Well it's almost a great bus, if it were a SETRA it'd be better! Dad an I are fix'n to leave the hotel for the last part of a "quick hurry up and do something NOW! (more on that later!) bus hunting trip!"
Last week we were put in a bad way with an unexpected problem with one of the other buses that demanded it be pulled out of service IMMEADIATELY! (again more on that later!). Which left us very short on equipment since we were already over booked anyway. Well after scouring over ebay and every other online bus advertisements, many many phone calls to whom ever had or we thought would have something we were interested in. Out of the blue dad remembered that when he ran across one of our friends in the bus biz in SC last month, he'd mentioned someone he knew of having a '96A3 they needed to get rid of. Well one more phone call, turns out we also knew the company getting rid of it. (we bought a re-manned engine from them 2 yrs ago) Seems they'd been given the keys and title to this bus to settle a debt, and had had it since April and having no luck turning it. Well the price was ok, and the pics looked great, and what the people told us about it (they don't know buses they build engines and transmissions) it sounded like something we could make do if we could get the price right! So after spending the day in the shop making sure the others were ready for the weekend, and loading the truck with tools ramps, creeper, and a couple of spare parts (filters etc.) we set out at midnight on Tuesday to go look this bus over. Well when we pulled up on wedsday it was sitting out front waiting for our inspection. And at first look it was everything we'd been told and that the pics showed. So we checked it over carefully and it again met our expectations. Then we took it for a drive, wow I ain't never drove a 6V92 that had this much pep! (not even the new one we'd bought from these same people!) It ran out good and strong, and just wants to go, go, go, GO! I ran it up & down thru the hills and it just gained speed everywhere I pointed it. Carefully watching the temp gauge, while running it flat on the floor and steadily pulling faster and faster up hills. It never got over 175*, I told dad this is too good to be true! I'll bet it's rotted out underneath, or has major wreck damage we ain't found yet. So I pulled over on a hill and gave dad the wheel, wow again it took off up hill and just flat out pulled up to speed like nothing we've either one ever experienced from a 6V92 before! So we took it back to the shop and pulled it out back outta there way, and ran it up on my ramps. Well well, well what have we here? Looks to be a brand new re-manned transmission! Naw can't be, but wait a minute, oh yes it is, it is an almost brand new re-manned trans build date of 1/08! Well other than the rear radius arm bushings needing replaced, a pinion seal leaking, and it'll need brakes and tires before long. It checks out underneath, as well as everything else! The front end steering and all were in great shape and really tight. Now it's sorta ugly with just plain steel wheels (but that will change by the time it hits the road next week. Seems there are a set of polished aluminum wheels w/6 new tires sitting at the garage on a bus that just got yanked from service! The interior is in awesome shape and clean too, I could wash the outside and send this thing out on a charter today! Now the A/C was trying to work, but low on freon. We'd taken a cylinder of R134 with us, but this one is set up for R22! Well after making sure it did in fact work and was low on freon it was determined it was worth fixing. So now all that is left is bargaining. We went in and the guy who owns the place said "what's the verdict?" I started telling him what I'd found, both good & bad. He pointed out it was a 23 yr old coach, and dad said "yes as a matter of fact it is!" Oopps the guy selling it just realized he'd stepped right into that one!LOL! So dad asked him "How bad do ya want it gone?" Well he said "I really want it gone, but funny thing is a guy who's been advertising it for me wants to send someone by to look at it for $3 grand more than I originally told you!" Well dad thanked him for his time and said "come on son, I can see he has grown fond of it sitting here!" The guy said "hold on now, ya ain't even made an offer yet." So dad through out a price I almost fell over about, talk about low balling he offered less than half of what we'd originally been told! The guy stammered, stuttered, shift nervously back and forth, and finally said "no I can't go that low, I could hang on to it for a couple months and fix a few things on it during slow times and get twice to 3 time that." He looked at me for support and I told him "I don't control the check book, I just work on 'm & book 'm, and I'm gonna have to spend about 4 days changing brakes, wheel studs (for my aluminum wheels), rear radius arm bushings and tires before I can book it!" He stammered, stuttered, and shifted nervously again and jokingly said "but your labor is free, so that saves him $" looking at dad! Well I said dad " I like yer offer even more now! So let's go." He said "can't we come together more in the middle?" Dad said cash or check ? and we got it for $5,000 less than the original price (dad won't let me disclose that yet!). Now for the rest of the story, coming across US 60 it flew up hill, down hill, and just ran like the dog it's never been (Never been hound!) When we got to the turn off for Fairdealing we made the turn, and went and saw my buddy Jeff (the one who told us about it in the first place) to show it to him, and have him charge the A/C since he had R22 and we didn't. He was more than impressed with the condition of the bus, and had it cooling in no time! Back on the road again and 3 hrs to go! Well about an hr and a half later dad couldn't go no mo! So we got this hotel, and are fix'n to head for the house now! I'll update soon and also post about the catastrophe soon (I want to figure out how to re-size pics so I can post them with the details of what happended! Later ;D BK ;D
BK- sometimes things just plainly work out! Good Luck, TomC
BK,
Good Story!
