Project Let's Taco about It Bus

[arod79sae]

Hello everyone ,

First and foremost I like to thank everyone here for the help I have received so far . Sooo cut to the chase 2 friend and I bought a bus . YAYYYYYYYYYYY. For the main reason to tailgate and transport our families during RAGBRAI (for non Iowans its a really fun bike ride accross Iowa every summer ) . We got a great deal on the bus and are really excited to start converted it .

Bus is :

1990 Chevrolet School Bus
366 Big Block Chevy
4 speed manual transmission w/ 2 speed rear axle
109k
4x2
47 passenger capacity right now

Have driven it roughly 60 miles now and seems to be running like a champ after the old gas was removed and new was added .Currently removing the seats and rubber flooring to prep the metal floor for a new subfloor and flooring .

Any have any information on the transmission in particular ? the 2 speed rear axle ? I would like to do fluid changes on both of these but am having issues locating information .

Also any other tidbits of information regarding this bus would be helpful .

[magnakansas]

With a metal gasoline tank, letting fuel with alcohol, sit in it, is a not good thing. I have a several old cars, I have to keep gasoline without alcohol in the tanks, If I am going to let them sit. I have two cars, an older datsun sports car from the 70's and porsche, both have had fuel tanks detsroyed because I let gasoline, with alcohol in it, sit in the fuel tank. runnin down the road okay, but run with no alcohol for the final tank fill up ..... metal tanks are going to take a hit, the result is rust in the tank and corrosion in the carburetor, but i guess a 1990 366 is fuel injected

[arod79sae]

Its got a 4 barrel holly on it actually . Found a hornet nest in it when I went to fire it up hahah

[Bon Voyage]

How does a 2 speed rear axle work?

[mikeypj]

Iowan and have ridden RAGBRAI twice..did you get one of the ragbrai buses that were listed? Where are you? Im in DSM.

[mikeypj]

Originally Posted by Bon Voyage

How does a 2 speed rear axle work?

Turns a 5 speed into a ten speed..like a high and low sides. Im sure youll get way more technical info than that.

[arod79sae]

@bonvoyage

It allows you to choose a high or low setting for the the rear axle . It is located on the shifter knob when pressed in you are in low and pulled out you are in high . Helps out when trying to take off on a hill or with any decent load from a stop . Seems to help especially since with it being a gasser it doesn't have as much low end torque that a diesel would have .

[arod79sae]

@mikey I tried my hand at the ride last summer and fell in love with it . Me and my buddies are either in Ames or DSM . We bought it and it was straight school bus with all the seats in it still . Currently have the seats pulled out and rubber matting and subfloor pulled. Hoping to have it ready for next RAGBRAI

[Beeb]

May I make a suggestion for your bus name?

"Let's Taco 'bout it"

Seems like it flows better than "taco about it"

[arod79sae]

I like your recommendation .

[Tango]

You beat me to it! I was about to make exactly the same rec!
Definitely rolls better.

[arod79sae]

Good thing I haven't painted the name on just yet