I can't drive 55....

[BowserJournal]

Well actually yes I can but that is all I get out of my bus. I know this is normal for safety reasons for the children.

Now that my skoolie is no longer a bus how can I get past this limitation? I don't want to do 80 but I would like to at least keep up with traffic and not be a traveling road block.

Any suggestions?

[cadillackid]

do you know what RPM you are at when you hit max speed, and then what rear gears you have?
-Christopher

[turf]

reset your expectations of a bus and learn to enjoy the ride. otherwise, break out the wallet. rear gear will get you most bang for the buck. i moved the fuel plate on my cummins and got a few (3 or 4) more mph. new bigger tires will kick you up a bit too. to make a major difference it cost some $$$$$.

[BowserJournal]

I do enjoy the ride, just get concerned about everyone passing me like i am a road block. How do I determine my gear ratio? I know on my old hot rods you could jack up one side and mark the drive shaft and wheel and count the revolutions but this is just a tad bit heavier than my Chevelle.

[WVDarren]

I've got the same engine in a Blue Bird. Does around 65. What transmission? Air or juice brakes?

[turf]

Originally Posted by BowserJournal

I do enjoy the ride, just get concerned about everyone passing me like i am a road block. How do I determine my gear ratio? I know on my old hot rods you could jack up one side and mark the drive shaft and wheel and count the revolutions but this is just a tad bit heavier than my Chevelle.

i think i recall someone saying to tape a string to your driveshaft, roll the truck one tire revolution and count the wraps of string on the drive shaft.

[Alan N]

Originally Posted by BowserJournal

I do enjoy the ride, just get concerned about everyone passing me like i am a road block. How do I determine my gear ratio? I know on my old hot rods you could jack up one side and mark the drive shaft and wheel and count the revolutions but this is just a tad bit heavier than my Chevelle.

That method will work for your bus.
As has been mentioned changing the rear end gears is the easiest way to get more speed.

[WVDarren]

The other possibilities are an axle swap for one that's a 2 speed. Picked up a Ford cab and chassis recently for $400. I was more interested in the tires, hood, etc. If you go that route look for a diesel chassis. A gasser will rev higher meaning a bigger numerically rear end which you do not want. I know of a 70's era International that had a 5.9 swapped for the original gasoline engine. The ring and pinion were changed out. It will easily do 75mph loaded. If you have a standard instead of an automatic an overdrive transmission is another option from a donor chassis.

[gbstewart]

Originally Posted by BowserJournal

Well actually yes I can but that is all I get out of my bus. I know this is normal for safety reasons for the children.

Now that my skoolie is no longer a bus how can I get past this limitation? I don't want to do 80 but I would like to at least keep up with traffic and not be a traveling road block.

Any suggestions?

I know how you feel about being a road block, but as long as I can keep the speed limit everyone else can go around, like turf said, enjoy the ride
gbstewart

[BowserJournal]

Originally Posted by WVDarren

I've got the same engine in a Blue Bird. Does around 65. What transmission? Air or juice brakes?

545 tranny and air brakes


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[2kool4skool]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMiQ8UJYVAs

[BowserJournal]

Now that is funny! How did you ever find that video?

[2kool4skool]

I'm retired, have nothing else to do

[BowserJournal]

Originally Posted by 2kool4skool

I'm retired, have nothing else to do

Well maybe once we get our skoolie done and hit the road full time our paths will cross and we can hang out.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by BowserJournal

Well maybe once we get our skoolie done and hit the road full time our paths will cross and we can hang out.

Don and Mary are really cool, I'd like to meet them as well.

[FunkyChickenBus]

We've just gotten used to the 50-55 mph speeds. If you are traveling off interstates, no one really gets too chapped about having to pass you. We call it a "parade" and sometimes will count the number of cars behind us when we finally pull off and let them go by. It helps to have a sense of humor about it!

One memorable day, on a long downhill run in Hungary, we topped out at 57 mph! It remains the bus speed record. One thing I regret is that we weren't able to make it to the Nurburgring in Germany on one of their public days just so we could have said we'd driven a school bus around the track.