Now wheres Chapter 2.........................?
Inquiring minds need to know!
Cliff
I'm sure you had a great post...but I did not even try to read it as submitted. Please try using reasonable length paragraphs instead of one long monolog. Easier to read. Other than that....congradulations with your new coach! :) :) :)
Quote from: HB of CJ on July 24, 2008, 02:36:22 PM
I'm sure you had a great post...but I did not even try to read it as submitted. Please try using reasonable length paragraphs instead of one long monolog. Easier to read. Other than that....congradulations with your new coach! :) :) :)
Sorry but I majored in shop, not english! I did graduate, but not with my english teachers blessings! LOL ! ;D BK ;D
Don't feel toos bad. I majored in study hall and girls! He he he. :) :) :)
Quote from: HB of CJ on July 24, 2008, 02:45:58 PM
Don't feel toos bad. I majored in study hall and girls! He he he. :) :) :)
I hear ya! My schedule was actually great for the first 3 yrs I got out after 6th or 7th period, while most went until after 9th (and when I had detentions I'd have to go back after 9th - a lot of the time as a matter of fact!! LOL!). Then on my senior yr they wanted me to go 1st thru 9th and 3 of those would have been study halls I said no way and quit! Mom went back and begged the princepal who knew me from the work I did on his model A in shop. When he got thru with the counsels and teachers involved I went back to school with a 1st thru 6th and no study halls! LOL! Now to be totally honest my priorities were shop, girls, and TRACK (I grew up in Speedway IN where TRACK meant the Indianapolis SPEEDWAY! Not some lame field & a coach! LOL!) ;D BK ;D
Quote from: HB of CJ on July 24, 2008, 02:45:58 PM
Don't feel toos bad. I majored in study hall and girls! He he he. :) :) :)
I guess I missed out. I never had any study hall so I had to major in girls only. :o
Richard
I went to a high school in a small rural farming community. Living on a farm, we had morning and evening chores, so no time for homework. We had a study hall period for each class (4 classes, 4 study halls) and P.E.. This meant rarely any homework, which meant more evening time, after chores, for chasin' girls. Since most of them also lived on farms and had chores, this kinda worked out pretty good. Then I went and married a "city girl". Course she took right to country livin'. Jack
Ineverdidanygoodinenglisheitherlol.
Actually I lied about the study hall. It really was after school detention, where I would choose one (1) hour of instead of one (1) maximum hard swat with a ping pong paddle. Yeah, corporal punishment with Mom's permission. The swat was soosss demeaning and the detention was in the study hall where you could, if you were quiet about it, flirt with girls. Ah....so long ago and far away. :) :) :)
I still can't read...I need pictures!
Post some! ;D
Quote from: HB of CJ
I'm sure you had a great post...but I did not even try to read it as submitted. Please try using reasonable length paragraphs instead of one long monolog. Easier to read. Other than that....congradulations with your new coach! :) :) :)
Quote from: BK
Sorry but I majored in shop, not english! I did graduate, but not with my english teachers blessings! LOL ! ;D BK ;D
Was I rude in my honest response to this? Just curious as I received a private email explaining I should have responded with a thanks for the corrective critasism instead of being rude about it. (I think, the email I received is harder to comprehend the message than my posts are! LOL!) ??? BK ???
Quote from: Busted Knuckle on July 26, 2008, 07:02:39 AM
Was I rude in my honest response to this? Just curious as I received a private email explaining I should have responded with a thanks for the corrective critasism instead of being rude about it. (I think, the email I received is hard to comprehend the message than my posts are! LOL!) ??? BK ???
