1967 Gillig Toyhauler Conversion

[StuCat]

Hey everybody! I’ve been lurking on this site for months trying to pick up as much info as I could, while also scouring the internet for busses. I finally pulled the trigger and bought a 1967 Gillig school bus with an 855 Cummins with a 5 speed standard fuller transmission. A few of the deciding factors for me in purchasing this bus was that it had already been converted into a legends race car hauler, had enough headroom for me to stand in at 6’4” had a Cummins which my local school bus garage mechanic was favorable towards, and looked really solid except for some surface rust on undercarriage. Anyways, I appreciate all the knowledge and experience that you guys have shared about your conversions, so I want to try as best I can to also do that with mine. I’m by no means an expert on anything skoolie related, but hopefully I’ll be able to get this thing close to being a dependable, sharp-looking, off-grid, bad-ass, skoolie hauler for my 08 Harley Softail, myself, and some friends

 

[ermracing]

Welcome and great looking rig!

 

[StuCat]

Thanks ERM, I'm hoping to have it usable this spring! Prepping now for either foam board or spray foam

 

[ermracing]

Looks like you have dry and warm place to work on it! We're planning to get as much as we can during the winter as well, starting with the ceiling. We opted for the foam board since it's something we could do ourselves. Once we get the mini-split install figured out we'll put up the wood planking.

Dave

 

[cowlitzcoach]

Are you sure that engine is a 855? I thought the 855 wasn't available until a few years later.

I am thinking that is more likely the small cam 743, the NHH220.

Otherwise, that is a great looking bus.

If you decide you need a little more top end you may want to consider swapping the single range 5-speed with a multi-range Eaton Fuller with an OD top gear. It may require a shorter drive shaft but everything else, including the shift linkage, should be an easy peasy swap.

 

[EastCoastCB]

Where's the engine? Is it under the floor in the middle of the bus like a Crown?

 

[cowlitzcoach]

Where's the engine? Is it under the floor in the middle of the bus like a Crown?

The Gillig 743D, 855D, and 426D models were buses with the engine mounted under the floor between the axles. Some of the earlier gas powered models had Hall-Scott or IHC RD pancake engines as well.

While the vast majority of Crown production was mid-mount engine models the vast majority of Gillig production was rear engine models. Even some of Gillig's 15-row 3-axle models were rear engine models.

 

[StuCat]

The model number makes me believe that it was originally the small cam, but I believe it may have been repowered. A for sale ad from the owner previous to mine had it listed as an 855. It’s a mid-engine which was an awesome feature in my mind for low center of gravity and being bale to have toyhauler abilities without the noise near the cab. Plus more power than a 5.9

 

[StuCat]

Here are a few pics of the engine if anyone is familiar.

 

[Crown_Guy]

Pretty sure that's a 220 (non-turbo). An easy way to tell is if your engine has a compression release lever where you can push it down and release compression to help it start for cold weather, then it's not an 855. They didn't put the compression release on them. Certainly during that era the 855 blocks weren't being made yet, not until sometime later in the '70's I think.

 

[UFO pilot]

StuCat are you still around?

 

[StuCat]

I’m still here! Goodness it’s been forever since I logged in to the site. Glad I got the email notification. How’s it going?!

 

[bus-bro]

How's the Gillig doing?

 

[UFO pilot]

I’m still here! Goodness it’s been forever since I logged in to the site. Glad I got the email notification. How’s it going?!

Thanks for responding! I am wanting to create a toyhauler bus myself. Toy haulers (aka THUMBS in the FB group) already built seem like a good source for guidance. Would a few questions be ok?

Hey thanks! Right to it then!

First question and the most important to me: if you were starting from day 1 and did not already have a bus, would you build a toyhauler from a classic Gillig (or Crown)? I ask because those busses seem to be getting more expensive by the month and the supply is getting smaller.

Second question what is the ceiling clearance and garage length of your bus as built?

Third question: does an enclosed garage keep toy fumes inside the bus?

 

[StuCat]

For sale! Moving to central america. Message if interested