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Old 06-04-2019, 11:38 AM   #21
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Location: E Central Tejas
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Environmental Protection Agency
Quote:
Originally Posted by ATHandBanana View Post
What do you mean EPA bus?

This is less than 2 hours from me.
Meaning it's been freighted with emissions control schmeg, which vastly increases running and repair costs...
2003, and back, suffered no such indignities.

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Old 06-04-2019, 11:42 AM   #22
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2004+ diesels have a new set of EPC regulations on them. You'll find class action lawsuits against nearly every Diesel manufacturer's range from 2004 to 2008 or so from motors ranging in quality from dried mayonnaise to grenade with the pin pulled. There are steps you can take to keep from them exploding (aka remove the new emissions equipment) but in a 15 year old bus I'd personally assume the damage has already been done.

Some members have different opinions, of course. A few would have no problem buying a good running VT365 bus (for cheap, because nobody wants them) and spending a stack of bills on a bulletproof mod. In that case it might make sense but I personally wouldn't bother since there are so many good 2003 and older buses around that don't tend to separate into water and oil like margarine when running.
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Old 06-04-2019, 11:48 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ATHandBanana View Post
What do you mean EPA bus?

This is less than 2 hours from me.
The Environmental Protection Agency enacted new emission laws that went into mandatory effect in 2004. These new systems developed issues that are expensive and hard to diagnose. Around here we pretty much avoid anything after 04.
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Old 06-04-2019, 12:06 PM   #24
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Okay, so I am stuck in the position of getting the

Amtran 2005 Front Engine DT 466E for $4900 (possibly $4500, they say they will get back to me on more wiggle room)
https://www.westernbus.com/bus/2005-ihc-amtran

Or


Thomas 1998 Rear Engine 5.9L that is priced at 7900 and I have not attempted negotiating with at the moment.
https://www.westernbus.com/bus/1998-thomas

I have not heard of this EPA issues before, I have heard that older buses are generally easier to repair though.
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Old 06-04-2019, 12:11 PM   #25
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The variance in price should tell you something!
You now know why the older, higher asking priced bus is easier to work on...
As Scotty said on Star Trek, "The more ya work th' plumbing, th' easier 'tis to back up the dunny."
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Old 06-04-2019, 12:13 PM   #26
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Is there a particular reason you're only looking at westerbbus.com? Wow 7900 is a lot of nickels and more than I paid for both of the buses I've owned combined!

I like the 5.9, it's what I have in my current bus, it's clearly less powerful than a DT466.. GIven the choice between these I'd for sure go with the non-EPA 5.9 bus... But that $7900 should buy you the bus plus a sack with $5500 on the driver's seat.
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Old 06-04-2019, 12:20 PM   #27
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Originally Posted by brokedown View Post
Is there a particular reason you're only looking at westerbbus.com? Wow 7900 is a lot of nickels and more than I paid for both of the buses I've owned combined!

I like the 5.9, it's what I have in my current bus, it's clearly less powerful than a DT466.. GIven the choice between these I'd for sure go with the non-EPA 5.9 bus... But that $7900 should buy you the bus plus a sack with $5500 on the driver's seat.
We have Blue Ridge Conversions converting our bus for us since we do not have the time or space to park it somewhere and work on it. Our lease is ending in January 2020 and we need finished by then. We have been looking on auction sites like 422, purplewave, govesurplus, etc., as well as dealers across the country. This particular dealer is just close to us (we are in Utah) . I have bid on a few buses that never came to fruition and have run out of time to keep scouring the auction sites for the "perfect" buy.
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Old 06-04-2019, 12:21 PM   #28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brokedown View Post
Is there a particular reason you're only looking at westerbbus.com? Wow 7900 is a lot of nickels and more than I paid for both of the buses I've owned combined!

