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My Bus; Perfessor you should love this!
Topic Started: May 31 2015, 08:04 AM (709 Views)
Tubablake
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Nice 1990 GMC Diesel

[IMG][URL=http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/tubablake/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150530_143130_zps2jdgu4he.jpg.html]Posted Image[/URL][/IMG]

6000 Diesel Baby!

[IMG][URL=http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/tubablake/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150530_143136_zps68f2cyhu.jpg.html]Posted Image[/URL][/IMG]

Look at that motor! Baby is pristine!

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8.2L GMC, actually has tons of power.

[IMG][URL=http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/tubablake/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150530_143157_zpsph6zsgii.jpg.html]Posted Image[/URL][/IMG]

That's the air compressor! That is about a hundred times bigger than compressors in new buses.

This bus is Little Bird. Its the bus I drive at River Riders. I'm the only driver that likes it so I get it all to myself! It runs really well, very smooth.

Only problem is no cushion in the seat!!

Perfessor I thought you would love this.

[IMG][URL=http://s1369.photobucket.com/user/tubablake/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20150530_143224_zps1ka6ueur.jpg.html]Posted Image[/URL][/IMG]
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idmetro
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She looks like a pretty fabulous Adventure Steed!
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punkozuna
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Cool! I've considered a small bus as the basis for a DIY rv before. New motorhomes are so whacked out expensive that getting a van or bus and converting it is a very tempting alternative. Since you've got one, I've got a few questions if you don't mind?
1. How big is your bus? It doesn't look too big but I can't tell from the pics.
2. I assume the 8.2L diesel is a large truck/industrial type engine and not related to the duramax engines? Is it a 6 or 8 cylinder? Is it super/turbocharged?
3. Manual or auto trans?
4. Had it on any long trips? How is it comfort wise? I think of school bus, I think of loud, stiff and "vibratory".
5. I've got ask about the gas mileage? People on converted school bus websites never seem to talk about the mileage. Got any sweet aero mods planned to see if you can improve it?
6. What plans do you have for it?

Thanks!
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Tubablake
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punkozuna
May 31 2015, 10:14 AM
Cool! I've considered a small bus as the basis for a DIY rv before. New motorhomes are so whacked out expensive that getting a van or bus and converting it is a very tempting alternative. Since you've got one, I've got a few questions if you don't mind?
1. How big is your bus? It doesn't look too big but I can't tell from the pics.
2. I assume the 8.2L diesel is a large truck/industrial type engine and not related to the duramax engines? Is it a 6 or 8 cylinder? Is it super/turbocharged?
3. Manual or auto trans?
4. Had it on any long trips? How is it comfort wise? I think of school bus, I think of loud, stiff and "vibratory".
5. I've got ask about the gas mileage? People on converted school bus websites never seem to talk about the mileage. Got any sweet aero mods planned to see if you can improve it?
6. What plans do you have for it?

Thanks!
To answer your questions:

1. Ill post pictures on the size. They all vary though so it depends.

2. Yes this motor is not related at all to the duramax. No school bus is supercharged but they are turbo. It helps a lotttttt.

3. That one is an automatic. While the newer autos which are 5 and 6 speeds are faster the old ones like this are slow due to our being the 4 speed auto. So for the older buses you'd much rather have the manual Judy because they are just as fast and are 10 times more reliable.

4. I do long trips with that all the time. That bus runs particularly well. Not all buses are smooth on the highway. The older the more likely to be worn out and rough. As far as noise it depends on who old and who made it. Now you'll never get a bus to be quiet completely but by adding some sound proofing you can do wonders.

5. On the old internationals I normally average 6.5, the freightliners get 7-10 and the brand new c2's get 10ish. Remember this is short trips. A lot of stop and go, a lot of idling. If you were doing mostly highway you would get better.

6. As far as plans I can do a little more seeing as everyone hates this bus.

Of course only on the Geo forum who someone talk about improving mpg on a bus.

If you are going to get a bus buy a one of the Thomas Freigtliners around the 2000's. These have much better heat and much better turning radius and have a solid CAT motor in them.

The internationals are fun but they were built for work not comfort of anykind.
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Deleted User
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Yep, That's A 501 V 8 For Sure!

The 501 Had Anywhere Between 185 To 230 Horsepower But The 230 Horse 501 Was A Turbo Of Course. They Were Direct Competition To The Cat 3208 Which Was A 636 V 8.
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Tubablake
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Richard Kaltenbach
May 31 2015, 05:27 PM
Yep, That's A 501 V 8 For Sure!

The 501 Had Anywhere Between 185 To 230 Horsepower But The 230 Horse 501 Was A Turbo Of Course. They Were Direct Competition To The Cat 3208 Which Was A 636 V 8.
Correct you are!

This I'm sure had 230hp from the factory but I can assure that it doesn't have that anymore!

Still runs extremely well though.

This motor runs better than the 7.3 internationals that we have!!
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dayle1960
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Fastest Hampster EVER

I like it!!! Looks like it has a billion tons of THICK steel throughout which means it is a heavy mother and if should you plow into somebody/something, YOU WILL BE THE WINNER.

