Too much rust? Opinions, please!

[Michelle1956]

To all of you knowledgable bus gurus -

I have my eye on this bus and would love a few opinions. It does come from the northeast and we do love our winter salt. Ugh.

Would you consider the undercarriage rust in the photos a deal killer? The entire outside and inside of the bus shows no rust at all. No bubbles in the paint, etc.

Is it worth somewhere between $4 - 5,000? Why or why not?

Thanks,

~Michelle

 

[o1marc]

To us here at Skoolie.net, it's worthless as it is a post EPA bus. Anything after 2004 is likely to have potential emission issues that are hard to diagnose, expensive to fix. The pre 04 buses are more mechanical and less likely to have those kind of issues. Knowing this I've been looking at at 05, but the members here have me convinced to stay away unless you have bottomless pockets.
Normally looking at a bus from NE, I would be concerned about the rust, but it's year scares me away before I even worry about rust. No, that rust is not bad considering some I've found from that region, but the worst rust issues are usually under the plywood floor and isn't visible until revealed.

 

[musigenesis]

So you've seen the bus in person? The rust in the pics is not bad, but there are a lot of places rust could be that aren't in those pics.

 

[brokedown-SKO]

As mentioned, very few of us would recommend that bus because of it's engine. The 6.0l VT365 cost Navistar a lot of reputation points and cost both them and Ford a lot of money.

https://www.autonews.com/article/20...rd-settles-class-action-over-navistar-diesels

 

[GWRider-SKO]

The rust in the area of those pics is a mix of some surface rust and perhaps areas of deeper pitting. Not bad considering the area it is from. However, it is difficult to determine from just two pics and there could be rust under the floor or areas you cannot easily see. I also agree that you will be better off with a pre 04 bus.

 

[Johnny Mullet]

That rust is minimal.

 

[Michelle1956]

To us here at Skoolie.net, it's worthless as it is a post EPA bus. Anything after 2004 is likely to have potential emission issues that are hard to diagnose, expensive to fix. The pre 04 buses are more mechanical and less likely to have those kind of issues. Knowing this I've been looking at at 05, but the members here have me convinced to stay away unless you have bottomless pockets.
Normally looking at a bus from NE, I would be concerned about the rust, but it's year scares me away before I even worry about rust. No, that rust is not bad considering some I've found from that region, but the worst rust issues are usually under the plywood floor and isn't visible until revealed.

Okay, so I should forget about any bus after 2004.

Noted.

Thanks.

 

[Michelle1956]

So you've seen the bus in person? The rust in the pics is not bad, but there are a lot of places rust could be that aren't in those pics.

No, I've only seen it online.

This is more difficult than I thought it would be. Ugh.

Thanks.

 

[Michelle1956]

As mentioned, very few of us would recommend that bus because of it's engine. The 6.0l VT365 cost Navistar a lot of reputation points and cost both them and Ford a lot of money.

https://www.autonews.com/article/20...rd-settles-class-action-over-navistar-diesels

Okay, I'm glad I asked... and this is why I'm in the forum.

Thanks.

 

[Michelle1956]

The rust in the area of those pics is a mix of some surface rust and perhaps areas of deeper pitting. Not bad considering the area it is from. However, it is difficult to determine from just two pics and there could be rust under the floor or areas you cannot easily see. I also agree that you will be better off with a pre 04 bus.

Thanks, I will start looking for older buses.

 

[Michelle1956]

That rust is minimal.

Compared to others I've seen, I thought so too. But I guess there's a lot more to consider.

I'm just worried about running out of time because I plan to turn in my leased car on March 1st.

 

[musigenesis]

No, I've only seen it online.

Check out my build thread if you want to see rust (bus was from Buffalo). In the listing the bus looked almost rust-free, but the seller carefully selected angles for the photos (none of the underside) and acknowledged only "some rust".

I'm enjoying the challenge in a masochistic way and getting tons of practice with welding etc. (which is largely the reason I started this project) but I've spent many months dealing with the rust and problems caused by it and there's still lots to do.

You will find it far easier to deal with the challenges of buying a bus remotely from a rust-free region, flying there to pick it up and driving it home than the challenges of a rusty bus.

 

[Michelle1956]

Check out my build thread if you want to see rust (bus was from Buffalo). In the listing the bus looked almost rust-free, but the seller carefully selected angles for the photos (none of the underside) and acknowledged only "some rust".

I'm enjoying the challenge in a masochistic way and getting tons of practice with welding etc. (which is largely the reason I started this project) but I've spent many months dealing with the rust and problems caused by it and there's still lots to do.

You will find it far easier to deal with the challenges of buying a bus remotely from a rust-free region, flying there to pick it up and driving it home than the challenges of a rusty bus.

O...M...G!!!

I think I'd have a freaking heart attack if I found that much rust!!!

Well, at least "my" seller posted two pix of the underside...

Ugh.

 

[Danjo-SKO]

Take an ice pick with you and jab the floor pan around the wheel wells. If it sticks,
Run.

 

[Michelle1956]

Take an ice pick with you and jab the floor pan around the wheel wells. If it sticks,
Run.

LOL

I'm already looking for a different bus.

 

[musigenesis]

Take an ice pick with you and jab the floor pan around the wheel wells. If it sticks,
Run.

If you pop a tire in the process, run faster.

 

[o1marc]

O...M...G!!!

I think I'd have a freaking heart attack if I found that much rust!!!

Well, at least "my" seller posted two pix of the underside...

Ugh.

The problem is sometimes you can't see how bad the floor is from looking underneath, unless your looking with a sharp ended screwdriver. Best to just avoid buses from the rust belt and budget in some time and travel money in your search, I ended up 3k miles away from home.

 

[Michelle1956]

If you pop a tire in the process, run faster.

LOL

Okay, okay ... now would someone please find me a dependable, pre-2005 bus, on the east coast, for less than $5k and put me out of my misery?

(I'm only half kidding.) LOL

 

[musigenesis]

LOL

Okay, okay ... now would someone please find me a dependable, pre-2005 bus, on the east coast, for less than $5k and put me out of my misery?

(I'm only half kidding.) LOL

There is one near me, but it's bigger than the short buses you've listed (like, 10 or 11 windows). Gas mileage won't be much different but it will be harder to drive - although I've gotten accustomed to my 35' bus (11 windows) pretty quick. And personally, I can't conceive of inhabiting any less space than this.

Bus is mid-90s (can't remember exactly what year), DT466 and probably an AT545 transmission. Seller is asking $5000 but has never heard of skoolies and the bus has been for sale for the last year or so, so he would probably take considerably less.

 

[Michelle1956]

The problem is sometimes you can't see how bad the floor is from looking underneath, unless your looking with a sharp ended screwdriver. Best to just avoid buses from the rust belt and budget in some time and travel money in your search, I ended up 3k miles away from home.

I wish I could ... but both travel time and finances are rather limited right now.

Ugh.