Is it too much rust?

[Togo]

Hi everyone,
This is my first post and english is my second language so sorry for not using right terminology.

I am about to buy 2001 ford e450 with 7.3 power stroke and 119000 miles on it.
It is 5 windows bus, Thomas build. The price is $3800

I am not able to inspect this bus in person but the person that sells it send me bunch of pictures. Based on the pictures everything seams fine. there is no engine light or break/ Abs light.

The only thing is undercarriage rust. It is actually better then a few buses that I saw in person around Chicago. But because of winters here there is no way to avoid rust.
The bus that I am interested in is located in New Hampshire.

Here are pics of undercarriage, what do you think?
What is this box that I circle with red.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1...19fNmdHbExxQkE
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1...HFyZXRubDE1VEk
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1...09CY0dndFdyejQ
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1...UlmT1NUYnJYN28
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1...jlIX3VvM1E0TE0
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1...VkzVG9HRWFndEU
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1...mFfc2RtRnBjQzA
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1...VVrQWxFQW5MNGc
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1...zdXdjBoNnlvYTg
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1...UQ3SXlBM1dTc0E
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1...UhIb0l2MTl5Skk

Thank you.

[Oldcarnut]

Box in red looks like a battery box and rust does not look that bad. New Hampshire is a wet state and will have rust, I'd get better detailed pictures of the first couple ones but otherwise looks good.

[chev49]

looks normal for the part of the country... i have seen much worse there

[cowlitzcoach]

I would second the guess that it is a battery box.

You can see a negative cable going from the box to the frame of the bus.

It isn't the first battery box I have seen that has no access from the side and the only access is from under the bus. Some original owners don't want to spend the few extra $$$ for a side mounted battery box with access through the skirt of the body. Why, I have no idea. But some bean counters will override the person who will need to work on it in order to save a dime or two.

As far as the rust is concerned, it doesn't look like it is scaling or pitting anywhere yet so you should be okay.

[turf]

i'll be the oddball, and say its too much.

its past the limit that i would tolerate as a purchase. i agree that it doesn't look structural yet, but... dang.

if you have to ask if its too much, you probably think it is too. unless its real cheap, you can find better.

[leadsled01]

I think that bus is a good deal. Rust is minimal especially for something that's 16 years old. If you have more money to spend then , sure find a better one.

[Marceps]

Remember that rust is usually worse in person than it is in pictures.

[Tango]

Originally Posted by Marceps

Remember that rust is usually worse in person than it is in pictures.

And there is always more unseen than seen.

That one would scare me off.

I got lucky on my '46. In spite of it's age it was in solid shape except for some very poorly designed body panels which I easily cut off and replaced. The floor, wheel wells, frame and all structural is almost as solid as the day it was built. Correcting rust damage can get very time consuming and expensive.