina taking back roads so about a 3 hour drive.
Didn't skip a beat, drove like a dream, shifted beautifully and didn't get hot. and the more I drive her the better she runs!!

wife and I named her Heidi!!

this is her minutes after purchase filling up





This is my Wife and myself when I pulled up in front of the house



Here she is in front of the Movie Theater in Mooresville. Our Friend is the GM and we had to show her!! I also had it kneeled,(we called it the Cholo lean



And when she got off we had to clean up the inside



I have several questions about general equipment I should keep on the bus in-case of emergency like jacks and jack stands, sockets and wrenches I might need and so on and so on. . .
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Old 09-23-2015, 02:47 PM   #10
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Location: Western Tennessee
Posts: 102
Year: 1985
Coachwork: Wayne Chaperone
Chassis: chevy
Engine: 350
You have a very nice bus!
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Old 09-23-2015, 02:58 PM   #11
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Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
I can see your overwhelming enthusiasm, and I'm really happy to see you so jazzed!
Enjoy the bus, it will be fun to watch your build especially since its not the usual school bus.
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Old 09-30-2015, 02:53 AM   #12
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Join Date: May 2015
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 238
Year: 1998
Chassis: VanHool T945
Engine: Cummins M11
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That is a sweet bus! I think the build will be awesome - can't wait to see more pics!
Thanks for sharing.
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