What's with all the Automatic Allison transmissions? At my old school we were using Internationals (year 2000+), but for sub buses we had old 80s GMC buses, and out of the 20 or so I remember only 2 or 3 GMCs with the automatic. The rest all had a 5-speed manual. There was this one bus that was particularly loud and squeeked around the corners. But for some reason, I just love the engine sound. Very powerful.
My church has a 1982 Ford B-700 Blue Bird School bus. It was just retired about 5 years ago or so. The weirdest thing about it is that it was my pre-school and kindergarten bus followed by a sub bus before being donated to another school district. It still runs good....just sputters a lot more than this one does. Everything is still orginal on it including the AT-545. Oh how I want a bus like this!!!!
How do you keep your bus running so smooth? Is there a newer motor in it than the original one
@SuperWeatherman09 This bus had a new motor put in it about 20,000 miles before i bought it in 2001. I've also replaced the entire fuel system. Including two fuel pumps, filters and a rebuilt carb. Other than that, that's all I've done to this bus. She just runs good.
i want one of these buses man i love the looks the sounds everything awesome buses. when i was a kid i rode one and my bus driver confused the hell out of the tranny once i still remember the sounds to this day
I rode on a 1984 Carpenter body GMC 6000 series school bus w/ a 5 speed manual shifter. A few things I remember was the exhaust fumes that will last forever, drivers nervous about the bus stalling in first gear at railroad crossings, how fast we use to ride on the county highways!! Flyin! I know we were cruising 65 and 70 at times. Back then, there wasn't a threat of us being exposed on youtube speeding!
ok - I have one question that i hope anyone can answer (correctly)... How many gears and how many pistons???, and what year was the next GMC BlueBird Bus Model?
Retrochad has a very nice 1978 International Loadstar 1700. It's very much like the ones I used to drive back in 1993. The S series were nice too, but I do miss my old 1977 Ford Thomas. The best bus in the Fleet. LOL
yea when i was in school our company had some S1700s and S1800s most were diesel but a few were gas. the S1800 seem to be loud and more power. the S1700 seem to be more dogs but still they were fun to ride in. Most of them had the 5 speed split shift. a few were auto trans. the Loadstars they had were 5 speed with split gas engine. Back then they seem to have auto and man common but now most new bus are auto. I dont see many new ones with stick shift anymore.
This is the best and most wonderful HQ recording of an Allison AT 540 on youtube. When I was growing up, I rode a rural route, 1st kid on the bus. It was a 1976 International Loadstar 1700 with a Carpenter body. Had the 4 way exterior light monitor. I rode it from 1983- first day of school, all the way to 1993, this sound is permanently engraved in my brain. I still see the bus around Yes! I still see it around, even now in 2009. Been an interesting 25 yrs. The bus is amazing, still going!
I used to ride, and then later drove a 1978 Interational Loadstar 1700. They're fun to drive. Though the one I drove had a real jump AT-500 transmission.
I saw, and heard a bus like this in Ennis, TX yesterday! It was a Chevy Bluebird instead of GMC, but not sure the year. Somewhere in the 80's though. They do sound awesome accelerating!
The county were I went to school had a few 79 GMC's with Thomas bodies,they had 3 speed trannies.When you accelerated they would always scream right before it hit 3rd,and they always hit hard too.
Well, as this bus is right now, it weighs a grand total of 15,480lbs. 6,200lbs on the front axle and 9,280 or the rear. It has a maximum gross weight of 26,500lbs.
The 366, 427 & 454 are all big-block Chevrolet engines, meaning there is no difference in the size except that the 366 and (truck) 427 have a .400 taller deck height to accomodate 3-ring pistons.
That said, you couldn't tell any difference in the 3 by lookingat them.
My money is on this being a 366 but you will need to check the block casting number at the rear by the bellhousing to know definatively.
Good point. But wouldn't a 366ci take the same size spark plugs as a 350ci? and a 427ci take the same size spark plugs as a 454ci? Or am I just kidding myself into thinking that there's some kind of logic in all this.
Oops... It would help if I actually READ what your comment. Heh, sorry. I see your point. You're probably correct, it's probably is a 366. But a pretty strong 366.
