Rust examples and evaluations

[Dapplecreek]

How 'bout folks post 'some rust' photos from auction sites, and the community here help us noobs evaluate their potential?

A rustless bus is certainly desirable, but SOME rust may be OK (and might be cheaper). Other buses with a bit of rust will show tremendous problems on further investigation. I will be able to purchase a bus soon, and need advice. Others may, too.

For starters, I found this one in New York: 2002 Intl 3000 65 passenger, DT466e, Allison 3060, 169K miles, starts, runs, taken out of service three months ago. See the listing here. But I see this in the photos:



Thoughts? Worth hiring someone to go out and look at the frame for rust, or just bail out based on what this shows?

[cowlitzcoach]

I would say look for another bus.

While the rust on that bumper will probably clean up okay, I would bet that underneath it is much, much worse.

[nwarner2010]

I looked at some NY buses and the rust was terrible underneath. I'd stay clear of a lot of the buses from NY. I ended up buying from Oklahoma.

[oricha1984]

My noob opinion. I recently bought a bus from infamous New Jersey. It had been undercoated with some black coat. It had no underside rust except for some on the rear bumper.

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[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by Dapplecreek

How 'bout folks post 'some rust' photos from auction sites, and the community here help us noobs evaluate their potential?

A rustless bus is certainly desirable, but SOME rust may be OK (and might be cheaper). Other buses with a bit of rust will show tremendous problems on further investigation. I will be able to purchase a bus soon, and need advice. Others may, too.

For starters, I found this one in New York: 2002 Intl 3000 65 passenger, DT466e, Allison 3060, 169K miles, starts, runs, taken out of service three months ago. See the listing here. But I see this in the photos:



Thoughts? Worth hiring someone to go out and look at the frame for rust, or just bail out based on what this shows?

are you going to use it for a moving van and then dump it? if so and you can get a cheapie bus with good drivetrain then I wouldnt worry so much about rust,.. if you plan to keep it then looking at rust along the stairs, emergency door sill, of course underside and any you find around the outside ribs can be concern..

ive seen some Bluebirds rust at almost every rivet location.. into the body metal.. that would be a concern.. I had a little floor rust on my Carpenter.. but nothing I think will cause my bus to fall apart in a few years..

from the one small pic in the post.. i would say that bus has the potential for some serious issues. but if thats the only place its rusted bad id say its not huge... sometimes busses are crashed and repaired sub-par but only show rust in one area.. those dont bother me..

-Christopher