HELP, Nobody wants to work on my bus

[Tatanka-SKO]

Hello everyone, i live in Los Angeles and recently bought a 1982 Ford e350 short schoolbus, it's amazing and i love it, the engine runs really strong, however i need some work to be done in order to pass the smog check we have here in L.A. I tried something like 20 mechanics and nowadays nobody wants to work on a carburator engine, especially Ford itself has refused multiple times to help me out with my bus. Now i am stuck, i don't know anymore who to call and can't find anyone who will be willing to work on the mechanicals of this bus. Anyone from L.A. here who knows or is a good old school mechanic that can help me out? Thank you in advance to everyone!:Thanx:

 

[Native-SKO]

Check with the technical high schools. They may be willing to use your bus as a learning tool.

 

[Sleddgracer]

Hello everyone, i live in Los Angeles and recently bought a 1982 Ford e350 short schoolbus, it's amazing and i love it, the engine runs really strong, however i need some work to be done in order to pass the smog check we have here in L.A. I tried something like 20 mechanics and nowadays nobody wants to work on a carburator engine, especially Ford itself has refused multiple times to help me out with my bus. Now i am stuck, i don't know anymore who to call and can't find anyone who will be willing to work on the mechanicals of this bus. Anyone from L.A. here who knows or is a good old school mechanic that can help me out? Thank you in advance to everyone!:Thanx:

don't know quite what to advise you to do other than to say what i would do - I'm 80 years old and grew up with carburetors - my son, 58, has his own garage and has been a mechanic for the past 30 + years - my stepson, 27, turns junkers into decent vehicles and makes a few $'s doing it - the thought of having to search for someone to rebuild a carb has never entered my head - at one time when my son was still preschool I rebuilt my own carbs - they are pretty simple and if you get a kit, you should be able to do your own, almost like a paint by numbers kit - other than that I would look for a fifty something mechanic, or a younger back yard mechanic with some skills

 

[brokedown-SKO]

The farther you go from the city the more likely you will be to find a mechanic who will work with you. I can imagine they're so used to replacing Prius battery packs they forgot all about internal combustion there!

 

[cadillackid]

Can’t you register a 37 year old bus as historical and get around the smog tests?

 

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

In NC after 35-years they don't have to be inspected.
A carb swap and or upgrade on that probably 460 motor is easy peasy.
4-bolts,disconnect the vacuum line,fuel line choke cable,throttle cable,pull it off.
New upgrade carb (350-400$) drop it on and tighten four nuts down,reconnect and a good time to diagnose and replace the vacuum lines as needed, reconnect fuel line and a good time to add a clear fuel filter at the carb connection to see what is coming out of your fuel tank into your carb,throttle and choke,Pull the coil wire,crank over for about 10 sec and look for fuel(don't stick your face over the carb while cranking). Reconnect the coil wire and fire it up. 2-hour job at most in the hands of a mechanic that cares and knows what they're doing little longer if you have to replace all the vacuum lines. A new high quality carb verses a re-man carb could make this a good DIY project for the first timer.
Take your time. Pay attention to what disconnects from where ,clean the gasket surface and put the new one on with the same procedure you took the old one off.
If you want to do it yourself let us know cause there are several people here that can talk you through it. My only time during the week is afternoons or all day Sunday if scheduled/needed.
Good luck

 

[o1marc]

Can’t you register a 37 year old bus as historical and get around the smog tests?

Those type registrations sometimes come with serious mileage limits. Which is fine for a live in, but not so much for a road machine, some limit you to less than 500 miles a year. Same with my Classic insurance on my motorcycle, can't ride it as a daily driver.

