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Old 03-08-2018, 07:37 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Thoughts on this BUS 97 Blue Bird AA 8.3L

Im looking for a bus, found this today. Your thoughts on price and make. They said the engine was just rebuilt. Why would they rebuild a bus with only 233,000miles? Thanks

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sg...507898580.html

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Old 03-08-2018, 08:24 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by Alexjpx View Post
Im looking for a bus, found this today. Your thoughts on price and make. They said the engine was just rebuilt. Why would they rebuild a bus with only 233,000miles? Thanks

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sg...507898580.html
Bus engines are considered "Severe Duty" in most applications.

A rebuild at 233k is not unusual or unexpected.
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Old 03-08-2018, 08:27 PM   #3
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Thanks for the response. I appreciate it
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Old 03-08-2018, 08:50 PM   #4
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Thanks for the response. I appreciate it
I'll respond a bit more:

All diesel truck engines have something called a "B50", and most a "B10" too.

The B50 is the mileage at which 50% of the engines could expect to need a rebuild, under Normal service.

The B10 is the mileage by which 10% of the engines could expect a rebuild.

For most of our engines, the B50 ranges from 350 to 500 thousand miles, with corresponding B10 figures of maybe 200k miles.

So even for a medium truck engine in a medium truck, we could expect 10% of the engines to need rebuilding at the mileage you quoted.

In a bus, particularly a school bus, the usage pattern drops the engine into "severe" duty and those numbers come down. Depending on how the bus was used, they can come down a long way.

The good news is that some engines can be rebuilt at home for maybe $2k, and once it's done, the expected life of the engine will not be the School Bus use, but your use.

Rebuild a Cummins 8.3 or Navistar DT466, and look after it, and you have just built up to half a million miles into its life.
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Old 03-08-2018, 09:00 PM   #5
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8.3 in that bus is a plus as well as the fact it is still in operation. $11000 is about $7k to much. Hopefully not you, but someone will overpay for that bus.

The ones that concern me are the ones with 70k on them and have already had an engine and trans rebuild.
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Old 03-08-2018, 09:14 PM   #6
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4k? I see a lot of buses go for around that but not all american re with the 8.3. Or at least I haven't see any in the last few months. Not looking to drive across country. Any tips on places to look? Thanks
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Old 03-08-2018, 09:25 PM   #7
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4k? I see a lot of buses go for around that but not all american re with the 8.3. Or at least I haven't see any in the last few months. Not looking to drive across country. Any tips on places to look? Thanks
Mine was $4k, you can see it in my threads. I went 500 miles to get it. It is the Thomas equivalent of the All American from Blue Bird, with the added bonus of a high ceiling.
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Old 03-08-2018, 09:30 PM   #8
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4k? I see a lot of buses go for around that but not all american re with the 8.3. Or at least I haven't see any in the last few months. Not looking to drive across country. Any tips on places to look? Thanks
I'll admit there are not a lot of 8.3's around, but that doesn't make it a $4k option to me. Give me a minute and I'll look.
None with an 8.3, but there are 25 Type D buses for sale on PublicSurplus, every one listed as "non running", what's that all about? All starting at $925.
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Old 03-08-2018, 09:37 PM   #9
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I'll admit there are not a lot of 8.3's around, but that doesn't make it a $4k option to me. Give me a minute and I'll look.
None with an 8.3, but there are 25 Type D buses for sale on PublicSurplus, every one listed as "non running", what's that all about? All starting at $925.
"Non-running" is difficult.

The best bargains are there but unless you know more.

Many just have flat batteries but the seller doesn't want to say the bus is a runner.
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Old 03-08-2018, 09:45 PM   #10
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So many in Florida. The 1 in Las Vegas look promising.

