My Bus Project

JStep · Post by **JStep** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:59 pm

Ok, I don't actually own it yet. I'm going to be getting financing probably in May to do the deed. We're thinking of removing the last 2 rows of seats and possibly turning the front row around to face the 2nd row for a more sociable setting.

Here's my photo album:

http://s110.photobucket.com/albums/n112 ... The%20Bus/

Post by **Sham** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 5:06 pm

I spent 14 years of public school riding in the back of a short bus. Oh the memories!

JStep · Post by **JStep** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:32 pm

Yeah, I suppose I belong on the short bus.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:33 pm

Get that financing asap. May to August isn't actually going to be enough time.
And read the school bus thread. I hate to be the one to do this to you, but it really is not something to go into lightly. Elliot and Captain Smashy are good part time let's not take it too seriously gurus on this.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:37 pm

I was $100 short of buying one of those at auction. Leave the two front benches, and go crazy with the back. Hot Tub?
Oh...and if you dont own one yet, check your local public auctions....Busses tend to go dirt cheap! The one I wanted sold for $300

JStep · Post by **JStep** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:46 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:Get that financing asap. May to August isn't actually going to be enough time.
And read the school bus thread. I hate to be the one to do this to you, but it really is not something to go into lightly. Elliot and Captain Smashy are good part time let's not take it too seriously gurus on this.

Well, The guy who owns it is a snowbird and will be out of town until May. He's told us we can work on it if we want over the winter, while he's away, but he won't be back in Omaha until May for sure so I'll wait till then to hand him a check. It needs a few small repairs, a power steering leak and a slow AC coolant leak, but we'll have to wait until we own it to have those done.

Why does it seem like not enough time?

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:48 pm

whats he asking for it?

JStep · Post by **JStep** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:54 pm

$3,500 ... same as he paid for it. It's a 95 Chevy cutaway van with around 80 something thousand miles. (It says 94k miles on the odometer but they do the trick with the speedometer so we think it might be about 8% less.)

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 6:59 pm

JStep wrote:$3,500 ... same as he paid for it. It's a 95 Chevy cutaway van with around 80 something thousand miles. (It says 94k miles on the odometer but they do the trick with the speedometer so we think it might be about 8% less.)

Is it diesel? if so, probably worth it..but check out your local auctions. Having worked at one, I know things like school busses are well maintained. A bus like that may go for a bit more, but busses in general sell dirt cheap. We sold a BlueBird prison bus for $100

JStep · Post by **JStep** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 7:12 pm

TomServo wrote:
JStep wrote:$3,500 ... same as he paid for it. It's a 95 Chevy cutaway van with around 80 something thousand miles. (It says 94k miles on the odometer but they do the trick with the speedometer so we think it might be about 8% less.)
Is it diesel? if so, probably worth it..but check out your local auctions. Having worked at one, I know things like school busses are well maintained. A bus like that may go for a bit more, but busses in general sell dirt cheap. We sold a BlueBird prison bus for $100

Yep, it's diesel and in awesome shape. It came from NY, which had me a little concerned about rust on the undercarriage. It's very clean though, the most rusted thing is the AC radiator and brackets, for some odd reason. Its a separate radiator just for the AC unit, under and behind the driver. All lights, sign, etc all work.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 7:20 pm

JStep wrote:
TomServo wrote:
JStep wrote:$3,500 ... same as he paid for it. It's a 95 Chevy cutaway van with around 80 something thousand miles. (It says 94k miles on the odometer but they do the trick with the speedometer so we think it might be about 8% less.)
Is it diesel? if so, probably worth it..but check out your local auctions. Having worked at one, I know things like school busses are well maintained. A bus like that may go for a bit more, but busses in general sell dirt cheap. We sold a BlueBird prison bus for $100
Yep, it's diesel and in awesome shape. It came from NY, which had me a little concerned about rust on the undercarriage. It's very clean though, the most rusted thing is the AC radiator and brackets, for some odd reason. Its a separate radiator just for the AC unit, under and behind the driver. All lights, sign, etc all work.

well a diesel engine should get three times the life of a gas engine. And, if im not mistaken...but probably am.. you can run any diesel on biodiesel.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 7:26 pm

