86 Bluebird 8.2 Detroit Turbo

[huff0026]

Hey, I need some advice. We are looking to purchase 86 bluebird flatnose front engine bus already converted with 4,900 original miles on it. I know that doesn't sound right, but the owner states it was used as a hospital office, and was never driven. I also know there is a lot of neg about the detroit, but the bus is completely done and done well, would the engine scare you away? Also, it comes with a marathon pancake 12.5 generator. Anyone know anything about that?

[lornaschinske]

Well, it didn't scare us away and our bus does very well in the mpg area.

[huff0026]

Well, this generator is a separate diesel that doesn't run off the main engine, but the bus is a turbo. We were concerned about it having sat and not been run, too. The owner says the bus shouldn't have high hours though, that it was driven to destination and cut off (hospital billing bus..)

[bus-bro]

It's better to not start at all, than to run for five minutes a month.

[huff0026]

http://tampa.craigslist.org/psc/rvs/3703198310.html This is the bus, we are leaving in a couple of hours, drive all night to look at it. We've never driven a front engine bus, so we would like to see how it drives. He says it's not loud but I've read otherwise, we'll see about that too. We have looked at buses for a long time, we decided to save up so we could get one already converted, but we also wanted a rear. Wonder if we will wish we had went with a rear.

[inkblots84]

Wow that bus is awesome! Definitely let us know how the sound is in the front engine. It might be a worthy sacrifice for a little noise compared to all the work that's already done!

Edited for not so smart phone spelling.

[bus-bro]

Way ahead with that one. You can curse the dog house later.

[huff0026]

Well, I know I am a little late following up with this post, but we did not buy this bus and later sorta thought later it was a better deal than we thought at the time. The engine seemed good, ran good, drove great, and actually had a super insulated dog box and wasn't too loud.