Thoughts on buying bus needing work.

[MellowYellow]

Hello all I am new here but I have thought about doing a Skoolie conversion for a while and a bus has been posted for sale that fits my ideal size (24 feet) and fuel type (diesel).
It has a few costly issues. Currently only able to travel 15 mph due to mechanic saying turbo fins are damaged and more than half of the injectors are “bad”.
It’s a 1999 international T444E,
Allison transmission. Under 140,000 miles
Planning on paying less than $2000.
I am mechanically inclined so I think it’s something I can take on.
Any feedback would be appreciated. I am concerned with possible underlying issues, is it normal to have this expensive maintenance with the amount of miles?
Cost of parts is $2,000 without labor costs.

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by MellowYellow

Hello all I am new here but I have thought about doing a Skoolie conversion for a while and a bus has been posted for sale that fits my ideal size (24 feet) and fuel type (diesel).
It has a few costly issues. Currently only able to travel 15 mph due to mechanic saying turbo fins are damaged and more than half of the injectors are “bad”.
It’s a 1999 international T444E,
Allison transmission. Under 140,000 miles
Planning on paying less than $2000.
I am mechanically inclined so I think it’s something I can take on.
Any feedback would be appreciated. I am concerned with possible underlying issues, is it normal to have this expensive maintenance with the amount of miles?
Cost of parts is $2,000 without labor costs.

I'd pass it up

[TJones]

There are better buses that aren't broken out there for that price. I'd keep looking.

Ted

[brokedown]

Typically injectors on the T444E last about 250k but that's taking a few things for granted. It's not a hard job but as you note it is expensive. I would expect to find a bus in that same price range that doesn't currently need 2k worth of injectors.

[Brad_SwiftFur]

Originally Posted by MellowYellow

Hello all I am new here but I have thought about doing a Skoolie conversion for a while and a bus has been posted for sale that fits my ideal size (24 feet) and fuel type (diesel).
It has a few costly issues. Currently only able to travel 15 mph due to mechanic saying turbo fins are damaged and more than half of the injectors are “bad”.
It’s a 1999 international T444E,
Allison transmission. Under 140,000 miles
Planning on paying less than $2000.
I am mechanically inclined so I think it’s something I can take on.
Any feedback would be appreciated. I am concerned with possible underlying issues, is it normal to have this expensive maintenance with the amount of miles?
Cost of parts is $2,000 without labor costs.

I'd not pay more than 500. You're looking at a replacement turbo which will be more than a couple hundred bucks (some turbos go for over a thousand); I'd expect this one in the 4-500 range or more. And injectors, there's 8 of them which are north of $200, *EACH*. I'd figure a couple thousand for that job, as you'll want to replace the valve cover gaskets/glow plug wiring harness (they're kind of made together), and that's just for parts alone.

[o1marc]

The mileage is likely not correct, as 90% of buses this old have had the dashes replaced and they don't correct the mileage when they do. The money you are looking to repair would easily buy you a bus that doesn't need repairs right up front. Walk away from that one.

[Johnny Mullet]

Pretty premature for the injectors to be bad at that mileage. If you can get the bus for scrap value, then go for it. Otherwise keep looking.

[MellowYellow]

Wow thanks to everybody that responded. Seems like a definite no. The search continues.

[GWRider]

Unless you can pick it up for almost free, I would keep searching.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by MellowYellow

Hello all I am new here but I have thought about doing a Skoolie conversion for a while and a bus has been posted for sale that fits my ideal size (24 feet) and fuel type (diesel).
It has a few costly issues. Currently only able to travel 15 mph due to mechanic saying turbo fins are damaged and more than half of the injectors are “bad”.
It’s a 1999 international T444E,
Allison transmission. Under 140,000 miles
Planning on paying less than $2000.
I am mechanically inclined so I think it’s something I can take on.
Any feedback would be appreciated. I am concerned with possible underlying issues, is it normal to have this expensive maintenance with the amount of miles?
Cost of parts is $2,000 without labor costs.

You can buy one that runs and drives for that.
Offer em scrap price.