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07-19-2013, 01:22 PM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 20
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So I'm thinking of buying an old bus...
It is a 1971 International 66 passenger with a 5 speed stick and a 345. The owner says the engine had a complete rebuild a couple thousand miles ago. Stated problems: needs muffler and cleaned.
Any thoughts or advice? Are there problems that are likely due to the age or model? 'm really new to this.
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07-19-2013, 01:55 PM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
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Re: So I'm thinking of buying an old bus...
the bus part is just a shell, kind of like a turtle...if it has holes they need to be filled so that is the story on rust
the IH345 is a good engine, cheap to rebuild it was in 10000's of trucks, you won't be fast; no real need tho'
clutch and tranny same as any IH truck
take your time where your going and it will get there, manual tranny helps alot
brake lines need to be checked for rust as well as rest of brakes the wheel cylinders and pads
others will chime in
and WELCOME!!!
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
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07-19-2013, 04:54 PM
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#3
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Landlocked... for now.
Posts: 285
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Re: So I'm thinking of buying an old bus...
Quote:
Originally Posted by bansil
and WELCOME!!!
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*Runs it through the Bansil-Translator:
DO IT DO IT DO IT!!!
__________________
'Tace
Dog is my copilot. As I have no dog, I have no flight plan.
"If all porkchops were perfect, we wouldn't have hotdogs!" -Steven Universe
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07-19-2013, 05:03 PM
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#4
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Southern Maine
Posts: 337
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Re: So I'm thinking of buying an old bus...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Das Mel
Quote:
Originally Posted by bansil
and WELCOME!!!
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*Runs it through the Bansil-Translator:
DO IT DO IT DO IT!!!

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Pfffft that's a loose translation at best..... Properly translated would be:
Woop....woop.... DO IT, and post some pics!!
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07-19-2013, 05:04 PM
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#5
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 20
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Re: So I'm thinking of buying an old bus...
I'm debating between that one and a '95 Ford with a 5.9 diesel and airbrakes. The '71 is$1600 and the '95 is $2500. Gas v. Diesel, newer v. EMP proof, veggie v. woodgas
Those are pretty much the factors.
*edit: the '95 got sold to someone
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07-19-2013, 08:02 PM
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#6
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Adirondack Mountains NY
Posts: 1,101
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Re: So I'm thinking of buying an old bus...
Quote:
Originally Posted by revoltindevelopments
*edit: the '95 got sold to someone
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"Here's yer sign."
Welcome!
If you have the mechanical smarts to put a woodgas system on a gasser (without gassing yourself  ), then you probably also have the smarts to drop a used EMP-proof DT366 or DT466 in front of that stick shift. I'm just sayin . . . .
__________________
Someone said "Making good decisions comes from experience, experience comes from bad decisions." I say there are three kinds of people: those who learn from their mistakes, those who learn from the mistakes of others, and those who never learn.
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07-19-2013, 10:20 PM
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#7
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
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Re: So I'm thinking of buying an old bus...
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
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07-19-2013, 10:56 PM
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#8
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: So Cal
Posts: 3,245
Year: 1935
Coachwork: Superior
Chassis: Chevy
Engine: 317 ci/tid / Isuzu
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Re: So I'm thinking of buying an old bus...
RUN!!!! Don't let either of those busses catch you---RUN! Just kidding
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07-22-2013, 12:14 PM
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#9
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 20
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Re: So I'm thinking of buying an old bus...
So how hard would it be to swap out the gasser for a diesel? Assuming assistance from someone who has swapped engines before.
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07-22-2013, 05:53 PM
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#10
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 1,626
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All-American R/E
Engine: 8.3 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
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Re: So I'm thinking of buying an old bus...
Remember, anything you put into a bus, doesnt add value to it, it just takes more out of your pocket. Skip it and buy something mid-90's for $3k and be happy and done.
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07-22-2013, 10:17 PM
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#11
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cleburne TX
Posts: 692
Year: 2001
Chassis: International Amtran RE
Engine: DT466E/MD3060
Rated Cap: 78
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Re: So I'm thinking of buying an old bus...
I have to agree with what has been said above. If I had mine to do over again I would probably get a mid 90s bus versus the 1983 I have. Not a super bad thing but parts are some what of an issue so as they age they become less and less. Depending on how much you will be driving it newer usually means better mpg. So keep that in mind.
