Driving the 1974 GMC Ward school bus in the field

I finally have the GMC ready for an actual test drive...I rewired the ignition system with a new starter and ignition switch and repaired the fuel lines to the chassis fuel tank. I took it on a short drive through the field demonstrating reverse, 1st 2nd and 3rd gears. The bus is an antique collector's item only and is not driven on the roads as it is not really in road-worthy condition quite yet.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• 1974
• GMC
• 6000
• V-Eight
• school
• bus
• Ward
• 366
• 427
• gas
• 4-speed
• shifting
• gears
• vintage
• antique

[TundraWalk3r]

Does this bus have power steering or is it just not working? You sure seem to have to put a lot of effort into turning the wheel!

[retrochad]

@TundraWalk3r The power steering system has a leak in it...it does have power steering but I think it was very low on fluid when I made this video.

[wickedblackcamaro]

this is a cool bus! what engine is in this, how much power does it have? Can you tow anything with it? How many miles are on it?

[retrochad]

Thanks! It uses a 366 CID GMC gasoline V-8. Not sure how many miles are on it or the horsepower. It does have a trailer hitch for towing but I haven't tried to tow anything with it.

[yamahonkawazuki]

@retrochad i do have a question though. been thinking about since 2008, why is it you park it in neutral?, im assuming there is a reason,

[retrochad]

@yamahonkawazuki I really should have put it in first gear when I parked it...now that I drive manual transmission vehicles more frequently I always try to remember to do this in case for some reason the parking brake would let go.

[thomasfreightliner]

Nice Video. Did your camera have enough extension cords for that ride or did you use your new digital camera lol.

[Kaynos]

Ah that familiar sound : Hmmm Hmmm HMmm Hmmmm ShiFT Hhmmm Hmmmm Hmmm Hmmmm SHIFT

[tannerbob69]

@retrochad haha thats what i was about to say it prolly just was sitting to long and it needed some power steering fluid

[FUCK202]

i really feel like i missed out going to school in our typical UK double decker busses/coaches that they use..they are probably better..but they arent yellow!

[rembpilot172]

in my country, buses like that are even used today as public transport of passengers, Carpenter, Amtram, Blue Bird...

[partyboyperk]

u can let off the throtle in between shifting gears

[MrJonathanwalker44]

when he talks he sounds gay lol

[tacomanfan344]

@yukSchmuck lol who cares. oh yeah, hippies. BURN FUEL TILL I DIE!!

[USATrainsGScaleGroup]

Play a prank and ask a parts guy for a air filter for this one. LOL, they have oil bath air filters, I remember servicing those.

[USATrainsGScaleGroup]

Boy does this bring back memories. I rode a 1968 Chevy School bus in 7th and 8th grade. I was going to be a mechanic growing up so I quickly learned about VIN plates and how to read them. I found the one on the bus I rode which was inside the body. Later on in life I actually worked on these buses. Everything from 1979 to 1988 school buses. You don't stick shifts any more in a bus.

[yukSchmuck]

Not very happy about the fuel wastage. Sad for the Earth. :,(