Doubling-Down With Bus #2

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by plfking

Hope you don't mind, but your pic is my new screensaver.

I'll try not to drool on your windows.

There's probably been a good bit of drool on them already. Hard to tell, as they've been licked clean!

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

There's probably been a good bit of drool on them already. Hard to tell, as they've been licked clean!

after all it *IS* a short bus......
-Christopher

[Stewzer55]

Flashing Ed sounds like a fun name, better than peeping Tom. To Hell with it, this one should be Casey Jones.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Wasted no time today. Got the stickers all off except a few I decided to leave.
The handicapped decals had to go, as well as "school bus". That's just for legality.
I got a lil bit of the reflective tape off, but that stuff is formidable.


Found a good use for a hair dryer.

You done f'ed up. Should have left those on there... STOP on Beer".

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

Re-rating can only be done at an IHC dealer and they are reluctant to do it... I didnt think to hook the computer programmer up to yours, it will tell us what the ECM rated horsepower is.. its possible an ECM from another engine was installed.. thats where the magic sauce is..

my 'Butt dyno' says that one is a 170 (or does it say 175, I cant remember).. mine seems a tad faster and its a 190.. but our weights could be different, your bus seems heavier duty than mine.

(Kubla and I think we got 190s because of the Air-condtioning).

next time im up there we can hook the computer to it and see what it is.

the fuel pressure regulator update helped with a nasty 'Knock' people complained about at hot idle and after I did it on mine it gave the bus a little more spunk off the line...
yours has it already installed. it looks like the schools did a decent job of maintenance on that bus.

makes sense in colorado.. with hills and cold weather.. getting stranded isnt an option
-Christopher

Interestingly, my bus originally came with 19.5's. I wonder if its common for school districts to up the tire size?
Starting to see that they've done some nice tweaks to the bus already. Love the brand new 10R's.

[EastCoastCB]

I'm $300 lighter but she's titled and tagged now.
Daily driving shall commence!
Can't wait to hang out with Christopher some time and let him do his voodoo ninja magic on it.

Starts right up and runs real good. The short rear overhang makes it really easy to get around in parking lots and stuff.
Feels so nice to have one I can actually enjoy on a daily basis.

[cadillackid]

that rocks!!! its fun using a Skoolie as a daily driver!!!

im not sure how lomng yours is, i measured mine and its only about a foot and a half longer than a crew-cab dualie pickup like all the horse peoiple run around central florida.. it will fit in 2 parking spaces .. though I usually park mine out at the end and use 4 just so its easy to get out
-Christopher

[DoubleO7]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Interestingly, my bus originally came with 19.5's. I wonder if its common for school districts to up the tire size?
Starting to see that they've done some nice tweaks to the bus already. Love the brand new 10R's.

Maybe the bus garage only wants to keep one size tire in stock so they change the 19.5's out after the first set wears out?

[cadillackid]

how do you up a 19.5? are there larger rims that fit the same hubs as 19.5's?

-Christopher

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by DoubleO7

Maybe the bus garage only wants to keep one size tire in stock so they change the 19.5's out after the first set wears out?

IDK, seems like they'd just order the size they wanted. Would be more expensive to order with the 19.5's and buy new wheels, right?

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

how do you up a 19.5? are there larger rims that fit the same hubs as 19.5's?

-Christopher

No idea but the AmTran info sticker says it came with 19.5's. I'll try and snap a pic...

[cadillackid]

im interested to look closer at your hubs and the numbers off of the wheels..

it could be they ordered that bus as an in-town route bus.. 19.5's and 4.10 gears would make for a slow top speed.. (mine is 3.54 and 19.5s).. so maybe they wanted it run faster.. and maybe cheaper to take wheels from another bus or buy used and then add tires, than re-gearing?

might explain the 175 HP vs 190 HP...

-Christopher

[EastCoastCB]

[DoubleO7]

I have no idea, but I am confident that they make 22.5 rims that will replace the 19.5 rims.
Once that expense is made, the stock 22.5 tires used for the fleet are used there after.
We all know that the selection of 19.5 tires is very small compared to the selection of 22.5's.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

im interested to look closer at your hubs and the numbers off of the wheels..

it could be they ordered that bus as an in-town route bus.. 19.5's and 4.10 gears would make for a slow top speed.. (mine is 3.54 and 19.5s).. so maybe they wanted it run faster.. and maybe cheaper to take wheels from another bus or buy used and then add tires, than re-gearing?

might explain the 175 HP vs 190 HP...

-Christopher

could be.

some pics for you

[cadillackid]

you are 10 lug vs my 8, your bus was built with a heavier duty hub already. good stuff

makes sense since your GVWR is 20k, mine is 17.5k.

I think AmTran always built on a heavier chassis than Bluebird did.

at least until they re-named to IC and went cheap.
-Christopher

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

you are 10 lug vs my 8, your bus was built with a heavier duty hub already. good stuff

makes sense since your GVWR is 20k, mine is 17.5k.

I think AmTran always built on a heavier chassis than Bluebird did.

at least until they re-named to IC and went cheap.
-Christopher

I've always been impressed when I buy an AmTran.

I'm making decent progress on the reflective tape.
Once its off, I'll start assessing the few spots of rust and get that taken care of. Can't wait to get this thing painted some color other than yellow. I know I'm probably in the minority when I say that I hate national school bus yellow, but I do.
Thinking of a baby/sky blue. With dark blue trim. Sorta like a blue collar work uniform. I remember when I was a kid the special ed buses were light blue short buses. They looked nice.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I've always been impressed when I buy an AmTran.

Better keep your keys in your pocket. I think he's going to try to swap his bus for yours when you aren't looking.

[Kubla]

They have the wrong lug nuts on it, it should have the ones with washers, that is a hub piloted wheel

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Kubla

They have the wrong lug nuts on it, it should have the ones with washers, that is a hub piloted wheel

I'll get some nice chrome ones from the truck stop sometime soon. Good lookin out, Kubla! I actually was looking at them this morning thinking they didn't look like the ones I'd seen on a video recently. The ones on the vid looked like they had a washer built onto em, like a flanged nut maybe?