I think I'm in Love

dzl_ · 05-01-2020, 06:04 PM

I think I'm in love with this bus, but its rusty as heck, been sitting forever, basically sprouted roots and grown into the ground, almost surely doesn't run, etc etc...

But god damn, I'm enamored with this bus..

Jolly Roger bus 223 · 05-01-2020, 06:20 PM

if you know how to turn wrenches and have time and of course money that would be a sweet bus again?
i love the old ones but in that shape they are defininetly some time,work and money?

Danjo · 05-01-2020, 07:21 PM

Is that rust colored primer over yellow paint or yellow paint over rust?

It’s not that old is it?

magnakansas · 05-01-2020, 07:39 PM

I dont think you will have to do lots to get that one running ... I have two busses already... But I was watching that one...... the rear emergency exit is on the drivers side of the bus, not the rear. basic engine cooling system work and then onto brakes... I think it will drive.

william

ol trunt · 05-01-2020, 07:50 PM

I'd have to guess it's about a 1975 IH with a Carpenter bus body and I'd say GO FOR IT! The only hard thing to find for the bus body is the rear 1/4 glass that wraps around the side a bit.
Jack

banman · 05-01-2020, 08:23 PM

I do like a Loadstar...
But is it free?
Cause sometimes even free isn't cheap enuf...

dzl_ · 05-01-2020, 08:30 PM

Nope not free, and not too close to home either.

There was a 4x4, 5 speed, 2 speed rear end, ex search and rescue loadstar for sale in colorado a few months back that I still regret not buying, it was in pretty good condition too, low miles, little to no rust, 4 to 6 window, can't remember.

magnakansas · 05-01-2020, 10:00 PM

There is one very much like south of this bus. Bout the same age all wheel drive gasoline loadstar. Wants $6500

William

CHEESE_WAGON · 05-01-2020, 10:51 PM

That style dates back at least as far as 1971. I wouldn't say it's not worth the effort, could be a pretty cool bus with some work, but it is going to be a lot of work.

cadillackid · 05-02-2020, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ol trunt

I'd have to guess it's about a 1975 IH with a Carpenter bus body and I'd say GO FOR IT! The only hard thing to find for the bus body is the rear 1/4 glass that wraps around the side a bit.
Jack

thats a Superior!! a shorty too.. wow! awesome bus.. its body shouldnt be too rusty.. Superior galvanized the whole body on those from the factory and they held up well..

if you dont take it, I know people who would definitely take and save that.. and if it still has seats and you take them out, dont cut them.. I know people who are looking for old pre-77 Superior seats for restorations..

Most likely the chassis for that was made in springfield ohio and the body in Lima ohio.. Love it!

EastCoastCB · 05-02-2020, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadillackid

thats a Superior!! a shorty too.. wow! awesome bus.. its body shouldnt be too rusty.. Superior galvanized the whole body on those from the factory and they held up well..

if you dont take it, I know people who would definitely take and save that.. and if it still has seats and you take them out, dont cut them.. I know people who are looking for old pre-77 Superior seats for restorations..

Most likely the chassis for that was made in springfield ohio and the body in Lima ohio.. Love it!

For $6500?

That may be some classic someone wants to restore but for the price and effort that will be involved I'd skip it for skoolie duty.

cadillackid · 05-02-2020, 07:36 AM

I agree.. I had no idea on the price and havent even seen a sale ad for it.. some of these sellers are definitely smoking something that isnt cigs and isnt weed... while Superiors are really resistant to rust, mine is 42 years old and the only rust on it are the steel screws that hold the rub rails on, they arent the greatest busses for skoolie conversions. 98% of then are low headroom and they seem lower than a normal low headroom model, because the newest one is a late 1980 build date (in the USA).. any insulation they had is long gone.. the window seals are most likely gone and in need of replacement.. to replace the heater / defroster coils you either need to find a junkyard with lots of superiors (the only one I know of is 30 minutes form my house ).. or retrofit your own.. again with age most all of them have split rim 20 inch wheels. so you need to either deal with running split or retainer rims or spend the $$ to upgrade to 22.5s, in essence they are excellent restoration vehicles because they are classic and for occasional drives around town or road trip things like parts availability are no big deal because its just a sunday driver.. ive done a lot of upgrades to my Superior already but it will never be my cross-country cruiser.. (even though I drove it cross country sight unseen to get it home)..

some parts for the IH gas motors (esp the 345) are still available at the local auto zone, and surprisingly loadstar chassis parts are not hard to get.. some of the brake parts are esp for hydraulic brakes. . air brakes are air brakes.. i replaced a couple valves on mine with pieces from the local Truck-Pro..

magnakansas · 05-02-2020, 08:18 AM

the $6500 superior is the all wheel drive load star. This loadstar is listed for $800 and is closer to san francisco/redding area. the all wheel drive superior is farther south and i think is more of a powder blue,

william

cadillackid · 05-02-2020, 09:08 AM

$800 is a good price for that. esp for someone out west.. there are also a LOT of Hungry truckers right now too.. can probably cut a decent deal with someone who has a Landoll trailer

ol trunt · 05-02-2020, 10:25 AM

Cadillackid you are right. I missed the sloped back front half of the passenger door. I got fooled by the brow above the windshield and the 1/4 glass.
Jack

cadillackid · 05-02-2020, 11:32 AM

for superior. look at the rear fender wells.. those sharp angles vs rounded wells gives a Superior away.. at least a 60s and up for sure..

dzl_ · 05-02-2020, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnakansas

the $6500 superior is the all wheel drive load star. This loadstar is listed for $800 and is closer to san francisco/redding area. the all wheel drive superior is farther south and i think is more of a powder blue,

william

Got a picture or a link to the AWD one?

Native · 05-03-2020, 12:29 AM

I like the rust patina. Is there any way one could preserve the look while protecting the metal? Would a clear coat seal it enough to stop the rusting as-is?

cadillackid · 05-03-2020, 07:52 AM

Superiors are galvanized completely from the factory.. there are some in. ohio sitting sunk almost to their frames in ohio since they were decommissioned in the late 80s and are not rusted out... one of the bus junkyards here outlined his whole yard in Busses. its been a boon of superior parts for me.. and a testament to how well these things held up.. im guessing you could probably just drive that thing for 20 years and as long as you undercoated the belly so the ribs dont rust you would be fine..

59 Chevy · 05-09-2020, 04:11 PM

I purchased my 59 Chevy Shorty (Carpenter body), mainly because the PO was ready to take it to the crusher. It was pretty much original, most of the seats were there - but you couldn't see them because it was being used for storage - for 10 yrs.
I started going through it to get it to run and stop. I spent more on tires and wheels than I did everything else combined! - like caddilackid mentioned.
I love the bus but wasn't driving it much - no good. Tried for a while to sell it, but didn't find the right buyer. So I'm in the process of converting it to an RV.
Better be ready to do some wrenching, as others mentioned. BUT the metal back then is really good stuff. When you turn a nut/bolt that been there for 60 yrs., IT TURNS....it doesn't break off or round out.

You may also like: