Opinions on a bus

kwest48 · 07-28-2010, 01:21 PM

Everyone on here seems to be very knowledgeable so I would like some opinions please.

Im am currently looking at a 1981 international with a dt360. It has 77,000 original miles and the body looks to be in great condition with just a small rust area by the rear wheel well. The interior is already empty and it is registered as a motorhome. The bus starts first time and drives great. I want diesel so i can convert it to run on WVO.
I have talked the owner down to $1800 but thats the lowest he will go.

I have been looking for a few months and have yet to find a cheaper bus in Colorado that is even close to this condition, and being in denver there are not many big cities near by.

Is this bus worth the money?

Im a poor college student so i dont have alot of money and would like to get this project rolling before school starts and I get busy again. Preferably I would like to have it livable before school.

Diesel Dan · 07-28-2010, 01:27 PM

That sounds like a fair deal to me. Not a great deal, but fair. I would want to get it for $1,500, but if I really liked the bus and had some urgency about acquiring one...well... sometimes it's a seller's market. Prices vary quite a bit depending on what state you live in. The bus is pretty old, but has low miles. The DT360 is a good engine from what I've heard. The drivetrain should have plenty of life left on it, based on the mileage, but any parts susceptible to deterioration due to age will be problemmatic. I'm thinking of hoses, cables, brake lines, etc. I doubt anyone would find that bus anywhere for much under $1,500 unless it was at an auction.

kwest48 · 07-28-2010, 03:02 PM

Yea i forgot about that. the tires are brand new as of last year, and he said hes maybe put 500 miles on them, just hauling his car a few miles to the track and back.

kwest48 · 07-28-2010, 03:42 PM

I talked to him about the milage and odometer when looking at it. so he showed me the bill of sale from the school district and the milage looks right. Most of the hoses and filters are fairly new because he is a mechanic and planned on converting it himself before getting a 50's something bus to convert instead.

As for the price I feel the same way. I think i could find a better deal but time is a big restraint. I need to have a livable bus(not finished but livable), or sign a new lease before school starts. I would prefer to have a bus to save me hundreds a month on rent.

I think Im going to keep this one in mind but continue my search for the next week or two.

bus-bro · 07-28-2010, 04:26 PM

If the tires are almost new (check the date stamp on them) you could keep the tires and throw away the bus--you'd still come out OK.

Jarlaxle · 07-28-2010, 06:45 PM

Decent deal, especially with no rust, and already gutted & retitled with new tires. Just don't expect more than about 55MPH if it has the AT545 automatic I expect it has. A DT360/AT545 is a very tough, durable drivetrain (engine is a million-miler, trans will go 200,000+ easily), but a very long way from a fast one! Being in COlorado, I'd expect it to be geared for climbing, which will probably have it top out at 50-55. If you can live with 55MPH, I say go for it.

kwest48 · 07-29-2010, 02:09 AM

Haha, yea when i drove it I think i topped it out at about 56mph on a flat country road. But if I go on a long term road trip(possibly permanent road trip) speed shouldn't be my biggest concern.

Seeria · 07-31-2010, 07:42 AM

An 81 for that much, not sure I'd consider it--However, half the work is done for you, it has a motorhome license which means less chance of you getting your arse pulled over for not having a CDL license or the city coming down on you for a commercial vehicle. Big deal would be the tires. A year sitting on the wrong surface can make even new ones a trap waiting to go boom. Check what the cost is to replace them. Some of the 80s I've looked at take cheaper sizes, some are costly.

Definitely check the engine and undercarriage for leaks and drips.

kwest48 · 08-03-2010, 12:30 PM

Thanks everyone for helping me.
This bus isnt advertised as for sale so its not going anywhere, im just going to keep it on the backburner and keeping searching

opus · 08-03-2010, 12:38 PM

1981-DT-360...are you sure? I dont recall that engine at that time frame.

kwest48 · 08-03-2010, 01:31 PM

i pretty sure he said 360, but i dont remember. might have to make a call to verify.
Which engine do you think it would be?

Coma · 08-03-2010, 01:52 PM

I don't know about your area, but the the bus is close to that in scrap value in NC. With new tread tires, easilly worth 2K here.

I have my first skoolie 1977 international 345 sitting in the yard with a blown engine that I've been saving for parts for my second project. The body and glass are perfect which is why I hate to send it to the scrap yard. But the value of scrap is so high I'll double what I paid for it 10 years ago.

kwest48 · 08-11-2010, 06:40 PM

Thanks for the help everyone. I got the bus, looked at a couple other but decided on this one.

I go the bus for $1500. Yes!

After after talking to him again, it has the DT466, Hell Yes!

Im ready to get this conversion started, Im going to take pictures and update as we make progress. I dont have a name yet but that will come with time.

Thanks again everyone!

Seeria · 08-12-2010, 08:34 AM

Grats! Bring on the pictures!

kwest48 · 08-16-2010, 09:06 PM

starting on the bus, pics are slowly going up

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