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Old 08-02-2021, 08:16 PM   #1
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Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 2
2 Busses & 2 Newbies.. Hi!

Hey y'all!

Long term skoolie fan and super recent auction winners. My partner and I are impulsive, and all of a sudden we have two busses in Texas (We're in CA). Flying out tomorrow to pick them up and get them spruced up in prep for the journey home.

Why two busses? Well, we're just crazy enough to buy both sight unseen. Hopefully we'll know which one we want to keep mid-way back to CA Plan is to sell the other once we have that figured out.

Specs:
Both 8 window conventional dognoses
Both 74" inside height
Both from a school district hardly used and well maintained
One 1996 Ford Crown w/ 5.9L Cummins, 120k miles, & hydraulic brakes
Other is a 2001 Bluebird Int. w/ 7.3L IHC T444E, 94k miles, and air brakes

The 96 is a bit more rough on the outside, and the 01 is shiny as heck.
Any thoughts/feelings right off the bat which one we should keep? Sell?
Would love to hear opinions and advice from any and all!

Last thing.. if anyone has any recs for roof raise contractors (around the $5k range) anywhere from CA to TX, please let me know. We're 6'1" and 6'5" so thinking a 10-12" raise (below the windows, with that nice lil' up slant above the cab would be gravy!)

Thanks for reading! Happy (and so nervous) to finally be here
-Heather
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pterodactylwhaleshit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2021, 08:59 PM   #2
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: NJ for now
Posts: 17
Year: 2005
Chassis: thomas freightliner dog nose
Engine: cat c-7
I am thinking the 96 just because of the engine that's my opinion. You cant beat that Cummins engine. I understand the other one is nice and shiny but you're gonna have to paint the bus anyways. Not sure how handy you are but with a couple of friends you should be able to do the roof raise. I try to do most of my own stuff you tube has a lot of nice videos on roof raise and I am sure there are people here that can give you some pointers.
richie23 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2021, 09:06 PM   #3
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Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
No contest, the International. While the Cummins is a decent motor in a small size bus, it is most likely backed with an Allison AT545. The 545 is the least desirable highway/mountain transmission.
The air brakes are a plus over hydraulic.
The mileage differnce is substantialPaint doesn't matter because you legally have to paint it anyways. I'd rather have the International motor over the 5.9.
All leading to the International as being the winner.
Good luck with your decision.
If you share driving each bus home, my money is you will know which one is going.
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