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Old 03-02-2021, 11:35 AM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 43
Newbie researching help please

Can you direct me to the Buying your first bus thread? Or something on those lines..

Also curious if there a thread on dimensions of interiors of different makers? I was looking at a Collins online and find it may only have 5'-8" headroom.. For a 6'-2" person, that wouldn't work..

I'd like to stay under 26ft (20ft would be great) and wonder if a 2016 F450 Triton 5.4l would be a decent choice of engines?

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Old 03-02-2021, 11:39 AM   #2
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: New Hampshire
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Year: 1990
Coachwork: Thomas 4 window w/lift
Chassis: G30~Chevy cutaway
Engine: 5.7/350 Chevy Vortec
Rated Cap: Just me and my "stuff"?
Here ya go, "neighbor"...
https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f9/bu...ans-34250.html

More good reading:
https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f9/re...tml#post405938
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Old 03-02-2021, 11:42 AM   #3
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Originally Posted by peteg59 View Post
Thanks Pete! Hey I'm out of Auburn. You?
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Old 03-02-2021, 11:43 AM   #4
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: New Hampshire
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Year: 1990
Coachwork: Thomas 4 window w/lift
Chassis: G30~Chevy cutaway
Engine: 5.7/350 Chevy Vortec
Rated Cap: Just me and my "stuff"?
Not too far away, in Farmington...
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Old 03-02-2021, 01:52 PM   #5
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: New Hampshire
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How does the Chevy 4.8l Vortex shape up? It's a 2012 Blue Bird Micro Bird MFSAB and seems like it has a 75" headroom. At a GVWR <10k lbs, my first thought is the engine's a bit light (especially touring the Rockies).

No finding interior width spec's yet assuming in the 78" range..

https://www.lasvegasbussales.com/inv...re-bus-s50149/
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Old 03-02-2021, 02:12 PM   #6
Traveling
 
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Originally Posted by RJNH View Post
How does the Chevy 4.8l Vortex shape up? It's a 2012 Blue Bird Micro Bird MFSAB and seems like it has a 75" headroom. At a GVWR <10k lbs, my first thought is the engine's a bit light (especially touring the Rockies).

No finding interior width spec's yet assuming in the 78" range..

https://www.lasvegasbussales.com/inv...re-bus-s50149/
Probably a typo, but it's Vortec, not Vortex. ;)

4.8 is adequate, but a bit underpowered IMO. 5.3 or 6.0 would be better. Even in a base U-Haul truck, I didn't see enough fuel economy with the 4.8 to be worth singing the "Jeopardy!" theme while climbing hills. And $24,500? They've lost their minds.
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Old 03-02-2021, 08:57 PM   #7
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Ohio
Posts: 28
Year: 2009
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: 5 window micro-bird.
Engine: Chevy 6.0L Gas.
Rated Cap: 30 passenger
Quote:
Originally Posted by CHEESE_WAGON View Post
Probably a typo, but it's Vortec, not Vortex. ;)

4.8 is adequate, but a bit underpowered IMO. 5.3 or 6.0 would be better. Even in a base U-Haul truck, I didn't see enough fuel economy with the 4.8 to be worth singing the "Jeopardy!" theme while climbing hills. And $24,500? They've lost their minds.
As someone who just bought an 09 Chevy Micro bird 6.0L Vortec for 5k..... yeah that’s a crazy amount for a bus.

Why do these multi function busses sell for so much more than school busses? It can’t just be the paint job alone can it?
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Old 03-02-2021, 09:09 PM   #8
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As someone who just bought an 09 Chevy Micro bird 6.0L Vortec for 5k..... yeah that’s a crazy amount for a bus.

Why do these multi function busses sell for so much more than school busses? It can’t just be the paint job alone can it?
All in how much someone is crazy enough to ask and how much someone else is crazy enough to pay...

OP, you asked about Ford's Triton gas engines. They are absolutely great but have some caveats. The 98-04 2V engines would sometimes blow the spark plugs out after changing them (weak thread inserts and improper torquing), the 04-09 factory spark plugs had design flaws, and the 3V engines are known to have issues with cam phasers that should not be fixed with aftermarket parts. Other than that, they are stellar performers and rarely need major repair. New Blue Bird Visions are shipping with the V10s, and the V8s are based on those.

The 6.0 / 6.4L diesel, however, is to be avoided, especially the 6.0L.
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Old 03-03-2021, 08:28 AM   #9
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 43
I located the thread of 'where to buy' resources and been scrolling through quite a few of them.

One of the Public Auction sites was really nice that you can pick a region of the country to search through. Shame it lacks other filters to narrow down the results. I guess with some time, I could be able to spot something by model..

I switched over to a site I use quite a bit when researching $$ on most everything commercial and found they also have a bus section. I found this over there:

https://www.commercialtrucktrader.co...ESS-5014886660

2010 Chevy 6.0l gasser that hits the size, height, mileage and engine size I 'think' I'm searching for. Thoughts??
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Old 03-03-2021, 08:32 AM   #10
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
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This is the auction site I referred to earlier that really could use some filters... for me anyway...

https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/al...aucs?catid=402
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Old 03-03-2021, 08:33 AM   #11
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Ohio
Posts: 28
Year: 2009
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: 5 window micro-bird.
Engine: Chevy 6.0L Gas.
Rated Cap: 30 passenger
Quote:
Originally Posted by RJNH View Post
I located the thread of 'where to buy' resources and been scrolling through quite a few of them.

One of the Public Auction sites was really nice that you can pick a region of the country to search through. Shame it lacks other filters to narrow down the results. I guess with some time, I could be able to spot something by model..

I switched over to a site I use quite a bit when researching $$ on most everything commercial and found they also have a bus section. I found this over there:

https://www.commercialtrucktrader.co...ESS-5014886660

2010 Chevy 6.0l gasser that hits the size, height, mileage and engine size I 'think' I'm searching for. Thoughts??
I'm not experienced as many on this site, as I've just recently purchased my bus and went through that whole process. That said, I Think many people would probably encourage you to to look at Facebook Marketplace/Craigslist (private sellers) + Auctions.

That bus looks good; however, it still seems *way* overpriced. I just bought a near-identical bus (2009, 150K miles) for 1/3 that price. Granted, it did end up needing work, but I think you can probably find one in the 5-7K range from auction/private seller.
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Old 03-03-2021, 08:54 AM   #12
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 43
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cerax View Post
I'm not experienced as many on this site, as I've just recently purchased my bus and went through that whole process. That said, I Think many people would probably encourage you to to look at Facebook Marketplace/Craigslist (private sellers) + Auctions.

That bus looks good; however, it still seems *way* overpriced. I just bought a near-identical bus (2009, 150K miles) for 1/3 that price. Granted, it did end up needing work, but I think you can probably find one in the 5-7K range from auction/private seller.
I do search Marketplace as well, Craig's I tend to steer away from, it's over-run with scammers (IMHO).
The one I mention has <100K miles on it, so it would be a bit more $$. 150K miles I would expect to pay much less. Most all gasser's at 200K should get a front end re-build. I don't know of a single one (personally) that doesn't use plastic guides (or pads) on the timing chain.

I do feel they're a bit high, yet being a dealership I wouldn't hesitate to shoot them a lower number and let them sit on it for a while.
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