Noobie w/ about to purchase bus. NEED HELP!!!

[dspizzle]

Hi!

Short term lurker from the Orlando area. Wife and I have the itch to go full time in a skoolie with our newborn. Have been keeping an eye out for the right bus for a while now, and just cant find anything to my liking.

Wish list:
Dt466
35-40ft
Tall roof height
air brakes
Everything else is irrelevant other than that it runs well!

I have pretty much accepted that I am not going to find a high top for an affordable price. Probably will have to do a roof raise...

I found a bus that would work, but there are alot of question marks.

Its a 2006 International RE. 160,000 miles, Dt466, air brakes, long! Body is perfect (w/ roof raise). NO KEYS?

Has anyone dealt with this? I would like to hear it run at least.

Options:
Purchase blind. Then get locksmith to make a key.
Any way to start engine without key? (doubt it)

What would you pay for a bus like this without know if it runs?

Thanks for all the help and I look forward to contributing to the community!

 

[PNW_Steve]

Welcome Dspizzle,

I would suggest that you give it a good visual inspection and, if you don't see anything that scares you off, call a mobile locksmith service to come out and make a key so that you can test drive. Myself, I would ask the seller to split the cost.

Good luck!!

 

[jmcustom]

Welcome Dspizzle,

I would suggest that you give it a good visual inspection and, if you don't see anything that scares you off, call a mobile locksmith service to come out and make a key so that you can test drive. Myself, I would ask the seller to split the cost.

Good luck!!

That's exactly what I would do. Well put.

Sent from my 2PZC5 using Tapatalk

 

[dspizzle]

Only problem is that it is a govt auction. They wont let me drive it even if I could get it to start. I doubt they would let me make a key for it.

 

[jmcustom]

Only problem is that it is a govt auction. They wont let me drive it even if I could get it to start. I doubt they would let me make a key for it.

It's definitely electronic, without a key, you can jump the terminals at the starter t see if it turns over but that's all you'll get. The injection pump needs a signal from the ecm. Without a key to power up the ecm it won't fire up.

Sent from my 2PZC5 using Tapatalk

 

[dspizzle]

I guess my next question is, How much is a dud worth?!

 

[jmcustom]

You can get a master rebuild kit for a 466 for around $1200 bucks

Sent from my 2PZC5 using Tapatalk

 

[Brad_SwiftFur]

You may be able to swap out the ignition cylinder just as inexpensively as calling out a locksmith, and probably with much less effort. As far as I know, there's only one lock the ignition key will operate (unlike the trucks on which the same key locks and unlocks the doors).

If you can check it out before the auction ends, the first thing I'd check is for water-in-the-oil. This is usually caused by overheating and subsequent cylinder liner seal failure (you do *NOT* want to overheat a diesel, the DT466's are known for this) but the good news is that the DT466's are rebuildable after such a failure. If the oil's clean then otherwise it should be a good candidate.

 

[dspizzle]

You may be able to swap out the ignition cylinder just as inexpensively as calling out a locksmith, and probably with much less effort. As far as I know, there's only one lock the ignition key will operate (unlike the trucks on which the same key locks and unlocks the doors).

If you can check it out before the auction ends, the first thing I'd check is for water-in-the-oil. This is usually caused by overheating and subsequent cylinder liner seal failure (you do *NOT* want to overheat a diesel, the DT466's are known for this) but the good news is that the DT466's are rebuildable after such a failure. If the oil's clean then otherwise it should be a good candidate.

This is very helpful!

I am definitely planning on seeing it before auction ends. Is there anything else I should look for visually?

 

[EastCoastCB]

Hi!

Short term lurker from the Orlando area. Wife and I have the itch to go full time in a skoolie with our newborn. Have been keeping an eye out for the right bus for a while now, and just cant find anything to my liking.

Wish list:
Dt466
35-40ft
Tall roof height
air brakes
Everything else is irrelevant other than that it runs well!

I have pretty much accepted that I am not going to find a high top for an affordable price. Probably will have to do a roof raise...

I found a bus that would work, but there are alot of question marks.

Its a 2006 International RE. 160,000 miles, Dt466, air brakes, long! Body is perfect (w/ roof raise). NO KEYS?

Has anyone dealt with this? I would like to hear it run at least.

Options:
Purchase blind. Then get locksmith to make a key.
Any way to start engine without key? (doubt it)

What would you pay for a bus like this without know if it runs?

Thanks for all the help and I look forward to contributing to the community!

If you're looking at those auction buses in FL look elsewhere. Most of those listings are parts buses. A kid on here bought one a couple years ago only to find it was missing all sorts of parts.
I get all mine from out west or up around Kentucky.

 

[PNW_Steve]

It was not clear in the first post that this is an auction bus. I am not sure they will let you have a locksmith work on it even if you pay for it.

I would call and ask.

Otherwise all you get is a visual inspection.

 

[chev49]

most all re busses have rear start panel... second, is easy to remove the switch and buy a new generic one, which is usually cheaper than traveling locksmith... but if you are good.. you can take your blank, your blueing n small files n make new one from the lock itself... as far as no key, there are some busses that will have NO key, just something like a round turn on ignition switch... I had two of those..