Skoolie evaluation

[BusDreamerRick]

Hi! This is my first post on here and I’ll be as diligent as possible with details regarding this question.

So I’ve been on here researching extensively on the pros and cons of various skoolies. I’ve been fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to be able to buy one already converted but I have the budget to get something else, although I would have to travel quite the distance to Medford Oregon (something I don’t mind but if this bus works then why not?) My questions revolve around whether it would be a good buy and/or what would the community evaluate it price wise.

It’s a 97’ Blue Bird with a T444E engine, but would need some help evaluating what transmission it could be. I have provided pictures to serve as references as the writing seems to have rusted over.

It’s been converted to vegetable oil as well (any details about the pros and cons about that would be appreciated)

158k miles

Has electrical and plumbing installed (currently hooked up to shore power and water)

Can be hooked up to solar but needs batteries, panels and possibly extra circuitry.

The owner is asking 20k

Apologies is I missed out any other details that escape me. I know there’s so many poorly detailed threads :/

[Mountain Gnome]

It looked interesting, especially being a vegetarian motor.


Then came the 20K ($?) part.


Does it have gold-plated cabinet handles, hand embroidered silk curtains, and a black-velvet painting of Elvis? Or is it even decked out inside beyond the basic stuff you listed?


And there is no picture of a tranny there. Just the driveshaft (propeller shaft). The "Spicer" sticker on it makes me think it is a custom drive shaft, and maybe, just maybe, therefore a spicer manual transmission.

[Mountain Gnome]

That's a $3000-$4000 bus, IMO, with $100 in vegi-oil conversions. The conversion is simple.

[BusDreamerRick]

Originally Posted by Mountain Gnome

It looked interesting, especially being a vegetarian motor.


Then came the 20K ($?) part.


Does it have gold-plated cabinet handles, hand embroidered silk curtains, and a black-velvet painting of Elvis? Or is it even decked out inside beyond the basic stuff you listed?


And there is no picture of a tranny there. Just the driveshaft (propeller shaft). The "Spicer" sticker on it makes me think it is a custom drive shaft, and maybe, just maybe, therefore a spicer manual transmission.

Ooooh! I’m not too familiar where the transmission is.. would that be further up towards the engine or back?
I’ll be googling the anatomy of a bus right now

[Mountain Gnome]

It will be up front. In the second pic, you can just see the rear-end of the tranny. Follow that driveshaft forward, and the thing that it attaches to at the end is the tranny.


Good luck my friend.


Aloha!

[CHEESE_WAGON]

Tranny should have a tag on the right side rear, will say what model it is (AT545, MT643, 2000, MD3060)

[Mountain Gnome]

Wait a sec. I thought the "electronic" diesels with high-pressure injectors could not use veggie oil. Hmmm.... Maybe I'm wrong, or maybe a different motor?

[CHEESE_WAGON]

Originally Posted by Mountain Gnome

Wait a sec. I thought the "electronic" diesels with high-pressure injectors could not use veggie oil. Hmmm.... Maybe I'm wrong, or maybe a different motor?

That's a new one on me, but I'd like to hear the science behind it... Could be something as simple as the WVO viscosity is so variable if not at max temp that it could cause problems?

[Mountain Gnome]

Originally Posted by CHEESE_WAGON

That's a new one on me, but I'd like to hear the science behind it... Could be something as simple as the WVO viscosity is so variable if not at max temp that it could cause problems?

I've never looked deeply into the details myself. Just heard "rumors". Your "guess" is one reason. Also, the purity of the oil - those High-pressure injectors have smaller nozzles to atomize the fuel better so it burns better. Another I've heard is the fuel lines can't handle it - it will destroy them; that always con-fu-zed me. Fully processed bio-diesel is fine. Raw veggie oil is not. But that is just what I "heard".

[CHEESE_WAGON]

Originally Posted by Mountain Gnome

That's a $3000-$4000 bus, IMO, with $100 in vegi-oil conversions. The conversion is simple.

Depends on what's been done inside, I suppose. But I'm with you. It's not like WVO is all that easy to process, and it's not all that easy to get just right-this-minute, either.

[Mountain Gnome]

Yea, used to be you could pull up to any old fast-food place and fill up for free. Now they sell it wholesale, and the grease-dumps are locked.

[Mountain Gnome]

But the old WVO conversions I've heard of only need a pair of cotton jeans to filter the oil, and then it's ready to burn. Just takes time. Not so good for cross-country travel, without jugs, ans jugs, and more jugs, and a processing station in your bus, filtering the WVO as you drive.

[BusDreamerRick]

Good to know that veg oil is not practical.. unless you’re traveling around locally.. on the land I stay in we know a guy who processes it and gives it to us for free in exchange for small carpentry jobs..

Anyway.. got under the bus tonight and i can confirm the trans is a AT545

Also good to know that a veg conversion doesn’t Jack the price up considerably.. people around me make it seem like it’s a huge thing.. maybe it is.. but I’m not exactly going to be hauling an oil refinery around.. although it does have a hitch..
considering it’s a small engine idk what could be towed behind it..

Thanks for the replies !

[CHEESE_WAGON]

AT545 isn't the end of the world, just not suited for highway cruising or mountains. The T444E is fine for towing, it just won't do it quickly. The weak link is almost always the trans. And you don't want to tow anything with an AT545 anyway. If towing, highway, or mountains / hills are in your plans, you need an MT643 minimum... The 2000 and MD3060 are much better suited.

[BusDreamerRick]

Awesome! Thanks for that!

Yeah I live on the west coast and all we have are hills and mountains out here on most highways! I think I’ll probably save myself a possible blown engine (and 15k) and roadtrip to Oregon or San Diego for a bus and drive it back to Sacramento

[BusDreamerRick]

I wonder if the DT466 comes in 8-10 window conventional nose configurations..

[johnbloem1974]

Originally Posted by BusDreamerRick

I wonder if the DT466 comes in 8-10 window conventional nose configurations..

Yes it does! I have a 1998 9-window International 3800 DT466E...

John

[CHEESE_WAGON]

Originally Posted by BusDreamerRick

Awesome! Thanks for that!

Yeah I live on the west coast and all we have are hills and mountains out here on most highways! I think I’ll probably save myself a possible blown engine (and 15k) and roadtrip to Oregon or San Diego for a bus and drive it back to Sacramento

If you haven't already checked out the primer I put together for newbies, it is one of four threads linked in my sig. Sounds like you'll be happiest with the T444(E) / DT466(E) / DT530 / turbo 3208 Cat / 8.3 Cummins with a 2000 or MD3060 trans.

[CHEESE_WAGON]

I might add that there are several conventionals with CAT 3126 / C7s and DT466Es, and flat noses with 3126 CAT / MD3060 near me for reasonable prices. I can't say for sure what trans are in the conventionals though, and some of the flatnoses may need some work on the floors. Not severe, but I noticed a little bit of waviness around the front wheel wells when I looked over a few for another member. Unfortunately, it's not a good idea for me to do an encore due to asthma and careless smokers at the place in question.

I also know of one in Denver that could be bought if your budget allows. I wanted it myself but had to pass because being around diesel exhaust is like a gas chamber to me. It's a 12-window though, if memory serves. Roof raise, ready for build-out, DT466E and MT643. Owner has $25k in it but might sell for less with a reasonable offer.