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06-22-2007, 09:32 PM
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#1
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
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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!!!!
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Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
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06-27-2007, 01:54 AM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: near flint michigan
Posts: 2,657
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Re: Big Blue Too
good luck!
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Quis custodiet ipsos custodes (who will watch the watchmen?)
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08-27-2007, 06:34 PM
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#3
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
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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?
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Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
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08-27-2007, 06:59 PM
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#4
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Savage, MN
Posts: 472
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International
Engine: 7.3 diesel
Rated Cap: 14
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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.
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08-27-2007, 07:13 PM
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#5
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
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Re: Big Blue Too
I forgot to mention, the seats are already removed!
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Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
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08-27-2007, 09:01 PM
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#6
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 263
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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?
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08-27-2007, 10:10 PM
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#7
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 786
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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...
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08-27-2007, 11:06 PM
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#8
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
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Re: Big Blue Too
it's 35 ft, 72 passenger
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Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
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08-28-2007, 05:22 PM
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#9
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: May 2007
Location: near Ithaca New York
Posts: 22
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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.
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08-28-2007, 06:25 PM
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#10
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
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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!
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Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
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08-29-2007, 08:28 PM
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#11
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 758
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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!
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Sounds like a real nice one!
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08-29-2007, 08:36 PM
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#12
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
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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.
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Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
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08-31-2007, 03:16 AM
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#13
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
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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!
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Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
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09-02-2007, 06:44 PM
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#14
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
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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.
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Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
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09-02-2007, 07:33 PM
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#15
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Off-Grid
Posts: 740
Year: 1982
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: IH S1723
Engine: IH V345 Gas V8
Rated Cap: 66
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Re: Big Blue Too
Glad to hear you made it home safe & sound, congrats on an uneventful (mostly) maiden voyage!
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~(G)Q Arduously Avoiding Assimilation
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09-02-2007, 07:49 PM
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#16
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 758
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Re: Big Blue Too
Quote:
Originally Posted by bdavis441
We made it home!
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Good news!
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09-05-2007, 06:59 PM
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#17
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
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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.
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Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
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09-05-2007, 08:31 PM
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#18
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Almost There
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 77
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Re: Big Blue Too
electric door in the front? does it have a locking mechanism on it?
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09-05-2007, 09:18 PM
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#19
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
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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.
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Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
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09-06-2007, 05:12 PM
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#20
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 274
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Re: Big Blue Too
measured the ceiling height just for fun........6'5"!
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Brad Davis
79 International Wayne
"Big Blue"
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