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10-22-2017, 05:04 PM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 11
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Pulled the Trigger on a 1995 Thomas RE
So, I won an Ebay auction that I did not expect to win today lol..
1995 Thomas RE 14 window flat nose with 8.3L cummins and 6 speed allison.
209k miles, paying $2,550
The tires are 2 years old with under 5k miles, the seller is a private school in Oregon who has the maintenance records. Supposedly no leaks, issues or heavy rust.
Says it has a webasto pre-heater and automatic snow chains.
I've been wanting to take a trip to Portland, so this 2000 mile trip home will be her test/maiden voyage, wish me luck!!!!
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10-22-2017, 05:06 PM
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#2
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Ashtabula, Ohio
Posts: 1,494
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: International
Engine: T444E 7.3L
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That's a sweet bus and it's got luggage compartments! Best of luck on your journey.
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10-22-2017, 05:20 PM
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#3
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,848
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
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what a Great lookin bus!!! enjoy the maiden voyage!!! where you grin hat! cause yer gonna do a lot of it cruisin a bus like that across the USA!!
-Christopher
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10-22-2017, 05:20 PM
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#4
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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
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SWEET!!!
8.3 and I would guess an MD3060
Good tires.
Webasto.
Baggage bays.
All for $2550.... Score!
BTW: My Bluebird came from Portland and has zero rust.
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10-22-2017, 05:21 PM
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#5
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Nice price! Have fun, man!
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10-22-2017, 05:24 PM
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#6
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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
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Hey Okie,
If you should develop buyers remorse...... I would be happy to take it off your hands ;)
Are you in Oklahoma?
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10-22-2017, 05:33 PM
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#7
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 11
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Thanks everyone! Originally I didn't want that many miles, but after hours of reading old threads it seems like that's no big deal for a well maintained mechanical 8.3L.
Yeah I'm in Oklahoma so it's gonna be a long haul home haha. I did have that instant of "oh **** what did I do" but hey, you only live once right.
It's from a suburb of Portland called Battle ground, pretty far inland, so I am hoping the rust isn't significant. The guy didn't supply the best pics, but this was kind of an impulse buy when I noticed it 12 hours before the auction ended.
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10-22-2017, 05:36 PM
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#8
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 1,269
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: HDX
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 84 passenger
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Congrats on your score! Portland is fairly distant from the coast, so there shouldn't be much of that "R" word.
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10-22-2017, 06:19 PM
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#9
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Okie
Thanks everyone! Originally I didn't want that many miles, but after hours of reading old threads it seems like that's no big deal for a well maintained mechanical 8.3L.
Yeah I'm in Oklahoma so it's gonna be a long haul home haha. I did have that instant of "oh **** what did I do" but hey, you only live once right.
It's from a suburb of Portland called Battle ground, pretty far inland, so I am hoping the rust isn't significant. The guy didn't supply the best pics, but this was kind of an impulse buy when I noticed it 12 hours before the auction ended.
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The seller had three of those buses. The first went to a guy in Nevada who has a whole video series on YouTube detailing the conversion.
The first bus is everything you say, an excellent platform, but it did have significant rust. He shows how he dealt with it all, and he has some excellent welding skills. Yours may or may not be similar. Rust is more time-consuming than anything else, and none of the rust on his bus extended to the frame ... so it's all good.
That, and the fact that I am not quite ready to buy, is why I watched that auction (both times because the first winner was a flake), but I didn't bid.
Now I know it went to another Okie I'm glad I held off.
Good luck with it and have a great drive home.
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10-22-2017, 06:25 PM
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#10
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
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Here is a link to the first video in the series:
https://youtu.be/AkiNmEkD6C4
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10-22-2017, 06:27 PM
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#11
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: E Central Tejas
Posts: 2,094
Year: 1998
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: IH 3800, 8 window
Engine: T444E w/ Spicer 5-speed MT
Rated Cap: I prefer broad-brims hats
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What a purty!
Great score!!!
===================
Fly slow. Stay low.
__________________
Those who say that it cannot be done should not interrupt the people doing it.
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10-22-2017, 06:53 PM
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#12
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Traveling
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Midwest
Posts: 2,573
Year: 2003
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: TC2000
Engine: 5.9L Cummins
Rated Cap: '00
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Nice score. Looks like roof raise in your future???
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10-22-2017, 07:09 PM
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#13
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 11
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Wow Twigg, that's insane, I get to basically have a step by step instructional video series with an identical bus that's probably in identical condition! haha.
I wasn't originally planning on a roof raise, but with step by step on an identical bus available it's tempting.
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10-22-2017, 07:11 PM
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#14
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Okie
Wow Twigg, that's insane, I get to basically have a step by step instructional video series with an identical bus that's probably in identical condition! haha.
I wasn't originally planning on a roof raise, but with step by step on an identical bus available it's tempting.
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Don't underestimate that guy. He's laid back, but has some real skills. If your welding isn't up to scratch, it soon will be
Where in OK are you?
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10-22-2017, 08:05 PM
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#15
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 11
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My welding skills are NOT even in the same ballpark as his. Mediocre at best lol.
I am in the SW OKC/Moore area, you're more than welcome to come down and help me with the welding anytime you want!
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10-22-2017, 08:09 PM
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#16
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Okie
My welding skills are NOT even in the same ballpark as his. Mediocre at best lol.
I am in the SW OKC/Moore area, you're more than welcome to come down and help me with the welding anytime you want!
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I am not the droid you are looking for
Would be nice to see the bus sometime though.
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10-23-2017, 09:05 PM
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#17
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 11
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Man, after skim watching most of his videos I feel so inadequate lol. I was not planning on doing anywhere near that good of a job lol. Just basic tear out, insulation and buildout with minimal rust repair and paint.
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10-23-2017, 09:09 PM
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#18
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,848
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
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every buiold is different... there arep lenty of simple builds here as well as complex.. so build as you wish.. there are no 2 busses alike..
-Christopher
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10-23-2017, 10:03 PM
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#19
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid
every buiold is different... there arep lenty of simple builds here as well as complex.. so build as you wish.. there are no 2 busses alike..
-Christopher
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Agree with this.
However, watching a video series made by a guy who knows what he is doing sure does help with the "ideas" department.
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