2001 blue bird Re 8.3 Cummins with problems

[Anewbus]

Hey Fellas,

I have been looking for a bus for a while and one just down the road is going up for auction. It's pretty much exactly what I want except for it has less of power. I talked to the guy at the school and he said they changed the fuel pump and not long after it started. He thinks possibly the rings are washed due to fuel being dumped into the cylinder/s. I think it has a md 3060 transmission but not totally sure. What would be the max I should pay for something like this. He said it starts n runs. You can even get it to highway speeds but it struggles on long hills.

[brokedown]

Is it so super cheap that you can buy it and overhaul the engine and still come out ahead?

The 8.3 + md3060 is a good combination, that's the sort of bus people are looking for. But depending on your ability and if you "know somebody" who can do an overhaul, that is a big, expensive job. It sounds like they haven't really diagnosed the issue but the fuel pump story sounds like someone doesn't know what they're talking about.

Also, if it's a TC2000, that's gonna be a $5000 bus in good running condition with good features. If it's a BAA it could be worth as much as double that.

[Anewbus]

It's an All American. It has around 93,000 miles. It was an Activity Bus for a Community college.

"2001 Blue Bird All American/All Canadian BUS, 8.3L L6 DIESEL. Starts and runs, a/c, automatic transmission, 45 passenger. PLEASE NOTE: Engine has loss of power. Loss of power is believed to be caused by a faulty fuel pump that was replaced and washed the piston rings. "

[brokedown]

The BBAA is the premium model from Bluebird but if there's an unknown engine problem you have to assume it's "bad motor" and neither trivial nor inexpensive to repair. If it was easy it would already be fixed! So it comes down to the price, if it's super cheap it might be worth pursuing but it needs to be priced right for a bus with a bad motor.

[PNW_Steve]

That is a nice looking bus.

I did a little Google-fu and found inframe kits for $1600-1800 labor estimates of around 40 hours.

The local independent diesel shop here charges around $100/hour.

Guestimate: $6000.

If you got it for scrap value and rebuilt the engine you would have a great bus.

Opinions vary but I think that an A3RE with 93000 miles and a fresh inframe for $7000 would be a fair deal.

[family wagon]

I wonder what they mean by "washed the piston rings." Did it dump so much fuel for so long that the cylinder walls were kept washed and caused massively accelerated wear of the walls and the rings? Maybe to the point that the rings aren't really working anymore? If this were the case I imagine an oil analysis would reveal high quantities of fuel mixed with the oil. Maybe the exhaust would be smoky too from incomplete combustion due to low cylinder pressures, but I don't know.

My 1999 and 2000 buses both have the CAPS fuel injection system. I don't know whether this 2001 would have CAPS or the common rail injection system, but I can tell you from experience that CAPS pump parts aren't cheap. It cost me US$1200 for a remanufactured injection control valve for one of mine -- and that was just the one module, no labor or anything else.

If you have some tolerance for risk, ability to work on it yourself, and the price is right for the risk you'll be taking, it could work out for you.

[PNW_Steve]

My 2002 has the CAPS pump.

I am fairly certain that the 2001 does as well.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

That is a nice looking bus.

I did a little Google-fu and found inframe kits for $1600-1800 labor estimates of around 40 hours.

The local independent diesel shop here charges around $100/hour.

Guestimate: $6000.

If you got it for scrap value and rebuilt the engine you would have a great bus.

Opinions vary but I think that an A3RE with 93000 miles and a fresh inframe for $7000 would be a fair deal.

I'd guesstimate higher.

[Anewbus]

They had the transmission type wrong. I called the guy and he said it's a B 300. Don't know much about that one. I think today I'll call around to some diesel mechanic shops around and get a estimate on how much it'll cost to overhaul it just to have an idea.

[Anewbus]

I talked to a local diesel shop that has a good reputation and the guy told me that they could do is for $4000. He said they just overhauled a bluebird just like that one. He also said i should check the oil first. If there's no diesel in the oil it probably won't need an overhaul. We'll see.

[family wagon]

The B300 transmission has treated me well. Mine is a B300R actually, so it has a built-in retarder to save wear on the brakes. So far as I could determine, it's geared the same and otherwise fairly comparable to the MD3060.

[Anewbus]

Thanks Family Wagon!

I think if i can get this bus for under $4k, I may get it. I'm hoping after i talked to the mechanic today that it won't need an overhaul but if it does i think i'll come out with a really nice bus. What kind of mpg does your bus get Family Wagon? I'm guessing maybe around 10. I'll go see it and maybe get an oil sample from it while i'm looking!

[family wagon]

I've tracked the mileage on only one trip: 1700 miles from Salt Lake City to Bozeman to the Idaho panhandle to Boise and back to Salt Lake. That one averaged 9.25 mpg. It'll depend on terrain obviously, and axle ratio too. You didn't mention the ratio this bus has; mine has 5.38.

It seems like if you go in prepared to spend a thousand or two on repairs you'll be likely to end up with a great bus and no regrets. Even if it turns out repairs get extensive and expensive, you'll still have a great bus and only a little more money than you'd hoped for.

[EastCoastCB]

Here's a nice BBAA that's fully functional. Won't go for more than 3 or 4 grand.
https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/au...ew?auc=2118685

[cycle61]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Here's a nice BBAA that's fully functional. Won't go for more than 3 or 4 grand.
https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/au...ew?auc=2118685

Ohh man, that's just a couple hours from me.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cycle61

Ohh man, that's just a couple hours from me.

That's a top of the line bus.
High headroom, big drivetrain, probably air ride too.

[cycle61]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

That's a top of the line bus.
High headroom, big drivetrain, probably air ride too.

And a couple months too early.

[boojiewoojie]

PRCC? You in redneck country. And it was not good that the Hornets beat my hometown Maroon Tide last year....
Nice looking bus.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Here's a nice BBAA that's fully functional. Won't go for more than 3 or 4 grand.
https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/au...ew?auc=2118685

My Bluebird came from the same area and has zero rust issues.

[Anewbus]

Oregon, that would be a heck of a drive home! What would hugh mikes br considered on these 8.3 engines?

Ha! Autocorrect! What would high miles be considered.

Sorry, I didn't read before posting.