1999 E450 Shuttle Bus-Good, bad?

[Dailybee23]

Help me, please, need to make a decision about a bus!

Looking at possibly getting a 1999 E450 Shuttle Bus, it's 7.3 liter PowerStroke V8 Turbo Diesel.
Does anyone know anything about the 1999 Ford Econoline 450 Shuttle Buses? Are there anything about these buses that's particularly bad? Good? Better shuttle buses out there to buy? I'm just not finding much particular information on them.

On a side note, the bus has some rusting on the ribbing and it came from a bus fleet that was on the Oregon cost. Due to COVID-19 I haven't been able to get a super good close look of it underneath. It has 196000 miles

[okienomads]

It all depends on the cost. The 7.3 is very serviceable but that’s a lot of miles if it’s not $2000.

[TheArgobus]

Here's my personal opinion: I'd get it. I looked for busses for a year, and one finally popped up that met nearly all my hard requirements: short school bus (sorry, shuttle busses aren't for me), in the same state from a location with no rust (LA), and the 7.3L Powerstroke engine. I am not a mechanic and am not able to do my own maintenance, mainly because a) I don't know what I'm doing, and b) I don't have a lift in my driveway. All of my research said that the 7.3L Powerstroke is one of the best and most reliable engines ever made, and can easily go 1,000,000 miles if properly cared for. My mechanic even made the point when I brought it in after purchasing that I had a real gem under the hood, and he reamed the other shortie skoolie in the lot for having the 6.0L successor (and how it's always in the lot).


Anyway, I think this is a good deal and you should pull the trigger if it meets your personal requirements. For your SA: I bought mine from a bus dealership, with an automatic transmission, no rust, 4 windows/rows, and 330,000 miles for $2,500 total. A year later, I had to rebuild the transmission for $3,100 (with extras) and the rear differential for $2000, but now I see it as a got the exact bus/engine I was looking for, with a brand new transmission and rear differential for ~$7,000 and I think it is totally worth it.


This is just my unprofessional opinion though.

[petieboy]

@Dailybee:


My 1997 E350 I bought for $1000, not running. Even though it had 268,000 on it I knew there couldn't be much wrong with it. I gambled and it paid off. I found the heating element in the bottom of the fuel filter bowl failed blowing the fuse to the powertrain control module. I replace the heater, fuel filter, and fuse the primed the system. It fired up and purrs like a kitten. I think the 7.3L powerstrokes are well suited to the E series vehicles and as stated they are a 1,000,000 mile motor when cared for.



The E series fords are really no different than a full size van is in their weight rating. My E350 is rated for 10,000 pounds and I am building to not exceed that rating. So if you are planning to put in granite countertops then forget the E series vehicles....

[Dailybee23]

Well, it just the rust that bothers me. There is rusting underneath the bus and it was apart of a bus fleet on the coast for awhile. I like pretty much everything about it, other than those things... They want 8,000 for it. But thats because they 've done insulating on it, electrical, etc. its also running.

[Oscar1]

Originally Posted by Dailybee23

Well, it just the rust that bothers me. There is rusting underneath the bus and it was apart of a bus fleet on the coast for awhile. I like pretty much everything about it, other than those things... They want 8,000 for it. But thats because they 've done insulating on it, electrical, etc. its also running.

Not sure what that means, they've done insulating and electrical on it? It's also running? For $8000 it better be running and damn well. That seems like a lot of cash for a 21yr old van with rust.
Just my opinion.

[peakbus]

Prices are all over the place. Shuttles seem to be higher but usually have more headroom. My 03 Ford 450 school bus came with little rust and a rebuilt 7.3 with 12k on it. Price at auction $1,800. But I was very lucky (so far).

[Oscar1]

Originally Posted by peakbus

Prices are all over the place. Shuttles seem to be higher but usually have more headroom. My 03 Ford 450 school bus came with little rust and a rebuilt 7.3 with 12k on it. Price at auction $1,800. But I was very lucky (so far).

That's my point! Not $8000

[Johnny Mullet]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itqFujdwL5w

[Danjo]

$8K?!?!?!

That’s way too much even if it had a complete solar array with a few hundred Ah of batteries an inverter, and a generator - all brand new.

[Dailybee23]

Thank you guys for all your responses and the video!

[Oscar1]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mullet

Give it 10 minutes O whompin!! Love it.
Seriously Johnny awesome vid great inspection.
Double thumbs for you