I like the 5.9, it's what I have in my current bus, it's clearly less powerful than a DT466.. GIven the choice between these I'd for sure go with the non-EPA 5.9 bus... But that $7900 should buy you the bus plus a sack with $5500 on the driver's seat.
Well said Josh and/or Hillary!
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Old 06-04-2019, 12:51 PM   #29
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I'd propose that you could find a much better deal just looking on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. .. Especially if you look at towns between you and Blue Ridge Conversions in North Carolina.

Here's an AmTran in Tennessee with a DT466: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...2838113269790/

Here's a Vista in NC: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...9781110174241/

Here's a dog nose with DT644 in Tennessee: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...5063747181656/

Partially converted THomas with a T444E in TN: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...2068646466130/

This guy has 4 THomas buses with CAT engines in Omaha: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...2716809293714/

2001 International in Missouri: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...7325518410317/

2000 Thomas with low miles and maintenance records in Missouri: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...8057173371921/

1995 THomas with rebuilt ending and trans in Missouri: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...9787964139418/


That's just 5 minutes on Facebook Marketplace.
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Old 06-04-2019, 01:35 PM   #30
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Wow, thanks for the help! I been looking on craigslist but their search option is pretty rough to navigate easily. I have not even thought about Facebook, mostly since I hardly use the site at all.
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Old 06-04-2019, 01:39 PM   #31
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I bought my TC2000 from a Facebook ad (to be fair I only saw the ad because everyone here was talking about it and nobody was actually buying it). I sold my Vista on Facebook as well. As much as I hate Facebook, I won't cut off my nose to spite my face. Their Marketplace product has been working better for me than Craigslist, and their no-fee money transfer through Messenger is pretty convenient as well.
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Old 06-04-2019, 02:11 PM   #32
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Yeah I think I am leaning towards these two:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...8057173371921/

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...2838113269790/

They are both roughly the same asking price and front engine, I just don't know that the engine is on the 2000.

I tried hitting a search for something around here but those are already closer to NC so thanks again for your help
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Old 06-04-2019, 04:39 PM   #33
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Ya, no drive train details, would be important to know this. I like the AmTran between the 2.
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Old 06-04-2019, 05:15 PM   #34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ATHandBanana View Post
Wow, thanks for the help! I been looking on craigslist but their search option is pretty rough to navigate easily. I have not even thought about Facebook, mostly since I hardly use the site at all.
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Old 06-04-2019, 05:55 PM   #35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by o1marc View Post
Ya, no drive train details, would be important to know this. I like the AmTran between the 2.
The first one (Thomas) has a CAT 3216 and MD3060 transmission in a Freightliner chassis according to the photo of the maintenance logs.

The second one (Amtran) has a DT466 on an International chassis and no mention of transmission but Facebook makes it easy to ask the seller.
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Old 06-04-2019, 06:03 PM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brokedown View Post
The first one (Thomas) has a CAT 3216 and MD3060 transmission in a Freightliner chassis according to the photo of the maintenance logs.

The second one (Amtran) has a DT466 on an International chassis and no mention of transmission but Facebook makes it easy to ask the seller.
Both sound like good rigs to me.
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Old 06-04-2019, 06:45 PM   #37
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Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
What do you mean by that??? Tonight you??

Lol great stuff
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Old 06-04-2019, 06:48 PM   #38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
Both sound like good rigs to me.
There is rust damage on the Amtran and all he can tell me is that its an allison transmission. Says he got it from a guy who got it from a school district. I tried attaching the pic he sent me. Says he grinded out most of the other rust.
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Old 06-04-2019, 07:35 PM   #39
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That rust is typical of a bus this age. I would still take it over the other.
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Old 06-05-2019, 05:01 AM   #40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ATHandBanana View Post
There is rust damage on the Amtran and all he can tell me is that its an allison transmission. Says he got it from a guy who got it from a school district. I tried attaching the pic he sent me. Says he grinded out most of the other rust.
Looks rustier than I'd buy.
I don't knowingly buy anything rusty.
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