What have I done?

oredigger · 10-21-2016, 08:22 PM

We just bought a bus on an auction website. What did we get ourselves into? I will be asking for lots of help. Not sure I even know how to drive it.

Item Description: 1990 International 3800 Model Carpenter School bus 65 passenger school bus DTA-360 Diesel automatic 195,436 miles. Bus runs great, has rust underneath on crossmembers and floor, good tires all around
Model: International
Specifications: 3800 model

milkmania · 10-21-2016, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oredigger

We just bought a bus on an auction website. What did we get ourselves into? I will be asking for lots of help. Not sure I even know how to drive it.

Item Description: 1990 International 3800 Model Carpenter School bus 65 passenger school bus DTA-360 Diesel automatic 195,436 miles. Bus runs great, has rust underneath on crossmembers and floor, good tires all around
Model: International
Specifications: 3800 model

I think we all ask ourselves the same thing after taking that first step...
http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f9/am-i-crazy-11160.html

EastCoastCB · 10-21-2016, 10:01 PM

You'll wanna get aggressive removing the rust and repairing the damage. Frames and chassis rust is the worst kind.
Best of luck, and welcome to the forum.

Carytowncat · 10-21-2016, 10:41 PM

Yea that "What have i done?!" panic lasts a little while, but fortunately the sweet joy of the bus disolves it completely withing a month or two.

Elliot Naess · 10-22-2016, 12:04 AM

Welcome aboard!
You might want to find out if your Carpenter was built at the Mitchell, Indiana, factory. Use the link I'm posting here. If it is a Mitchell bus, you would want to inspect those welds, and perhaps get a skilled welder/fabricator to reinforce them.
If the bus was built at the Richmond plant, you have nothing to worry about.

Carpenter School Bus Advisory

Your engine is a reliable model.

You might want identify your transmission -- an AT 545, or an MT 643, are the most likely. There is a "sticky" thread somewhere around here for that.

Keep us posted!

cadillackid · 10-22-2016, 05:59 AM

wow almost like my bus!! mine is 91 7 ROW carpenter..

if that was bus used for school service after the weld issue was discovered it was a required repair or the bus wouldve been decommiosioned.. good idea to check but its most likely been fixed.. i know my 91 from ohio it was..

biggest nemesis ive dealt with on my carpenter DT-360 is engine heat in the cabin.. the way carpenter failed to seal the engine compartment from the cabin at the plywood floor level makes for some warm summer drives...

rust is everywhere... scrape it off.. ospho it paint it and be done...

and have fun in a good solid bus!!
-Christopher

tobeamiss · 10-22-2016, 07:47 AM

Hahaha you took the words right out of my mouth....I just won my bus at auction yesterday and all I could think about last night was OMG, so I'm really gonna do this thing?
Good luck to you

WanderWoman · 10-22-2016, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oredigger

We just bought a bus on an auction website. What did we get ourselves into? I will be asking for lots of help. Not sure I even know how to drive it.

Item Description: 1990 International 3800 Model Carpenter School bus 65 passenger school bus DTA-360 Diesel automatic 195,436 miles. Bus runs great, has rust underneath on crossmembers and floor, good tires all around
Model: International
Specifications: 3800 model

Welcome!!!! I kind of said the same thing when I won last month

Now I'm in the middle of my build out. I found driving it from VA to FL very easy and I was comfortable right from the get go, you will be too!

Enjoy... welcome to skoolie life

Sandi aka Wander Woman
WanderLust Bus

WanderWoman · 10-22-2016, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tobeamiss

Hahaha you took the words right out of my mouth....I just won my bus at auction yesterday and all I could think about last night was OMG, so I'm really gonna do this thing?
Good luck to you

Welcome to you, too!!!!

Sandi

cadillackid · 10-22-2016, 08:32 AM

my problem is i cant stop driving the busses long enough to do anything to them

I think I could easily drive a bus as a daily driver..

wait.. I often do..

-Christopher

New2Skool · 10-22-2016, 09:16 AM

Congrats on getting your bus.
Don't be overwhelmed.
Take it step by step.
It will go faster, easier and better little by little.
Start researching exactly what you want to do and what your end goal is.
I have nearly the same bus as you, if you have any questions or problems feel free to ask.
Have fun, that is what skoolies are about.

oredigger · 10-22-2016, 10:12 AM

Thank you all so much for the encouragement. Definitely feeling better about it today. Bought it from a school district so hopefully has the welds repaired. Don't pick it up until Wed. We are very excited.

tobeamiss · 10-23-2016, 06:44 AM

Thank you

tobeamiss · 10-24-2016, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by New2Skool

Congrats on getting your bus.
Don't be overwhelmed.
Take it step by step.
It will go faster, easier and better little by little.
Start researching exactly what you want to do and what your end goal is.
I have nearly the same bus as you, if you have any questions or problems feel free to ask.
Have fun, that is what skoolies are about.

mine is a 2002 International 3000 with a DT466 so ours is very similar I guess....? I know nothing about them..
Is it reliable? Are there any know issues I should be concerned about?

cadillackid · 10-24-2016, 08:06 AM

the DT-466(E) is known to be one of the best engines out there.. treast it nice and it can easily be a 1/2 million miler before you ever take it apart..

1. DOnt get it hot!!
2. Keep its oil changed!
3. keep the fuel filters changed!

-Christopher

tobeamiss · 10-24-2016, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadillackid

the DT-466(E) is known to be one of the best engines out there.. treast it nice and it can easily be a 1/2 million miler before you ever take it apart..

1. DOnt get it hot!!
2. Keep its oil changed!
3. keep the fuel filters changed!

-Christopher

nice! thank you for the info....

You may also like: