Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 06-22-2007, 09:32 PM   #1
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
1993 Carpenter/Spartan

Well folks, I've done it again. After selling Big Blue, I started shopping almost immediately for the next bus. I've got a deposit on a 1993 Carpenter/Spartan (flatnose front engine) It's got a 5.9ISB, will run 70mph and gets 13.5mpg at 55. It's in Florida right now. Ican't wait to get it home and get started!!!!

__________________
Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
bdavis441 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-27-2007, 01:54 AM   #2
Bus Geek
 
lapeer20m's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: near flint michigan
Posts: 2,657
Re: Big Blue Too

good luck!
__________________
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes (who will watch the watchmen?)
lapeer20m is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2007, 06:34 PM   #3
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
Re: Big Blue Too

I'm flying to Florida to pick up my bus from Greg Archambault on Friday. I've finally paid it off (by buying/selling used cars, but that's another topic entirely!) Got the insurance paid up (GMAC $199 for 6mo) and purchased the CampingWorld roadside assistance plan. I'm so darn excited, I can't stand it. I'm taking my white-collar bank executive brother with me. I try to keep him true to his roots, driving 1000 miles in a used school bus and sleeping in a Wal-Mart parking lot ought to keep him grounded. I wonder if he'll tell his co-workers what he did over the holiday weekend?
__________________
Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
bdavis441 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2007, 06:59 PM   #4
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Savage, MN
Posts: 472
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International
Engine: 7.3 diesel
Rated Cap: 14
Re: Big Blue Too

I tried sleeping in a walmart parking lot on my way home with the bus and it wasn't easy with the lot lights on all night. The only thing that made it even a little possible for me was I brough plenty of blankets that I could hang up over the windows and the fact that I had open floor space for wheelchairs I was able to use airbeds for comfort. On a side not if you want to use airbeds you can get some plywood on the way home get it and lay it across the top of the seats. I have heard of some people that did this on a snowmobile trip using a school bus that had to stay a school bus.

I will say good luck getting home and most important have fun on the way home and do stop to see places if you can afford the time to stop since you are going through.
wmah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2007, 07:13 PM   #5
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
Re: Big Blue Too

I forgot to mention, the seats are already removed!
__________________
Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
bdavis441 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2007, 09:01 PM   #6
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 263
Re: Big Blue Too

how long is it? I am guessing 30 or less if it gets 13.5 mpg, or can a big bus get that much?
pete c is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2007, 10:10 PM   #7
Bus Nut
 
phillbus914's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 786
Re: Big Blue Too

I have the same engine in my bus and I've gotten close to that. My best tank was 12.5MPG but that was running 55-60mph the whole way. I can run 75mph but then I get about 6.5 so speed makes a big diffrence.

Gearing would also be a big factor...
__________________
My Old Bus :(
phillbus914 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2007, 11:06 PM   #8
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
Re: Big Blue Too

it's 35 ft, 72 passenger
__________________
Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
bdavis441 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2007, 05:22 PM   #9
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: near Ithaca New York
Posts: 22
Re: Big Blue Too

it's 35 ft, 72 passenger!?
The buses at my school are 38 footer Freightliner FS65s and they can only hold 65 or 66 kids.
U-Haul is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2007, 06:25 PM   #10
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
Re: Big Blue Too

I'm buying it from Greg at floridachurchbus.com. That's what it says on his website under the other buses just like this one. As a reference, my 1979 Wayne dog-nose was a 66 passenger and was 35 ft long, the flatnose should have more inside space so just 2 more seats would be 6 more kids equaling 72 correct?

here's what it says on the site:

1993 Carpenter 72 passenger - 35' long
Spartan chassis... perhaps the nicest driving buses ever built!
5.9L ISB Cummins turbocharged 6 cylinder diesel engine.
Allison MT643 automatic with locking torque converter.
4 wheel anti-lock disk brakes!
__________________
Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
bdavis441 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2007, 08:28 PM   #11
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 758
Re: Big Blue Too

