What did your build cost?

[M1031A1]

Originally Posted by CaptainHooligan

Where are you guys finding these $2500 buses??

Watch on-line auctions especially from California. The older buses there are not smogged and thus illegal in that tree-hugger state. Springtime is the best time to score a good running bus from there when the exemptions run out for that year's crop of highly maintained (by state law) well cared for buses they want to throw away simply because these idiots have their noses in the air.

I got my bus from them for $2K, not a penny more. Drove home knowing basically I stole it from them.

Start looking about February or so and you'll be amazed at how many CA buses are going for next to nothing.

[onenationundergoat]

NC School Bus Surplus prices are between $2500-$5000 depending on the age and type of the bus. We got ours there for $2500.

[Jolly Roger]

Originally Posted by CaptainHooligan

Where are you guys finding these $2500 buses??

I bought mine directly from my local school system. They had about 10-15 for sale at the time between 1800-3000$ I paid 2400 for mine but it was originally there 3000$ bus but the one I picked was an old gasser that I really wanted and when I went back to pick it up the barn told me that there admin. Folks wouldn't let me have it because of safety issues so they gave me the next choice for the same price.
Good luck.

[CaptainHooligan]

Originally Posted by Jolly Roger

I bought mine directly from my local school system. They had about 10-15 for sale at the time between 1800-3000$ I paid 2400 for mine but it was originally there 3000$ bus but the one I picked was an old gasser that I really wanted and when I went back to pick it up the barn told me that there admin. Folks wouldn't let me have it because of safety issues so they gave me the next choice for the same price.
Good luck.

I've been lurking on the NC school bus site.

They really don't give you a lot of information. But they have a few nearby I'm going to go look at.

[Jolly Roger]

I just walked into the bus barn and started talking to the mechanics.
The county had just bought 10-15 new busses so I was wondering what they were going to do with some of the others.
I would definitely talk to the counties in the mountain and interstate.
I know there is a huge bus barn that can be seen from I-40/85 around exit 145-153. I was working in the area on weekends so I never got to stop and pick there brains.
It is the Graham,Burlington area and I might be wrong but close? I think it is mecklenburg county and then Raleigh is wake county.
My local bus was in good shape and well maintained but was geared for stop and go backroad speed so my rear ended is way over geared/under geared for highway speeds
I have 6.50 gears and want to get into the low 5's high 4's eventually.
Good luck.

[CaptainHooligan]

Originally Posted by Jolly Roger

I just walked into the bus barn and started talking to the mechanics.
The county had just bought 10-15 new busses so I was wondering what they were going to do with some of the others.
I would definitely talk to the counties in the mountain and interstate.
I know there is a huge bus barn that can be seen from I-40/85 around exit 145-153. I was working in the area on weekends so I never got to stop and pick there brains.
It is the Graham,Burlington area and I might be wrong but close? I think it is mecklenburg county and then Raleigh is wake county.
My local bus was in good shape and well maintained but was geared for stop and go backroad speed so my rear ended is way over geared/under geared for highway speeds
I have 6.50 gears and want to get into the low 5's high 4's eventually.
Good luck.

What's good gearing for a bus? To get 68-70 mph?

[Jolly Roger]

There are many discussions on here that discuss exactly that.
Most sacrifice some aspect of the perfect drivetrain to get the perfect type of skoolie body for them.
I didn't know any better when I bought mine?
I am just trying to pass my bad decisions forward so others can make better decisions.
I have an 8.2 with an AT545 and a rear end geared for 6.50.
I can pull tree stumps but I can't do more than 49.
As far as my power train my only options are to change my old split ring rims from9r20 tubed tires to new rims that will accept 10r22.50 tubeless tires and change the rear end gears to get me to at least highway speed and unless I spend more than my entire build to re power my bus I will never do more than 55.
My bus will do 55 for the rest of its 8.2and 545 life?
I love the old back roads anyway the hell with a city life.
Give me back roads and an old mom and pop store any day.
My first job besides the hay fields and cattle was a full service gas station attendant and if I had the money I would bring them back. Especially in the tourist money trap I live around right now.