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07-22-2013, 11:10 PM
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#12
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MN
Posts: 732
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Wayne
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DT466
Rated Cap: 72
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Re: So I'm thinking of buying an old bus...
Quote:
Originally Posted by opus
Remember, anything you put into a bus, doesnt add value to it, it just takes more out of your pocket. Skip it and buy something mid-90's for $3k and be happy and done.
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Excellent advice. There are enough buses out there. No need to add an engine swap to what is already a massive project.
To each their own, but I wouldn't even consider a gas-engined bus. There really is no comparison. I enjoy being able to get up a mountain faster than I can walk, and the reliability of a diesel is also on a whole nother level. My bus is a 91 with a dt466 (super reliable and lotsa power) with a MT643 (lockup overdrive). It only has 150k on it and they were selling it for $1800. Being EMP proof is a fun bonus, lol...
__________________
The journey is the destination...
Brutus
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07-23-2013, 01:20 PM
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#13
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: from: Prescott, AZ currently: Denver, CO
Posts: 469
Year: 1992
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: All American RE
Engine: 8.3 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
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Re: So I'm thinking of buying an old bus...
If you are up for a bit of "extra" adventure, go with the older bus. If you want to keep it to the "normal" size adventure then go the mid 90's diesel option. At this level diesel makes all the difference in the world. Imo.  Good luck.
__________________
Ryan
Bluebird All American RE: Great White Buffalo (gone but not forgotten)
Our build thread: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=10065
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07-23-2013, 07:48 PM
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#14
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Skoolie
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: South/North Dakota
Posts: 201
Year: 1989
Chassis: Ward
Engine: 6.6L Brazilian Ford
Rated Cap: 1
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Re: So I'm thinking of buying an old bus...
I'd bet on a diesel getting nearly twice the mpg as that old 345. I had
a buddy one time that had an old travelall with that 345 in it and it got
about 5 maybe 6 mpg on a good day.
I will say this; they were as dependable a motor as was ever made.
Hundreds of them in old grain trucks, all over farm country, still running
strong.
gus
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07-25-2013, 12:59 PM
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#15
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 20
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Re: So I'm thinking of buying an old bus...
I wound up with a 1998 Bluebird with a 6.0 GMC gasser. Because I could afford it. I am going to go ahead with small scale woodgas experiments before trying it on th e bus.
I am going to buy this book:
http://www.driveonwood.com/
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07-25-2013, 02:26 PM
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#16
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
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Re: So I'm thinking of buying an old bus...
any pics?
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
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08-13-2013, 10:44 PM
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#17
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Huron, South Dakota
Posts: 422
Year: 1976
Coachwork: Wayne
Chassis: Dodge S-600
Engine: 360 V8
Rated Cap: 66
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Re: So I'm thinking of buying an old bus...
Quote:
Originally Posted by revoltindevelopments
I wound up with a 1998 Bluebird with a 6.0 GMC gasser. Because I could afford it. I am going to go ahead with small scale woodgas experiments before trying it on th e bus.
I am going to buy this book:
http://www.driveonwood.com/
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Hmmm. Wonder if, since paper is mostly wood pulp, one can drive on junk mail!
__________________
Any action for which there is no logical explanation will be deemed "company policy."- Akvol's Second Law of the Corporation
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08-13-2013, 11:01 PM
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#18
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Adirondack Mountains NY
Posts: 1,101
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Re: I am going to go ahead with . . . woodgas experiments
Just remember that a woodgas generator produces carbon monoxide to run the engine on. There is a big difference between having the generator in the back of an open pickup truck bed like in the author's photo, and inside an enclosed bus. Or are you proposing to hang the generator on the front grille like the tractor shown in the 1989 FEMA brochure?
__________________
Someone said "Making good decisions comes from experience, experience comes from bad decisions." I say there are three kinds of people: those who learn from their mistakes, those who learn from the mistakes of others, and those who never learn.
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08-14-2013, 10:59 PM
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#19
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: So Cal
Posts: 3,245
Year: 1935
Coachwork: Superior
Chassis: Chevy
Engine: 317 ci/tid / Isuzu
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Re: So I'm thinking of buying an old bus...
Very interesting read! Thanks
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