First test drive with rebuilt carburetor

[EM6285]

Thanks for the ride man. It brings back those good memories. Is the CHEVROLET / GMC 366 V8 a stout and reliable engine??? Got a friend that has a 1983 GMC / BLUE BIRD powered by 366 V8 and he tells me that the 366 V8 is more reliable than many of the diesel buses he has.

[kaiyoshi2243]

@EM6285 Well, the big block 366(which is a 454ci) is very stout. However the small block 366 (350ci) is weaker and tends to have to work harder. I like the big block 366 much better, and i can say that honestly, cuz I've driven both types.

[busrailfan]

I fuond those older GM / Chevy School buses had very light steering. You could totally steer those things with one finger. Not that you should though!

[4751424]

I remember when I was taking the school bus 10 years ago, it was a 96 gmc bluebird and the transmission would quite often shift back and forth between 2nd and 3rd really hard. The Transmission would kick down hard into first gear and it'll go rhrhhra literally tuging forward. I eventually told the driver about the possible chance of it having a bad vacuum modulator or line, and he said yeah i knew about that.

[biglinc1]

i noticed you pulled in and backed up... we are taught to pull up and back in for turnarounds... haha.. nice looking old bus... you should try out the new ones!! they're sooo niceee!!!!

Does that old bus have air or hydraulic brakes? I've only driven air brake buses never hydraulic types... Air brakes are so cool when you step on the brake and hear that sound... haha

[kaiyoshi2243]

Thanks for the comments! I only did the pull in and backup cause there was a car behind me and I was trying to get out of her way. Also it was a blind curve so the way I did it, traffic could see me in both directions.

She has air brakes. But they're very quiet for air brakes. It doesn't require a lot of pressure to stop, so it doesn't make much noise.

[biglinc1]

yeah we pull our 4-way flashers before we do a turnaround so traffic behind us can see that we're getting ready to make a manuever.... then pull slightly to the opposite side of the road and swing back over so we're in positioin to make a backup... i like forward control buses better, easier to turn in tight corners than the long nose types... haha... You should try those manual shift buses. they're really cool to drive.. i took my cdl test on a 1999 international manual haha

[kaiyoshi2243]

Heh, I did drive a 1972 International Loadstar 1700 with a 345gas engine, 5 speed manual, no power steering, Vacuum assist hydrolic brakes. That was a fun bus to drive, though is sucked to have to do a turn around without power steering. lol

[biglinc1]

haha that would be hard to drive... with no PS on something that big.... but ive had a few stories riding as monitor and showing some of the n00b drivers our school hires on.... often wonder where they get these peeps.... lmao

[retrochad]

Also did you ever see if there might have been vacuum leaks requiring you to enrich the fuel to air mixture with the choke? I know on my new Ford B-700 it starts right up with the choke all the way off and if the choke is engaged it runs poorly. The only vacuum accesories on it is the vacuum advance on the distributor (carb had been replaced with a non-governor type)

[kaiyoshi2243]

I did check. All the vacuum hoses are connected... and/or capped off.

I did figure out what was wrong. The accelerator pump is adjusted WAY too tight... so it's always closed. *wish I had seen that before I installed the carb.* So I think I just nee to back that adjusting nut off some.. but it's SO hard to get to.. and I ran out of time. I'll get back to it this Tuesday.

Thanks

[RealmLords]

Great to see it running. Sounds just like I remember, although my school bus rides ended 10 years before this one was built.

[retrochad]

Very nice video! That was great seeing and hearing it drive.

[kaiyoshi2243]

yeah, it was a nice accomplishment. And it was SO hot that day.

[gajda1984]

sounds like the ride to school every morning. though i rode in an old ford. had just a little bit different 2nd gear whine.

[kaiyoshi2243]

Yeah, I love the way the older Fords whine. They have that distinkive whine-scream then a chirp in 2nd gear.

[TheGMFishbowl]

I loved that sound too. Also I remember the driver would driver in 3 and switch to D only after a certain speed. Also many of the buses I rode would slip gears.

[kaiyoshi2243]

Yeah, a lot of the buses I used to ride and drive slipped. Mostly while shifting from 2nd to 3rd. Almost all of the 1978 Internationals slipped. Some of the 1980 GMC did, and some others. Seems like when 1984 came around allison had fixed that shifting problem. "cuz all the buses new than 1983 didn't have that problem.

Thanks for your comment. Glad ya liked the video.

[rjman159]

Does it have air brakes?

[kaiyoshi2243]

Yes.