Thanks. I went out and took some fresh pictures of the bus and then made slide show. I had the microphone mounted under the bus about 3 feet behind the transmission. The recording came out exceptionally well.
i saw that the tag sid model 6000. the only gas engine that i know of in that model, truck or bus, was the 366. it could have an aftermarket or special install 427
The 366 is standard in this model 6000, however, every time I go to buy parts for this bus I have to buy parts for a 454. Plus the physical size of the engine (It just barely fits in the engine compartment) Leads me to believe that it is the commercial version of the 454ci engine, which is the 427. Also.. I've driven a lot of old GMC buses with the 366 motor and this bus has a TON more power. So more than likely this bus does have the 427 installed in it.
the only thing i can think of is that the 366 blew up like many did, and they repowered it with a 427 or a 454. some would call it a blessing because the 366 is said to be a cursed engine due to its design
is that a 5-Speed Automatic Bus??? I have never heard of one. We Used to have those Bluebirds in San Antonio that are still running and older bluebirds that a retired from service that have 4-Speeds. not a 5-Speed Auto Bus.
Sure doesn't sound like a 5 speed at all to me. I used to drive an old International Wayne with a 5 speed. But 1st gear only works if you put the gear selector into 1st and the bus will only move a couple of miles an hour before racing the engine, so I must select higher gears.
What's with all the Automatic Allison transmissions? At my old school we were using Internationals (year 2000+), but for sub buses we had old 80s GMC buses, and out of the 20 or so I remember only 2 or 3 GMCs with the automatic. The rest all had a 5-speed manual. There was this one bus that was particularly loud and squeeked around the corners. But for some reason, I just love the engine sound. Very powerful.
mymomrocks8 11 months ago
I dont understand the point of pics with sound in the backround of the vehicle in the pics - go the extra mile and actually film it.
brobinson75 1 year ago
I HATE Blue Bird Buses so junky I ride a 2001 All American it rides like crap all bumpy If you going to get a bus Get a International or Thomas
RickMakesGoodVideos 1 year ago
DAMN I LOVE THIS ENGINE OLD SCHOOL SOUND, WHY THEY DON'T MAKE BUSES LIKE THESE NO MORE WITH THIS PARTICULAR SOUND??
NOW ITS ALL BORING CUMMINS ENGINE CRAP.
qwandiddy 1 year ago 3
This sound reminded me of big school bus by Thomas I used to ride back in late 80s/ early 90s for Grand Rapids Public Schools in Michigan.
qwandiddy 1 year ago
My church has a 1982 Ford B-700 Blue Bird School bus. It was just retired about 5 years ago or so. The weirdest thing about it is that it was my pre-school and kindergarten bus followed by a sub bus before being donated to another school district. It still runs good....just sputters a lot more than this one does. Everything is still orginal on it including the AT-545. Oh how I want a bus like this!!!!
How do you keep your bus running so smooth? Is there a newer motor in it than the original one
SuperWeatherman09 1 year ago 2
@SuperWeatherman09 This bus had a new motor put in it about 20,000 miles before i bought it in 2001. I've also replaced the entire fuel system. Including two fuel pumps, filters and a rebuilt carb. Other than that, that's all I've done to this bus. She just runs good.
kaiyoshi2243 1 year ago
i want one of these buses man i love the looks the sounds everything awesome buses. when i was a kid i rode one and my bus driver confused the hell out of the tranny once i still remember the sounds to this day
durakingdiesel 1 year ago 3
I rode on a 1984 Carpenter body GMC 6000 series school bus w/ a 5 speed manual shifter. A few things I remember was the exhaust fumes that will last forever, drivers nervous about the bus stalling in first gear at railroad crossings, how fast we use to ride on the county highways!! Flyin! I know we were cruising 65 and 70 at times. Back then, there wasn't a threat of us being exposed on youtube speeding!
Ceddieification 2 years ago 2
ok - I have one question that i hope anyone can answer (correctly)... How many gears and how many pistons???, and what year was the next GMC BlueBird Bus Model?
VQSeries 2 years ago 2
my favorites are the 1980s S series buses, but i also like to older GMC models as well and Londstars. they are classics for sure.
jminnesota 2 years ago 3
Retrochad has a very nice 1978 International Loadstar 1700. It's very much like the ones I used to drive back in 1993. The S series were nice too, but I do miss my old 1977 Ford Thomas. The best bus in the Fleet. LOL
kaiyoshi2243 2 years ago 2
yea when i was in school our company had some S1700s and S1800s most were diesel but a few were gas. the S1800 seem to be loud and more power. the S1700 seem to be more dogs but still they were fun to ride in. Most of them had the 5 speed split shift. a few were auto trans. the Loadstars they had were 5 speed with split gas engine. Back then they seem to have auto and man common but now most new bus are auto. I dont see many new ones with stick shift anymore.
jminnesota 2 years ago 2
This is the best and most wonderful HQ recording of an Allison AT 540 on youtube. When I was growing up, I rode a rural route, 1st kid on the bus. It was a 1976 International Loadstar 1700 with a Carpenter body. Had the 4 way exterior light monitor. I rode it from 1983- first day of school, all the way to 1993, this sound is permanently engraved in my brain. I still see the bus around Yes! I still see it around, even now in 2009. Been an interesting 25 yrs. The bus is amazing, still going!
windwmx78 2 years ago 5
Thanks!
