Rear Engine 40' Bus Wanted

Neorush · 10-05-2019, 09:42 PM

Looking for a 40' (84 passenger) rear engine bus for conversion. Budget is around $5,000. Specifically I've been looking for a Cummins 8.3 with an Allison 3060, which are kind of hard to find and might be unrealistic in our budget range, I just lost an auction for a 1999 Thomas with these specs, it went for $6,500. Fallback would be a DT366. Bonus items would include storage pods.

Wallace87 · 10-06-2019, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neorush

Looking for a 40' (84 passenger) rear engine bus for conversion. Budget is around $5,000. Specifically I've been looking for a Cummins 8.3 with an Allison 3060, which are kind of hard to find and might be unrealistic in our budget range, I just lost an auction for a 1999 Thomas with these specs, it went for $6,500. Fallback would be a DT366. Bonus items would include storage pods.

https://kalispell.craigslist.org/cto...991422556.html

I really wanted this bus but its only 6'1" inside. Any-who, might be close to your interested specs.

Neorush · 10-06-2019, 06:35 AM

I was planning on a roof raise so I don't mind the height. But I don't want a CAT or Mercedes engine. Checks all the other boxes though!

schoolbuscraig · 10-06-2019, 08:28 AM

Here is a link to Midwest Transit, they have several buses close to your specs.
The international RE models will probably have a DT466
https://www.midwesttransit.com/searc...=60901&tp=used

Neorush · 10-06-2019, 10:00 AM

Whoohoo! Just had offer accepted on a 2002 Bluebird passenger bus (so higher ceiling) with a 8.3 cummins, allison transmission, 106,000 miles, 10kw genset, inverter, a/c, backup camera, cruise control, floodlights, and air ride suspension. Patience is a virtue. The adventure begins!

**Polarweasel** · 10-06-2019, 01:32 PM

Sounds good so far! Where’d you find it, and why are there no pics?

Neorush · 10-06-2019, 01:36 PM

Coming from a border town in TX. Pretty sure it was an immigrant transfer vehicle. Seller said federal gov owned it. I have a feeling all that stuff is REALLY bolted down, so should be fun to gut.

**Polarweasel** · 10-06-2019, 02:21 PM

That double roof is amazing... and yep sure looks like a prison bus.

Truffles · 10-06-2019, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neorush

Coming from a border town in TX. Pretty sure it was an immigrant transfer vehicle. Seller said federal gov owned it. I have a feeling all that stuff is REALLY bolted down, so should be fun to gut.

Great find. Do they have any more of those on hand? What seller?

Neorush · 10-06-2019, 05:38 PM

Not sure if they have more, I70 motors in Harlingen, TX.

Neorush · 10-06-2019, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neorush

Not sure if they have more, I70 motors in Harlingen, TX.

Apparently they have like zero web presence, I found the listing via ebay.

schoolbuscraig · 10-06-2019, 05:50 PM

Very cool find!

EastCoastCB · 10-06-2019, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neorush

Whoohoo! Just had offer accepted on a 2002 Bluebird passenger bus (so higher ceiling) with a 8.3 cummins, allison transmission, 106,000 miles, 10kw genset, inverter, a/c, backup camera, cruise control, floodlights, and air ride suspension. Patience is a virtue. The adventure begins!

Thats a TRUE White Whale!!

Neorush · 10-06-2019, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Thats a TRUE White Whale!!

Just might steal that name!

PNW_Steve · 10-07-2019, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neorush

Just might steal that name!

I thought that I was being creative naming my big white bus "Moby"

Then I ran into three other Moby's

Neorush · 10-07-2019, 07:39 PM

Since I found a bus, here are a bunch of links to potential buses that didn't quite fit what I want, weren't worth the cost plus travel, etc. Hopefully my hours of searching helps someone else out

Some of them are inventory lists that I would check every few days to see if anything new had come in.

https://www.macallistertransportatio...-inventory.pdf

http://www.a-zbus.com/pre-owned-california-school-bus-inventory/

https://www.masterstransportation.co...ool-bus-16-323

https://nwbus.com/inventory/school-b...ol-bus-b87982/

https://www.aaabussales.com/inventory.html

https://www.westernbus.com/bus/1998-thomas-1

http://cardinalbussales.com/wp-conte...HEET-11.05.pdf

M&M Salvage Yard

PNW_Steve · 10-08-2019, 04:52 PM

I just looked at McAllistor inventory. I want the Bluebird with the gas powered DT444

cdrobbins77 · 10-08-2019, 06:10 PM

I had that on my watch list--was pretty close to pulling the trigger on it. Can i ask what you ended up paying for it?

Neorush · 10-08-2019, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdrobbins77

I had that on my watch list--was pretty close to pulling the trigger on it. Can i ask what you ended up paying for it?

$10k. I figure $5k for an 8.3L bus with all these features, and $5k for the 10kw diesel genny and inverter. Plus...I won't have to raise the roof in this bus.

Ace Wilder · 10-14-2019, 12:37 AM

I have the exact bus, with the exact drive train you're looking for. It's a 40 foot '96 bluebird TC2000 (flat nosed) with the pusher Cummins 8.3. Totally dry underneath, only 230k miles. It was partially converted already and I'm living in it currently while I convert my other bus. Once I'm done converting my other bus, I'd be willing to let it go for ya. I'm in California. PM me.

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