In need of advice

[Sunnythemoonbus]

Hey y'all,

I bought a bus Nov 2023 and the build out is mostly done. The bus cost $10k, I've spent $5k on mechanics and $4k on the build out so far. Now the bus is in need of a new transmission and some work on the exhaust system which would be roughly $11k. It's drivable, but the transmission is slipping so it would need to be fixed to actually travel.

At this point, I think I need to sell. But there are 3 options.

1) Sell as is, see what I can get for a mostly built out vehicle that would either need to be fixed or stationary

2) Get the work done and sell a mostly done vehicle that's drivable

3) Get the work done and finish the build out

I know option 3 would be the best pay out, but at quite the cost, so I don't know if it's worth it. Anyone have thoughts or insight?

 

[Ronnie-SKO]

What engine and trans? A low end bus ( 444T and AT545) may not be worth continuing on, but one with a nice engine( 8.3 and MD3060) and trans, rust free and otherwise in nice shape fix it and keep it.



With $19,000 in it not much hope of getting anywhere close to that without it being driveable.

 

[ewo1]

Hey y'all,

I bought a bus Nov 2023 and the build out is mostly done. The bus cost $10k, I've spent $5k on mechanics and $4k on the build out so far. Now the bus is in need of a new transmission and some work on the exhaust system which would be roughly $11k. It's drivable, but the transmission is slipping so it would need to be fixed to actually travel.

At this point, I think I need to sell. But there are 3 options.

1) Sell as is, see what I can get for a mostly built out vehicle that would either need to be fixed or stationary

2) Get the work done and sell a mostly done vehicle that's drivable

3) Get the work done and finish the build out

I know option 3 would be the best pay out, but at quite the cost, so I don't know if it's worth it. Anyone have thoughts or insight?

11 grand !!! ?????

No way, replace the trans yourself !!!

You don’t need to sell, you need to get your hands dirty !!!

 

[musigenesis]

11 grand !!! ?????

No way, replace the trans yourself !!!

You don’t need to sell, you need to get your hands dirty !!!

I probably got screwed by my mechanic, but the complete replacement of my exhaust system was awfully expensive, like 6 or 7K all by itself (it's too depressing to go look it up). Maybe 11K for a new transmission and exhaust isn't too far out there.

 

[sportyrick]

obsurd, get ur hands dirty and learn a lot doing it, you can buy all the exhaust pipes from truck suppliers but you have to do your homework on what's needed. I replaced my whole exhaust system with stainless exhaust parts and made my own muffler out of stainless too! No welding needed for stock pipes just a SS wrap on each joint, commercial muffler etc.

 

[Mat7783]

Hopefully it has a nice motor and transmission fir that price as someone already eluded to.i bought my bus for 6k and spent at least another 32k in materials to make it my own creation and maybe 98% done.

 

[Rucker]

It's not an investment. It doesn't work that way.

All the dollars you spent are sunk costs. The market value of the rig is what you could get on the open market for the bus (basically, scrap), plus half the retail value of any major conversion components such as batteries, inverter, interior finish, whatever.

You are going to piss away any additional dollars no matter which route you take. You shouldn't expect to get back any of that extra money, few want someone else's bus however nice, and those that are willing to look will expect to pick it up cheap.

Having said all that it sounds like you are no longer interested in keeping the bus regardless of its mechanical issues or state of completion. If that is true it puts you at a greater disadvantage when selling.

Why not complete the dream? Yeah, it's more money and work, but why quit on it now? Answer that question, and the rest of the decisionmaking around a transmission will probably fall into place.

 

[DeMac]

All you can do, is all you can. So do it.

Hey y'all,

I bought a bus Nov 2023 and the build out is mostly done. The bus cost $10k, I've spent $5k on mechanics and ...($4k build out).... the bus is in need of roughly $11k....

Sell as is.....

$10,000 bus!

Seems high for a bus if......

....you've already spent $5,000 additional dollars on mechanics but the bus needs $11,000 more on mechanics.

A non running bus is often worth its scrap wight minus the expense of the transporting the carcass. Unless the particular make/model of the has intrinsic value.

The dollars we've spent on a bus have zero relation to the value when it's being resold. Work hours (completed by us or paid workers) is usually not recovered in the sale of our skoolies.

Sportyrick, Ronnie, Ewo1, Rucker, Cadillackid.... these folks have walked me through repairs that I'd have never attempted without having faith in strangers. They had more faith in me than I had in myself. (They were right, I was wrong, I can do that.). You can do the swap yourself. You don't know this to be true. Yet. But you will know I'm right before you are halfway through. Have faith in yourself & your fellow man.

Just do it.

 

[flattracker]

I bought the "new Crown" for $3K, drove it about 500 miles to home, started the conversion and then spun a main bearing. Had two choices, fix it or sell non running bus at a loss. I fixed it. The replacement engine came from an 18 wheeler (big cam Cummins I 400, upgraded to a III). That cost $12K. I realized that the gearing was too low and had that changed for another $7k (I think). It was worth it to me, as I now have a bus that can cruise at 70 mph plus. I will never get my money back, or my time, but it never was about that. The bus will outlast me.

 

[sportyrick]

flattracker awsome bus, great upgrade on the engine, and rearend, it's sorta like your kids (or a dog), wouldn't take a million dollars for one but wouldn't give a dollar for another one. Good inspiration for other fence sitters! Thanks Demac for the "attaboy". The new ones don't understand yet, when you put time, sweat, tears and money in something you "have" you tend to get sorta proud of it...... and every time you crawl in and take a trip you puff the chest out and think.....I did all this work and am now enjoying the fruits of my labor and am damned proud of it too! Sunnythemoonbus change out the tranny, rip out and install new exhaust, you will be a different person after it's all said and done.

 

[cadillackid]

I *KNOW* ill never get the money back I put into the RedByrd.. granted he was a $1500 rust free running driving bus (bought before the youtubers made busses expensive)...... but all the upgrades ive done.. ha! never even come close to getting it back.. but the Fun per $ ive had in that bus is a hell of a return on investment..



before getting deep into busses I was an old school hotrodder... put together lots of stuff over the years... I only made money on the cars i bought dirt cheap, fixed something broken (usually electronic).. drove for a year then sold.. anything I ever upgraded or did a lot of custom work too wasnt going to be a retirement nest egg LOL!.


I did make pretty good coin on my 1976 eledorado convertible.. a great rust free car that barely ran due to a simple mechanical issue and needed some TLC.. only to learn the guy who had it before me had zero idea it was 1 of 200 special edition.. so that one I made bank on even after running up the miles pretty good on it while i had it..

 

[nikitis]

I've got my hands dirty and had a lot of mechanical and electronic problems. VPM, King pins, Carrier Bearings, Total fix was $6k to repair it all. Bought bus for $3.5k. So I'm 9.5K into it. I'd like to swap out the trans, but that's a little out of my skill set right now. I would put $11k for a trans swap myself but only because I got a working bus for $10k with the major issues fixed. I don't have any mechanical friends nearby that I know so I really can't do the swap myself even though I understand the electrical component myself. CAC wanted 19k for a trans swap, but I said nope, not at that price That's too high.

I may buy a used trans, TCM, and pay someone young blood 2k who can do it.