8.3 Cummins question

mberger40 · 04-20-2017, 01:56 PM

I am new to this game and am looking at a 2000 Bluebird All American 78pax bus with Cummins 8.3. My dumb question is; what kind of 8.3 would be in this bus? I see all kinds of prefixes with this and am not sure what I would be getting. Is it turbo charged, etc... I just want to be able to do some research on parts, and replacement costs.

Thanks in advance for helping the newbie.

Tango · 04-20-2017, 02:00 PM

Get the serial number then you can look it up on Cummins QuickServe online. It will tell you exactly how it came equipped. But, be advised...some of these engines have had mods made along the way.

Njsurf73 · 04-20-2017, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tango

Get the serial number then you can look it up on Cummins QuickServe online. It will tell you exactly how it came equipped. But, be advised...some of these engines have had mods made along the way.

Mine isn't even the engine that started in my bus! It's 4 years newer and built to spec for a 2002...
Get the serial number from the actual engine, not the tag in the front of the bus! Lol

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Robin97396 · 04-20-2017, 02:45 PM

The Cummins is a highly preferred engine in these buses. You've probably got a newer transmission than some of the rest of us with older mechanical buses. Sounds like a nice bus. Do you want to compare prices with the auction buses, or is this an auction bus?

Rameses · 04-20-2017, 11:23 PM

A 2000 would have an electronic 8.3 in it. This engine was called the ISC. They were all turbocharged and intercooled. An ISC made in 2000 would have the CAPS injection system, not common rail which came out later (2003 iirc).

mberger40 · 04-21-2017, 08:12 AM

Thanks for all the info. The original bus I was looking at has sold, but I feel that this style, engine, trans combo is the one for me. The was found at Northwest Bus sales. Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing? The salesman has another Bluebird All American. It is a 1999, 8.3 Cummins turbo, Allison 3060 five speed trans, and approximately 190K on it (odometer says 23,000). They are asking $8900 for the bus. how do you guys feel about the price? I am in Texas, and Seattle is a long way away! I would love to find one close or at least in Texas. I would not feel comfortable buying without seeing, so a flight to Seattle would be necessary, as well as possibly a return flight to get it back to Texas. Thanks again for the help and patience. I know we newbies can be a real pain, so thanks to all have done the hard work before us.

globalgluck · 04-30-2017, 11:41 PM

Hey mberger40, I'm pretty sure I bought that last 2000 All American you were checking out at NW Bus (sorry not sorry)! The buses there are in really surprisingly great shape, including the 1999 that you mention (I saw that one too). I was weighing the costs vs. benefits, like you, and decided to go with the dealership. Sure it'll be a bit pricier than buying a bus off Craigslist, but they have an entire in-house mechanic shop and they make sure everything is running perfectly. If you can, deal with Brandon Roberson; he's pretty new there and so is working just a little bit harder to build up a customer base (he got a full set of more-or-less brand new tires put on my bus, no extra cost, to make sure it passed DOT inspection). If you do, tell him that Ro sent you his way.

turf · 05-01-2017, 07:21 AM

be patient and look closer at auctions

texas buses are up for sale all the time. you need to expand your searching.

renee bates is a texas site with an auctioneer on the forum

here is another texas bus.

BigIron

they are out there, no reason to pay too much and fly across the country.

good luck

EastCoastCB · 05-01-2017, 07:25 AM

Everyone I know who buys a bus at a dealership ends up having to make IMMEDIATE repairs.
My $1760 auction bus drove 1700 miles home on brand new tires and with clean, topped off fluids.
I definitely would never entertain the idea of going any distance to buy from a dealer. Find a school, talk to the guys that work on the buses and you'll find a true gem.
Just my 2cents.

Robin97396 · 05-01-2017, 10:54 AM

What CB said.

I'd like to add that Craigslist buses are basically individuals attempting to resell auction buses at a profit, not unlike the dealers that charge you multiple times the auction prices. Never say never, but it's usually not a good deal through a dealer. You're getting a bus that the dealer did minimal repairs to so it gets out the door as fast as possible.

There is no warranty. Often the implied warranty is good until your tail lights are out of sight as you're leaving. If you bought my bus for three or four times what I have invested in it so far, I'd act like your best friend too.

Most of these auctions have running, functioning buses. I can top of my own fluids and even get a oil change, while saving thousands compared to buying from a dealer or even through craigslist.

mberger40 · 05-01-2017, 11:16 AM

THanks for all the help guys!! It is hard not to get overly excited and wind up paying too much. I will remain patient!! I just really want to find an 8.3 Cummins with MD3060 trans. I plan to be traveling out west and know I will be doing mountain passes. Thanks again for saving another newbie!