Give a newbie your input

philiptompkjns · October 30, 2009, 07:45:17 AM

I guess I should introduce myself.
I've been lurking here for a while, looking at buses on ebay and CL.
I've looked at about 10 of them so far and found one that I looked at yesterday that I am going to make an offer on.

It is a 1990 102A3 that is totally stripped but it has the rear lav. The motor sounds perfect, no blow-by comming from the crank case. It has the automatic transmission as well.

The bad:
It is not titled as a motor home (florida)
It has one flat tire (tag axle)
It has some rust around the baggage door laches and under the baggage areas, the engine cradle just seemed to have surface rust.
The two airbags on the same side of the drive axle were not inflating. I did not hear a leak, maybe it is a clogged valve?
The brakes do release and it does move, won't it not even move if the air bags are blown?
The millage on the motor is 172,000

What do you guys think this bus is worth?
This is the only 102 incher that I've seen in my price range.
Thanks

Tom Y · October 30, 2009, 08:03:01 AM

Title was no problem in Pa. Need to talk to someone in Fl.
Flat tire no biggie, watch for left hand threads ( not sure on somthing that new )
Look for metal rotted away, are the sides straight?
Maybe 1 blown bag? Did you listen for air after it was shut down? No air maybe vave, a cheap fix.
You can move a bus setting on the stops.
Motor smokes on start up?
Whats it worth? A buyers market. I paid 8k for a "80" 6.5 years ago. Not a 102 but what I wanted. Prices started falling after that.

Wait for more advice here, it will come. Goodluck Tom Y

Adarian · October 30, 2009, 08:08:58 AM

I am just a newbie myself, but I learned that price range also includes immediate repairs to get home.
First question is does it stay in your price range factoring in the cost of those repairs?
What is it worth, your price range.

Titles in California no big deal.
I am sure the ride will be rough with the air bags not inflating on one side.
Others will chime in soon.

philiptompkjns · October 30, 2009, 08:15:14 AM

My price range is $1-10,000,
The engine smoked the least of any DD's that I've looked at so far (maybe I should make sure it is not out of oil

)
and the body is 95% straight with no visible rust on the body.

luvrbus · October 30, 2009, 08:23:43 AM

Phil, a 102a3 is worth from 8,000 to 15,000 depending with a auto and 8v92 they are around the 15,000 if in good shape but check the rust close they do rust.
If it has a solid engine and drive train and a 8v92 I would start at 7,500 or less the other problems are not that expensive to repair. Motor home titles are not that hard in Oregon where I do some a Coleman Stove,and a bed (army cot) you have a motor home.
I saw one with a BBQ pit at DMV passed as a motor home lol

good luck

philiptompkjns · October 30, 2009, 08:50:35 AM

It has a 6v92 and an auto.
Does anyone from florida want to chime in on the title change process?

cody · October 30, 2009, 08:55:31 AM

We all seem to have names for our buses, if the air bags on one side don't inflate then would a name like Ilene be appropriate? sorry, somethings I can't resist lol.

John316 · October 30, 2009, 08:57:28 AM

Quote from: cody on October 30, 2009, 08:55:31 AM
We all seem to have names for our buses, if the air bags on one side don't inflate then would a name like Ilene be appropriate? sorry, somethings I can't resist lol.

That is very funny

.

God bless,

John

wildbob24 · October 30, 2009, 10:13:19 AM

Philip

Found this on Fl's DMV website, on page 5 of this link:

http://www3.hsmv.state.fl.us/Intranet/dmv/Manuals/DMVProcedures/BTR/tl/TL-13.pdf

Seems like it might be pretty straight forward:

STATE OF FLORIDA
Florida Motor Vehicles
PROCEDURE # TL-13
SUBJECT: CERTIFICATE OF TITLE REQUIREMENTS FOR RECREATIONAL
VEHICLES, MOBILE HOMES AND OFFICE TRAILERS
F. Conversion Affidavit:

In the case of an individual converting their own vehicle and requesting to have the identity changed on the title in order to have it registered and licensed as a recreational vehicle, the customer must submit an affidavit to the tax collector. The affidavit must certify that the unit has been converted to the extent to include one of the aforementioned items to qualify it as a recreational vehicle.

EXAMPLE:

This is to certify that I, ______________, owner of a (Year) __________, (Make)_______, (VIN) ___________________, hereby request the vehicle be classified as recreational vehicle for the following reason:

( ) Installed 110 volt electrical wiring
( ) Installed LP gas piping
( ) Installed plumbing system

HTH

Bob

PS. Cody, I'm impressed that in the midst of all your troubles, your sense of humor remains intact.

bigjohnkub · October 30, 2009, 10:25:56 AM

You go Cody!!!!!

loosenut · October 30, 2009, 10:43:20 AM

As to price for me it would depend on circumstances of seller. If possible, since it is not road worthy I would start low. If you're not bidding against another buyer, start below $3,000 and fight every dollar rise. You're going to need them for your conversion.

By rear lav, do you mean it has a bus lav? That should lower the price since you have to deal with that too. (At least I believe converters tear them out because of problems.)

Good luck.

Mike

philiptompkjns · October 30, 2009, 10:54:41 AM

well that is one thing that I wondered about, why is it so important to destroy the rear lav? Is there any reason you can't just use it in your conversion?

Tenor · October 30, 2009, 11:06:03 AM

Well,
There are a lot of problems to deal with in trying to keep the original bathroom. First is tank capacity. They hold VERY little! and there is almost no fresh water. The next is location. Most people want to put their bedroom in the back. The bathroom just gets in the way, or people have to walk into the bedroom to use the toilet in the middle of the night. Now, where do you want to put the shower? It won't fit in the original bathroom.

In a bus conversion, you want to squeeze out every 1/4 inch of space you can get! Welcome to the madness!

Glenn

thejumpsuitman · October 30, 2009, 11:07:32 AM

If you do to keep it, change the seat! GROSS!!!

Slow Rider · October 30, 2009, 11:28:14 AM

One of the main reasons is the smell. RV toilets have a seal to keep the "perfume" from the black tank in the tank. If you look at the lavatory on a bus it is a straight shot and you get to experience all the wonderfull aromas.

I guess if you were willing to put up with the tank size and placement you could rip out the bus toilet ( read into that lots of metal work ) and replace it with an RV type toilet. But why bother? For the amount of work involved, just take the lav out and put the toilet where you want it.

Just my 2 cents,

Frank