[syke]

I just did some tallying and came out to right about $11k including the bus purchase. Give or take a little bit.

The a/c upgrade added about $1k.

ps... I'm running 6.88 gears and can run 63mph maxed out.

[Carytowncat]

Hi,

Cool thread

Navigator found me via Craigslist for $1k. I spent about that one a Renogy 200w solar with two Trojan t105 batteries and two inverters. Spent roughly another $500 on odds and ends; 2x4s, screws, blinds, locks, tune up, etc. $300 on a Nightown survielance system. Pretty neat to have 4 cameras and be able to turn on the TV and look around the bus. How many is that? "That's seven including the one when you asked Mr. B here if Barry Manilow knew that he raided his closet."

Not bad if you consider i wasted $900 a month a noisy studio apt. Not bad at all.

[CaptainHooligan]

I hope I never get divorced, but if the ol lady kicked me out, I'd live in a bus.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by CaptainHooligan

What's good gearing for a bus? To get 68-70 mph?

4.44 or higher.

[Tango]

Getting the axle gearing to accomplish your speed requirements involves a number of considerations that really need to be worked out before jumping off. Re-gearing is not cheap and getting it wrong can be even more costly.

You need to take into account your engines preferred highway RPM (also known as its' "sweet spot")...your tire size...your final drive ratio coming off the tranny...and knowing if your motor will indeed pull higher gears.

Good news is there are a number of online calculators that will do most of the work once you have the correct numbers.

There are several below. I used the "Transmission Final Gear Ratio Manual Entry " on the one below to sort out mine...

Engine RPM Calculator

[Ryannmelis]

Originally Posted by somewhereinusa

Where might one purchase such things, are they available in small quantities, brand name for Teflon gel?

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[tobeamiss]

Originally Posted by CaptainHooligan

Where are you guys finding these $2500 buses??

Got mine for $2000 on Govdeals.com

[mikeypj]

My budget is $25-30,000. Most of my expenses will be for top of the line solar/batteries/inverter. 2 roof low power draw AC units and a genny and any mechanical upgrades to rig. With the interior I will use a restore for most of what I need.


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[mikeypj]

Originally Posted by mikeypj

My budget is $25-30,000. Most of my expenses will be for top of the line solar/batteries/inverter. 2 roof low power draw AC units and a genny and any mechanical upgrades to rig. With the interior I will use a restore for most of what I need.


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Also no more than $5000 for the bus


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[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by superdave

right now i have an old couch table chairs and camp stove in mine, with tags im at 6,000. depends on what you want, one guy in here spent 200,000. i hope to get er done for less than 15,000.

I was just going to post with the same question. Is there a previous poll?

And where are the pics of the $200k build?!!?

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by ol trunt

As a stand alone item, Honeysuckle Rose came in at between $14,000 and $15,000 plus two E.R. trips for stitches--priceless if you want to stanch the flow of blood! Jack

Paper towels and electrical tape.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by Ryannmelis

On the Galvanic corrosion they make plastic washers with sleeves to prevent any of the two metals from touching. Also Teflon gel for the two surfaces. I am an engineer for Aluminum Ships. A common issue we face.

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Then maybe you can answer this question...

Where the hell are the zinc blocks? Galvanic corrosion isn't so bad when you add a huge chunk of sacrificial zinc. They do it all the time on salt water boats.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I've gotten one for free, and my current bus was $2150 on GovDeals 18 months ago. Its got a DT466, Allison 643, Air ride, ABS, Auto slack adjusters, underside storage, and got me 800 miles home to FL from KY with no problems. No real rust to speak of either. You just gotta know what to watch for and strike while the iron is hot.
$2500 is about as much as I'd personally spend on a school bus, unless it were really something special.

I hate you. I think that's what I'm looking for. I want the RE with 8.3L in the 90 pax (longest available).