I'm an owner!

[meyermobile]

Bought my first bus yesterday. Can't believe I'm actually typing those words.

1989 Church Bus reading 73k miles. Church purchased it 15 years ago, had 51k miles. Inspected every 6 mos! This church purchased it from another church after they found out that NJ requires a seatbelt for every seat.

Before that it was a military bus. Is there any chance these are actual miles? Is there anything I could look at to give an indication?

66 passenger with 6ft-6in height (yeah!)
Diesel engine, air brakes, automatic.

4-6 weeks with the title work, but I'll be working on a simple conversion:
48" cabinet with a sink (tanks in the cabinet, refrigerator that works off 110. Seat belts for the family. PA makes it pretty simple... we'll see.

Want to use this as a moving truck, headed to Kansas, where the real build will take place. Bought it for the price of a rental truck $1000. Just drove the first 100 miles yesterday. Ran great! Does 10 miles/ gal seem right? 27k gvwr.

Thanks for any feedback!

RV title, here I come.

 

[EastCoastCB]

Not bad for a grand. Looks like its got rust.
If its rusty and has the 8.2 I'd just use it for the move and try to sell it for a profit when I got to the destination.

 

[lucasd-SKO]

For that price, if the thing runs ok, I'd say it's a solid deal. It's not even yellow, so you don't have to rush to repaint. What kind of engine and transmission are in it? Any plans for a more involved conversion after you satisfy the minimum for retitling?

As to the mileage... maybe it rolled over, maybe it didn't. A military bus might have sat in a parking lot most of its operational life with only a few trips per year, or it may have seen constant use if it was on a training post where it had to shuttle a bunch of hapless recruits around on a daily basis.

 

[EastCoastCB]

For that price, if the thing runs ok, I'd say it's a solid deal. It's not even yellow, so you don't have to rush to repaint. What kind of engine and transmission are in it? Any plans for a more involved conversion after you satisfy the minimum for retitling?

As to the mileage... maybe it rolled over, maybe it didn't. A military bus might have sat in a parking lot most of its operational life with only a few trips per year, or it may have seen constant use if it was on a training post where it had to shuttle a bunch of hapless recruits around on a daily basis.

Says diesel with auto, so its an 8.2 with 545.

 

[meyermobile]

Here's what I've got. Any idea on wear and tear that could indicate mileage?

Actually the ok only real rust spot is to the left and right of the door. May need to do some work. Drices solid. 100 miles yesterday... virgin voysge (for me)

 

[EastCoastCB]

Its a 225hp 8.2 GM/Detroit "Fuel Pincher".
It's not the most highly sought after, but it'll get the job done. Highest HP rating I've seen on an 8.2.

 

[meyermobile]

Its a 225hp 8.2 GM/Detroit "Fuel Pincher".
It's not the most highly sought after, but it'll get the job done. Highest HP rating I've seen on an 8.2.

I agree. I haven't seen that horsepower rating before. Is it possible it's a turbo? I thought I heard turbo kick in when I put my foot down.

Any recommendation as how to gauge what kind of mileage this might have on it? Thanks.

 

[Tall Grass]

Figure 8 mpg to kansas . You should get lot's better. Figuring it a 8 mpg you will have cash left over.

 

[EastCoastCB]

I agree. I haven't seen that horsepower rating before. Is it possible it's a turbo? I thought I heard turbo kick in when I put my foot down.

Any recommendation as how to gauge what kind of mileage this might have on it? Thanks.

No way to tell without records.

 

[meyermobile]

Not bad for a grand. Looks like its got rust.
If its rusty and has the 8.2 I'd just use it for the move and try to sell it for a profit when I got to the destination.

There isn't too much rust on the undercarriage or body. Mostly surface rust where the paint has faded off. One of the boxes on the left side (for storage is completely rusted out. I'm going to try to remove the box and see if there is any further damage. Going to use the spot for the toilet tank. the ribs look good, only concern is the undercoating is peeling. When I'm ready I'll start to clean and wire wisk. It it looks good, I'll use ruberized undercoating.

 

[M1031A1]

Where in Kansas are you headed?

M

 

[Jacob-SKO]

After reading through this I thought if you had a turbo it would be fairly easy to tell just by looking at your exhaust so I looked it up.... and I was wrong. The turbo for the 8.2 is in a really strange place. It will be tucked in between your engine and firewall so look back there. Here is a photo I circled the turbo.

 

[meyermobile]

Chanute, KS typing some more words to be long enough to post.....

 

[brokedown-SKO]

Don't remove your rust, convert it.

 

[meyermobile]

Don't remove the rust? I've got a back panel i put my thumb through. Thought about putting on some POR and riveting on a piece of stainless. Right and left of the back door. Can't post a picture for some reason, Ill need to upload to my profile. Other surface rust i was going to soak and out POR primer before I paint (by hand). We're going to use a medium grey, matte.

Thanks for the info on the turbo. I understand is not exactly a plus for this engine?

 

[meyermobile]

Don't remove the rust? I've got a back panel i put my thumb through. Thought about putting on some POR and riveting on a piece of stainless. Right and left of the back door. Can't post a picture for some reason, Ill need to upload to my profile. Other surface rust i was going to soak and out POR primer before I paint (by hand). We're going to use a medium grey, matte.

Thanks for the info on the turbo. I understand is not exactly a plus for this engine?

 

[Lyden]

Hey meyermobile, nice purchase!

 

[BowserJournal]

Congratulations on the skoolie purchase! Now comes all the fun, designing, demolition, building, and finally enjoying the fruits of your labor.