Hello everyone, I'm back!!! You can't get rid of me that easily.
So much has happened and a lot has yet to happen. A bit of sunshine came my way.
Last week of February was a bit of a whirlwind. During a work trip I was window shopping a couple of buses and some 2003-2006 buses came up. Found one in Phoenix, AZ that looked like a great platform. Well I got outbid on that before I could place my bid and it went for a premium. I enjoyed the rest of my weekend and decided to look at govdeals Monday after I got back. Saw a bunch of new postings our of Atlanta, GA, 4 of which were 2004-2005's. They were all ending in about 3 hours too, staggered 15 minutes apart. So I watched, first one got outbid. Ok, on to the next. 2nd one, watched, bid, outbid, decided I'll bid one more time and be outbid and move on to the next.
Well I'm now the owner of a 2004 Bluebird All American RE 40ft, Cat engine. Say Hello to Lucky Prime!
I called an insurance broker who had it insured in about 10 min. Went and got a Temp Tag again about 5-10 minutes and I'm all legal. Bought a one-way to Atlanta and Friday morning I was on a plane to pick up my bus.
The garage was 2 miles from the airport. This is going a little TOO smooth. Talked to the mechanics at the Woodward Academy bus garage, they all had nothing but good things and praise to say about the bus. It ran well, no problems, they were going to miss it, the whole nine yards. They let me know what brand oil they used, coolant, I got the maintenance records, again the whole nine yards. Walked around the bus, checked everything I could mechanically, lights, tires, gauges. She definitely needs a wash and a fresh coat of paint but otherwise looked in good shape so signed the papers and off I went.
That first right turn leaving the garage I had a moment. I drive tour buses for a living so I'm used to large vehicles. I occasionally drive school buses for weddings, after school activities and sports. This was the first time I've driven a RE bus. I admit I turned a little wide because of habit and it all fell apart from there. I almost hit the telephone pole on the opposite side of the road and I'm pretty sure my steers rubbed the curb, but a miss on both fronts and holy s*** get it together, you are supposed to be a professional!!! Note to self: takes 7-10 business days to turn.
After I recovered everything else ran smooth as butter. Stopped at a truck stop outside of Atlanta to top off and get food. Not paying $4.59/gal if I can help it, but I did get food and snacks. Drove on into South Carolina and fueled up at a whopping $3.25/gal. Bus only took 13 gallons...okay. I watched my gauges like a hawk and kept my eyes peeled for a potential blowout or something. The temp gauge sat at around 195-200 the whole time and didn't budge. Concerning at first but I did catch a little movement later on in the trip and when the bus was warming up the following day so temp gauge works and engine runs comfortably. Oil pressure sat at 30 psi all day long...beautiful. Air 110 PSI check. Bus is governed at 65mph, okay. 1975-2000RPMs at 65mph, check. This bus drives and rides like a dream. Planned to stop in Roanoke, VA but ended up another hour down the road in Lexington, VA for the night. Was going to fuel up but didn't need to (thought and confirmed I have a 100gal tank). Next day continued up past Scranton, PA hit a blizzard in the Pocono's (I don't trust weathermen) with a planned fuel stop in Newburgh, NY and spending the night in Danbury/Bethel, CT. Didn't want to pay $4.50/gal but needed some fuel so I put 16 gallons in and off I went. It was only 3pm when I passed through Danbury so on we go!
Stopped in Sturbridge, MA to fueled up, 88 gallons, and grabbed a room for the night. Next morning was COLD!!!! Bus fired right up did my walk around and on we went all bundled up until it warmed up. I stayed bundled up as it was -7F with wind chill. Bus got warm but I was freezing up front. I didn't look at the switches too closely, probably would have helped had I actually turned on the driver heat and not just the defrost. All things wasn't too bad thought so I know next time I'll be warm. Only a quick 2.5-3 hour drive home from there. Got home and bus is in the driveway.
I thought about what to name the bus the whole way home and although it had a bus number, the garage called it 7753 (last 4 of the VIN) which is a prime number. I feel I got truly lucky finding this bus and that every concern I've had with it has shed some amazing light or had good news. I looked into the luggage bays at the bus yard but didn't REALLY look. When I got it parked in my driveway and was taking measurements I found the bays go all the way through and it's all open, not separate doors for each compartment. So Lucky Prime will be her name!
So for those TLDR's: Bus drove amazing, everything is awesome. 2004 RE Bluebird All American named Lucky Prime! Georgia bus so low-no rust.
Welcome to the build and YES I'm keeping the factory AC!!!!
