| Author |
Message |
Smoky (12.222.48.162)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 9:00 pm: | |
as many of you know I'm a wannabe bus nut as I,ve work on several buses (started wrenching in a GMC heavy truck dealer when I was 18) I never considered owning one. Until last year when I got the bug and then I stumbeled onto this board and have visited it every day. I thank everyone here for the knowlege that You all share. so I started cleaning out all my valuable junk and selling it on ebay I sold my 1970 F250 4x4 (toy that I've owned longer than I've been married) bought vehiches with bad transmissions overhauled transmissions and re sold for profit to make extra money drove my wife and kids crazy talking about buses, even my 9 year old daughter can tell the differance between GMC,eagle&mci so I thought anytime now I would be buying a shell and start on it this spring.WRONG! the oil pump shaft broke on my beloved diesel jeep cherokee and did severe engine damage this thing has a french diesel engine in it and and I just don't have the time to fix it right now so this is around mid oct and I start driving my severly rusted out 85 6.2 diesel suburban. I did'nt mind too much but there was no way this thing could be my main ride.Howerever most of the time it was no problem when we went somewhere we would take the wife's cherokee but when I had to take the kids somewhere in the burban when she was gone in her jeep it was a real problem one time I took my daughter to pratice and the old beast parked next to and around Lexus suv,new Durangos and whatever trendy mom's drive these day's.
So I found the 300,000 burban A new home. And replaced it with a 1995 K2500 4X4 6.5 turbo diesel GMC suburban. But theres goes my hopes for obtaining a Bus any time soon unless the power ball ticket I bought tonight wins. one again many thanks to all of you on this board for puting up with me and educating me on bus conversions
Smoky, |
Sam Sperbeck (204.248.119.254)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 10:36 pm: | |
Hi Smoky,
If you had said your bus fund went to pay for medical bills for your wife or one of your kids, or one of your kids needed braces you would have gotten some sympathy from me. But having to buy a trendy vehicle to keep up with the trendy moms of your kids friends is a poor excuse in my mind as there will always be trendy moms to keep up with. Your kids will not die of embarrasment, nor will you. What kind of bus were you planning on buying that your kids wouldn't be embarrased to be seen in? If you are dedicated enough you will find a way to get a bus but it may require giving up trying to keep up with the "Jonses" or the Power Ball may work too. Good Luck
Thanks, Sam Sperbeck
La Crescent, MN |
Telestar (64.228.55.105)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 4:25 pm: | |
Cheer up Smoky, All is not lost!
I drive a 1990 Plymouth Acclaim so I can convert an old 1980 GMC transit bus. If you want to get rid of all your other toys that may or may not be nessessary, I will give you my Acclaim in order that you may be able to convert your "next" bus.
Cheers, Emery |
smoky (12.222.48.162)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 1:24 am: | |
Sam, I will get a bus its just not going to be this year.I did'nt mean to come across as whining or complaing is just that I was iching to get started or a conversion. 12 years ago we bought a nearly condimed 112 year old victorian home now its nearly done so this will be my next project. As for what brand I think a GMC 4104 or my favorite a scenicruiser with the interior decorated in a art deco theme with the exterior polished to a high shine. on a side note the mentioned sub is 9 years old and has 160k and is a smelly diesel not a trendy moms car in my mind
Smoky, |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell) (66.81.61.132)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 1:29 am: | |
Save all that money you spend buying power ball tickets and buy a bus. Your chances of getting a bus are probably better than hitting the Power Ball Lottery. |
Geoff (64.228.55.105)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 4:34 pm: | |
The thing about bus conversions there is a bus out there to fit just about anybody's budget. But the trick is to find a good one, and that is in any price range. |
FAST FRED (65.154.177.153)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 6:41 am: | |
$3000 to $10,000 will buy most any style coach ready to convert.
Not that big a hit ,over time, and if you have a concept and mental plan of what you need , you can still shop for "bargans" as you save up.
