Driving the 1986 GMC Blue Bird bus part 1

[Righty736]

I remember my school had a bunch of these. I always thought the whine was cool.

[ashho56]

is it a shortbus?

[kaiyoshi2243]

nope, it's a 72 passenger. I just didn't put the camera all the way in the back.

[matts4290]

Whats the GVWR and axel ratio?

[kaiyoshi2243]

26,500lbs is the total GVW stamped on the ID plate.

And I believe the rear end gear ratio is 303:1 If I read the numbers correctly.

[coshyno]

do you need a special permit to drive a bus ?

[kaiyoshi2243]

Well, You need to have a Class C or B CDL license with a Passenger endorsement.

Class C for a bus under 26,000lbs. Class B for a bus over 26,001 lbs.

CDL = Commercial Driver's License.

Hope that answered your question.

[MaqAttaq]

I love the sounds that the gas engines make in 1st and 2nd with those Allison transmissions (regardless of who makes the engine)... they just don't do the same thing when they have manuals. They bring a lot of memories growing up, and with most buses being diesel now, they don't seem to come close (except for some of the Internationals with Allisons, where there was a muted whine in 2nd).

[retrochad]

Great video! I really do want to get at least some of my buses back on the road. The 1978 International/Carpenter does have current insurance and registration but the inspection has been expired for several years and I don't know that it it would re-pass. Most of the other ones don't have good enough tires or brakes for safe road driving.

[gajda1984]

keep making her famous!

[kaiyoshi2243]

Well, no one else has video of an old gas bus. So I figured.. Why not do my own vids?

Glad ya like them.

[kaiyoshi2243]

Well.. I mean besides Retrochad. But he doesn't or can't drive his buses out on the road.

I still love his bus videos.

[gajda1984]

yeah i like both of your guys videos! i can't wait to see his "new" IH S series run!

[Idrivebarefoot]

were you barefoot?

[kaiyoshi2243]

No...

First, it's quite illegal to drive barefoot

Second, It's very dangerous to drive barefoot.

Sorry, you'll never see me driving barefoot.