Another find I hope to look at soon...

[DarkLotus]

http://boise.craigslist.org/rvs/3008667444.html

The guy said he's flexible on the price which is awesome since it's out of my budget. The things that need finishing are cosemetic and the bathroom sink. The motor and trans have 10k he said and the tires are 'still good' whatever that means. I'm still kind of leary about getting such an old bus since the other ones I'm considering are all 1980's. But with everything mechanical being new it should be better than a bus with original parts from 1980 right?
Cheers

[bus-bro]

Make sure it's not a city bus, IIRC, they had 6v71 and two-speed automatic transmisions. 6-71 is OK, two speed auto not. All used buses have recently rebuilt engines, which is only believable with proper documentation. You can read the date code on the tires and see how new they are. That bus looks rough,and probably worth only scrap value. A lot of sellers just want the thing gone, others wait for the fool with money (which I've been a time or two. )

Go look at, have him start it, and go on a test drive. Good luck.

[chev49]

well...i slightly disagree about trans part.. these busses come with a vs-2 allison, which is attached to a planetary gear set to engine.. these transmissions are ok if ya wanna go 55 mph, and slow on hills...
however, the detroit engine can be expensive, and planetary gear set, etc..
a skoolie with a cummings or cat engine and the normal trannys behind them are easier to work on, and parts are in lotsa wrecking yards..
i had a 76 gmc like the one pictured, and an 78 flxible with an 8v71 and allison 2-8 trans, worked very well for like 15 yrs, but was getting tired, bought this thomas skoolie to replace it... mostly cause of drive train and way easier to work on.

[DarkLotus]

Thanks for all the advice! As for the trans I have no problem going 55. I lived in an aircooled westfalia before I had kids so 55 is 'fast' enough for me