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11-28-2017, 09:37 AM
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#1
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Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 110
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Greetings!
I am wanting to convert a school bus. My preference would be a flat nose, rear engine bus. I don't want a 40 footer. Do they come in a shorter length? I appreciate your help. Thank you. Debbie
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11-28-2017, 02:24 PM
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#2
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,264
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: IH
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by debbiejay4444
I am wanting to convert a school bus. My preference would be a flat nose, rear engine bus. I don't want a 40 footer. Do they come in a shorter length? I appreciate your help. Thank you. Debbie
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Yes. Many shorter buses are front engine, but a few rear-engine ones are out there.
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11-28-2017, 03:51 PM
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#3
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Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 110
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad_SwiftFur
Yes. Many shorter buses are front engine, but a few rear-engine ones are out there.
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Thank you, Brad. I appreciate your response.
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11-28-2017, 04:03 PM
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#4
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
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There are SOME 36' Thomas diesel pushers that MIGHT still be found in Maryland..... Keep you eye on GovDeals or some of the other auction sites. I know Porkchopsandwiches and another builder got their 36' buses from MD. I'm not sure if anyone built a shorter diesel pusher than Thomas. Please correct me if I'm wrong.....
For what it's worth.....
M
__________________
Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence. — George Washington
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11-28-2017, 05:41 PM
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#5
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Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 110
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M1031A1
There are SOME 36' Thomas diesel pushers that MIGHT still be found in Maryland..... Keep you eye on GovDeals or some of the other auction sites. I know Porkchopsandwiches and another builder got their 36' buses from MD. I'm not sure if anyone built a shorter diesel pusher than Thomas. Please correct me if I'm wrong.....
For what it's worth.....
M [emoji3]
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Thank you, M. I'll keep my eye open
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11-28-2017, 07:21 PM
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#6
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Ashtabula, Ohio
Posts: 1,494
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: International
Engine: T444E 7.3L
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Good luck on your search! Took me awhile to find what I wanted.
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11-28-2017, 07:30 PM
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#7
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Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 110
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnny Mullet
Good luck on your search! Took me awhile to find what I wanted.
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Thank you, Johnny. What do you have?
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11-28-2017, 07:30 PM
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#8
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
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You're looking for one of the unicorn buses. I'm told they're out there. The medium size rear engine (RE) buses, not the unicorns.
You don't want a 40 footer, so possibly a front engine (FE) bus would work. It's much easier to find a medium FE bus. For example I have a 26" Bluebird FE that is amazingly maneuverable. There is an engine housing hump near the front entry door. Some of us don't mind listening to the engine while we're driving.
We've, on this site, had long debates about who has the most floorspace in FE or RE buses. It's a little like comparing apples and oranges, but we each have our preferences.
The dognose buses will be more comfortable for a newer bus driver because of the more normal location of the front axle, but the FE or RE buses will get you more floorspace with a slightly different driving experience.
Good luck.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
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11-28-2017, 07:32 PM
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#9
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Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 110
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin97396
You're looking for one of the unicorn buses. I'm told they're out there. The medium size rear engine (RE) buses, not the unicorns.
You don't want a 40 footer, so possibly a front engine (FE) bus would work. It's much easier to find a medium FE bus. For example I have a 26" Bluebird FE that is amazingly maneuverable. There is an engine housing hump near the front entry door. Some of us don't mind listening to the engine while we're driving.
We've, on this site, had long debates about who has the most floorspace in FE or RE buses. It's a little like comparing apples and oranges, but we each have our preferences.
The dognose buses will be more comfortable for a newer bus driver because of the more normal location of the front axle, but the FE or RE buses will get you more floorspace with a slightly different driving experience.
Good luck.
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Thank you, Robin. I'm going look your bus up.
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11-28-2017, 07:34 PM
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#10
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Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 110
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad_SwiftFur
Yes. Many shorter buses are front engine, but a few rear-engine ones are out there.