Item is a 2004 Thomas Saf-T- Liner school bus. Equipped with Cummins ISC engine, Allison automatic transmission, air conditioning, and adjustable pedals. This unit is in currently NON- RUNNING condition due to hydraulic fan motor failure. The engine does run and the unit will move under its own power but only for short distances due to no engine cooling fan. Batteries would need to be installed before attempting to start the engine. ( see photo`s). Offered at no reserve.
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Old 03-08-2018, 09:57 PM   #11
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"Non-running" is difficult.

The best bargains are there but unless you know more.

Many just have flat batteries but the seller doesn't want to say the bus is a runner.
Seems to me that if that's the case it would behoove you check them out with your batteries and if it's a good one, hope no one bids up the non running bus. 25 to choose from. I still say that anyone listing like this is a fool. You will certainly lose more than the cost of batteries in auctions like that.
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Old 03-08-2018, 10:13 PM   #12
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Seems to me that if that's the case it would behoove you check them out with your batteries and if it's a good one, hope no one bids up the non running bus. 25 to choose from. I still say that anyone listing like this is a fool. You will certainly lose more than the cost of batteries in auctions like that.
Best to chat with the mechanics if you can.

Many sites will let you inspect the bus, but not start or drive it.
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Old 03-08-2018, 10:15 PM   #13
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If not having an 8.3 is ideal breaker it might be hard to find as good a deal as one without. Lots of that bus with a DT466 for dirt cheap there.
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Old 03-08-2018, 10:23 PM   #14
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Not a deal breaker. The dt466 is great too from what I've read. I just have an eye for the All Americans for some reason. I don't really know anything about buses and basing my opinions on nothing. I was originally going to get a crown until my wife saw a bus with a roof raise.
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Old 03-08-2018, 10:37 PM   #15
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Not a deal breaker. The dt466 is great too from what I've read. I just have an eye for the All Americans for some reason. I don't really know anything about buses and basing my opinions on nothing. I was originally going to get a crown until my wife saw a bus with a roof raise.
I also wanted a long bus and narrowed down my search to the BBAA A3FE or the Thomas MPV-EF. Thomas won out as it has screws instead of rivits in it's construction, a huge plus for me as I have some minor physical limitations. The BBAA's usually came with the Cummins 5.9/AT545 combo, that while not bad (except for the 99-01 "59' block), is not desirable for high speed or high mountain passes. The bigger motors are out there in the BBAA's, but they are not plentiful.

Nice handful of BBAA's with DT466's in Fla. I'll call tomorrow and see if I can find out the non runner issue. If it's just batteries I have to make a trip to sunny Fla.
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Old 03-14-2018, 05:33 PM   #16
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https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/c...6530808124.htm.

Thoughts on this? I was thinking if i went with a 78" interior i could avoid a roof raise. Are all re3000 78"?
Everyone says they got their bus for 4-5k but I don't see anything g going for that. What do you think the value of this should be? Thanks all
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Old 03-14-2018, 07:07 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by Alexjpx View Post
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/c...6530808124.htm.

Thoughts on this? I was thinking if i went with a 78" interior i could avoid a roof raise. Are all re3000 78"?
Everyone says they got their bus for 4-5k but I don't see anything g going for that. What do you think the value of this should be? Thanks all
It's gone.

On your other point ... I bought a bus with a 78" ceiling to avoid a roof-raise.

And yeah, mine was $4k. Spec is at the side of this comment.
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Old 03-14-2018, 07:17 PM   #18
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https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/c...530808124.html

Sorry, here it is.
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Old 03-14-2018, 07:20 PM   #19
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Well it's expensive. It's also an '05 which means emissions stuff you don't want.

That said, it is being sold by a dealer with a very strong reputation for treating people very well. If I were looking at dealer buses, I'd look there first.

That price will be negotiable, but it's still going to be high, and an '05 can still be put into service transporting kids, so the price might not come down much as you are competing in a different market to buses even only two or three years older.
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Old 03-14-2018, 07:31 PM   #20
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https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/c...530800432.html

They do have a 1999 for a grand less. At what age do they have to be decommissioned?
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