International 1600

[Daniellabelle_90]

Hi! Found this school bus on our deer lease property. Really considering converting it to a bunkhouse.
But first I’m trying to get as much info as I can about it. Can anybody help me identify the year make and model of this school bus? I’ve researched so much and I still can’t quite figure it out! Thanks so much for any help!

[PhilipE]

Look on top of the heater box under the dash. It should have a heavy paper sticker glued there. That is the IHC line set ticket. Any IHC dealer should be able to figure out what it is. If that line set ticket is gone your SOL.

If it's above a 74 model it should have an EPA sticker on the radiator support giving engine tune up specs and vehicle year model.

[cadillackid]

to me it looks like a late 60's Ward body loadstar.. most likely was a 304 or possibly 345 V8 and a 4 speed stick...


a classic for sure.. but likely you are right to try and convert it into a bunkhouse as its obviously sat for a LONG TIME and wouldnt be worth much on the road .. if it has air brakes your biggest hurdle would be freeing up the rear brakes to get the thing to roll to tow it to wherever you want it.. if its hydraulic then it very well might roll if towed out...



ive revived a 345 that sat for 25 years with some TLC and it was a good runner.. but its a lot more than just pour gas in the car band start it..(patience mainly i didnt disassemble the engine) not sure what your plans are for it.. if it involves running it or not..



neat classic for sure!!

[musigenesis]

Is that bus filled with dirt or is it lacking a floor entirely and just sitting on dirt?

[La Camioneta]

1968-9 at the latest. Front turn signals went away for fender-top around that year.

Nothing cooler than a clamshell Loadstar with the gangster fenders!

Most likely juice brakes with a firewall master cylinder and remote booster under the driver side frame. Both were available at NAPA.

Very sensitive to brake adjustment, has 2 wheel cylinders for each drum.

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Is that bus filled with dirt or is it lacking a floor entirely and just sitting on dirt?

since it looks like every window is smashed out in going to say yes its full of dirt and debris.. and probably rusted out.. its a neat classic however probably not saverable except for some of its components that those restoring busses might want

[Daniellabelle_90]

It is filled with dirt! From what we can tell underneath- there doesn’t look to be any major issues with the flooring. Of course we won’t know until we clean it out though.

[Daniellabelle_90]

I’m with you! If it’s something we’re lucky enough to be able to convert into a camp house for the deer lease, it would be pretty sweet! Not something we’d even consider putting on the road though. That would be awesome though! It’s a shame it’s just sat here like this. Thanks so much for your reply!

[magnakansas]

You have a 1963 ward/international harvester.

william

[Ronnie]

Neat bus. It appears to be converted to a greenhouse. as others have said 1960's international. #04 v-8 was the stock engine , 345 was optional. 4 speed manual trans was stock, 5 speed optional. Ours also has a two speed rear.


We have a 1971 International 1700, with a Wayne body, 345 V-8 and 5 speed. see avatar picture.



Look up "the bus" for build pictures of ours. It had been in the woods for over 10 years when we found it.



As far as putting it on the road, sure why not. We have put over 60,000 miles on ours in under 4 years. Cruises 65-70, nice driver. However at least saving it as a bunk house preserves it. To neat of a bus to let it rot away.