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Old 06-26-2015, 11:51 AM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
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1989 GMC Thomas 366 gas bus

I am currently looking at a 89 GMC with a gas 366 engine to convert into a rv.

Before I buy it I'd like to know if anyone here has had any experience with this model bus. So pros and cons with the engine, etc.

What about converting the engine to use different fuel types or complete swaps. I don't plan on driving it much now, but would like it to be reliable for future use if I see I would like to travel more with it.

Also what is an average cost for inverter/converters. I browsed a few sites and I never see the prices.

General or detailed information about what I might run into with this project is appreciated.

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Old 06-26-2015, 01:28 PM   #2
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Hello and welcome to the madness, google Handy Bob's Solar blog and you will learn much about inverters and such.
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Old 06-26-2015, 01:39 PM   #3
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Cool. I sure will.
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Old 06-26-2015, 02:02 PM   #4
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Don't get a gas engine bus.
Unless you like 3mpg city and 4 highway.
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Old 06-26-2015, 02:13 PM   #5
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I really don't want gas, but a well maintenance bus for a good price is hard to pass. The benefits I see is I can rebuild a gas engine because i don't know enough to do that with a diesel. That's why I'm wondering about any possible swaps for a diesel. It's going to stay park till I buy a house.
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Old 06-26-2015, 02:51 PM   #6
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A swap will cost more than the bus is worth.
I took a gas bus once for free. That's the only way I'd want one. Cost me something like a dollar a mile just for the gas to get home.
Travel will cost 2-3x as much due to the fuel.

To me a gas bus is always easy to pass up. I really wouldn't have any use for it other than to try and sell it to someone.
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Old 06-26-2015, 03:19 PM   #7
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Yeah, no, don't get a gas bus. Your fuel costs will basically be twice that of an equivalent diesel bus. Besides they're usually underpowered and once you consider all the weight that comes with a skoolie conversion it becomes a really bad idea.

Engine swaps are a waste of time and money, IMO. Just keep looking for a diesel bus that's in your price range.
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Old 06-26-2015, 03:34 PM   #8
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Well where would be a good place to look for something diesel and priced well? I wanted to attend a school board auction, but missed it.

Now another question I have is would a mini split ac system work well on a bus. I read they do not spike to start up the compressor and that seem in my opinion like it would be better. I don't an window unit hanging out of the thing too.
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Old 06-26-2015, 04:19 PM   #9
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Year: 1989
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Engine: 429-4V Lima
I think it really depends on your situation. My gas school bus gets about 6 MPG, but that's okay with me because I got it pretty cheap at an auction, and I also don't plan on doing a ton of driving around in it. IIRC the last time I did the math I pay roughly 50 cents per mile to drive it around.

My plan is to move only once or twice a year, with maybe a short trip here or there to see a music festival or whatever. Had I planned on driving around the country, it would definitely NOT have made sense to buy a gasser. Also as someone else noted, gas engines can be easier to work on if that's what you're used to working with.
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Old 06-26-2015, 04:34 PM   #10
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@ Kafkaesque
I'm looking to live in it for awhile so it would be parked for long periods of time. Then once I'm out of it I'd like to use it on a hunting lease so I'd drink it to the lease and leave it till the season ends. What model bus u have?
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Old 06-26-2015, 04:50 PM   #11
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Bought mine from First Student a national chain with locations in many states:
First Student | Used School Bus Sales | Buy Yellow School Buses
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Old 06-26-2015, 07:26 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Nebuchadnezzar View Post
Bought mine from First Student a national chain with locations in many states:
First Student | Used School Bus Sales | Buy Yellow School Buses
That site is really bad for buying buses. There's no photos, literally the only information available is the body type, location and brake type.
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Old 06-26-2015, 09:24 PM   #13
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The yard was near by so I was able to go there and look them over
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Old 06-27-2015, 12:42 AM   #14
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There's several First Student terminals near my house, but they're all second-tier places that get all the old worn out crap from the bigger districts.

First Student has a reputation for squeezing every little bit of life they can out of their buses so I'm kind of wary when it comes to their used buses. But yeah, it helps to see the bus in person.
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Old 06-27-2015, 02:23 AM   #15
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If the bus is in good enough shape and has little rust,

Buy it do what you need for awhile, forget rebuilding the gasser, find a 5.9 Cummins to drop in and go.

The gasser just need to run good enough to get you home by the sound of it.

I find running 5.9 12 valve Cummins for $1000 all day around here.

A junkyard repower could be done for as little as $1500.

It all depends on what you have at your disposal for tools and other resources.

Nat
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Old 06-27-2015, 09:07 AM   #16
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Listen to Nat --- the 366 was never a good engine and has very few fans as a result. Nowadays it is a dinosaur anchor. Avoiding gas guzzlers and going with almost ANY diesel will will put you way ahead of the game. Go with a Cummins and it will make your life sooo much better.

Good luck on the hunt.
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Old 06-27-2015, 10:00 AM   #17
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International or Cummins. I prefer the DT466.
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Old 06-27-2015, 12:30 PM   #18
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5.9 Cummins for me, but DT444 is good as well.
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Old 06-27-2015, 07:44 PM   #19
Mini-Skoolie
 
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I'd like to keep the transmission. All I know so far about it tho is that it is an allsion. I don't know any details about it yet. I guess once I know what transmission it is then I can plan on what engine.

Any suggests on where to get waste and water tanks?

I've got a document on my laptop with prices and places for anything. Trying to get a game plan that I can use on basically bus that I get.
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Old 06-27-2015, 10:09 PM   #20
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Allison has made some truly great transmissins but like anything else...some are better than others. Example...the 543 is solid, but wastes gas and is a relic these days. While a newer five or six speed are just about as awesome as it gets. The model can make a huge difference.

As for tanks...I had great luck on Ebay. Took a fair amount of time and monitoring but I wound up with perfect fits for my fuel & gray water at great prices.

Best of luck with the hunt.
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