So several years back my dad bought a bus to do a conversion on. He did some work on it and then his health stopped him from doing much. Sadly, we lost him on Valentines Day this year. Before he died he gave me his 1923 Model-T which is in parts, and his bus. Now I am not in a rush to start working on the bus just yet as I am currently building a 33 Factory Five Hot Rod (http://hotrod.sapp-family.com (http://hotrod.sapp-family.com)) and after the Hot Rod will be the 23 T. My wife is also not on board the bus yet and may require a bit more convincing. In the mean time I am looking for details on the bus and what I need to look into.
I know it is a GMC, and I THINK it is around a 1996 but not sure about that yet. I don't have the title so I can't check that yet. If I recall dad said it was a 6-96 motor (6 cylinders at 96ci each) and is normally aspirated which means it has a blower on it. It used to be a city bus but has already had some work done on it. For instance it has to roof mounted AC units, has some of the side panels changed out, and the pinion gear in the rear end has been changed to something better for the highway vs city streets. The interior has been removed including the floor and it looks like all of the body is stainless steel.
It is currently up in OKC and I live in Dallas so I can't just run over and take photos but below are some that I have. I will be up there probably once a month so I can get photos while I am up there. Dad did have someone go out and start it about every six months or so and it was stated up and driven to it's currently location about a year ago. Other than that.... I dunno...
Any help on what needs to be done next? (don't tell me washing it... I know that already :D )
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fhotrod.sapp-family.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F04%2F24412.jpeg&hash=7985025548e18fbdf6e9d482df6a147addefd127)
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fhotrod.sapp-family.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F04%2F24413.jpeg&hash=9fa9061d311df56118f5a9c71b249af75e386a4d)
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fhotrod.sapp-family.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F04%2F24414.jpeg&hash=76c1b7bc04cd2dab993c5d911399b2c6ea04d2d1)
Tim Sapp
Frisco, TX
6v92
Detroit Diesel, 2 stroke.
8)
I would say work on the title and verifying exactly what you have would be first concern and you can do most of that work remote. Get photos of any VIN Plate or anything similar and work backwards.
Cant do anything without a title right?
A late model RTS will probably have a right hand DDEC 6v92TA engine
Quote from: PNWorBUST72 on April 05, 2018, 07:39:56 AM
I would say work on the title and verifying exactly what you have would be first concern and you can do most of that work remote. Get photos of any VIN Plate or anything similar and work backwards.
Cant do anything without a title right?
We have the title. It is just up in OKC and I live in Frisco Texas. I'll ask my mom to pull the title out and send me a photo.
Quote from: luvrbus on April 05, 2018, 07:40:18 AM
A late model RTS will probably have a right hand DDEC 6v92TA engine
Umm.. Ok. first question what is an RTS? :)
Quote from: eagle19952 on April 05, 2018, 07:21:32 AM
6v92
Detroit Diesel, 2 stroke.
8)
So is that a good thing... I would like to think it is.
Tim
Welcome to the board. There area lot of knowledgeable people here so ask lots of questions and expect a variety of answers. Good luck when you get around to the bus. Sounds like you have some neat projects ahead of you already,
Will
Here: Everything you did and didn't need to know
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_Transit_Series
A good conversion candidate, not as easy as a highway coach, but there are many of these out there.
If you want to let it go, there will be a small line up of peeps on here to buy it.
Welcome to the party!
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Quote from: chessie4905 on April 05, 2018, 07:59:22 AM
Here: Everything you did and didn't need to know
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_Transit_Series
Great link... Thanks. From the looks of that link I have an RTS-06 Running a Detroit Diesel. Not sure what series of motors because there are apparently a few types around. I guess we will see once I get the VIN number.
Quote from: luvrbus on April 05, 2018, 07:40:18 AM
A late model RTS will probably have a right hand DDEC 6v92TA engine
From what I remember it does have a roots blower but not the turbos so it may not be a later model.
Tim
Quote from: buswarrior on April 05, 2018, 07:59:37 AM
A good conversion candidate, not as easy as a highway coach, but there are many of these out there.
If you want to let it go, there will be a small line up of peeps on here to buy it.
Welcome to the party!
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Well I don't want to sell it as I would love to do the conversion. But I need to have support of SWMBO before I start it. If I just can't get that support I may sell it and go for the Factory Five GTM.
https://www.factoryfive.com/gtm-supercar/ (https://www.factoryfive.com/gtm-supercar/)
Can't travel long distances much in it but it sure would be a ton of fun to drive around here.
Tim
Yup #1. Bus conversions don't often survive the wrath of the Admiral.
Get out to a rally in your car. Let her see the buses and the nice people.
Vicarious living turns to reality quick, if a fire gets started...
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Quote from: buswarrior on April 05, 2018, 10:38:22 AM
Yup #1. Bus conversions don't often survive the wrath of the Admiral.
Get out to a rally in your car. Let her see the buses and the nice people.
Yeah SWMBO has a hard time seeing past what it looks like right now. I do need to show here what a city bus can become... I will have to look for a rally in the area.
Tim
Check out Goeff's RTS. Im sure he will chime in here. Couldn't be a better example of one than that.
A lot of work has been done to make a nice conversion. It has a one piece door, covered windows, and if the rear end has been changed to highway gears it will fly. It's either a Series 4 or 6. Hopefully not a DDEC or EPA downgrade. It must have a turbo, the vin will tell.