I used to ride, and then later drove a 1978 Interational Loadstar 1700. They're fun to drive. Though the one I drove had a real jump AT-500 transmission.
kaiyoshi2243 2 years ago 2
I saw, and heard a bus like this in Ennis, TX yesterday! It was a Chevy Bluebird instead of GMC, but not sure the year. Somewhere in the 80's though. They do sound awesome accelerating!
dynatrak 2 years ago 2
The county were I went to school had a few 79 GMC's with Thomas bodies,they had 3 speed trannies.When you accelerated they would always scream right before it hit 3rd,and they always hit hard too.
johnwilliam0825 2 years ago 2
Any idea what it weighs?
RealmLords 2 years ago 3
Well, as this bus is right now, it weighs a grand total of 15,480lbs. 6,200lbs on the front axle and 9,280 or the rear. It has a maximum gross weight of 26,500lbs.
kaiyoshi2243 2 years ago 3
Cool info, TY! These were definitely built rugged.
RealmLords 2 years ago 2
The 366, 427 & 454 are all big-block Chevrolet engines, meaning there is no difference in the size except that the 366 and (truck) 427 have a .400 taller deck height to accomodate 3-ring pistons.
That said, you couldn't tell any difference in the 3 by lookingat them.
My money is on this being a 366 but you will need to check the block casting number at the rear by the bellhousing to know definatively.
kjm1983 2 years ago 2
Good point. But wouldn't a 366ci take the same size spark plugs as a 350ci? and a 427ci take the same size spark plugs as a 454ci? Or am I just kidding myself into thinking that there's some kind of logic in all this.
kaiyoshi2243 2 years ago 2
Oops... It would help if I actually READ what your comment. Heh, sorry. I see your point. You're probably correct, it's probably is a 366. But a pretty strong 366.
kaiyoshi2243 2 years ago 2
That Allison sounds awesome! It's great to see all the photos of the bus.
retrochad 2 years ago 2
Thanks. I went out and took some fresh pictures of the bus and then made slide show. I had the microphone mounted under the bus about 3 feet behind the transmission. The recording came out exceptionally well.
kaiyoshi2243 2 years ago 2
does that one have a chev 366 for an engine? i have a 1979 gmc 6000 truck with that engine, i still havnt gotten around to fixing it though
cubcadetpuller 2 years ago
kayoishi said it's got a 427.
gajda1984 2 years ago 2
i saw that the tag sid model 6000. the only gas engine that i know of in that model, truck or bus, was the 366. it could have an aftermarket or special install 427
cubcadetpuller 2 years ago 2
i think you could be right.
gajda1984 2 years ago 2
The Blue Bird chevy was avilabile with the 427 at one time!
bluebirdvision 2 years ago 2
2 tons were?
gajda1984 2 years ago 2
I believe so, but the 366 and 454 were more popular, the 366 being the most popular
bluebirdvision 2 years ago 2
The 366 is standard in this model 6000, however, every time I go to buy parts for this bus I have to buy parts for a 454. Plus the physical size of the engine (It just barely fits in the engine compartment) Leads me to believe that it is the commercial version of the 454ci engine, which is the 427. Also.. I've driven a lot of old GMC buses with the 366 motor and this bus has a TON more power. So more than likely this bus does have the 427 installed in it.
kaiyoshi2243 2 years ago 2
the only thing i can think of is that the 366 blew up like many did, and they repowered it with a 427 or a 454. some would call it a blessing because the 366 is said to be a cursed engine due to its design
cubcadetpuller 2 years ago 2
is that a 5-Speed Automatic Bus??? I have never heard of one. We Used to have those Bluebirds in San Antonio that are still running and older bluebirds that a retired from service that have 4-Speeds. not a 5-Speed Auto Bus.
richardflint07 2 years ago
Nope, this bus has a 4-speed automatic.
kaiyoshi2243 2 years ago
Sure doesn't sound like a 5 speed at all to me. I used to drive an old International Wayne with a 5 speed. But 1st gear only works if you put the gear selector into 1st and the bus will only move a couple of miles an hour before racing the engine, so I must select higher gears.
busrailfan 2 years ago
thanks for the audio! is it still running?
gajda1984 2 years ago
I got her running... but gas started pouring out of the carb. So it needs a rebuild. Sitting for over 3 years was just too long.
Glad ya liked the audio.
kaiyoshi2243 2 years ago