The Nuke Bus

EastCoastCB · 04-16-2018, 06:46 AM

Kubla picked this up while he was down for our wedding.
Its a 2002 (I think) Thomas 35' FE with 5.9, Allison 2000, AC, high headroom, and 90k original miles. It was used to haul employees to a nuke plant. Even came with some cool nuke paraphernalia. Solid body, solid underside, no rust anywhere other than a few rusty screws!

I put two new batteries in it, cleaned and painted the battery box/tray, and have been doing a general cleaning of it. Must have been used in a dirt/clay lot a whole lot as it was all covered in dust.

Dixie likes this bus!

That's Jesse, another forum member, helping wash all the dust and clay off the underside.

Nice, solid bus!!! We're gonna get some new tires for it, maybe slap a new coat of white on it, clean it up more and remove most of the seats. Then it will likely go up on CL and Ebay.

Unless I can convince Roxy to let me keep it.

Miles O Roads · 04-16-2018, 11:45 AM

One ahead being white,dont even have to paint to convert to rv. Looks decent.

dbhost · 04-16-2018, 01:18 PM

You are a couple of steps ahead of most of the crowd...

#!. No need to paint to get legal...
#2. No school bus lights, stop sign etc... to remove.

Good looking bus too.

Any concerns with this having been used in the nuke industry?

o1marc · 04-16-2018, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbhost

You are a couple of steps ahead of most of the crowd...

#!. No need to paint to get legal...
#2. No school bus lights, stop sign etc... to remove.

Good looking bus too.

Any concerns with this having been used in the nuke industry?

You mean other than that white paint that glows in the dark?

EastCoastCB · 04-16-2018, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miles O Roads

One ahead being white,dont even have to paint to convert to rv. Looks decent.

A day of prep and $75 worth of paint would make it ACTUALLY look good.

EastCoastCB · 04-16-2018, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbhost

You are a couple of steps ahead of most of the crowd...

#!. No need to paint to get legal...
#2. No school bus lights, stop sign etc... to remove.

Good looking bus too.

Any concerns with this having been used in the nuke industry?

Whoever buys it will be. I already have a bus. And in FL you can totally leave your bus yellow if you want.
Nope none at all.
In Fl we're surrounded by nuke plants.

Miles O Roads · 04-16-2018, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by o1marc

You mean other than that white paint that glows in the dark?

Added visabilty for safety.

cadillackid · 04-16-2018, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Whoever buys it will be. I already have a bus. And in FL you can totally leave your bus yellow if you want.
Nope none at all.

In Fl we're surrounded by nuke plants.

I still think it looks like a nice bus... dont understand why he doesnt want it!
-Christopher

o1marc · 04-20-2018, 10:33 AM

Could be a good deal, can't say though as no purchase or selling price has been mentioned. I'd bet all the work he is doing to it will price it out of my range.

EastCoastCB · 04-20-2018, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by o1marc

Could be a good deal, can't say though as no purchase or selling price has been mentioned. I'd bet all the work he is doing to it will price it out of my range.

How much is a rust free bus with a nice drivetrain, less than a hundred thousand miles, new tires, new batteries, new water pump, and fresh fluids worth? May even put some fresh white paint on it for the heck of it, too.

I'll have to get some more interior pics, but its got the aircraft style ac like Brokedown's Bluebird. And it has some comfy, reclined transit style seats. I'll be keeping a few of those for my shorty!

o1marc · 04-20-2018, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

How much is a rust free bus with a nice drivetrain, less than a hundred thousand miles, new tires, new batteries, new water pump, and fresh fluids worth? May even put some fresh white paint on it for the heck of it, too.

I'll have to get some more interior pics, but its got the aircraft style ac like Brokedown's Bluebird. And it has some comfy, reclined transit style seats. I'll be keeping a few of those for my shorty!

I don't know, how about a clue?
If it is indeed only 35' it is probably too short for me.

EastCoastCB · 04-20-2018, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by o1marc

I don't know, how about a clue?
If it is indeed only 35' it is probably too short for me.

I mean, I don't really know what Kubla's gonna ask for it.
I'm going to spend a few weeks getting it cleaned up and once we get the tires replaced and we can drive it around a bit we'll probably have that all figured out.
Its gotta get tires no matter what, as one of the rears blew when he was arriving from picking it up. They're dry rotted. Still lots of tread, but that dry rot I always warn about- I'd rather have a bald tire than a dry rotted tire.

EastCoastCB · 06-10-2018, 07:40 AM

Kubla's found a deal on tires. But they're 315/80r22.5's.
Anyone went up from 11R's on a similar bus?
IF they'll fit without rubbing we'll be all set.

Kubla · 06-10-2018, 10:31 AM

Did not get the tires, so the search is still on

EastCoastCB · 07-31-2018, 05:09 PM

I finally got to the air filter. Two busted fingers/knuckles and about 45 mins to get the damned lower pan off the airbox.
After all that I found the filter to be pretty much brand new.
Now to get new stainless fasteners to replace ALL the ones on the airbox since they sheared right off once I was able to get a wrench on both sides.
Thomas/Cummins airbox is a joke compared to the Navistar and Cat units.

Started it up and moved it around a bit.

Getting ten gallons of fresh fuel and adding some Hotshot's stuff to the oil and fuel next.
Then another round of cleaning/degreasing and seat removal this weekend. As long as the weather permits it.

Such a nice bus overall. A diamond in the rough for sure.

EastCoastCB · 05-28-2019, 09:10 AM

anyone wanting a high headroom bus with lower miles and overdrive shoot me or Kubla a PM.

EastCoastCB · 06-11-2019, 02:15 PM

gonna stick a price on this one of $4500. That's with the rear tires replaced, new water pump, and if you want I'll yank out the seats for a hundo.
Its a low mile bus that's not yellow!

HazMatt · 06-11-2019, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

gonna stick a price on this one of $4500. That's with the rear tires replaced, new water pump, and if you want I'll yank out the seats for a hundo.
Its a low mile bus that's not yellow!

I b'lieve I heard tell of somebody or 'tother might could use that rig..!

EastCoastCB · 06-11-2019, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haz.matt.1960

I b'lieve I heard tell of somebody or 'tother might could use that rig..!

Its just an extra bus right now waiting for its owner to claim it.

CMORGANSKOOL · 06-11-2019, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Kubla's found a deal on tires. But they're 315/80r22.5's.
Anyone went up from 11R's on a similar bus?
IF they'll fit without rubbing we'll be all set.

I had the Chinese Roadlux 11r 22.5 tires I got at Walmart.com installed yesterday. They look like they're well made for $235. My trucker buddy recommends you buy a name brand like cooper, firestone or michellin if you're doing any serious miles because the Chinese tires wear out in 100k vs 3-500k on a michellin and make sure the drive tires have a relief notch on the edge to prevent premature burn off. I won't put 100k on mine before they age out.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Roadlux-R...6ply/490423274

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