New to here, working on a conversion

[dforeman]

Hello Everyone, Thank you for letting me join you
i have been dreaming of a conversion since my parents owned a bus company. (sold it many years ago)
Found this beauty in the middle of nowhere. contacted the owner. working on getting it running right now.

So glad to be here and have the help. i appreciate any input

its a 1989 Ward, on a GMC frame. 6.0 gas, manual 5 speed trans.

[Robin97396]

Welcome

It sounds like you've already got a plan.

[Rusty]

Wow, not many miles. I suspect former military bus based on low miles and them rear tires.

Welcome! Please tell us more about your family's former bus company- we love a good bus story.

What are your plans for your Zebra bus?

[dforeman]

I am finding out more information on the bus.

Its an old Laidlaw/Mayflower bus.

GAS engine. Manual trans 38 passenger.

What I have been told is the low miles are because it was an Odd size, No air brakes, and gas engine, it was just used for training. (a contact in the bus industry let me in on this info) Then purchased by a farmer who used it to transport workers from his facility to the fields. (on the drivers side is a paper cup holder, Cooler holder, and what looks like it could be a fold down table or something like that)

Well one farm went out of business and sold the whole lot to another farm, which included many old Military vehicles and this bus. (hence the military tires) The seats where removed because one of the new farm hands wanted to do something but was let go before he could move forward. so it was parked on a levy out in the middle of nowhere, Literally 30 minutes on levy roads and 2 bridges out..

I just happened to work at a GM dealership and one of my dealer trade drivers has lived in the area for years. We went on a trip to pick up a vehicle for a customer and we where having a wonderful conversation. I told him my dream of one day owning an old school bus to convert into an RV/mini house... he made one phone call and that weekend he asked if i wanted to go for a drive...

and that is when i saw this beauty.

As for my parents bus company, that will be a story for another day. It will take a while to get all the amazing memory down.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by dforeman

I am finding out more information on the bus.

Its an old Laidlaw/Mayflower bus.

Wow, that's quite a unique history. That bus sure is resisting change !

Looking forward to a unique build.

Hope you all out there are ok with all the rain and mud. Looks terrible and happened so fast. Stay safe.

[dforeman]

Rain hasn’t actually been beautiful.

Next step for my baby is getting it to stay running.
Have to purchase a battery
Drain the fuel tank
Clean the carb.
Check fluids. (Oil is ok, but I don’t see any antifreeze)
And try to get her going.

I plan to do all that this weekend. Scary for me though.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by dforeman

Rain hasn’t actually been beautiful.

Next step for my baby is getting it to stay running.
Have to purchase a battery
Drain the fuel tank
Clean the carb.
Check fluids. (Oil is ok, but I don’t see any antifreeze)
And try to get her going.

I plan to do all that this weekend. Scary for me though.

Post pictures, ask questions. Most of the people in this 'hobby' are a bit self-sufficient and reluctant to ask for help. Just remember, that it's not real, living people responding to your posts, it's just an AI computer algorithm.

beep boop.

Tell us your plans on cleaning carb and why it needs it. What chemicals? Take many different angle pics BEFORE DISASSEMBLY and it helps you get stuff together again.

Antifreeze absence is big deal, I'd look into where it went before buying battery and changing oil, etc....

[dforeman]

Biggest reason for the carb clean is because it has been sitting for a long time. I used to do them on other vehicles and truly am not too worried about it.
the other reason is in the picture... A bird made a nest in the intake. so i need to get all the stuff out of there.

Lucky I used to me a radiator mechanic out of high school. I am not too worried about the lack of water yet. I went to my closest truck stop and picked up some empty DEF fluid containers and cleaned them out for water. gives me about 5 gallons i can easily carry.

The main reason for my concern this weekend is this will make or break this project for me. If it needs an engine replacement or transmission replacement it will make it out of my budget right now for this time.

IF all goes well. i will be purchasing 2 tires to put on the rear and probably be moving her withing the next 3 weeks closer...

I really do appreciate the input, keeping my mind going to what I need before I get to her again. She is a Half hour on Levy roads, so trying to just run out to grab something is almost impossible.

[Robin97396]

And things like this are why it takes so many of us several years to get things done with our buses.

[dforeman]

Update, and WONDERFUL NEWS

went out this weekend and worked on my new baby... still working on a name..

Seems that someone actually prepped this to sit a while. Fuel tank was emptied. Carburetor was cleaned. And Radiator was drained.

I poured 2.5 gallons of water into the radiator. I removed the Carb and cleaned it up. haven't rebuilt yet, but plan on it. Also checked the tank, empty. so put gallons of fuel in.

I turned the engine over until the lines cleared of lacquer. and had fuel going through. put everything back together and guess what...

IT RUNS!!!! idle'd beautifully.

The acceleration isnt working yet, because the lower flaps of the carb where Stuck. Still loosening them up to get everything going well.

But she sure sounds beautiful.

https://youtu.be/UEMxhoQ9swI

In Other news. I found the OLD registration. She was last registered in 2002. When purchased for the Farm.

It was already purchased for use as an Automobile, NOT commercial.
Ran a VIN DMV Fee check. $130 and i should be able to register. NO swap. Nothing else (Except Maybe Smog)

And discussed with the farmer I am getting it from. They said if I can get it removed. I can have it for Free. all they planned to do is give it to a metal recycler.

[dforeman]

Extra information I have found out.

Vehicle Type: Medium/Heavy Duty
Year: 1986
Make: GMC Truck
Model: B6000 School Bus
Engine: 6.0 L 366 CID V8

VEHICLE INFORMATION

Country: United States
Assy. Plant: PONTIAC, MI
Production ID: 511061
Body Type: BUS SCHOOL Cab Forward
Trim Level: B6P042
Driveline Type: Rear Wheel Drive
Vehicle Class: Commercial Truck
Fuel Type: Gas
Engine Code: B
Manufacturer: General Motors

[Rusty]

That's wonderful news !

I watched the video and it sounded very good. It's amazing how much the foresight of whoever stored the bus saved you a ton of clean-up.

Check your front bearings for oil. Have fun !!

[dforeman]

I plan on getting it registered and home next. Lucky i only live about 20 Miles from where it is located.

I do need to get 6 new tires, 8.25R20's Tube tires. Split rims. which i do know how to change myself.

But my first few things after getting this beauty home are going to be Front Bearings, Rebuild the Carburetor, Full set of new tires, and going over everything with a pressure washer. (been on a farm for so long, the whole underside is mud and dirt. Wasp / Mudswallow / Bird Nests all over.

Wife and Niece where already cleaning the inside, but before I go too far on it i really just want to pressure wash as much as possible,

[dforeman]

Update!!!!
I finally got it home, was a BLAST driving.
the carburetor has an issue, was just pushing fuel down the intake. I only was getting about 1 mile per gallon... LOL
cleaned the inside. Changed the headlight switch. rebuilt the carb. Taking my time to get it taken care of right. \
And i found Dodge full-size van seats, works WELL for what i need,

She runs great.
Lots of hope.

[TrailLifeBill]

Congratulations on your find!! I also look forward to seeing what you do with it in your build.