 

[cadillackid]

I guess ohio must be different... they never ask for mileage reports ever... not at registration time or subsequently..


only when you title it in your name

 

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

Sorry TATANKA I just read need someone to work on an old carbureted school bus???
Most states can't ask for a vehicle to do any better than what it came from the factory with.
IN the year it was built.
What specific problems emissions wise are you being told is bad?
Catalytic converters can get stopped up if you even have them?
Depending on muffler design they could be stopped up and just blowing straight through which is just muffler exhaust replacement/upgrades?
There weren't to many sensors on your year of motor?

 

[o1marc]

I guess ohio must be different... they never ask for mileage reports ever... not at registration time or subsequently..


only when you title it in your name

How many have you registered as "Historic"

 

[ol trunt]

01mark, I realize that this vehicle is a 1982 model so the State's smog rules do apply. Vehicles in Calif older than 1975 are not required to be smogged--ever. Neither is there any State limit as to the number of miles they can be driven in a year. That is not to say that some collector car insurance companies don't limit the type of use and miles driven but you are mixing metaphors here again.

Smog Information. Currently, smog inspections are required for all vehicles except diesel powered vehicles 1997 year model and older or with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVWR) of more than 14,000 lbs, electric, natural gas powered vehicles over 14,000 lbs, motorcycles, trailers, or gasoline powered vehicles 1975 and older.
Smog Information - DMV - CA.gov
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1dmy&urile=wcm:path:/dmv.../smogfaq.

OP, the advice suggesting you look outside of the metropolitan is sound. I am 60 miles north of LA and I have a choice of three carb/old car tune up shops.
Jack

 

[o1marc]

01mark, I realize that this vehicle is a 1982 model so the State's smog rules do apply. Vehicles in Calif older than 1975 are not required to be smogged--ever. Neither is there any State limit as to the number of miles they can be driven in a year. That is not to say that some collector car insurance companies don't limit the type of use and miles driven but you are mixing metaphors here again.

Smog Information. Currently, smog inspections are required for all vehicles except diesel powered vehicles 1997 year model and older or with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVWR) of more than 14,000 lbs, electric, natural gas powered vehicles over 14,000 lbs, motorcycles, trailers, or gasoline powered vehicles 1975 and older.
Smog Information - DMV - CA.gov
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1dmy&urile=wcm:path:/dmv.../smogfaq.

OP, the advice suggesting you look outside of the metropolitan is sound. I am 60 miles north of LA and I have a choice of three carb/old car tune up shops.
Jack

You are correct. I wasn't sure on the Historical plate mileage or not. Nothing I said related to the OP's bus. The law in Ca. does not exempt his bus because it is gas and not diesel.

 

[Tatanka-SKO]

01mark, I realize that this vehicle is a 1982 model so the State's smog rules do apply. Vehicles in Calif older than 1975 are not required to be smogged--ever. Neither is there any State limit as to the number of miles they can be driven in a year. That is not to say that some collector car insurance companies don't limit the type of use and miles driven but you are mixing metaphors here again.

Smog Information. Currently, smog inspections are required for all vehicles except diesel powered vehicles 1997 year model and older or with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVWR) of more than 14,000 lbs, electric, natural gas powered vehicles over 14,000 lbs, motorcycles, trailers, or gasoline powered vehicles 1975 and older.
Smog Information - DMV - CA.gov
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1dmy&urile=wcm:path:/dmv.../smogfaq.

OP, the advice suggesting you look outside of the metropolitan is sound. I am 60 miles north of LA and I have a choice of three carb/old car tune up shops.
Jack

I found an old school mechanic here in LA and he says the whole gas pump (and bracket) is missing, i found one online but don't know if it'll arrive in time before my temporary permit expires, anyway now i know my vehicle has a 1982 5.8l v8, missing smog pump. Does anyone here have that part? hard to find in junkyards too for that year, best bet so far it has been a remanifactured one with a one year warranty, but it's 181$ just the part!!

Jack, do you think i could take my bus to one of the shops you know? i don't mind the drive at all.

 

[cadillackid]

How many have you registered as "Historic"

my Superior is and my DEV will be this year when its tag runs out in december