Johnny Mullet
Senior Member
I been searching for a school bus to build for a few months and finally got one! I did not want a very large bus and I did not want a small bus to build, but something in between. I finally was able to locate one in southern Pennsylvania that a friend linked me since he knew I was looking. I called the number and was able to arrange to look at it.
I drove 160 miles down there and found this 1996 Thomas Internataional 3800 with the T444E and Allison automatic. The bus only had 177K on it and looked to be in good shape with less rust than expected. It had a new exhaust, batteries, alternator, rear brakes, front shocks, and seemed to be well maintained. The church I bought it from owned it for 10 years and the same driver took care of that bus and it was regularly serviced and State Inspected.
I took it for a test drive. The bus ran great, but this road was a long, uphill climb and the bus was a slow turd. It did well once up to speed, but slow getting there. I told the guy I would have the money in 2 weeks and he said he would park it by the church and hold it for me. I told him he did not have to do that in case I find something else.
During those 2 weeks I continued my search, but nothing out there could meet my criteria and most of the ones I looked at were really rotten and needing work.
After seeing what was available within a reasonable distance from home was pretty much too expensive, too big, or too crusty, I decided to buy the bus. I called the guy and he said he knew I would call back and was still saving it for me
I drove 160 miles down there and found this 1996 Thomas Internataional 3800 with the T444E and Allison automatic. The bus only had 177K on it and looked to be in good shape with less rust than expected. It had a new exhaust, batteries, alternator, rear brakes, front shocks, and seemed to be well maintained. The church I bought it from owned it for 10 years and the same driver took care of that bus and it was regularly serviced and State Inspected.
I took it for a test drive. The bus ran great, but this road was a long, uphill climb and the bus was a slow turd. It did well once up to speed, but slow getting there. I told the guy I would have the money in 2 weeks and he said he would park it by the church and hold it for me. I told him he did not have to do that in case I find something else.
During those 2 weeks I continued my search, but nothing out there could meet my criteria and most of the ones I looked at were really rotten and needing work.
After seeing what was available within a reasonable distance from home was pretty much too expensive, too big, or too crusty, I decided to buy the bus. I called the guy and he said he knew I would call back and was still saving it for me
