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Jake
Top Member
USA
3528 Posts |
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Spar
Active Member
20 Posts |
 Posted - 01/24/2011 : 1:27:50 PM
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intersting.
Looks like a lot of labor and materials spent.
I'll bet they spent over 30% of the price of a new bus to refurbish that one and to what end?
Because I'm a data junky, I'd like to see what was spent to refurbish that body, and then the next 5 years of repairs versus one purchased new.
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It's a machine, not a werewolf. |
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Wolf0r
Top Member
USA
2181 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2011 : 07:32:08 AM
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| It keeps us busy during those slow times. You have a crew getting paid anyway right? No special skills required to sand or clean. Pick your favorite bus that your about to retire and recondition it. If the body isn't rusted that bad you will have even less time/money invested. |
“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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Spar
Active Member
20 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2011 : 09:26:41 AM
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I don't like the "getting paid anyway".
Better than standing around yes. And yes there are special skills to sanding and cleaning, I like to think of it as attention to detail. :) I always use the slow times for shop/building maintenance and annoying repairs. Maybe I've never had enough of a crew to look for something to do. I don't think that came out right.... |
It's a machine, not a werewolf. |
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Wolf0r
Top Member
USA
2181 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2011 : 07:02:48 AM
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Here is a 1987 that was rust free inside and out. You could pull the 370 install a 24v Cummins, Paint, completely rebuild the brakes, shocks, springs anything worn and still save thousands. I'm going to check with the State Police and see just how old a bus we can run if it's top notch.
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“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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Jake
Top Member
USA
3528 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2011 : 09:57:23 AM
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I would personally love to see more districts invest in their current equipment rather than continually replace (I know i've said that for the 3rd time already  . Let me know what you find out, because i'm really curious!
The only thing I could see going wrong is the media taking advantage of the situation and putting a "Oh, well the districts can't afford new buses" aspect and create a huge ordeal over it. Its completely ridiculous that some schools replace buses every 5 years when most of us down south keep equipment a good 20-25. |
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Wolf0r
Top Member
USA
2181 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2011 : 2:03:41 PM
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| I have a route bus getting inspected in two weeks. I'll ask him then. |
“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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Jake
Top Member
USA
3528 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2011 : 08:22:17 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Wolf0r
I have a route bus getting inspected in two weeks. I'll ask him then.
Hey, did you hear anything? Still wondering. Thanks! |
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matts4290
Advanced Member
224 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2011 : 08:39:46 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Wolf0r
Here is a 1987 that was rust free inside and out. You could pull the 370 install a 24v Cummins, Paint, completely rebuild the brakes, shocks, springs anything worn and still save thousands. I'm going to check with the State Police and see just how old a bus we can run if it's top notch.
I wonder what you'd have to go through to swap in a 24 valve. Those are electronically controlled, so I don't know what kind of wiring mess would be associated with it, along with installing the computer. Thats why I'm a big fan of the 12 valve swaps, although they aren't as efficient as the 24s, but then you don't have to worry about the problems associated with the VP-44.
Also, you'd probably want to change the gearing since that gas engine was likely mated to very low gears for high RPMs. |
We can't all be conventional!
http://www.youtube.com/user/matts4290 |
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Wolf0r
Top Member
USA
2181 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2011 : 08:57:31 AM
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| No cut offs for age. Over 12 years old get inspected 2x a year he said. It's the school corporations that limit us from running a 20 year old bus. Most of them want 12 years or newer. |
“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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Wolf0r
Top Member
USA
2181 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2011 : 09:02:38 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by matts4290
quote:
Originally posted by Wolf0r
Here is a 1987 that was rust free inside and out. You could pull the 370 install a 24v Cummins, Paint, completely rebuild the brakes, shocks, springs anything worn and still save thousands. I'm going to check with the State Police and see just how old a bus we can run if it's top notch.
I wonder what you'd have to go through to swap in a 24 valve. Those are electronically controlled, so I don't know what kind of wiring mess would be associated with it, along with installing the computer. Thats why I'm a big fan of the 12 valve swaps, although they aren't as efficient as the 24s, but then you don't have to worry about the problems associated with the VP-44.
Also, you'd probably want to change the gearing since that gas engine was likely mated to very low gears for high RPMs.
I would think it would be a good swap for an air brake bus. I wouldn't want to attempt plumbing in the hydraulics to the power steering and brake booster. I have never done a 24v swap yet, but it would be a fun challenge I believe. The wiring would be easy for me, but the fabrication of brackets, and such I would need some help. |
“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2011 : 09:30:07 AM
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| I missed this thread somehow. This is real interesting stuff but I could have chosen a better bus than a Ford/Carpenter to restore! |
Bryan |
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Wolf0r
Top Member
USA
2181 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2011 : 09:35:23 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by bwest
I missed this thread somehow. This is real interesting stuff but I could have chosen a better bus than a Ford/Carpenter to restore!
It's long gone and was just an example. It was a cream puff BTW, kept in a pole barn. Now it belongs to a farm, they haul piglets in her. |
“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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Wolf0r
Top Member
USA
2181 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2011 : 6:46:38 PM
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| I just got in 3x 99 Bluebird TC2000. The bodies are in great shape for being from the North. I did however notice that all of the factory coating on the frame is peeling off and rusting. The air brake chambers have seen their share of rocks slamming into them. I wouldn't be afraid to spend a few grand and work them for 10 more years though. |
“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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C.HARDY
Advanced Member
354 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2011 : 7:48:57 PM
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We have taken a couple of really clean 52 passenger 90 model Internationals with ragged and blown 7.3Ls and swapped them out with DT360s and have gotten a lot of trouble free miles. Keep in mind we had a couple of IHC buses that were wrecked or not being used for parts buses. Having the complete donor I had all of the accessories (accelerator linkage,air compressor,radiator,etc.) that I needed and could do a complete swap in about 3 days.
I dont know if I would invest in a new 6k dollar engine for a 20 year old bus. My conversions cost about 2k bucks a piece to do. As far as cosmetics we repainted the hoods, painted the roof white and recovered the seats. |
"Hardybusman" |
Edited by - C.HARDY on 03/11/2011 7:51:41 PM |
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Thomasfan89
Top Member
USA
1155 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2011 : 09:22:03 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Jake
quote:
Originally posted by Wolf0r
http://www.schoolbusfleet.com/PhotoGallery/2010/05/School-Bus-Refurbishment-Project.aspx
I saw that a while back on there. Very neat process. I wish more school districts actually invested money in their current fleet, rather than continually focusing on replacing what already exists.
I'm pretty familiar with that district's buses, as I grew up near the district and knew many of the driver's as well as the TDs. That process has indeed saved the district thousands over the cost of new buses. All work is done in-house by the mechanics and district's body shop. Some of the earlier rebuilds were retired this year for new buses, including that '92 Ford but there are some still in service, at least one of which is an '89 Ford/Carpenter. I last visited the district over the summer. The '93 they spoke of rebuilding is a '93 International/Thomas, and it looks SHARP! Believe me, that '92 Ford/Carpenter could run circles around some new buses. For a '92 it featured a 210 horse 7.8L Ford, MT643 tranny, air brakes/air ride. It also featured many safety features that were spec'd before being mandated by state such as two roof hatches. |
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Wolf0r
Top Member
USA
2181 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2011 : 12:21:41 PM
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| That's good news Thomasfan. I hope to see more of this. |
“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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Powertrain Replace vs New Bus
