Gillig buses come with gas engines?

[chev49]

My brothers old 1960 pusher has an international 504 gas engine...i think he said it gets about 4 mpg... mostly sits by chicken house...

[wtd]

I have a picture of the motor if anyone want to guess.

Actually you have a picture even if no one wants to guess ...

Is there a prize involved?

Tom

[chev49]

the 1960's gmc v6 engines are real gas hogs. Both in the pickups and the trucks.

[chev49]

if you really want a diesel, you should get one in the first place and use your energy once instead of twice... besides they aren't any more expensive to purchase then a gas one.... the one i have now only cost me 2200.

[wtd]

Don't think I'd be particularly jazzed about a 45 year old gas powered bus that may or may not run, full of 35 year old RV appliances that's been sitting in a field for 4 years.

[Jarlaxle]

If you're a mechanic, this might be a good one for you...a 60's gas-powered Bird is about as mechanically-simple as it gets! No computers, no weird sensors, just six REALLY big cylinders.

[lornaschinske]

Originally Posted by gravygrabber

+
I'm thinking after looking at the net for research it's most likely a motor coach conversion.

Surely you aren't saying it's like this 1965 model are you?






If so, that is a real BlueBird Wanderlodge. Should be 31 ft long. Gas engine was standard. 1965 was first year of production.

Ads from http://www.vintagebirds.com/ for sale section: go to the link and scroll down the for sale section to find the links for the pics. This is to give you an idea of what you might have. Bear in mind YOU WILL NEVER GET YOUR MONEY BACK OUT OF ANY BUS CONVERSION.

1969 31’ Bluebird WanderlodgeFord 391 Industrial Engine, Allison 6 Speed Automatic Transmission, 6kW Onan Generator, 150,000 miles. Reduced to $5,000. Bluebird has been 95% restored with new upholstery, new oak cabinets, new carpet/laminate flooring. Major restorations include new exterior paint (2002), completely replaced braking system (2003), engine rebuilt (2004). We have invested way more in restoration than our asking price. You will not find a better cared for coach. Located in Tennessee. Email us for a complete list of restorations as well as the items we did not get completed and any additional pictures you would be interested in.

this is a dog nosed skoolie

1969 Bluebird Inn Motorhome (rare) 327 V8 Chevy Motor, Chevrolet C/50 Chassis w/ 4-speed overdrive. 79,282 miles, 958 hours on meter. Well-loved, looking for new home & some TLC. The Blue Bird Inn is NOT a conversion or re-model, but I have been unable to find anything like it to compare to online. Please feel free to email or call with questions, comments, or to come & take a look -- located just north of Des Moines, Iowa. Asking $8,000.00 OBO

[lornaschinske]

1963 - First unit manufactured
1965 - Actual production started.
1964-1973 - Thirty-one foot unit, only size available.
1964-1976 - Ford industrial gas engine factory installed as standard engine.
1969 - Produced 9 units that were a pusher type with a Ford gas engine, thirty-five feet in length. Very rare
1974 - Added 33 foot unit to product line. -
Gas - 31' -- 33'

1975 - Added 35 foot unit to product line. -
Gas - 31' -- 33' -- 35'
1976 - Gas - 31' -- 33' -- 35'
1977 - Factory installed engines Caterpillar 3208-NA (Naturally Asperated, meaning "non turbo"). Early 1977 still had gas engines. -
Gas & NA Diesel - 31' -- 33' -- 35'
1978 - Gas & NA Diesel - 31' -- 33' -- 35'
1979 - - Fifteenth Anniversary unit produced. Forerunner to the pusher. Thirty-five foot with 3208 Caterpillar. Designated the XV.
NA Diesel - 31' -- 33' -- 35' -- 35' XV

1980 - Added air suspension to standard equipment. Early 1980 units still had spring leaf suspension. -
NA Diesel - 31' -- 33' -- 35'
1981 - NA Diesel - 31' -- 33' -- 35'
1982 - Added the PT 35 and PT 40 to product line. Added new bathroom and dash to forward control model. Pusher came with new dash.
FC - NA Diesel - 31' -- 33' -- 35'
PT - 35' -- 40' (PT had Detroit V6, 2 cycle Diesel - Designated "6V")
1983 - Forward Control came with factory installed 3208 Caterpillar with 225 HP turbo. Last 12 units of 1983 model year installed with 250 turbo. Introduced RB (Rear Bath) models.
FC - 31' -- 33' RB -- 33' SB -- 35' RB -- 35' SB
PT - 35' 6V -- 38' 6V -- 40' 6V
1983 - Forward Control came with factory installed 3208 Caterpillar with 225 HP turbo. Last 12 units of 1983 model year installed with 250 turbo. Introduced RB (Rear Bath) models.
FC - 31' -- 33' RB -- 33' SB -- 35' RB -- 35' SB
PT - 35' 6V -- 38' 6V -- 40' 6V
1984 - Forward Control installed with 3208- 250 turbo Cat engine. - Changed the floor plan of the PT 35. Became designated as PT-36.
FC - 31' -- 33' RB -- 33' SB -- 35' RB -- 35' SB
PT - 36' 6V -- 38' 6V -- 40' 6V
1985 -
FC - 31' -- 33' RB -- 33' SB -- 35' RB - 35' SB
PT - 36' 6V -- 38' 6V -- 40' 6V
1986 - Added Detroit Diesel 8V92 (8V) engine to pusher line.
FC - 31' - 33' -- 35' RB -- 35' SB
PT - 36' 6V -- 38' 6V -- 38' 8V -- 40' 6V -- 40' 8V
1987 - Re-designed Forward Control floor plan and added 300 HP Caterpillar Engine. Introduced walk-thru bath floor plan in pushers.
FC - 31' -- 33' RB -- 33' SB -- 35' RB -- 35' SB
PT - 36' 6V -- 38' 6V -- 38' 8V --40' 6V -- 40' 8V
1988 Introduced 102" Wide Body (WB) in 38' and 40'. Introduced Detroit 8V92TA 475 HP with DDEC in Pusher.
FC - 35' RB -- 35' SB
PT - 36' (96") -- 38' (96") -- 38' (WB) -- 40' (96") -- 40' (WB)
40' XXV - Commemorates 25th year of Wanderlodge.

