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08-15-2005, 07:17 PM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ONEONTA,NY
Posts: 33
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I need expert information....
I have an opportunity to buy a 1998 BlueBird shuttle bus. It is a flat nose diesel pusher. It is a 22 passenger with 150000 miles. It is 29 foot long. It has a 8.3 Cummins Diesel & an Allison Automatic Transmission.
Has anyone had any experience with these?
Also, is anyone interested in buying the playhouse3 from me?
Dom
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08-15-2005, 10:56 PM
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#2
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Idaho
Posts: 448
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Let me wipe up the drool first. If it is in good shape I would buy it in a heart beat. Since it has a Cummins 8.3 it almost certainly has an allison MT-643. What a sweet powertrain. Do you know what the rear end ratio is? The mechanical version of the 8.3 is easy to get more HP out of. You could easily turn it up to 300+. Of course the tranny is rated for a max of 250 many have done it though.
Since it is a shuttle I am assuming it has a high roof, basement storage, and A/C? As long as the engine and tranny are in good shape I would love to have one of these buses. Oh and is it air ride or spring? If it is ari ride make sure the bags are in good shape. They are not too bad to replace but all the small things add up.
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08-16-2005, 09:03 PM
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#3
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: New England
Posts: 1,009
Year: 1993
Coachwork: Ward Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/MT643
Rated Cap: 77
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Look out for front end looseness & worn shocks...either or both can make a pusher (or any forward-control vehicle) a thrill ride.
Also, does it have the electronic dashboard? If so, beware...the one we have at work is very troublesome.
__________________
Jarlaxle
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Optimism is a mental disorder.
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08-17-2005, 02:09 PM
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#4
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: fresno
Posts: 46
Year: Gill
Coachwork: Gillig
Engine: 636 c.i. CAT V8
Rated Cap: 33,700 GVWR
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info on possible purchase
Howdy Friend
Well, the item as described, if not damaged in any way, sounds 100% good to me. that model of Cummins is good, the Allisons are bulletproof, and the low miles on both is good. I believe the Cummns should be good for at least another 100K miles, and I don't know if the Allisons ever wear out, especially in light duty like a 22 passenger bus.
Do you have any pics? I have never owned a bluebird, but would like to know more aobut them.
Hope you get your bus!
Patrick Young
http://www.fresnoalliance.com/wheelchairproject
Wheelchair Project
Fresno, CA
mailto:WheelchairBusProject@yahoo.com
(559) 244-1042 (559) 251-3814
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08-17-2005, 06:25 PM
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#5
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ONEONTA,NY
Posts: 33
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Didn't get it....
Well, apparently his partner sold it without him knowing... This sucks, as I was just getting the boss (wife) to warm up to the idea. Now he wants to sell me a 1997 eldorado instead. What does everyone think?
The top one is the eldorado and is only a 27 footer and the bottom is the bluebird that I missed out on.
Dom
It won't load, so just go here: http://theplayhouse.homestead.com/compare.html
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08-18-2005, 09:27 PM
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#6
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Grundy, Virginia
Posts: 632
Year: 1985
Coachwork: ThomasBuilt
Chassis: International Harvester S-1700
Engine: 9L IHC V-8 Diesel 180HP
Rated Cap: 60
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My preference
Well, personally, I'd go find another bus. Lots more fun to construct your own! 
(Edit) Ooops, I thought the Eldorado was a conventional RV.
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08-18-2005, 09:29 PM
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#7
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ONEONTA,NY
Posts: 33
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NOPE
Nope, it's a shuttle also...
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08-18-2005, 10:41 PM
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#8
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Skoolie
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Duluth, MN
Posts: 243
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It's cute and it's just the right size to make a small conversion out of.
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08-18-2005, 11:29 PM
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#9
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Idaho
Posts: 448
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I would wait for another bus. BlueBirds are the Cadillacs. The other thing to consider is how much weight can the eldorado handle vs a BB.
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08-19-2005, 08:59 PM
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#10
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ONEONTA,NY
Posts: 33
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OK, which is better:
1997 eldorado re with 64000 miles
or
1996 Bluebird similar to the one pictured on my web link comparison with 220000 miles, but a newly rebuilt allison auto trans.
Any ideas?
Dom
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08-19-2005, 09:09 PM
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#11
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Idaho
Posts: 448
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What engine and tranny is in the eldorado and the bus? How many miles on the rebuilt tranny? Does this bus also have a Cummins 8.3? I would get an oil analysis done on the bus though.
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08-19-2005, 09:15 PM
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#12
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ONEONTA,NY
Posts: 33
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...
The eldorado is a bus also, it has 8.3 cummins diesel, with allison auto trans,
the BB has the same and 1200 miles on the tranny.
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08-20-2005, 09:33 AM
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#13
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: New England
Posts: 1,009
Year: 1993
Coachwork: Ward Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/MT643
Rated Cap: 77
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What chassis is the Eldo on?
__________________
Jarlaxle
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Optimism is a mental disorder.
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08-20-2005, 12:27 PM
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#14
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ONEONTA,NY
Posts: 33
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CHASSIS
I don't know, it's an eldorado national re. I think it is made by thor industries.
Dom
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08-20-2005, 07:43 PM
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#15
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: New England
Posts: 1,009
Year: 1993
Coachwork: Ward Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/MT643
Rated Cap: 77
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Look at the steering wheel--I'm guessing it's either a Freightliner or a Spartan. Yes, Thor makes (among others, including Champion) the Eldos.
__________________
Jarlaxle
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Optimism is a mental disorder.
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08-22-2005, 12:09 AM
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#16
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ONEONTA,NY
Posts: 33
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WHICH
Which is better?
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08-22-2005, 11:41 PM
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#17
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Idaho
Posts: 448
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That is like asking if a Bluebird or a Thomas is better. Take them both for a drive and see what you like better. Also which one would be easier to convert. Some people have a hard time with a bus with angled sides like a Flx Metro. Others like it.
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08-24-2005, 07:02 AM
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#18
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: New England
Posts: 1,009
Year: 1993
Coachwork: Ward Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/MT643
Rated Cap: 77
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We have a Spartan pusher at work...all I can say is, I'd rather have a Yugo with a blown head gasket. It literally spends more time in the shop than on the road, and even when it's running, nobody likes driving it. It's a 1999 & has ~65,000 miles...my usual bus is a 2002 (an Eldo, in fact) with 128,000 miles. That should say it all.
__________________
Jarlaxle
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Optimism is a mental disorder.
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08-24-2005, 07:11 AM
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#19
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ONEONTA,NY
Posts: 33
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2002?
So your 2002 has a freightliner chasis?
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08-26-2005, 11:16 AM
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#20
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: ONEONTA,NY
Posts: 33
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95 bb
How bout a 95 Bluebird q-bus with 120,000 miles? 5.9 Cummins with 4 speed allison at?
Any comments on this one? I found it for $6500. I notice a lot of info on the net about a recall for steering bolts.
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