So much has happened and a lot has yet to happen. A bit of sunshine came my way.
Last week of February was a bit of a whirlwind. During a work trip I was window shopping a couple of buses and some 2003-2006 buses came up. Found one in Phoenix, AZ that looked like a great platform. Well I got outbid on that before I could place my bid and it went for a premium. I enjoyed the rest of my weekend and decided to look at govdeals Monday after I got back. Saw a bunch of new postings our of Atlanta, GA, 4 of which were 2004-2005's. They were all ending in about 3 hours too, staggered 15 minutes apart. So I watched, first one got outbid. Ok, on to the next. 2nd one, watched, bid, outbid, decided I'll bid one more time and be outbid and move on to the next.
Well I'm now the owner of a 2004 Bluebird All American RE 40ft, Cat engine. Say Hello to Lucky Prime!
I called an insurance broker who had it insured in about 10 min. Went and got a Temp Tag again about 5-10 minutes and I'm all legal. Bought a one-way to Atlanta and Friday morning I was on a plane to pick up my bus.
The garage was 2 miles from the airport. This is going a little TOO smooth. Talked to the mechanics at the Woodward Academy bus garage, they all had nothing but good things and praise to say about the bus. It ran well, no problems, they were going to miss it, the whole nine yards. They let me know what brand oil they used, coolant, I got the maintenance records, again the whole nine yards. Walked around the bus, checked everything I could mechanically, lights, tires, gauges. She definitely needs a wash and a fresh coat of paint but otherwise looked in good shape so signed the papers and off I went.
That first right turn leaving the garage I had a moment. I drive tour buses for a living so I'm used to large vehicles. I occasionally drive school buses for weddings, after school activities and sports. This was the first time I've driven a RE bus. I admit I turned a little wide because of habit and it all fell apart from there. I almost hit the telephone pole on the opposite side of the road and I'm pretty sure my steers rubbed the curb, but a miss on both fronts and holy s*** get it together, you are supposed to be a professional!!! Note to self: takes 7-10 business days to turn.
After I recovered everything else ran smooth as butter. Stopped at a truck stop outside of Atlanta to top off and get food. Not paying $4.59/gal if I can help it, but I did get food and snacks. Drove on into South Carolina and fueled up at a whopping $3.25/gal. Bus only took 13 gallons...okay. I watched my gauges like a hawk and kept my eyes peeled for a potential blowout or something. The temp gauge sat at around 195-200 the whole time and didn't budge. Concerning at first but I did catch a little movement later on in the trip and when the bus was warming up the following day so temp gauge works and engine runs comfortably. Oil pressure sat at 30 psi all day long...beautiful. Air 110 PSI check. Bus is governed at 65mph, okay. 1975-2000RPMs at 65mph, check. This bus drives and rides like a dream. Planned to stop in Roanoke, VA but ended up another hour down the road in Lexington, VA for the night. Was going to fuel up but didn't need to (thought and confirmed I have a 100gal tank). Next day continued up past Scranton, PA hit a blizzard in the Pocono's (I don't trust weathermen) with a planned fuel stop in Newburgh, NY and spending the night in Danbury/Bethel, CT. Didn't want to pay $4.50/gal but needed some fuel so I put 16 gallons in and off I went. It was only 3pm when I passed through Danbury so on we go!
Stopped in Sturbridge, MA to fueled up, 88 gallons, and grabbed a room for the night. Next morning was COLD!!!! Bus fired right up did my walk around and on we went all bundled up until it warmed up. I stayed bundled up as it was -7F with wind chill. Bus got warm but I was freezing up front. I didn't look at the switches too closely, probably would have helped had I actually turned on the driver heat and not just the defrost. All things wasn't too bad thought so I know next time I'll be warm. Only a quick 2.5-3 hour drive home from there. Got home and bus is in the driveway.
I thought about what to name the bus the whole way home and although it had a bus number, the garage called it 7753 (last 4 of the VIN) which is a prime number. I feel I got truly lucky finding this bus and that every concern I've had with it has shed some amazing light or had good news. I looked into the luggage bays at the bus yard but didn't REALLY look. When I got it parked in my driveway and was taking measurements I found the bays go all the way through and it's all open, not separate doors for each compartment. So Lucky Prime will be her name!
So for those TLDR's: Bus drove amazing, everything is awesome. 2004 RE Bluebird All American named Lucky Prime! Georgia bus so low-no rust.
Welcome to the build and YES I'm keeping the factory AC!!!!
Last edited:
(Just crawled under to check).