BK, I've read enough of your posts over the years I know you were not being rude in any way. However, as I learned recently, it is really easy to misunderstand the intent of words spoken through the written medium. Chalk it up to experience and continue posting your stories. You are a great story teller and what you may lack in "english skill" you make up for in quality story telling talent. Keep up the good work!
Likewise!
Sojourn for Christ, Jerry
Quote from: Busted Knuckle on July 26, 2008, 07:02:39 AM
Quote from: HB of CJ
I'm sure you had a great post...but I did not even try to read it as submitted. Please try using reasonable length paragraphs instead of one long monolog. Easier to read. Other than that....congradulations with your new coach! :) :) :)
Quote from: BK
Sorry but I majored in shop, not english! I did graduate, but not with my english teachers blessings! LOL ! ;D BK ;D
Was I rude in my honest response to this? Just curious as I received a private email explaining I should have responded with a thanks for the corrective criticism instead of being rude about it. (I think, the email I received is harder to comprehend the message than my posts are! LOL!) ??? BK ???
Not really rude but I really do not think it requires a degree in Journalism or English literature to break up a long post into several paragraphs in order to make it easier to read. In fact my English schooling was probably much less than most of the people on the board. My early schooling was in a one room schoolhouse with only six students scattered thru out the 1st to the 8th grade. When I got to High School all the students were so far ahead of me that I never really caught up.
And you are not the only member that posts long articles or opinions without any breaks that make them difficult to read, So do not feel bad about this.
I have in the past considered breaking up some of the very long posts without any breaks or correcting some misspelled words but I am sure some would resent this action. In fact I believe you once chided me for correcting an error in one of your posts. LOL
Richard
Hey guys. The reading solution is really simple.
Most browsers have a "view" button and under that is a text size option. Hit the increase a couple of times and it is easy to read.
When it come to BK is it well worth doing ;D.
Jim
BK;
Keep up the story telling. Don't let anybody get to you.
Heck it's the only time I get to here from you. lol
Don
Hey BK,
Remember what I once said about what they could do if they couldn't take a joke . . . ;D :D ;) :o
We had a spirited discussion getting that one sorted out. ;D
Your short response didn't seem out of line to me. . . . .
My only issue was with the title, I was so ready to read about you finally buying a real bus, a SCENICRUISER ! ! ! ;D LOL
Richard,
Your last post had the phrase "was probably" repeated a second time. I think that I do not have any excuse but sometimes am guilty of not breaking the paragraphs.
Where's the second part of the story. I've got a guy interested in the movie rights.
Quote from: Lin on July 26, 2008, 08:01:46 PM
Richard,
Your last post had the phrase "was probably" repeated a second time. I think that I do not have any excuse but sometimes am guilty of not breaking the paragraphs.
Where's the second part of the story. I've got a guy interested in the movie rights.
Thanks Lin. We all are capable of making mistakes and I am no exception. I do appreciate someone advising of them so I can go back and make a correction which I have done.
As for the "rest of the story" I am afraid it would get boring very fast. LOL
Richard
Awe shucks fellers, yall gonna make my head swell plum up! LOL! I do sometimes get them long mono paragraph posts. But I'll be honest with ya'll I really do have my priorities screwed up back in school.
My mixed up priorities were auto mechanics, metal shop, girls, THE TRACK!, & hod rods! When April or may came around all of us cut school at least 2 or 3 days a week and went out to the track and partied! If we wasn't in school you knew we could be found in the first turn in the infield which was named "the snake pit!" (If I have explain you probably wouldn't understand!)
Shoot the way I graduated I really cheated myself of needed education, but it wasn't important to me then. Girls, cars, & $ was all I cared about.
I goofed of and sailed thru math, p.e., shop, history & science. But had trouble with English, economics, and health. Health was bad for me because it was given to me as my first class of the day twice. Which meant if I made it to class I slept thru it. At one time I worked 3 different jobs, one of which had me in & out all hrs of the night running AAA & police wrecker calls.
So one weekend I put a cam and lifters in my health teachers car.(she had a little Pontiac with a worn out cam!)
