Hi folks! I just picked up a 2003 International "short bus" ??? pics included :)

[Daveyd007]

I've been lurking here and decided to register once I picked up my new bus. I spent the whole day checking out a school bus in Lampasas, Texas. It was a deal I just couldn't resist.

It's a 2003, 3800 International DT466E; the chassis has 120,000 miles on it. However, everything under the hood is practically brand new - a new engine was installed less than 10K miles ago. New radiator, tinted windows, new turbo and inter-cooler, with twin AC compressors, new batteries, new tires all around..etc. No dripping leaks whatsoever. It has placements internally for four wheelchairs with the aluminum slide tracks.

As this is my very first school bus purchase, I hope I got a great deal on it, I'd like for you tell me if I did or not. Total price out the door, including tags, title and license plates was $4,500 dollars. I am totally ecstatic about turning it into an RV...




This is a fresh bus, no damage or modifications have been done to it, yet.

So it's time for me to "break it in"...lol







The last pic above was right after I paid for it and was ready to drive it home. Excellent engine, brakes, transmission, and steering systems.

[Daveyd007]

Thanks to skoolie.net, I was able to download and read the owner's/repair manual lastnight to get a quick refresher, to familiarize myself with the bus' mechanical systems and components before buying my bus today.

When I arrived to look at the bus, it didn't have any batteries installed and the bus had sat there for over a month. I took the opportunity to assist the dealer with installing a new pair of group 31 batteries after we sourced them at autozone. Bus keys in his pocket, we mounted the batteries, upon hooking up the last ground terminal, I noticed there was no arcing in the connection. This is a good indicator that there's no parasitic drain on the electrical system. Anyhow, the bus fired right up, sounded smooth, no hesitation, and so we took it for a 10 mile test drive. The bus is equipped with LED, 4-way strobe & stop lights, air-ride suspension, pneumatic brakes, an ice-cold air conditioning system X2, a functional cruise control and overdrive, six speed Allison transmission which tops out between 65-70 mph.

A little info about me - I am a retired heavy equipment mechanic for the federal government, and used to overhaul engines on various industrial equipment, including school busses. So if you need technical assistance, I'll do my best to try and help anyone out.

[cadillackid]

nice rig!!! looks like a DT466E? which transmission did you get? I didnt see the shifter to see..

one of my busses came from houston last year.. seems texas is a great place to get busses!.
-Christopher

[Rusty]

Sweet Ride. I'm looking for a similar bus for daily driver.

Paying a little extra upfront for a clean bus is a good investment.

Them fancy red seats.... Corinthian Leather, I presume?

[Daveyd007]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

nice rig!!! looks like a DT466E? which transmission did you get? I didnt see the shifter to see..

one of my busses came from houston last year.. seems texas is a great place to get busses!.
-Christopher

Thanks! I'm not sure of the transmission model, but I could check on it at first light.

[Daveyd007]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Sweet Ride. I'm looking for a similar bus for daily driver.

Paying a little extra upfront for a clean bus is a good investment.

Them fancy red seats.... Corinthian Leather, I presume?

lol..you got that right. I couldn't imagine having a rust bucket. I prefer to drive it than to overhaul one for weeks or months on end.

[Daveyd007]

Here's a video with my bus engine idling tonight with all the outside lights & strobes activated.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Daveyd007

Here's a video with my bus engine idling tonight with all the outside lights & strobes activated.

Them LED's are BRIGHT

You won't need a generator with that monster alternator !!

[dan-fox]

Bus sounds great! Most of those red flashers are going to have to go away, unfortunately. Think of it as an opportunity to install some creative outside camp lighting.

[BowserJournal]

That is one nice looking Rig!!!!! You will have a ton of fun fixin it up.

[2kool4skool]

Nice! Welcome.

[Daveyd007]

Originally Posted by dan-fox

Bus sounds great! Most of those red flashers are going to have to go away, unfortunately. Think of it as an opportunity to install some creative outside camp lighting.

Yeah, that's what I figured. I'm scraping off all the SCHOOL BUS stickers right now too. Boy are they a pain to remove....lol

I've been driving the bus to the store on a daily basis and I like it more than my Toyota Tundra!

[Daveyd007]

Originally Posted by BowserJournal

That is one nice looking Rig!!!!! You will have a ton of fun fixin it up.

Thank you, sir.

[Daveyd007]

Originally Posted by 2kool4skool

Nice! Welcome.

Thanks Don and Mary

[brokedown]

Hey it sounds like you found a great bus for a great price!

[dan-fox]

Originally Posted by Daveyd007

Yeah, that's what I figured. I'm scraping off all the SCHOOL BUS stickers right now too. Boy are they a pain to remove....lol

I've been driving the bus to the store on a daily basis and I like it more than my Toyota Tundra!

Oh, that sounds fun!

Have you tried softening the lettering, etc. with a hot air gun? Not a hair dryer, but a real this-will-hurt-you heat-shrink-tubing hot air gun. Good tool to have around, and cheap.

[TJones]

Nice Bus! If you come across another one that nice for that price please let me know. Used busses for sale seem to be rare up here is South Dakota. All the schools here must trade their buses in with dealerships out of state. Also we don't have AC on busses up here.

[Daveyd007]

Added a Receiver Hitch to the back of the bus today, one more going on the front bumper tomorrow.

[Daveyd007]

Originally Posted by TJones

Nice Bus! If you come across another one that nice for that price please let me know. Used busses for sale seem to be rare up here is South Dakota. All the schools here must trade their buses in with dealerships out of state. Also we don't have AC on busses up here.

Will do. Thank you, sir.

[Daveyd007]

Originally Posted by dan-fox

Oh, that sounds fun!

Have you tried softening the lettering, etc. with a hot air gun? Not a hair dryer, but a real this-will-hurt-you heat-shrink-tubing hot air gun. Good tool to have around, and cheap.

I'll have to try that out tomorrow. Thanks a bunch.