Quote:
1993 Carpenter 72 passenger - 35' long
Spartan chassis... perhaps the nicest driving buses ever built!
5.9L ISB Cummins turbocharged 6 cylinder diesel engine.
Allison MT643 automatic with locking torque converter.
4 wheel anti-lock disk brakes!
Sounds like a real nice one!
Abbott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2007, 08:36 PM   #12
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
Re: Big Blue Too

I hope so! I've got a fair amount of rust repair to do, but I am a sheetmetal worker, so that's easy. I concentrated on finding the best deal on the driveline. I think $2500 was pretty good considering it's hard to find a good used 5.9 ISB alone for under $4000.
__________________
Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
bdavis441 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2007, 03:16 AM   #13
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
Re: Big Blue Too

it's 3:30 an and I'm heading to the airport to go to Fla. I'll post some pics of the new baby when we get home!
__________________
Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
bdavis441 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2007, 06:44 PM   #14
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
Re: Big Blue Too

We made it home! The bus performed flawlessly except for when we ran out of fuel. The fuel gauge works, BUT 1/2 is really EMPTY. Now I know. I'll post some pictures later, I need to spend some time with the family.
__________________
Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
bdavis441 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2007, 07:33 PM   #15
Bus Nut
 
Griff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Off-Grid
Posts: 740
Year: 1982
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: IH S1723
Engine: IH V345 Gas V8
Rated Cap: 66
Re: Big Blue Too

Glad to hear you made it home safe & sound, congrats on an uneventful (mostly) maiden voyage!
__________________
~(G)Q Arduously Avoiding Assimilation
Griff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2007, 07:49 PM   #16
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 758
Re: Big Blue Too

Quote:
Originally Posted by bdavis441
We made it home!
Good news!
Abbott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2007, 06:59 PM   #17
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
Re: Big Blue Too

Still have to post some pics, but I'd thought I'd fill everyone in on the features that influenced my decision to buy this bus.

Flat nose front engine
5.9 Cummins ISB 150Kmiles
Allison 643 trans
Like new tires
one piece (budd?) wheels
really neat electric door (bonus I didn't know it had until I picked it up)
Telescoping tilt wheel
4wheel anti-lock disc brakes

after a 1030 mile "shakedown" run, man I love it! Cruised about 2500rpm at 55-60 putting the pedal down to climb hills and never dropped below 50. got over 10mpg. she is rusty, but I'm a sheetmetal worker, no problem. It drives absolutely beautiful, as easy as a car (only bigger) and it makes that neat whistling noise when you push on the accelerator! Right now it's pretty ugly, but I'm pretty happy with what I got for $2500

More to come, pictures soon, I promise.
__________________
Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
bdavis441 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2007, 08:31 PM   #18
Almost There
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 77
Re: Big Blue Too

electric door in the front? does it have a locking mechanism on it?
behappystupi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2007, 09:18 PM   #19
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
Re: Big Blue Too

No locking mechanism...yet. It has a momentary toggle on the side of the bus, push forward to open, back to close. I plan on putting a keyed switch on to disable the exterior switch, effectively locking the door from the outside, but still allowing someone inside to exit.
__________________
Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
bdavis441 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2007, 05:12 PM   #20
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
Re: Big Blue Too

measured the ceiling height just for fun........6'5"!
__________________
Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
bdavis441 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
1993 bluebird 1993bluebird Everything Else | General Skoolie Discussions 11 03-27-2023 01:27 PM
1993 Carpenter Door Switch dangerron Everything Else | General Skoolie Discussions 0 12-09-2008 03:25 PM
Crown/Spartan Is this a good bus to convert? Elliot Naess Conversion General Discussions 1 11-18-2008 04:39 PM
1993 Carpenter/Spartan Flatnose FE Cummins bdavis441 Classifieds | Buy, Sell, Swap 0 10-16-2008 05:24 PM
$10,000 1993 International?? Wolfman Conversion General Discussions 3 03-13-2006 04:16 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:34 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.