Want to make the leap!

[Justin McCormick]

Hello from Texas! I am new to this site, but have been reading the posts since the beginning of the year, trying to do as much research as possible. My wife and I want to make the leap into starting a Skoolie project. We have 4 kids, so are looking for something larger, probably an 83 passenger bus.

We have finally saved up enough money to make a bus purchase and have watching the auction sites. We noticed some nice busses up in Tennessee that look good: https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.AdvSearchResultsNew&searchPg=Location&inv_num=&category=94H&kWord=&kWordSelect=2&sortBy=ad&agency=4528&state=&country=&locID=21616&timing=bySimple&locationType=state&timeType=&timingWithin=1But they are a bit far away.

We did find a local auction that ends Monday and wanted to get your opinion on what they are selling.

Its a 1997 Thomas 83 Passenger School Bus (Saf-T-Liner MVP ER). It has 235,871 miles (18,660 hours) with an engine rebuild at 150,889. It has a Cummins 5.9L Diesel Engine, Auto (MT 643) with Air Brakes. Body is mostly in good shape, a few dents and dings, but nothing major. Its a Texas bus so it has absolutely no rust (at least visible rust) The maintenance logbook looked standard, with no major issues and had routine maintenance performed.

I am thinking that since it has a smaller engine with lots of miles, I would not want to be spending much on this bus, but wanted to see if you guys thought it would be worth pursuing at all.

I would be grateful for any advice!

 

[GreyCoyote]

Welcome! Where in Texas are you? Lots of us floating around here. Zip 77534 here.

According to your photos, that bus only has about 80k on the new engine! :biggrin: And thats not much if it was properly maintained. Could be a real steal. Certainly looks cosmetically in good shape.

Tires condition?

Hey: you've got the good trans. I'm liking this bus...

 

[Justin McCormick]

Thanks for the reply! Good to know there is a community here in Texas. 76013

Tires have good tread, but have some sidewall weathering.

 

[dgorila1-SKO]

Hello from Texas! I am new to this site, but have been reading the posts since the beginning of the year, trying to do as much research as possible. My wife and I want to make the leap into starting a Skoolie project. We have 4 kids, so are looking for something larger, probably an 83 passenger bus.

We have finally saved up enough money to make a bus purchase and have watching the auction sites. We noticed some nice busses up in Tennessee that look good: https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.AdvSearchResultsNew&searchPg=Location&inv_num=&category=94H&kWord=&kWordSelect=2&sortBy=ad&agency=4528&state=&country=&locID=21616&timing=bySimple&locationType=state&timeType=&timingWithin=1But they are a bit far away.

We did find a local auction that ends Monday and wanted to get your opinion on what they are selling.

Its a 1997 Thomas 83 Passenger School Bus (Saf-T-Liner MVP ER). It has 235,871 miles (18,660 hours) with an engine rebuild at 150,889. It has a Cummins 5.9L Diesel Engine, Auto (MT 643) with Air Brakes. Body is mostly in good shape, a few dents and dings, but nothing major. Its a Texas bus so it has absolutely no rust (at least visible rust) The maintenance logbook looked standard, with no major issues and had routine maintenance performed.

I am thinking that since it has a smaller engine with lots of miles, I would not want to be spending much on this bus, but wanted to see if you guys thought it would be worth pursuing at all.

I would be grateful for any advice!

I agree on this bus being a good find. It's close to you, has low mileage on the replacement engine, and has a desired engine/tranny combo and is the size bus you want. I would go for it if your inspection checks out to your satisfaction.

 

[2kool4skool]

Welcome!!

Look like caps to me...

 

[Tango-SKO]

Howdy & Welcome from yet another Tejano! --- Houston here. Looks pretty sweet actually. Fairly high miles but a rebuilt 5.9 is a great engine and the 643 is a bonus.

 

[Azuleslight]

Welcome!!

Look like caps to me...

are there three numbers or 4 on the tires one and two that is a bad sign for tires a very bad sign, it is not weathering it is dry rot. That tire would need to be replaced, it has a great chance of blowout in its current condition.

 

[Brad_SwiftFur]

I'd put those tires on my trailer and run 'em until they're bald.

The 5.9 Cummins engine is pretty good, except the ones with the "53" casting number (which I think was from '99 - '02 or so?). The earlier ones had a KDP (Killer Dowel Pin, I think it was), in which a dowel pin can come out and fall into the timing gears - a rebuilt likely took care of this when it was apart.

Other than that, looks good, I'd say go for it.

 

[cowlitzcoach]

That Thomas looks like a pretty nice bus.

Since it is an MVP model it was built and priced like a Blue Bird TC2000--a value priced model made with lighter duty parts and pieces than the
HDX/Westcoaster or the All American. The most significant difference would be the axle and brake sizing. For someone in TX that shouldn't be a problem. For those of us out here on the left coast there is no such thing as too much brake surface.

The rebuilt motor is a plus. The rear engine is nice for noise and heat while driving. Coach A/C in a school bus is usually a $$$$ pit and doesn't really cool the driver off while going down the road. I would not pay extra for a school bus with A/C.

Top pricing would be in the $5K neighborhood.

The buses at the auction site look to be fair buses. I would rate those buses as in the same sort of price range

 

[Justin McCormick]

Thanks for the response and welcomes!

@2kool4skool: I assume caps means its been retread? The shop mechanic did mention that.

@Azuleslight: not sure I understand about the numbers. I posted another picture here:

@Brad_SwiftFur: That is great info, thanks!

@cowlitzcoach: I appreciate the price estimate, that will help in the bidding. I looked up the cost of those tires (aprox $500 each new) and knowing that they may need replaced sooner rather than latter, will have to take that into consideration as well.

 

[EastCoastCB]

Thanks for the response and welcomes!

@2kool4skool: I assume caps means its been retread? The shop mechanic did mention that.

@Azuleslight: not sure I understand about the numbers. I posted another picture here:

@Brad_SwiftFur: That is great info, thanks!

@cowlitzcoach: I appreciate the price estimate, that will help in the bidding. I looked up the cost of those tires (aprox $500 each new) and knowing that they may need replaced sooner rather than latter, will have to take that into consideration as well.

Depends on the brand. New tires can be had for as little as $200-$250 each if you go generic. I will be.

 

[Azuleslight]

Thanks for the response and welcomes!

@2kool4skool: I assume caps means its been retread? The shop mechanic did mention that.

@Azuleslight: not sure I understand about the numbers. I posted another picture here:

@Brad_SwiftFur: That is great info, thanks!

@cowlitzcoach: I appreciate the price estimate, that will help in the bidding. I looked up the cost of those tires (aprox $500 each new) and knowing that they may need replaced sooner rather than latter, will have to take that into consideration as well.

take a picture of the entire tire, inside one of those circle boxes there will be numbers. in between the 11r22.5 and R250 in this picture is an axample of the box. Also I worked for a car dealership in the repair section for about a year. Ask any of your mechanic friends, they will tell you the same dry rot is insidious and they would also tell you to replace the tires as well. It is your decision in the end but imagine having a blowout in a bus and the directionality of that blow out is towards the cabin/inside the bus. The placement of the dry rot on that particular tire is facing in that exact direction. If it was on the sidewall it wouldn't be as bad, but still would be needed to be replaced.

 

[Justin McCormick]

The leap was made! We won the auction for 3,400.00. Let the madness begin!

 

[dgorila1-SKO]

Congrats!

 

[Stu & Filo. T]

Unless your going to be driving it a lot before the conversion is done no point in purchasing tires until your ready to start traveling.