Here's Hoping,
FAST FRED |
David & Lorna Schinske (Davidschinske) (67.216.90.34)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 9:44 am: | |
Do you realize that if you get a bus with a manual transmission, your mpg with the bus will be as good or better than the suburban (we know folks with them)? David's "boss lady" has one of those "denali" things and keeps wanting him to buy it. We put far to many miles on the roads weekly to keep gas in the thing. Personally, I feel like Sam. Stop trying to keep up with the neighbors. You will teach your kids the wrong things doing that. Besides you can get vehicles for about 1/2 lot prices if you go to the auto auctions. This is how I got my Jeep Grand Cherokee ($6K for what was selling on the lots for $13K+) and how I will get my next vehicle (this summer?). Only thing is that you need cash and don't have your heart set on a specific make/model or truck. Trucks are always worn out and priced high. Looks like a dealer for a replacement truck for us (eek! Truck Payment$)
Lorna |
jim mci-9 (209.240.205.60)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 10:31 am: | |
pick out a chassis that will fit whatever you want the end result to be... for touring.. full-timing.. condo-on-wheels... weekend trips... let thet be your guide.. i found a '54 gm transit with the best aluminum covering i've ever seen on ebay for $1500... bought it... its gonna be delivered this week...ive ben workingon it for 2 months, getting it road-worthy.... so my mci-9 ( that ive owned for 4 yrs)..is on the back burner...i drive a '86 f150 ext cab ford... paid for...and i pay cash for my toys....so save a little... spend a little... enjoy!! |
Guy Bouchard (161.184.196.113)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 4:02 pm: | |
I can relate to Smoky's delima, I too carry my carcass around in 6.2 burban.The trouble with one of those tanks is that they won't die. Mine has over a million clicks on it and it is a pleasure to drive that old beast. It only goes thump once in a while when you run over a Lexus or Nissan.
Guy 4905 |
jim mci-9 (209.240.205.60)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 4:09 pm: | |
i made an "avalanche" out of my '84 diesel 4x4 suburban..... it finally quit last yr... engine runs good...tranny gave it up.... really rusty tho...had 300k miles...i'd like to find another 1 |
ralph7 (208.155.122.141)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 6:17 pm: | |
Smokey like all have said keep lookin it will happen. I think we talked about a bus with a bad engine over a year ago, if so e-mail me. ralph7 |
Cory Dane RTSII (64.228.55.105)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 12, 2004 - 4:37 pm: | |
Well Smoky
this bus conversion infection is terribly infectious. And the darndest things happen when you are going to try to move on.
Keep smil'n Smoky, we are all here for ya.
I kinda know what you are feel'n, I have had my bus forever, and until now, time was an incredible problem and I just could'nt get enough time on her to make much of a difference.
Look on the bright side, It will only get better and I have noticed that the buses coming to auction are starting to look even better.
I'm sure when you are ready, the one you get will be sooooo sweeeeeeeet!
"Imagine Your Dreams"
cd |
Mike 4104 Tx (192.208.44.100)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 11:26 pm: | |
I don't feel alone driving my $1000 86 Mazda B2000 with 189,000 miles on it so that I could purchase my bus. I still drive it so that I can make the changes that we want in the bus.
Mike |
Geoff (Geoff) (66.238.120.25)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 02, 2004 - 7:46 am: | |
We don't have anything "new" around here to make payments on. I rebuilt the engine in my wife's car so she could keep using it, and she is perfectly happy. We could have bought two or three new SUV's for the money I have invested in the bus conversion-- but I think we have our priorities straight! |
jimmci9 (209.240.205.60)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 02, 2004 - 5:12 pm: | |
salude!!!.. me too.... i paid $15oo fo the '54 gm transit.... $220 for an air throttle.... wednesday i'll spend $600 to get it hauled to houston... and $35 a month for storage.... but with it being 400 yds away, i get to work on it as much as i can afford....ive been ratholing goodies for several years, just to get use them when i need them... so here goes!!!! |
Johnny (63.159.192.200)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 03, 2004 - 9:47 pm: | |
I have over 350,000 miles on my truck, a 1992 Ford F-350 4x4 diesel with a Reading utility body. I'd like a new truck (diesel Ram 3500SRW), but can't see dumping $40K on it.
I have deep sympathy for anyone who voluntarily owns & drives a 6.2 or 6.5-"powered" truck. having owned a K-35 with the 6.2 litre diesel, I can tell you that yes, getting dusted by Chevettes running on 3 cylinders is just something you have to learn to accept. What a dog. |