1989 Introduced 36' Single Axle Pusher (SP) -300 Cat 3208 - Center Door - 96" width. End of Forward Control.
FC - 35'
SP - 36'
PT - 38' (WB) -- 40' (WB).

Also - Offered conversions by Royale.
1990 -
SP - 36'
PT - 40' (WB)
1991 Changed exteriors appearance of Wide Body & SP. Made major equipment changes.
SP - 36'
PT - 40' WB -- 40' WBSA
1992 - End of SP.
SP - 36'
PT - 40' WB -- 40' WBSA
1993 -
40' WLWB -- 40' WBSA -- 40' WBDA
1994 Introduced BMC (Bluebird Motor Coach).
37' BMC
40' WLWB -- 40' WTOS -- 40' WBSD -- 40' WBDA
1995 Added 42' Wanderlodge with 60 Series Detroit, 6 speed Allison and Aqua Hot heat. Redesigned BMC 37'.
37' BMC
40' -- 40' WTOS -- 40' WBSD -- 40' WBDA
42' -- 42' WLWB -- 42' WTOS -- 42' WBSD -- 42' WBDA
1996 Introduced the 40' BMC with m11 Cummins 400 HP, 6 speed Allison, Tag Axle.
37' BMC
40' BMC
40' -- 40' WTOS -- 40' WTSD -- 40' WBDA
42' WTOS -- 42' WBSD -- 42' WBDA
1997 Lowered engine in Wanderlodge to allow for Walk-in closet. Redesigned 42' as 43'. 40' became 41' with 60 series, 6 speed and walk-in rear closet.
37' BMC
40' BMC
41' WLWB
43' WLWB
1998 - Introduction of WB-41 LXi and WB-43 LXi w/500 HP Series 60 and resytled exteriors. Introduction of WB-40 LX w/450 HP M11 Cummins.
40' LX
41' LXi
43' LXi
1999 -
40' LX
41' LXi
43' LXi

2000 -
40' LX
40' LXi - Mellennium Limited Edition
43' LXi
2001 thru 2003 -
LX-M11 engine went from 450 H.P. to 500 H.P. New body style. Otherwise its the same as 98 - 2000. In 2001,some LX's were non-slide some were single slides. 2002 and 2003 were all slides , either single or double.
LXi After about the first 15 units were built, the effort to lighten the units began. Front axle rating went from 14,400 to 15,500 and eventually to 16,000 #'s Fuel capacity went down to 260 from 300 gal. The exterior roof skin was changed to streched aircraft aluminum, bulk oil fill was eliminated as well as tile floors. An optional cummins M11 500 H.P. engine was offered but only a few were built.
2003 thru 2004 -
M380 production began. All 2003's were single slide with one exception , it was a double. 2004's were 1 or 2 slide. No non-slide M380's were offered.No other models were built for 2004.

Abbreviations
BMC - Blue Bird Motor Coach

FC - Forward Control which designates the engine is mounted in the front of the unit. All Blue Bird Wanderlodges are rear axle drive.

31-FC - Thirty-one foot Forward Control

33-FC - Thirty-three foot Forward Control

35-FC - Thirty-Five foot Forward Control

PT - Pusher with a tag axle

PT-35 - Thirty-Five foot Pusher

PT-36 - Thirty-six foot Pusher

PT-38 - Thirty-eight foot Pusher

PT-40 - Forty foot Pusher

RB - Rear Bath

SB - Side Bath

SP - Single Axle Pusher

WB - Wide Body

WL - Wanderlodge

XV - 15th Anniversary unit built in 1978/1979

XXV - 25th Anniversary unit built in 1988/1989

Personally I think 1986 was the last year the Wanderlodges looked good. After that they all started looking like clones of all the other sticks-n-staples out there. Like I said, it's just a personal thing. I also don't like housing developments where all the houses look the same.

[wtd]

Originally Posted by gravygrabber

What I don't get though is why it has a GM engine. ...

Same reason they thought it was a Gillig.

[Jarlaxle]

Hmm...any chance of a photo from above that engine? Looks vaguely like a Ford FE/FT series (which Blue Bird used), but can't tell.