TomServo wrote:
JStep wrote:
TomServo wrote: Is it diesel? if so, probably worth it..but check out your local auctions. Having worked at one, I know things like school busses are well maintained. A bus like that may go for a bit more, but busses in general sell dirt cheap. We sold a BlueBird prison bus for $100
Yep, it's diesel and in awesome shape. It came from NY, which had me a little concerned about rust on the undercarriage. It's very clean though, the most rusted thing is the AC radiator and brackets, for some odd reason. Its a separate radiator just for the AC unit, under and behind the driver. All lights, sign, etc all work.

well a diesel engine should get three times the life of a gas engine. And, if im not mistaken...but probably am.. you can run any diesel on biodiesel.

biodiesel is a can of worms.........you gotta do it just right, or, you get problems.
A lot of fellows in my diesel club have done it, and, unless very careful, end up regretting it.
That said, done right, it is a cool way to go.

I'm processing WMO for use in my diesels (I posted a pic of the set up on "show me your junk"), because, the dino oil is more compatible, IMHO.

JStep · Post by **JStep** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 7:32 pm

I plan to continue burning dinosaurs.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 7:32 pm

still waiting for them to get this algae biodiesel shit going. I think one of your deuces could handle it Ygmir

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 7:40 pm

yeah, the deuces will burn pretty much anything, being "multi-fuel" and all.
Although, I'm down to two, having traded one for a fire engine..

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 7:41 pm

and.....you just needed a fire engine..

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 8:54 pm

"need" is so pejorative.........can we say "I saw an opportunity, and took it"?

Aiee! It burns! · Post by **Aiee! It burns!** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 9:48 am

JStep wrote:
theCryptofishist wrote:Get that financing asap. May to August isn't actually going to be enough time.
And read the school bus thread. I hate to be the one to do this to you, but it really is not something to go into lightly. Elliot and Captain Smashy are good part time let's not take it too seriously gurus on this.
Well, The guy who owns it is a snowbird and will be out of town until May. He's told us we can work on it if we want over the winter, while he's away, but he won't be back in Omaha until May for sure so I'll wait till then to hand him a check. It needs a few small repairs, a power steering leak and a slow AC coolant leak, but we'll have to wait until we own it to have those done.

Why does it seem like not enough time?

Are you plannign to fix it before u own it ?

MisaBlue · Post by **MisaBlue** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 2:09 pm

Ooh, school bus.
I have seen first real school bus in 2007 and the pure taxi driver almost got heart attack when I started to scream "School bus, school bus" in his cab on the way from airport...and I kept screaming and jumping every time I had seen one during my trip in NYC...my friends were ashamed of me...I have never been in one

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 4:04 pm

Aiee! It burns! wrote:
JStep wrote:
theCryptofishist wrote:Get that financing asap. May to August isn't actually going to be enough time.
And read the school bus thread. I hate to be the one to do this to you, but it really is not something to go into lightly. Elliot and Captain Smashy are good part time let's not take it too seriously gurus on this.
Well, The guy who owns it is a snowbird and will be out of town until May. He's told us we can work on it if we want over the winter, while he's away, but he won't be back in Omaha until May for sure so I'll wait till then to hand him a check. It needs a few small repairs, a power steering leak and a slow AC coolant leak, but we'll have to wait until we own it to have those done.

Why does it seem like not enough time?
Are you plannign to fix it before u own it ?

Get an agreement in writing that he will pay you for any repairs done if he decides not to sell it to you for any reason. And then keep good records.

JStep · Post by **JStep** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 8:13 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:
Aiee! It burns! wrote:
JStep wrote: Well, The guy who owns it is a snowbird and will be out of town until May. He's told us we can work on it if we want over the winter, while he's away, but he won't be back in Omaha until May for sure so I'll wait till then to hand him a check. It needs a few small repairs, a power steering leak and a slow AC coolant leak, but we'll have to wait until we own it to have those done.

Why does it seem like not enough time?
Are you plannign to fix it before u own it ?
Get an agreement in writing that he will pay you for any repairs done if he decides not to sell it to you for any reason. And then keep good records.

We can do it one of two ways: He will fix it and add the cost of repairs to the price, or we buy it as is for $3,500 and do our own repairs. I think we will do the latter. I totally trust the guy, and I know without asking that he would provide me with receipts for all repairs if he did them and added to the price.