Seeking Advise on buying 2000 International Bus

[McJYB]

Hello, I am new to the Skoolie community and looking to buy a bus local to myself. I am seeking some advice on a few things regarding a specific bus that I may purchase.

It is a 2000 International Bus

Mini-bus (see images)

102,000

Asking $2,500
I think price can be negotiated

Engine Listed As: 7.3 Diesel Automatic (Not sure if it is Navistar 7.3 or the T444)
Transmission is unknown. I know I should be looking for the MT643 or MD3060 for optimal highway cruising.

Any suggestions on what to ask, what to look for, and potential dangers? Any advice for how to identify what engine and transmission is actually in the bus when I see it in-person? As a beginner, this seems like a good price, a good size for me, and a generally reliable looking vehicle.

I appreciate your help!

[cadillackid]

looks like the bus at some point lived in ohio.. be careful of rust..



navistar / International made the engines for ford diesels in that era.. ford called it a 7.3, International called it a T444E, same engine, different computers.. this is the international T444E (single bix computer)..


the chassis is made by International(model 3600), the body is a Thomas (called a vista)..



i can look up the original transmission with the VIN number but very few of these had anything other than an AT545 (or a stick was available)...

[McJYB]

Hey, thanks for the quick reply.

Was wondering of what you thought of the deal in general. Say rust isn’t too bad, transmission is standard with the AT545, and everything else checks out, would $2,500 be a fair deal?

Obviously, I am going to continue to do more research and I am not in a hurry to make a decision. Unless there is something worth snagging, I don’t want to end up with a huge issue.

I’d have to get that VIN for the transmission.

[nikitis]

$2500 is a fantastic deal for a running bus. Especially a Vista.

But yeah ensure it's running and not overly rusted etc. And expect to put some money into it as you fix it up as it will need somethings worked on.

[cadillackid]

AT545 depends on your use case.. are you planning to traverse the rockies or mainly stay on flat ground with mild mountains? the 545 doesnt like high speed travel esp over hills.


2500 is a good price for sure if it runs and drives as it should.. the 444E, if in good running order is generally a solid engine..


the VIN should be easy to get.. its a standard quesrtion to ask when looking to buy a vehicle, we can then not only look up the transmission but also the shipped-with tire sizes and rear end gears as well... would give you an idea of its cruising speed..

[McJYB]

I live in Ohio, and I don’t think I am planning on taking any routes that are exceptionally mountainous. It’d be a nice option tho. It is more just to get into nature with a bunch of friends for road trips and such.

Good highway speed is important to me. West Virginia hills are typically the only hilly roads I drive on during road trips. Is that an example of roads that are too hilly?

Awaiting response for that VIN. Is there a website that you are getting info from?

[heimlich]

That's a nice bus for $2500. Check it for rust. Get underneath with a light and take some pictures.

If the bus will start unscrew the oil fill cap and let it sit on the oil fill hole unscrewed. Have someone press on the accelerator pedal a little. If you see a lot of smoke or that cap flys off you know there is blowby. With only 100k miles there might not be any. You have to be careful with busses as the mileage shown is more often than not incorrect. Many times the ISDs changed out the cluster and the mileage shown is not right.

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by McJYB

I live in Ohio, and I don’t think I am planning on taking any routes that are exceptionally mountainous. It’d be a nice option tho. It is more just to get into nature with a bunch of friends for road trips and such.

Good highway speed is important to me. West Virginia hills are typically the only hilly roads I drive on during road trips. Is that an example of roads that are too hilly?

Awaiting response for that VIN. Is there a website that you are getting info from?

I blew up 2 545's driving from columbus to florida on a regular basis.. I dont drive crazy fast or anything.. but 2 differenty busses, 2 transmissions gave up... (neither bus has a 545 now).. my typical route to florida is either down I71 to I75 (my most favorite).. or down I77 to 26 to 95 ( more hills)...



its possible maybe they wouldve lasted longer with a big cooler but not sure ...

[McJYB]

Finally got the VIN on this thing. Previous buyer fell through (red flag?), and seller got me the VIN.

1HVBDABK9VH466689

Only question left is what transmission is on this thing. Likely the Allison 454 I’m sure, but maybe I get lucky.

Looks like a deal worth a drive out to where it is selling, especially if it can make the trip back home like it claims.

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by McJYB

Finally got the VIN on this thing. Previous buyer fell through (red flag?), and seller got me the VIN.

1HVBDABK9VH466689

Only question left is what transmission is on this thing. Likely the Allison 454 I’m sure, but maybe I get lucky.

Looks like a deal worth a drive out to where it is selling, especially if it can make the trip back home like it claims.

for some reasin repairlink wont bring this up. unsual.. 2000 is normally fully supported. pre 1995 usually is where i get the error..


running the above VIN through a general decoder came back as a 1997 3600 Vista bus chassis built in springfield ohio with a T444E engine.


it gave me a digit error.. which may be why repairlink cant find it.. however while it was able to read the vehicle desacriptor.. that doesnt have the transmission..

[McJYB]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

for some reasin repairlink wont bring this up. unsual.. 2000 is normally fully supported. pre 1995 usually is where i get the error..


running the above VIN through a general decoder came back as a 1997 3600 Vista bus chassis built in springfield ohio with a T444E engine.


it gave me a digit error.. which may be why repairlink cant find it.. however while it was able to read the vehicle desacriptor.. that doesnt have the transmission..

Oh yeah forgot to mention that it is a 1997. Original year listing was incorrect.

Are transmissions normally able to be listed in the VIN decoder? Never seen that actually come through before.

Anyways, I’m sure I’ll be able to figure it out when checking it out.

You mentioned that you’ve done some transmission swaps (replacements it sounds like actually). Any suggestions?

Thanks for all the help!

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by McJYB

Oh yeah forgot to mention that it is a 1997. Original year listing was incorrect.

Are transmissions normally able to be listed in the VIN decoder? Never seen that actually come through before.

Anyways, I’m sure I’ll be able to figure it out when checking it out.

You mentioned that you’ve done some transmission swaps (replacements it sounds like actually). Any suggestions?

Thanks for all the help!

the repairlink system i use is a repair parts online service.. so you can look up things like rear end gears, transmissions etc... i had hoped to find your bus in there but it didnt come up..



regular VIN decoders typically dont do transmissions or axles / gears..



transmission swaps which in my case were replacing AT545's with other (better) transmissions..



my redbyrd got an allison 1000 6 speed. being a single box computer it has the J1939 data lnk which makes the job easier... (that vista could be either in 97)..
installing an MT643 on a T444E can be done but requires finding a very elusive spacer ring part to do so... ive seen T444E in their later years running MD3060's but havent done a swap on one of those..

[nikitis]

97 is going to be a 3box Vista. It's pretty much my bus on the body design and methods, same engine, likely an AT545, and snub nose so the engine is pushed in a tad. If there are no Check Engine Warning lights on it then the computers are good, and is a fine bus for $2500 even with an AT545 imo, but you won't go fast until a transmission upgrade is done.