1986 International in Colorado

[cofrari]

Found this bus on govdeals:


https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=11&acctid=12394


Was curious on thoughts on an 86 and a Colorado bus? I'm attracted to this one for nostalgic purposes as these were the models that I used to ride to school on as a kid. I did get them to upload a video of the engine running. I'm still waiting for an answer on the transmission and whether it can go over 60 on the highway.



I would have a 28+ hour drive home with it...

 

[turf]

generally Colorado Buses are nice spec buses.

the newest spec buses don't require a retarder, but they did for a long time. not sure of the date they changed but every bus before, say 2016? has a retarder since some accident in the early days of bus driving.

here it is, the same pass that ate my AT545
https://coloradosun.com/2021/08/15/gunnison-school-bus-crash-1971/

a retarder is a nice feature on a bus, but you may never use it outside of Colorado either.

Henderson is an industrial neighborhood in Denver. listing looks good, i'd bid if i were in the market for a bus.

highway speeds for an '86 may be 55-65? i would bet the rear gear ratio is poor. lower than a 4.7 rear would make that a desireable rig.

 

[cofrari]

I asked about the highway speed. He said they were governed at either 60 or 65. The transmission is an MT-643.

 

[turf]

28+ hours at 60mph is going to be like 60ish hours....j/s not to mention $1k in fuel to get home.

my bus mileage last summer was about 7mpg. i figured the cost was between .40 and .50 cents/ a mile.

maybe someone knows how that motor was governed? idk. do you rebuild a pump? i just don't know.

good luck!

Henderson is where all the truck dealers in Denver are. the International dealer, the denver school bus barns, lots of trucks. if its a city unit, its probably well maintained.

 

[dbsoundman]

That looks like a great bus, but it's not going to be fast. In the Q&A they said it ran 2500 RPM on the highway which is probably close to redline for that engine, so you're probably going to be going more like 55-60 at the most going home. I'd get it if I were prepared to seek out a different rear differential gearing.

 

[Ronnie-SKO]

Mt 463 has a lock up torque converter a nice thing to have. No overdrive though.


Neat bus I like it, and if it really has a retarder they are nice to have. I had an allison with a built in retarder on my bus and you retard down to about 20 before using the brakes. Saves a lot of brake wear. The telma retarder is electric so it does not heat up tranny fluid like the allison retarder does.

 

[cadillackid]

Found this bus on govdeals:


https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=11&acctid=12394


Was curious on thoughts on an 86 and a Colorado bus? I'm attracted to this one for nostalgic purposes as these were the models that I used to ride to school on as a kid. I did get them to upload a video of the engine running. I'm still waiting for an answer on the transmission and whether it can go over 60 on the highway.



I would have a 28+ hour drive home with it...

this is a beautiful classic id love to have this one to keep original and not see it cut up into a camper... beautiful.. I rode one very similar to school brand new in 86!

 

[EastCoastCB]

Its a nice old bus but not a $9000 bus.

 

[cadillackid]

Most surely not a 9K bus !!

 

[cofrari]

I would definitely not pay $9000 for it! I was hoping for around $3000.

 

[EastCoastCB]

I would definitely not pay $9000 for it! I was hoping for around $3000.

yes its a good $3000 bus!

 

[cadillackid]

most def not a 9k bus.. with a 9k buy it now they prob have at least 5 or 6 for the reserve

 

[magnakansas]

dt466

If the engine size is correct... 7.6 should be a dt466.

Cadillac do you agree. That would explain the mt643

so 643 trans dt466 with air brakes... sounds like a hoss drive line.

william

 

[EastCoastCB]

If the engine size is correct... 7.6 should be a dt466.

Cadillac do you agree. That would explain the mt643

so 643 trans dt466 with air brakes... sounds like a hoss drive line.

william

Yeah a good old all mechanical DT is a thing of beauty.

 

[cadillackid]

If the engine size is correct... 7.6 should be a dt466.

Cadillac do you agree. That would explain the mt643

so 643 trans dt466 with air brakes... sounds like a hoss drive line.

william

yeah its a mechanical DT.. should be one of the first years with an inline pump but wont be the Boss like an NGD 466 with sa P-pump. colorado probably bought this as a 210 HP version, that was common school bus chassis. MT643 was pretty standard for these where hills were concerned.



its probably geared Low.. from what ive seen these older mountain west busses were built for travelling the hills.. lots of curves.. lots of up and down hill and being built in 1986 it was before 65 MPH speeds were coming back into vogue so its likely got a top speed of 60 maybe a couple more. the low gearing would eliminate the need for an expensive retarder....

 

[Don in E Texas-SKO]

36 year old coach. How about insurance?? That would be my first thought.
I'm in the process now of finding someone to insure a bus I am looking at - no luck so far.. working with agent recommend here on the Forum and will find out tomorrow if I can obtain coverage or not.
don

 

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

don
where are you at in east texas?
was born and raised in kilgore.
i can hook you up with my nationwide agent and she might be able to talk to your local office about how to do it?
they never bat an eye when i say bus.
i have two commercial policies that are bus for personal use and it only takes her minutes to email or print temp policy for transport
good luck

 

[Don in E Texas-SKO]

Located just North of Kilgore/Longview -- Gilmer. Waiting until Monday to see what two different agencies can find for me. Never had issue insuring my 40' bus conversion (Ex-Greyhound).. Wait and see.

Thanks
don

 

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

i know gilmer.
my grandparents lived in ore city and atlanta.
rest of the family is all over but my dad helped start the liberty city fire department and my mom loved antique shopping.
good luck
i will let you know next time i come back home maybe we can meet up.

 

[EastCoastCB]

36 year old coach. How about insurance?? That would be my first thought.
I'm in the process now of finding someone to insure a bus I am looking at - no luck so far.. working with agent recommend here on the Forum and will find out tomorrow if I can obtain coverage or not.
don

I own a 23 year old bus and a 40 year old coach. All it takes to insure them is money.