|
05-08-2017, 10:07 PM
|
#1
|
New Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Medical Lake, WA
Posts: 3
Year: 1970
Coachwork: Ward
Chassis: Ford F500
Engine: 330ci Ford
|
1970 Ward F500
Hey guys and gals,
I made the 400 mile drive this weekend to pick up my new bus. Spent hours freeing the brakes and pulling it out of the mud. I broke my trailer about 120 miles into the drive home and had to have it towed. I am extremely excited about this project. It is a 1970 Ford F500 with a Ward 39 passenger body. The previous owner purchased it in California in 1991. The conversion was done well in the 1980s but has to be gutted due to water damage. I managed to pick up the bus for only $100 but gave the owner an extra $100 for helping me pull it out of the mud. I think I scored on this one!
Anyone have any information on Ward busses?
|
|
|
05-08-2017, 10:11 PM
|
#2
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,830
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
|
dang that looks like a lot of weight on that trailer!!.. great lookin classic bus!!!! too bad you have to gut it... looks like it was a decent conversion when it was done.
are you going to make a camper out of it? or full time?
-Christopher
|
|
|
05-08-2017, 10:13 PM
|
#3
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 1,001
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: International
Engine: TE 444
Rated Cap: 12
|
No wonder you broke the trailer, the bus weighs about twice what your pickup does
I hope those are not 3 piece ford rims, if they are, you will need new rims and be prepared to fix all the brakes,
|
|
|
05-08-2017, 10:18 PM
|
#4
|
New Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Medical Lake, WA
Posts: 3
Year: 1970
Coachwork: Ward
Chassis: Ford F500
Engine: 330ci Ford
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid
dang that looks like a lot of weight on that trailer!!.. great lookin classic bus!!!! too bad you have to gut it... looks like it was a decent conversion when it was done.
are you going to make a camper out of it? or full time?
-Christopher
|
The plan is to make it into a camper for now. With the possibility of living in it just over the summer months. I am going to use the existing wood as a template
__________________
Tyler - F5BusGuy
1970 Ford F500/Ward School Bus
|
|
|
05-08-2017, 10:23 PM
|
#5
|
New Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Medical Lake, WA
Posts: 3
Year: 1970
Coachwork: Ward
Chassis: Ford F500
Engine: 330ci Ford
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kubla
No wonder you broke the trailer, the bus weighs about twice what your pickup does
I hope those are not 3 piece ford rims, if they are, you will need new rims and be prepared to fix all the brakes,
|
I under estimated the size of the bus and brought a regular car trailer. The owner estimated it at 5,000lbs and when I arrived I quickly learned it was closer to the ballpark of 9,500lbs. I have experience with the 3 piece wheels and F-500 brakes. My other project truck is a 1957 Ford F-500 with a 14ft flatbed. The 57 still has the huge 5 lug three piece wheels with no availible aftermarket replacement. I was happy to see that the bus has the 6 lug that is availible aftermarket in a solid wheel.
__________________
Tyler - F5BusGuy
1970 Ford F500/Ward School Bus
|
|
|
05-08-2017, 11:18 PM
|
#6
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
|
Congratulations, and you might want to look into a good towbar.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
|
|
|
01-26-2024, 08:12 AM
|
#7
|
New Member
Join Date: Jan 2024
Posts: 2
|
How did the build turn out? Where can you find those 6 lug wheels?
|
|
|
01-26-2024, 11:19 AM
|
#8
|
Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Tucson
Posts: 22
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Mid Bus
Engine: 6.0 gasser
|
Yea, I'm curious as well!
|
|
|
01-26-2024, 11:23 AM
|
#9
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Central Kentucky
Posts: 342
Coachwork: Busless for now
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Built
How did the build turn out? Where can you find
those 6 lug wheels?
|
Don't hold your breath. The OP made the 3 posts in this thread on the same day in May of 2017, and has not posted anything in the almost 7 years since.
|
|
|
01-26-2024, 05:52 PM
|
#10
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NM USA KD6WJG
Posts: 1,325
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE 40 FEET
Engine: Cummins 8.3
|
Sometimes people regain their sanity very quickly.
__________________
Why can't I get Ivermectin for my horses?
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|