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04-28-2019, 12:50 PM
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#1
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Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Colebrook CT
Posts: 163
Year: 1989
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 96A3
Engine: 6V92
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Hello! And I bought a bus
Hi skoolie community! I've been wanting to do this for a while but I finally bought a bus yesterday. I went down to NJ to see it and its super cool. I pick it up next week. I just don't know alot about it since it seems to be a hybrid. Maybe you can help...
Its a bluebird all american, flat nose, rear engine cat motor. Year 2000. It was a parks and rec bus for a local town. Digital odo reads 75k miles. But here's where its different - the windows and seats are coach style. Also, didn't know what this was till yesterday but it has a kneeler. Like I flip a switch and it lowers and raises. Kinda cool.
Is there any way to determine what motor and trans it has? I want to tune er up. Which leads to my next question, what do I do for a tune up? Also, where do I get parts?
I bet this information is covered elsewhere on the site but I figured I'd ask.
Thanks and I'm looking forward to sharing my build and travel journeys!
Andy
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04-28-2019, 01:30 PM
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#2
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,222
Year: 1999
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: TC1000 HandyBus
Engine: 5.9L 24V-L6 Cummins ISB
Rated Cap: 26 foot
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Sound like a nice bus IF there is no rust issues. DO check that out before handing over cash$$$ 
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04-28-2019, 01:40 PM
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#3
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Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Colebrook CT
Posts: 163
Year: 1989
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 96A3
Engine: 6V92
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Yes and you're right.. It has some surface rust here and there but its good. Being from new England, checking for rust is second nature!
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04-28-2019, 01:49 PM
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#4
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mtrdrms
Yes and you're right.. It has some surface rust here and there but its good. Being from new England, checking for rust is second nature!
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Good rust? If you see visible rust, the rust on the floor will be massive Highly likely the dash has been replaced and has many more miles than indicated.
A VIN search would reveal the drive train.
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04-28-2019, 01:57 PM
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#5
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Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Colebrook CT
Posts: 163
Year: 1989
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 96A3
Engine: 6V92
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Quote:
Originally Posted by o1marc
Good rust? If you see visible rust, the rust on the floor will be massive Highly likely the dash has been replaced and has many more miles than indicated.
A VIN search would reveal the drive train.
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Ok, I'll try to figure out how to do a VIN search. I'm not too worried about the miles - bus runs great. Time will tell I guess.
Yeah, its good in the same way that you can catch cancer before its inoperable...
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04-28-2019, 02:01 PM
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#6
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mtrdrms
Ok, I'll try to figure out how to do a VIN search. I'm not too worried about the miles - bus runs great. Time will tell I guess.
Yeah, its good in the same way that you can catch cancer before its inoperable...
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Call a Blue Bird Dealer with the VIN and they will tell you what everything is. It is extremely common for the dashes to fail and get replaced without a mileage correction, that bus should have close to 200K. Make sure you pull all the old flooring and treat the rust before moving ahead.
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04-28-2019, 02:07 PM
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#7
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Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Colebrook CT
Posts: 163
Year: 1989
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 96A3
Engine: 6V92
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Quote:
Originally Posted by o1marc
Call a Blue Bird Dealer with the VIN and they will tell you what everything is. It is extremely common for the dashes to fail and get replaced without a mileage correction, that bus should have close to 200K. Make sure you pull all the old flooring and treat the rust before moving ahead.
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Good idea, I'll do both of those things. Thanks!
Can't wait to get my hands on this baby!
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04-28-2019, 03:23 PM
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#8
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Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Colebrook CT
Posts: 163
Year: 1989
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 96A3
Engine: 6V92
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Lets see if this works...
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04-28-2019, 03:56 PM
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#9
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: So Cal
Posts: 3,245
Year: 1935
Coachwork: Superior
Chassis: Chevy
Engine: 317 ci/tid / Isuzu
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Nice bus. We're all jealous. Maybe if you painted it NSB yellow we'd feel a little better.
Jack 
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04-28-2019, 06:00 PM
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#10
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Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Colebrook CT
Posts: 163
Year: 1989
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 96A3
Engine: 6V92
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Hey Jack, thanks but its a work in progress. I've never driven a bus and I've got to drive it home from jersey city = high stress.
Don't know much about it so its a gamble but hey, I've got you all now to help me!
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04-28-2019, 06:36 PM
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#11
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Damascus, OR
Posts: 681
Year: 2004
Chassis: International
Engine: T444e w/ 2000 Allison Trans
Rated Cap: 35
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Nice! I like the shuttle bus style windows. now you just need to find out the specs on your bus (tranny).
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04-28-2019, 07:04 PM
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#12
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Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Colebrook CT
Posts: 163
Year: 1989
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 96A3
Engine: 6V92
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rovobay
Nice! I like the shuttle bus style windows. now you just need to find out the specs on your bus (tranny).
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I'll have to find out. Is that done with a vin check? It has a push button shifter if thats any indication...
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04-28-2019, 07:06 PM
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#13
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Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Colebrook CT
Posts: 163
Year: 1989
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 96A3
Engine: 6V92
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Does any of this help?
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04-28-2019, 07:07 PM
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#14
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Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Colebrook CT
Posts: 163
Year: 1989
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 96A3
Engine: 6V92
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The cockpit
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04-28-2019, 07:15 PM
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#15
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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You have a Blue Bird A3RE. Looks like it might be a 3060, does it say 5 or 6 on the read out when you turn the key on? Probably a DT466E or a Cummins 8.3. You got one of the most desirable drivetrains.
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04-28-2019, 07:59 PM
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#16
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Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Colebrook CT
Posts: 163
Year: 1989
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 96A3
Engine: 6V92
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Really? I see the a3re designation but can you tell me how you determined the drive train?
I will have the bus in my possession next weekend so I can't tell you the readout or get to the engine number plate until then. Thank you for all the great info.
FWIW the guy I bought it from said it had a Caterpillar engine...
__________________
Double-clutching my way to the bank...
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04-28-2019, 08:02 PM
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#17
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mtrdrms
Really? I see the a3re designation but can you tell me how you determined the drive train?
I will have the bus in my possession next weekend so I can't tell you the readout or get to the engine number plate until then. Thank you for all the great info.
FWIW the guy I bought it from said it had a Caterpillar engine...
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The shift panel tells me it is probably the same as what I have. With that tranny that year, most likely was one of the 2 motors I mentioned.
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04-28-2019, 08:50 PM
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#18
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Ashtabula, Ohio
Posts: 1,494
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: International
Engine: T444E 7.3L
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Nice bus there!
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04-29-2019, 07:57 AM
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#19
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Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Colebrook CT
Posts: 163
Year: 1989
Coachwork: MCI
Chassis: 96A3
Engine: 6V92
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Quote:
Originally Posted by o1marc
You have a Blue Bird A3RE. Looks like it might be a 3060, does it say 5 or 6 on the read out when you turn the key on? Probably a DT466E or a Cummins 8.3. You got one of the most desirable drivetrains.
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Just from looking at pictures online, it looks like a Cummins engine to me.
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04-29-2019, 08:13 AM
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#20
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,829
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mtrdrms
Really? I see the a3re designation but can you tell me how you determined the drive train?
I will have the bus in my possession next weekend so I can't tell you the readout or get to the engine number plate until then. Thank you for all the great info.
FWIW the guy I bought it from said it had a Caterpillar engine...
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The pics show a 3060 shifter and the engine is clearly a Cummins.
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