It's a bus... Now What?

[TDSApp]

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) 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    )










Tim Sapp
Frisco, TX

[eagle19952]

6v92
Detroit Diesel, 2 stroke.

[PNWorBUST72]

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?

[luvrbus]

A late model RTS will probably have a right hand DDEC 6v92TA engine

[TDSApp]

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.

A late model RTS will probably have a right hand DDEC 6v92TA engine

Umm..  Ok. first question what is an RTS?   

6v92
Detroit Diesel, 2 stroke.

So is that a good thing...   I would like to think it is.


Tim

[PP]

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

[chessie4905]

Here: Everything you did and didn't need to know

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_Transit_Series

[buswarrior]

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

[TDSApp]

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.

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

[TDSApp]

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/

Can't travel long distances much in it but it sure would be a ton of fun to drive around here.


Tim

[buswarrior]

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

[TDSApp]

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

[Fred Mc]

Check out Goeff's RTS. Im sure he will chime in here. Couldn't be a better example of one than that.

[Geoff]

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.

[TDSApp]

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