Identifying My Bus (not hard, if you're someone else)

[sneakattack]

So I thought about it for a while, and talked about it for a while, and then something just right dropped into my lap.

So I pick it up on Monday. The price was too good to pass up. It runs. It's in good shape for it's age. And if it caught fire on the way home I could scrap it and still turn a profit.

It's a 1983 IHC. Gas. Manual. 6 rows of seats.

I figure there's probably an IHC geek around here somewhere who can already tell me everything else about it. But despite my normally great google skills I'm coming up dry.

Can anyone tell me more about what this bus probably is, or where to go to find out, or how to identify engine and transmission and so on?

I'm so new at this I'm still covered in that fluid they keep in the clone tanks where they raise us new types. But I'm mechanically inclined and generally bright and have a team of mad scientists and monkeys at my disposal.

Thanks in advance,
sneakattack

[bdavis441]

My guess is a 392 gasser. Look on the right side of the engine block towards the front. The displacement will be stamped into a pad on the block. What make is the body (Wayne, Ward, Bluebird etc.) How long? And a real nosey question.....what'd ya pay?

P.S. Got pictures?

[sneakattack]

Body is a Wayne. I didn't get a chance this morning to get intimate with the engine, but the bus is 24'

I picked it up for 500 bucks. I don't think its ever left northern California. I know I could have gotten a bigger one cheaper, but this was just the right size for our purpose.

I would have preferred diesel, but its not going to be a long distance vehicle anyway.

Pictures will come.

[sneakattack]

This is all I have so far.

[bdavis441]

That is a shorter version of my bus. I also gave $500 but the inside of mine was much worse. Welcome!

[sneakattack]

Thanks. We are very excited about the project.

Carfax indicates the bus has 70k miles, only 12 of them in the past 7 years. This bus has been doing a lot of sitting. I hate to rip out the seats because they hardly look used.

Any suggestions for a source of used service manuals?

And does anyone have plans for a functional balista? We won't rest until we get one mounted to the roof.

[Jarlaxle]

Try the Binder Bulletin or eBay for manuals.

I disagree about the engine--probably NOT a 392, most likely a 304 or 345 (all three are externally identical). If it's a 4bbl, it may be a 392; a 2bbl probably won't be.

Good luck with it!

[Steve]

The service manuals are up on eBay all the time.

[eggman]

In checking out the engine, in my experience, if it is a 4 bbl carb on it, most likely its a 345 from 76-79 possibly 80. If it is a 2 bbl its either a 304 or a 392. When looking at the lifter galley pan points, if it is 7 inches across its a 304, if its around 8 inches, its either a 345 or a 392. Here is a link to an enormous amount of engine id and general engine info.

http://www.binderbulletin.org/forums/fa ... _engine_id

Hope this helps.

[busone]

Your bus sure brings back memories. I went to school on a 1976 International with a wayne body. It was the same size as yours. It only broke down once when the ignition switch failed and caused a fire. Too bad it was not on the way to school

[sneakattack]

It was somewhat delayed, but we finally got the bus home.

By home, I mean, to a secure parking location in West Oakland.

More footage to come soon.

[brentag]

What are you planning to do with it, Sneakattack?

[sneakattack]

Well.

It's destined to be the Mobile Comand Center for Sneak Attack. Sneak Attack is a thing me and a couple friends do. We do a show on Pirate Cat Radio, but Sneak Attack expands into other areas as well. ( http://sneakattack.us will take you to the radio show bl!g)

We've talked about a number of things, but the following are mandatory:

1 - Convertable internal seating for 6-8. Enough to run a good table top game, with tablespace for maps, sheets, and bottles or liquor.
2 - Many Many secret compartments, each of which must be used to hide more booze.
3 - Sufficient storage space for Science Equipment, such as flammables, spud guns, base components and tools, and squirrels.
4 - A nest. Not a set of bunks in the traditional sense. More like japanses tube hotel spaces, made of pillows and newspaper.
5 - A Work Station/Media Center. We do Audio/Visual stuff so we need a place we can cut, rip, splice, mix, remix, mash and if necessary print.
6 - A Working Ballista.
7 - A Crows Nest, with access through the ceiling.
8 - External mount points to hang lighting rigs, sound rigs, and anything else required to create Instant Dancefloor
9 - A Working Blender Hood Ornament.
10 - Many Many Switches And Lights.

We have also been talking about ways to string the bus and play it. But it's really more of a percussion instrument.

[the_experience03]

I prefer a trebuchet personally (mmm....college physics), but the ballista idea is cool too

We need a combo skoolie.net meet and seige machine death match

[sneakattack]

A trebuchet was the first thought, actually. We can't get around the 3d space requirements though.

And I'm totally in for a siege engine death match.