Now English and I hated each other, I took English all 4 yrs of HS and in my senior yr I still needed 2 of 6 credits for it! The first 3 yrs I had teachers who hated shop & cars, and any boys who liked them! Then my last yr, I got a male teacher who had a slightly older corvette ('73 or '74 BB 4 spd). And while I was still struggling in his class I offered to tune it up for him. Well what started out as a simple tune up, turned into a radical cam, a huge "offenhouser" high rise dual manifold, 2 huge "holley" double pumpers, and a wild set of side pipe headers that could be uncapped before the pipes! And then in went into the body shop and got a big huge hood scoop to cover all that! Well I passed!
Now economics, well I didn't have any likes or particular dislikes either way about it. But it was at the end of the day. And if I cut it I spend 2 hrs at the track instead of 1, before going to work at Job 1! Also I'd grown up with and gone to grade school with the teachers son, plus had his wife as a 3rd grade teacher! I'd been to their house many times up until HS went they decided it'd better if they sent him to a private school, "to keep him from running with the wrong crowd!" Then when I came close to grade time I showed up for class and "Mr.T" told me I was wasting his and my time "showing up to class after 28 unexcused absences!" But when he was calling each of us up and showing us his grade book in the top drawer of his desk, I slipped a bottle of his favorite Scotch out of my jacket and into the drawer. Suddenly that big ol' F got an extra leg and became an A!
So even if I was smart enough to get what I wanted, I cheated myself out of what I needed. Cars were simple to work on, and there wasn't no fancy high tech electronics and weird difficult to diagnose systems to make them go & go what we thought was fast! (by today's cars, they were fast, but not as fast, or quick and dang sure didn't handle like they do now!
I'd made up my mind I was gonna work on cars or drive a truck for a living, which I did both of. Drove dump trucks & tow trucks. And worked on them & cars when not driving or at home nights and weekends.
Then they started computerizing cars, and I put my tools in storage and went into driving big tow trucks full time, and working on big trucks at the same time saying "at least they can't computerize these! All it takes is fuel, air and compression!" LOL! Wrong!!! Ding dada bing! So I said the heck with it and started driving them instead.
Then one day I decided to buy one. Well as I always say "if gonna own junk, ya better be able to work on it too!" So I puttered around with that ol' piece of crap, long enough to pay it off, and trade it off for a newer one. Then it burned to the ground, and I was forced to find away to finish delivering the load I had.
Well, well well, ya know what none of the major truck leasing outfits would even think of leasing an individual small time owner operator a truck back then. While frantically calling around one of them told me "get me a letter showing a $250,000.00 line of credit from your bank, and I'll lease ya a truck!" I told him "Bleep, beep, bleep if I had a $250,000.00 line of credit, I'd go buy a truck!"
He laffed and said "son right now there giving them away, you can get one by jest sign'n yo name!"
So I think why not, sure enough, Houston Freightliner was really willing to help. "Pick out what ya want, pick a color, engine/trans, well come up with X down and come take yer pick of these 3!
So dumb me, I do.
Then things are looking up I paid off the private contract for the first one 2 weeks before the insurance paid me for it!
So then I get a dumb idea, if I had another one I could hire a driver and make twice as much! LOL! (what I meant was go broke twice as fast! LOL!).
Well hah, what a dummy fell for it hook line and sinker. The freightliner salesman "Say's why buy 1? I can sell ya these 2 trucks today with the payment of 1!" Wham did he see me fall of that there turnip truck or what! Cool 2 brand spank'n new semi tractors and only 1 trailer!
Yup you guessed it gotta buy another trailer to pull behind the second trk! Well by now my credit is maxed out. And the trailer folks suggest, I lease the truck & driver onto a company and pull their trailers! Well on & on.
Then in 2000 I had one get wrecked bad, and the DOT, INS, fuel and everything else just all became to much! I said good bye to them, and went back into driving big wreckers again.
Well my uncle had been bugging me for 3-4 yrs to come drive bus for him. (which I politely declined). But the wait the shop next to his bus lot came up empty with dirt cheap rent. Shoot I could piddle and make that payment. Then he wanted me to "service his buses" for him. Shoot service became maintain! And the rest is known history!
So forgive me if I ain't got good grammar skills, and have trouble comprehending huge technical manuals. But if I can get my hands on it, and study it long enough, I'll find a way to fix it!
I may not be a scholar, or a gentile, and I may never get rich. But every bit of what I got, is what I got and it's all PAID for! Just remember I started with NOTHING & still got most of it left! ;D BK ;D
BK, I don't care how you speel, or what words you run together, I never met your grammar but you mom and dad are great. lol