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Thank you, Brad
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11-28-2017, 08:00 PM
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#11
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,264
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: IH
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 14
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Since I *Needed* a shorter bus (my driveway is not flat, and I cannot get a longer wheelbase bus in it even if it was). I wanted a shorty or medium length IH bus with a DT466. What I ended up with was a BlueBird/IH with a T444E and 5-speed manual (which was preferable for me). While the T444E may be underpowered for a full size bus, I found it moves this "6-window" shorty just fine. (I generally loathe the window designations, as the windows are *NOT* always the same size!) I do prefer a hood, which played into my selection.
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11-28-2017, 08:11 PM
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#12
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Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 110
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad_SwiftFur
Since I *Needed* a shorter bus (my driveway is not flat, and I cannot get a longer wheelbase bus in it even if it was). I wanted a shorty or medium length IH bus with a DT466. What I ended up with was a BlueBird/IH with a T444E and 5-speed manual (which was preferable for me). While the T444E may be underpowered for a full size bus, I found it moves this "6-window" shorty just fine. (I generally loathe the window designations, as the windows are *NOT* always the same size!) I do prefer a hood, which played into my selection.
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Brad, I was gooing by too grey a shuttle bus, when I came across an article helping to decide which bus is best for each person. I like the idea of the storage abilities underneath the bus. And I like the flat nose... we'll see what I end up with
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11-28-2017, 08:12 PM
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#13
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,851
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
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as far as ive seen thomas is the shortest RE busses ive seen.. I like my hooded busses just for ease of working on them and I like the rear door for loading and unloading things.. since I use it as a grocery-getter, hauler, party-bus, and daily driver..
there are advantages to a rear engine.. 2 being Less noise and less engine heat in summer!!
-Christopher
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11-28-2017, 08:27 PM
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#14
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Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 110
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid
as far as ive seen thomas is the shortest RE busses ive seen.. I like my hooded busses just for ease of working on them and I like the rear door for loading and unloading things.. since I use it as a grocery-getter, hauler, party-bus, and daily driver..
there are advantages to a rear engine.. 2 being Less noise and less engine heat in summer!!
-Christopher
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Christopher, the two reasons I like them Plus the under storage possibilities. Thank you for taking time to comment. I appreciate it.
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11-28-2017, 08:55 PM
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#15
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
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Gotta admire that you know what you want. I'v been looking for a short RE for a while. The auction listings aren't always good at reporting length, so you can learn a lot by taking the time to look at lots of buses. Sounds like you have looked already. Yours should be an interesting build.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
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11-28-2017, 08:56 PM
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#16
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Ashtabula, Ohio
Posts: 1,494
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: International
Engine: T444E 7.3L
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Quote:
Originally Posted by debbiejay4444
Thank you, Johnny. What do you have?
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The bus I was looking for was a mid-sized front engine bus. Project page in my sig
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11-28-2017, 08:59 PM
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#17
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Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 110
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin97396
Gotta admire that you know what you want. I'v been looking for a short RE for a while. The auction listings aren't always good at reporting length, so you can learn a lot by taking the time to look at lots of buses. Sounds like you have looked already. Yours should be an interesting build.
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Robin, it will be a relatively simple build because I will not have all the cabinetry. I am basically a minimalist and want more open space because I'm an artist. I retired in August, and am looking forward to living simple and free
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11-28-2017, 09:05 PM
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#18
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
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Then you're probably one of the few that will have some appreciation for my build. Minimalist would be a word I could use.
I did opt for insulation following the first winter. Worth it!
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
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11-28-2017, 09:23 PM
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#19
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Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 110
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnny Mullet
The bus I was looking for was a mid-sized front engine bus. Project page in my sig
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Found it. I love the remodel process!
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11-28-2017, 09:24 PM
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#20
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Skoolie
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 110
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin97396
Then you're probably one of the few that will have some appreciation for my build. Minimalist would be a word I could use.
I did opt for insulation following the first winter. Worth it!
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Where can I see your bus, Robin?
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