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Old 10-05-2019, 02:22 PM   #21
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
thats swesome!!! you got a classic!! and a gasser too.. in my opinion a good choice for being in the great north... no offense to all the diesels in the cold but I like fuel that doesnt freeze when the weather does!.. that 454 was a swap in.. wasnt an offered engine on that bus... the original engine wouldve been a 427 or a 366.. 454 has much easier to find parts for than either of the above engines.. though I hope its not over-tuned to pull a bus... big cams dont like to pull heavy loads.. so hopefully theyve got it built like an RV motor so it wont rev super high and poulls good!!


cant wait to see the pics!
-Christopher
it has an Rv cam in it, and pulls well on the hills - I'm pleased with the motor, but I may look into getting an auto trans for it rather than the 1975 5 speed manual trans it has now

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Old 10-05-2019, 02:25 PM   #22
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by Native View Post
Yeah, but I do want to see what YOU do as a conversion! You have a lot of very practical ideas that you have expressed in the forum. In addition, you have a few very unique requirements. It will be an interesting build to follow (er, rebuild).
I'll be sure to take pictures as it goes
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Old 10-05-2019, 02:27 PM   #23
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by plfking View Post
The milk of human kindness still flows in the Great White North.....bottle some of that and send it down here.

Glad you finally got your bus!
I guess driving old vehicles lets me see that 'milk' more often - I've experienced it on both sides of the international border
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Old 10-05-2019, 04:41 PM   #24
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Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 1,349
Year: 1990
Coachwork: Thomas 4 window w/lift
Chassis: G30~Chevy cutaway
Engine: 5.7/350 Chevy Vortec
Rated Cap: Just me and my "stuff"?
Congrats on the "new" bus.
Is it gasoline or LP fueled?
Automatic trans will make your life easier when it comes to driving in traffic.
Hopefully it will provide you with many years of service without any more roadside breakdowns!
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Old 10-05-2019, 06:20 PM   #25
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by peteg59 View Post
Congrats on the "new" bus.
Is it gasoline or LP fueled?
Automatic trans will make your life easier when it comes to driving in traffic.
Hopefully it will provide you with many years of service without any more roadside breakdowns!
it's a gasser - I used the low octane coming home and had lots of power on the hills, but it might be worthwhile to use a better grade of gas for that big high compression motor - I checked at a wrecker today, hoping to find out what transmission would do the job, but they were closed - no idea why the wrecking yards around here close on Saturdays - you'd think that would be their busiest day
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Old 10-05-2019, 08:28 PM   #26
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Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 1,349
Year: 1990
Coachwork: Thomas 4 window w/lift
Chassis: G30~Chevy cutaway
Engine: 5.7/350 Chevy Vortec
Rated Cap: Just me and my "stuff"?
Is this the same bus with the 2 speed rear?
If so, did you use it on the shakedown drive?
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Old 10-05-2019, 09:19 PM   #27
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by peteg59 View Post
Is this the same bus with the 2 speed rear?
If so, did you use it on the shakedown drive?
that's the one - I have to check, I think the cable linkage is undone
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Old 10-05-2019, 09:22 PM   #28
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
anyone know if it would be a big hassle to switch in a 5 or 6 speed auto in an old bus like this one?
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Old 10-06-2019, 11:05 AM   #29
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by Firepuncher View Post
Nice

$3500 Canadian. The same bus here in Nova Scotia would be dust years ago with our salted roads and salt in the air. Spirit of the North is an excellent name. Looking forward to your photos.

S
......................................
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Old 10-07-2019, 01:05 AM   #30
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sleddgracer View Post
I'll be sure to take pictures as it goes
some pictures .................
Attached Thumbnails
bus drivers side.jpg   bus hot and cold.jpg   bus passenger sade.jpg   bus rear view.jpg   bus road hog.jpg  

bus side mural.jpg  
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Old 10-07-2019, 01:15 AM   #31
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 3,856
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas Built Bus
Chassis: Freightliner FS65
Engine: Caterpillar 3126E Diesel
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger- 30,000 lbs.
Yup, that's got YOU written all over it! Good deal as far as I can see. LOTS of potential.
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Old 10-07-2019, 01:18 AM   #32
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by Native View Post
Yup, that's got YOU written all over it! Good deal as far as I can see. LOTS of potential.
............................................
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Old 10-09-2019, 03:12 PM   #33
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
does anyone have a set of automatic chains they aren't planning on using?

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Old 10-09-2019, 03:22 PM   #34
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 1,349
Year: 1990
Coachwork: Thomas 4 window w/lift
Chassis: G30~Chevy cutaway
Engine: 5.7/350 Chevy Vortec
Rated Cap: Just me and my "stuff"?
That looks like a score from the pics.
There's no way you could build that for US $2,500. No way, no how!

I'd drive it with the manual trans for a season, then re evaluate the overall condition of the bus before undertaking the auto conversion.
Someone above my paygrade will have to chime in on the feasibility of going to automatic as you have called out.

Someone did a very creative job on that rear bumper, too.
Good luck on it, going forward...
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Old 10-09-2019, 05:19 PM   #35
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by peteg59 View Post
That looks like a score from the pics.
There's no way you could build that for US $2,500. No way, no how!

I'd drive it with the manual trans for a season, then re evaluate the overall condition of the bus before undertaking the auto conversion.
Someone above my paygrade will have to chime in on the feasibility of going to automatic as you have called out.

Someone did a very creative job on that rear bumper, too.
Good luck on it, going forward...
thanks - that drive train is great so far - the bus needs a bit of fixing before it can be safety checked and licensed for BC, but the basics are all there - lots of power too - this same model came with the option of a 4 speed manual, a 5 speed manual, both with or without a split rear end, or a 4 speed auto - another 6 weeks and I'll be 81, and an automatic would eliminate wrestling with that old 5 speed manual transmission - lol
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Old 10-09-2019, 05:25 PM   #36
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 1,349
Year: 1990
Coachwork: Thomas 4 window w/lift
Chassis: G30~Chevy cutaway
Engine: 5.7/350 Chevy Vortec
Rated Cap: Just me and my "stuff"?
I hear ya on the manual trans. I'm in a wheelchair, so it has to be auto trans on everything, except my Harley.

I'd bet a factory auto trans for your bus would be difficult to locate, but you never know until you try.

Don't the newer 6 speed auto's need computer control to operate?
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Old 10-09-2019, 05:59 PM   #37
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Picton,Ont, Can.
Posts: 1,956
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: GMC
Engine: Cat 3116
Rated Cap: 72
Someone on here offered chains like you want this year but is a mystery to me right now, thinking Arizona resident.


John
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Old 10-09-2019, 06:49 PM   #38
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by peteg59 View Post
I hear ya on the manual trans. I'm in a wheelchair, so it has to be auto trans on everything, except my Harley.

I'd bet a factory auto trans for your bus would be difficult to locate, but you never know until you try.

Don't the newer 6 speed auto's need computer control to operate?
l think you are correct about the computer controlled aspect, but I don't know if that can be retrofitted or not
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Old 10-09-2019, 06:50 PM   #39
Bus Crazy
 
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackJohn View Post
Someone on here offered chains like you want this year but is a mystery to me right now, thinking Arizona resident.


John
..........................................
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Old 10-09-2019, 07:29 PM   #40
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Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 6,995
Year: 2003
Coachwork: International
Chassis: CE 300
Engine: DT466e
Rated Cap: 65C-43A
Fantastic find! Congratulations.
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