What's a low-mileage Cummins 5.9 worth?

Digcolnagos · 08-02-2022, 03:31 AM

Posted this question in new members section, thought I would here, too.

I've got $500 down on a 1998 26-foot Bluebird with 68k on it. Drives and shifts beautifully and it's already built. But I didn't inspect the frame as closely as I should have. There's a fair amount of rust, which looks uniform. Before I pay the $8,500 balance, I'll check it with a hammer and know for sure. I can always back out and consider it a $500 lesson.

I need it as a place to live for the next 1-2 years. I have a place to park it and don't plan to drive it more than once a month or so, just long enough to keep it properly exercised. Even at full price, it would be cheaper than rent.

Assuming worst-case scenario, what might a parts bus with a good motor and tranny be worth?

magnakansas · 08-02-2022, 03:35 AM

Low mileage in a dodge pick up, $3500-$4000 maybe. Also depends on engine specifications- meaning hp output.

William

Hutchy · 08-02-2022, 04:29 AM

what tranny is it?

Digcolnagos · 08-02-2022, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hutchy

what tranny is it?

I do not know.

BamaBus · 08-02-2022, 08:11 AM

Post the VIN or take it to https://vantage.blue-bird.com/Portal...?srcaud=Portal
Do you have a picture of the engine? Your google link didn't work.

rossvtaylor · 08-02-2022, 08:42 AM

Without knowing the quality of the build, it's hard to estimate the value of the whole bus. But as you asked about the value as a parts bus, I can add that the market seems to have cratered a bit lately. Our local school has been trying to sell a 5.9 powered Blue Bird in good running condition for just $2500 and hasn't had any takers...and that's a rust free AZ bus with an Allison World Series tranny. If yours has some less-desirable transmission and serious frame rust, you could assume the value would be well below that mark.

Digcolnagos · 08-02-2022, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BamaBus

Post the VIN or take it to https://vantage.blue-bird.com/Portal...?srcaud=Portal
Do you have a picture of the engine? Your google link didn't work.

I don't have a picture of the motor, nor do I have a VIN number.

Digcolnagos · 08-02-2022, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rossvtaylor

Without knowing the quality of the build, it's hard to estimate the value of the whole bus. But as you asked about the value as a parts bus, I can add that the market seems to have cratered a bit lately. Our local school has been trying to sell a 5.9 powered Blue Bird in good running condition for just $2500 and hasn't had any takers...and that's a rust free AZ bus with an Allison World Series tranny. If yours has some less-desirable transmission and serious frame rust, you could assume the value would be well below that mark.

Thanks. The build is nothing fancy, but seems solid, and I like the layout. I'd attach pictures, but can't figure out how--maybe you have to be on the site for awhile.

BamaBus · 08-02-2022, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digcolnagos

I'd attach pictures, but can't figure out how--

See #8 post at https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f12/f...sics-9889.html
Some post pics on their first post.

Digcolnagos · 08-02-2022, 12:26 PM

Trying again.

BamaBus · 08-02-2022, 02:01 PM

Nice looking bus. Reminds me of a bus I bid on a few years ago that went to Mississippi. It had similar mileage and a 12 valve Cummins. I believe it sold in the 4's at auction.

I don't think you will lose any money with the way things are now. If you can't get it all back parting it out then you will greatly reduce any housing cost. The worst-case scenario you fear would probably be the demise of the engine which won't help on scrapping value.

rossvtaylor · 08-02-2022, 02:20 PM

When I proposed a possible scrap value above, I didn't know you had a CLB (cute little bus). That would actually be worth more, I think, than the 40-foot Blue Bird I used as a reference. That's a popular size.

BamaBus · 08-02-2022, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rossvtaylor

Without knowing the quality of the build, it's hard to estimate the value of the whole bus. But as you asked about the value as a parts bus, I can add that the market seems to have cratered a bit lately. Our local school has been trying to sell a 5.9 powered Blue Bird in good running condition for just $2500 and hasn't had any takers...and that's a rust free AZ bus with an Allison World Series tranny. If yours has some less-desirable transmission and serious frame rust, you could assume the value would be well below that mark.

Excellent points on quality. Toilet could just be sitting on a box and of course, the electrical may not be to code if it hooked up at all.

Maybe the AZ bus is the bus needed.

fo4imtippin · 08-02-2022, 02:52 PM

Thats a high roof shorty as well. These have a premium on them. It probably has the AT545 as i have only seen one shorty 12v with a 3060 and I have seen about 100 more with the AT545. With the newer 24v Short TC2000, they AT545 became less common as they introduced the 2500.