Quote from: Geoff on April 05, 2018, 05:43:28 PM
A lot of work has been done to make a nice conversion. It has a one piece door, covered windows, and if the rear end has been changed to highway gears it will fly. It's either a Series 4 or 6. Hopefully not a DDEC or EPA downgrade. It must have a turbo, the vin will tell.
I think it does not have a turbo. As I remember my dad telling me it was "normally aspirated which means it has a blower." I will post the VIN as soon as a get a picture of the title.
Tim
Check out the Bus Projects section, You will see some wonderful transformations there.
-Paul
I started watching Youtube videos and would show my wife some of them. She thought I was nuts but after a while she was the one that suggested we buy a bus and do our own conversion.
True story...
-Paul
I think I found it. Serial #A160, Fleet#8115, 1980 Series 03, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. Delivered 1980. T8W-603 40', 96" wide, 6V71, Series 03
So it probably doesn't have a turbo, but could. And it is 71 cu inches per cly, IF it is stock.
Quote from: Geoff on April 06, 2018, 09:56:48 AM
I think I found it. Serial #A160, Fleet#8115, 1980 Series 03, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. Delivered 1980. T8W-603 40', 96" wide, 6V71, Series 03
So it probably doesn't have a turbo, but could. And it is 71 cu inches per cly, IF it is stock.
And just how did you find this all from just #8115.
Since you're so good at that... The wheel that is leaning on the door... What kind of car did it come off of? :-)
Tim
225x60x15. 1987 Pontiac Grand Am. 15x7. Missing center cap.
I knew I'd seen that paint scheme before, but the cities all run together after a few decades. Using the clue that the bus is in Oklahoma, the blue and green stripes put it in Oklahoma City. Normally a square back RTS is a series 4 or later, but the squaring looks like an afterthought. The original slope-back RTS's (series 01, 02, 03) had A/C problems, so many were retrofitted with a square back -- I think pioneered by San Antonio.
I bought a fleet of RTS's in 1982-83, and they were Series 04, with 6V92TA engines. Many systems numbered their buses based on the year purchased. I'm not saying OKC did, but looking at their website -- history section, they have a picture of a bus numbered 0307, which could easily be a 2003 Gillig or New Flyer (they all look alike these days). So, with those clues, my thought is that it's a former Oklahoma City RTS, 40 footer, most likely a 1981 Series 3, as suggested. Likely, then, to be an 8V71, normally aspirated (Tim said he doesn't think it has a turbo, just the Roots blower).
Two pieces of good news with that -- if my guesses are right. It's likely that there are still mechanics, probably retired from what is now called "Metro Transit", familiar with the bus. Second, it's before computerization, multiplexing, etc.
Tim, I'm in Carrollton, just south of you. I have an RTS 04 Maintenance Manual, from the fleet I purchased in 1982-83. Of course, some changes with each series, but they were still built by GMC in Pontiac, before GMC sold the RTS manufacturing rights to Roswell NM. Not for sale or borrowing, but you're welcome to look at it here.
Arthur
Quote from: Runcutter on April 07, 2018, 07:13:44 AM
I knew I'd seen that paint scheme before, but the cities all run together after a few decades. Using the clue that the bus is in Oklahoma, the blue and green stripes put it in Oklahoma City. Normally a square back RTS is a series 4 or later, but the squaring looks like an afterthought. The original slope-back RTS's (series 01, 02, 03) had A/C problems, so many were retrofitted with a square back -- I think pioneered by San Antonio.
I bought a fleet of RTS's in 1982-83, and they were Series 04, with 6V92TA engines. Many systems numbered their buses based on the year purchased. I'm not saying OKC did, but looking at their website -- history section, they have a picture of a bus numbered 0307, which could easily be a 2003 Gillig or New Flyer (they all look alike these days). So, with those clues, my thought is that it's a former Oklahoma City RTS, 40 footer, most likely a 1981 Series 3, as suggested. Likely, then, to be an 8V71, normally aspirated (Tim said he doesn't think it has a turbo, just the Roots blower).
Two pieces of good news with that -- if my guesses are right. It's likely that there are still mechanics, probably retired from what is now called "Metro Transit", familiar with the bus. Second, it's before computerization, multiplexing, etc.
Tim, I'm in Carrollton, just south of you. I have an RTS 04 Maintenance Manual, from the fleet I purchased in 1982-83. Of course, some changes with each series, but they were still built by GMC in Pontiac, before GMC sold the RTS manufacturing rights to Roswell NM. Not for sale or borrowing, but you're welcome to look at it here.
Arthur
I think that Geoff is closer at this point. I recall dad saying that the bus was from the New England area and that they had changed out the rear end gear before driving it down. He got it from a guy he used to live next door to who had bought a few buses and had drove up to buy a couple and bring them back.
Quote from: chessie4905 on April 06, 2018, 11:13:29 AM
225x60x15. 1987 Pontiac Grand Am. 15x7. Missing center cap.
Nope... It's from a 1974 Formula Firebird. :D
Tim
I have a book on the history of the RTS from the Transbus (you could call it the RTS I) to the demise of the bus when Millennium took over. The back of the book has all the production information so it only took me a couple of minutes to find your fleet number.
!980 model it probably is a 8v71 N/A we just scrapped one out