Bought a Bus, advice on getting it home.

[strange times]

Greetings Skoolie friends. I bought a bus! Seeking Advice on pre-trip engine prep? I have a 500 miles trip to home.

She was built for Military Base Fort Jackson in South Carolina.

99 Blue Bird 140,00 miles 5.9 24v with dreaded at545, ( plan to swap out ) also Not a 53 block. Has 4.44 rear gearing. 77' inch ceiling hight and great tires.

Fluids seem clean and full. What would you experienced guys do before embarking on a long trip?

I know she needs a bath, sitting under oaks lol.


Thanks in advance.

[EastCoastCB]

All I ever do is check the fluids and tires, stick some batteries in em and go.

[strange times]

Thats my current state of mind right now too! She starts right up and hums like a sowing machine. Though I read something long long ago and can't remember exactly, to change fuel filter often with these 5.9's?

[EastCoastCB]

IDk. I'd drive it home and change the fuel filter. Fuel filters are just something I do on every new-to-me bus.
I just last year did ALL the fluids and filters on mine. Not too bad. Same as a car just much bigger.


Maybe take a grease gun and give the u-joints some grease for that 500 mile trip.

[strange times]

Good call on the grease gun. Thank you!

[TomA]

Get a laser pointer temperature pistol so that you can stop frequently to check the wheel bearing temperatures, and shoot the outlet neck on the engine to validate your temperature gauge reading. Cheap insurance...

[strange times]

Great idea! The wheel bearing temp I've never heard of before.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by strange times

Great idea! The wheel bearing temp I've never heard of before.

I've not gone as far as to check the temp, but always check and make sure the hubs are full of decent looking oil. Its easy to check and easy to drain and refill if needed. The temp gun would be nice, too. Give em a look while fueling up.

[bus-bro]

Also, look at all the belts and hoses on the engine, transmission, and steering. Have a spare fuel filter for the journey, and maybe some filtered fuel (you might be able to pull that from a petcock on your running engine). You want to fill filter canister with clean fuel when replacing the filter, otherwise you might need to prime the fuel system (something that's nice to know how to do.)

That first journey is always a whistle and a prayer kind of thing. Remarkably most, knowing next to nothing about buses or diesels, succeed in that journey

[TomA]

Originally Posted by bus-bro

That first journey is always a whistle and a prayer kind of thing. Remarkably most, knowing next to nothing about buses or diesels, succeed in that journey

Yeah, that always amuses me. I have been on both sides of it- totally unprepared kid with $100 in my pocket plowing a then 25 year old barn find '57 Chevy through steady snow from Ohio through Chicago rush hour on flat-spotted bias ply tires, dim headlights, and a leaky single pot master cylinder- zero issues. home for dinner; then years later in a truck I brought tools and fluids to and went through for two hours -serviced everything- transmission blew on the 35 mile trip home- on the South Side of Chicago.



St. Christopher seems to favor the foolish...

[BlackJohn]

Bus engines have many hose clamps. Tighten everyone you can spot. Crawl underneath too for a look at everything in general.
Peace of mind doesn't have to cost a lot but an unwillingness to get dirty might. Take rags and hand cleaner just in case.
Let er roll!


John

[bus-bro]

Originally Posted by TomA

then years later in a truck I brought tools and fluids to and went through for two hours -serviced everything- transmission blew on the 35 mile trip home- on the South Side of Chicago.

That sure sucks!

[Ranchorossa]

Bring tool, lots and lots of them. Duct tape, electrical tape, road side emergency equipment, 5 gallons of fuel, drinking water, spare food and a sleeping bag. Couldn't hurt to change the oil before the trip home. If you can get the service records, see what maintenance has been done and what might need to be done. Better to be over prepared than than under. Drive safe and have fun. The first drive is always the most intense.