Im more of a "take my risk at an auction" guy, but $9k for high roof 26fter seems to be a fair price, just take a hammer to the cross braces for the body to the frame and if it checks out, you got a decent price for a good bus.

Digcolnagos · 08-02-2022, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BamaBus

Nice looking bus. Reminds me of a bus I bid on a few years ago that went to Mississippi. It had similar mileage and a 12 valve Cummins. I believe it sold in the 4's at auction.

I don't think you will lose any money with the way things are now. If you can't get it all back parting it out then you will greatly reduce any housing cost. The worst-case scenario you fear would probably be the demise of the engine which won't help on scrapping value.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BamaBus

Nice looking bus. Reminds me of a bus I bid on a few years ago that went to Mississippi. It had similar mileage and a 12 valve Cummins. I believe it sold in the 4's at auction.

I don't think you will lose any money with the way things are now. If you can't get it all back parting it out then you will greatly reduce any housing cost. The worst-case scenario you fear would probably be the demise of the engine which won't help on scrapping value.

The tires, Michelin in back, Bridgestone in front, look almost brand new, so there may be value there, in addition to the engine/tranny. I like my odds with those, due to low mileage and that it drives and shifts strong, and I don't plan on driving this for the next 1-2 years any more than is necessary to keep it healthy--figure 500 miles or so. It has four brand-new deep cycle batteries, which may not have value after two years, but at least I won't have to worry about them. I would have to put in AC, window unit. I also would need to make the door more secure and install an audible alarm (cops here don't care about video--my motorcycle with wallet in trunk got stolen last week, the thieves tried using my credit cards at a casino, a gas station and a laundromat, all of which have cameras, and the cops won't check the footage, saying that the crime has been classified non-solvable). It would be parked in a residential area where neighbors look out for each other and usually check things out when alarms go off. After AC and security, which I figure shouldn't cost more than $500, I'd take out the back bed and install a shower. I don't know what that would cost. I might then come to know more about the floor.

The current owners have owned it for seven years and maybe drove it 3,000 miles. I don't think they did much during that time. The prior owner did the conversion and acquired the bus with less than 20k on the clock. He kept receipts and maintenance records. It comes with service manual, parts manual and wiring diagrams. Current owners say that a tour bus company was original owner, which might explain the internal/external PA system.

Rent is $1,000/ month for a crappy studio in a crappy part of town, so I should break even at seven months (not including cost of security, AC and shower), assuming I got $2,000 when finished with it. If it proved sturdy, I'd keep it.

I'll still bring a hammer. But it might not matter either way.

Thanks for all the advice/thoughts, and please continue. I need all the help I can get

musigenesis · 08-02-2022, 08:02 PM

Look for the codes on the sides of the tires and they will tell you what year and month the tires were manufactured. My tires looked great and had lots of tread, but they were eight years old and I had a blowout on a rear tire a couple of weeks ago. If your tires there are new-ish (5 years old or less?) you'll save the $2700 I just spent for a new set of shoes.

Digcolnagos · 08-02-2022, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Look for the codes on the sides of the tires and they will tell you what year and month the tires were manufactured. My tires looked great and had lots of tread, but they were eight years old and I had a blowout on a rear tire a couple of weeks ago. If your tires there are new-ish (5 years old or less?) you'll save the $2700 I just spent for a new set of shoes.

I looked for the codes but didn't see them. For my purposes, it isn't important because I don't plan on driving the bus more than 500 miles or so during the next two years, just often enough to keep moving parts healthy. That said, I should have looked harder, just like I should have done a more thorough examination of underneath.

BamaBus · 08-02-2022, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digcolnagos

I looked for the codes but didn't see them.

I have found that the DOT dates are always at the inside, upper portion of the tire.

You have never said where this bus is located to have so much concern for rust.

Where are you going to park it for two years?

Digcolnagos · 08-02-2022, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BamaBus

I have found that the DOT dates are always at the inside, upper portion of the tire.

You have never said where this bus is located to have so much concern for rust.

Where are you going to park it for two years?

Ah, inside. My bad.

Bus is in Washington state but has been to Alaska, reportedly more than once. Have no clue where it was originally or what entity owned it. Doesn't matter, really, where rust is acquired, far as I know.

Parking it at mom's house. She's having medical issues and needs someone close by, I've had a blip in life plans that'll take awhile to sort out.

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