Great addition.
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perfesser
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Elite Member - Former Metro owner

punkozuna
May 31 2015, 10:14 AM
Cool! I've considered a small bus as the basis for a DIY rv before. New motorhomes are so whacked out expensive that getting a van or bus and converting it is a very tempting alternative. Since you've got one, I've got a few questions if you don't mind?
1. How big is your bus? It doesn't look too big but I can't tell from the pics.
2. I assume the 8.2L diesel is a large truck/industrial type engine and not related to the duramax engines? Is it a 6 or 8 cylinder? Is it super/turbocharged?
3. Manual or auto trans?
4. Had it on any long trips? How is it comfort wise? I think of school bus, I think of loud, stiff and "vibratory".
5. I've got ask about the gas mileage? People on converted school bus websites never seem to talk about the mileage. Got any sweet aero mods planned to see if you can improve it?
6. What plans do you have for it?

Thanks!
Motorhomes are built for an expected life of about 100k miles. They are a truck chassis with a box made of 2x3s, plastic sheeting and polyurethane glue on top, with a sexy paint job. Because of the ladder frame they have very limited space underneath. When I was looking for one years ago, I was struck by the number of units that had replaced their 454 truck engines at 30-35k miles (or needed to.) Those are good strong engines, but they aren't up to the way most RV drivers try to get car-like performance out of them. It burns them right up! These are not cars!!

Skoolies (bus talk for school buses) are the next step up. They are a big steel box on a truck frame and are made to last a lot longer than any RV out there. You know what kind of abuse they have to handle! The '60s gave skoolie conversions a bad name, and to this day there are a lot of campgrounds that will not allow bus conversions to sully their hallowed grounds. Again, because of the truck frame, underfloor storage is small. Because the drivers who drove them were all professionals, the abuse typically was interior only, not drivetrain.

Speaking of professional drivers, the top level is the old intercity buses (think Greyhounds and other companies long gone.) The older ones are GM, but you will also find Eagles, MCIs, and Prevo$t$. I have an old GM "Buffalo" that was converted by a preacher in Texas to use in his ministry. He put $93k into the conversion (I have 3 3-ring binders of receipts, parts lists and manuals!) and used it for 8 years before he retired and sold it to a bus mechanic in Tucson. He had it 5 years, then they decided to build a house south of town in the desert. They needed to drill a water well, so I bought it from them 10 years ago for the price of a hole in the ground. It was less than the cost of a new (base model) Dodge Durango.

It's 35' long, 8' wide, and clearance is 12' 8". The Buffalos had a 2-level interior, with the driver seat 4 steps up and the main deck another couple of steps up from that. Storage underneath is incredible!! It's built like an aircraft fuselage - all aluminum monococque with no frame. Strong, light, and rust is not a problem. Large open cargo bays that go clear through. They used to haul their bus engines in those bays to get them to maintenance depots where they were needed. (The engines weigh 2300 pounds apiece. The transmission is 1200 pounds!) My wife wants me to install a washer and dryer downstairs (yes dear!) There's room for them.

The old GMs had Detroit 2-stroke diesels in them. Mine is an 8V-71. 8V means it's 8 cylinders in a V configuration, 71 means that each cylinder displaces 71 cubic inches, for 568 cubes total. 318 HP, 800+ ft-lbs of torque. 4-speed straight-cut Spicer manual transmission, no synchros, grind 'em 'til you find 'em! Depending on hills and winds I usually get 8-10 mpg. Came with a 176 gallon fuel tank, but it was replaced long ago with a 145. Gives a bit more storage space.

Longest trip we've taken in it was 3k miles, coast-to-coast. Comfort-wise - hey, it's a Greyhound! Remember? Smooth, quiet, and comfy. Air ride suspension. Vibrations? Only if you crank the stereo!

Long-term plans include moving into it for a retirement home sometime around 2020 and living wherever we want. I'm remodeling it right now. The converter gave no thought to maintenance access, so the hatch to get to the clutch and shift linkages was buried, and I had to tear apart a lot of the interior to get to them. Clutch hadn't been adjusted in 20+ years!

I understand the attraction of a skoolie, but for not a lot of $$ more, you can have the king of the road!

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Coche Blanco
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Troll Certified

perfesser, every freaking time you post that bus...I get jealous.
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punkozuna
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Coche Blanco
Jun 1 2015, 11:21 PM
perfesser, every freaking time you post that bus...I get jealous.
No kidding.
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geogonfa
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:drool way cool...
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happydriver
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Sedan Love

dayle1960
Jun 1 2015, 05:33 PM
I like it!!! Looks like it has a billion tons of THICK steel throughout which means it is a heavy mother and if should you plow into somebody/something, YOU WILL BE THE WINNER.

Great addition.
I was always told the man with the most lug nuts wins in a wreck.
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92blumetro
jack of all trades, master of two

I was given a 72 passenger ford bus...guy wanted it gone from his property. no keys, no problem.....quick hot-wire and I was on my way(it fired right up !!!)....428 4v 5 spd gas (on propane) air brakes.
drove it home (40 miles) no problems....removed the seats, built 2x4 framed shelving, now currently storing metro parts in it....lots of metro parts....looks like 3 tier bunk beds, about 3/4 of the way down, on both sides. open space at rear for larger parts.
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