Well... I did it.

[cntryby]

I finally found a bus. I paid more than I wanted, but if I don't get started it'll never happen. I've been looking for close to three years and prices aren't going down. I retired 6 months ago and have a few years before the wife retires. Time ta get with it!



2000 Bluebird AARE, 8.3l MD3060, no A/C and needs a couple of repairs including what I expect will be a replacement of the timing gear housing.
Sight unseen, only pics... I've lost my %&$ mind!


The plan is to get there and start inspecting for worthiness to make a 1300 mile trip home.


Check the oil for, level, fuel, coolant or burnt.

Look for blow by.

Check all the fluids, coolant, tranny.

Verify the brakes function.
Dates and condition of tires. (including spare)
Inspect the hoses.
Inspect the belts.

Wipers & defog.
Check all the lights.
Steering linkages.
Gauge functionality.



What else needs to be checked?
What am I forgetting?

What tools do I need to pull some of the seats out? (Shouldn't be rusted so may not need a grinder.)
Any specific tools I should take with me more than a basic socket and wrench set up to 1 3/8?



On the road periodically check wheel hubs for heat from dragging brakes or bearing issues. Closely monitor temps and oil pressure. (Keeping coolant and oil in the bus) Keep an eye on the tires. Monitor air pressure for brakes.



Once home perform the Cummins recommended updates for fuel delivery to the caps. Trouble shoot and perform any service needed on the engine. pull the wheels and inspect the brakes and replace as needed.

 

[kazetsukai]

What tools do I need to pull some of the seats out? (Shouldn't be rusted so may not need a grinder.)
Any specific tools I should take with me more than a basic socket and wrench set up to 1 3/8?

Impact driver, with adapter for sockets, and all the common bits. Some square bits, too. I would take the grinder anyway- you really never know.

What else needs to be checked?
What am I forgetting?

Your personal comfort- something to play music and probably a little fan. Maybe buy a cup holder to mount somewhere for the trip back, or a cell phone holder for GPS. Little things that make the actual trip easier for _you_.



May go without saying, idk.


Best of luck.

 

[cntryby]

Impact driver, with adapter for sockets, and all the common bits. Some square bits, too. I would take the grinder anyway- you really never know.


Your personal comfort- something to play music and probably a little fan. Maybe buy a cup holder to mount somewhere for the trip back, or a cell phone holder for GPS. Little things that make the actual trip easier for _you_.



May go without saying, idk.


Best of luck.

Great info those make it much easier! Didn't even think about it!


THANKS

 

[banman]

3/8" battery powered impact. If you don't already own it and you're flying out there maybe it becomes part of a list of things you buy out there like a jug of eng oil...

Did the bus just come out of "service" or has it been sitting a while...?

 

[cntryby]

Just came out of service, its due for an annual inspection but at 20 years they opted to get rid of it. They state that it runs and drives good but has an oil drip, from the description I expect to have to replace the timing gear housing. Which probably contributed to the get rid of it decision.


Looks good in the pics... but we know how things can be hidden in pics.

 

[banman]

Just came out of service, its due for an annual inspection but at 20 years they opted to get rid of it. They state that it runs and drives good but has an oil drip, from the description I expect to have to replace the timing gear housing. Which probably contributed to the get rid of it decision.


Looks good in the pics... but we know how things can be hidden in pics.

Good to hear!
Now that you've bought it they should be very open to telling you any reason it wouldn't/shouldn't take a 1300 mile journey...

Probably research whether that timing gear housing should be fixed before the journey or not.
You could even schedule getting it fixed somewhere at the front end of your trip -- you decide what town you stop in for a day while the bus is worked on -- this would be cheaper and more pleasant than getting towed somewhere marginal and paying a lot to have it fixed...
(I've become risk averse to such things -- my 'doctor' says low-stress is better for me )

 

[cntryby]

It's not a pressurized leak, they said it can be driven several hours and only loose a cup. if it gets bad i may try pulling the cover, brake clean, then silicone or JB weld the crack, reinstall the cover, let it cure and roll...


It's high dollar to pay someone else to do it! Not to mention I have trust issues of anyone else working on my stuff. lol

 

[EastCoastCB]

hopefully its easier to repair than the timing cover on a DT.

Best of luck to you on your bus retrieval, sir.

 

[cntryby]

hopefully its easier to repair than the timing cover on a DT.

I don't know about the DT but on the ISC the cam has to be pulled or the cam gear has to be pulled then heated to be put back on. If you tap it to hard the rear plug / seal pops out and ya have to pull the engine.


Thanks for the good wishes.

 

[ermracing]

Items for the trip home:

3 safety triangles
2 wheel chocks
fire extinguisher
safety vest
flashlights
cheap carpet/rug for crawling under the bus
AAA RV coverage(?) There is a waiting period of a few days I think, so order early.
20 ton bottle jack (useful for tire changes and greasing suspension fittings)

 

[musigenesis]

Items for the trip home:

3 safety triangles
2 wheel chocks
fire extinguisher
safety vest
flashlights
cheap carpet/rug for crawling under the bus
AAA RV coverage(?) There is a waiting period of a few days I think, so order early.
20 ton bottle jack (useful for tire changes and greasing suspension fittings)

Along with the safety triangles, I'd guess that road flares could be useful too. I really need to get this kind of gear for my bus, too, even though I'm currently only taking short trips in it.

 

[ermracing]

Along with the safety triangles, I'd guess that road flares could be useful too. I really need to get this kind of gear for my bus, too, even though I'm currently only taking short trips in it.

I actually prefer these, but they are kinda hard to find....

 

[musigenesis]

I actually prefer these, but they are kinda hard to find....

I like it - the fact that it looks like an old-fashioned fused bomb must help keep people away.

 

[john61ct-SKO]

Was gonna say, looks like a classic cartoon bomb!

 

[JDSquared]

Was gonna say, looks like a classic cartoon bomb!

I'm getting some strong Mario kart vibes. Expecting you to throw out a banana peel or two.

 

[cntryby]

Talked to the guy today, hoping to pick the bus up in a couple of weeks. (Dang corona is messing with travel.)


Seems like a decent guy, helpful and patient with my questions.

 

[john61ct-SKO]

I'm getting some strong Mario kart vibes. Expecting you to throw out a banana peel or two.

Nah none of that new-fangled vdo game nonsense, talking old-school like Mickey Roadrunner or Tom & Jerry http://youtu.be/qriJsA-bx98

 

[banman]

I actually prefer these, but they are kinda hard to find....

Just know that in the arid west you'll be met with a lot of hate using one of them in fire season...

 

[Brad_SwiftFur]

I'd avoid flares and anything flame producing as a warning device. In addition to potential fire hazards in dry areas, it's also a fire hazard if you're involved in an accident with leaking fuel (includes propane or anything for heating/cooking, for those of you who carry such). There's a reason many Haz-Mat (Hazardous Materials) carrying companies are prohibited from using them, and with reflective triangles, there's no real reason to.

 

[WIbluebird]

Sounds like you got a nice bus. I have basically the same bus except for being 1 year newer.

Keep in mine that bus has the clearance lights on a seperate switch so don't panic if they don't turn on with the headlights.

Also 2000 was the last year for that goofy multi-function gauge Bluebird use to have on the All Americans. There's a toggle switch on the dash that lets you switch one gauge to show different parameters like coolant temp etc.

Best of luck with the journey home. I did the same thing you did last summer, flew down to Colorado and drove mine all the way back to Wisconsin with zero issues.