Bus ID by Vin #

[Bob Gil]

Good day to all I have just aquired a converted bus.  I am not sure what it was to start with all I have to go by is the VIN RG7180RD2080R, I was told it is a 1968 GMC but not sure.

It is a 35 foot with 6 cly detriot (told it was a 6v-71 but then again I think from talking to a freind it might be a 6v-53) has a 6 speed auto behind it.

Not too sure if it is good or bad but it is all electric.  With a 4 cly kobota diesel to power it.  Again I have not gotten it home even it had a small fire in the top part of the engine aera and it will need some rewiring.  But it seams to run well and can be driven.  It is going to be fun trying to rewire it all, some one has replaced all the dash gauges with digital ones hope they are not hurt from the distruction of the wires.

I have had a 35ft  Avion travel trailer for many years now I with the wife request starting with the coach any thing that I might need to know?  I am wanting to learn as much as I can. 

I am a truck driver and have been for 30 years so I think I will be ok driving it but I am sure there are a lot of things i will need to know before I get it on the road.

[Dallas]

Welcome to the madness Bob!

I'm not certain what kind of GMC coach that is, since Transits and Parlor coaches have a completely different numbering system and use a V-drive set up, (Transverse engine).

YOu can tell what kind of engine you have by looking at the rocker covers... if the have two knobs or nuts on the top, it's a 6V71 and if it has bolts around the edges it's a 6V53.

You can also tell by the noise.. 6V53's are about the noisiest engine ever developed by the hand of man!

Good Luck!

Dallas

[Hobie]

"You can also tell by the noise.. 6V53's are about the noisiest engine ever developed by the hand of man!"

... love it!!

[Len Silva]

1P = 1000W

[BusMom]

Bob,
Congrats on your find.  Enjoy the madness that is owning a bus.  We are fairly new busnuts also, but the best advise we received is to ask lots of questions and if possible visit other bus'.  We made lots of plans and reworked those plans multiple times.  It has been a fun project for us to work on and we are looking forward to making our first trip since we have started redoing the conversion.  We hope to see you out and about in your bus sometime. 
Amy

[Runcutter]

Bob, welcome.  If there's any way you can post a picture, we can collectively identify your bus.  Who knows, since a lot of us here are in the bus business, we may be seeing an old friend. 

If it's a GMC, there should be a brown bulder's plate somewhere on the dash.  If it's a highway coach, the model and serial numbers will also be stamped on the frame rails you access by opening the access panel (outside) under the driver's area.  GMC numbers from that vintage will be something like PD4107-1180 (mine).  If it's a transit, it'll be TDH4517, SDM4501, or something similar.  P is Parlor (a coach), S is for Suburban, T is Transit (city bus).  D is Diesel and H or M will be Hydraulic (auto) or Manual transmission.  For mine, it's a Parlor, Diesel, 41 passenger - 7th model in the series; and the 1180'th built.  From what I've read here, some buses have been re-titled with a serial number/VIN that conforms to present practice (17 or so digits), but you'll want to get back to the original model/serial number for parts.

As a note, all bets are off for me on identifying schoolbuses.  They were built by schoolbus manufacturers on many chassis, so you could have a Carpenter (or Bluebird, or Thomas)  body on a GMC (or Ford, or IH) chassis.  So, again, a picture (or three) would be helpful.  Your comment on the 6 speed automatic has me a little stumped, or wondering if it started off as a schoolbus.  On the other hand, the diesel schoolbuses we had back then had 4-cylinder Toroflow engines, nothing as big as even a 6-53.  GM transits from 1968 had 2-speed automatics.  Coaches, suburbans, and transits with sticks had a four speed.  I don't know when coaches started having automatic transmissions as an option, but I think it was later than 68, and I think the optional transmission was a V730 (three speed). 

You mention driving trucks.  When I was instructing, one of the problems for truck drivers was getting used to the long wheelbase of a bus/coach.  They don't bend in the middle, and get expensive when you try to make them bend in the middle.  That long wheelbase, having the front axle behind you (coach, suburban, transit), and the location of the pivot point may take some getting used to.

Also, many folks here suggest putting your location in your profile, or, even better, adding it with your signature.  You may have one of us in your area.

Arthur

[Bob Gil]

I am not sure if it will help much but if I can get this to work I will port pictures of it.

I am in Ft. Worth, Texas.

[Bob Gil]

a few more.

One question what is the benefit of having a all electric coach?

It does have a genorator on it but I am use to the propane central heat that I had that used 12 volt to heat I would think it would be much quieter to run 12 volt off of the battires.

This one is all electric.  I am use to a Avion travel trailer with propane.

[Runcutter]

I'm stumped, but I'm sure someone else here will have some ideas.  It almost looks like a highly converted schoolbus, with the side fluting, but it also has some characteristics of purpose-built RV's.  I'm very limited on my knowledge of schoolbuses.  I drove some in the early 1970's, but I've been in the transit business since the late 70's.  I have virtually no knowledge of purpose-built RV's, so now I'll be interested to see what others think.

I have almost 40 years in the bus business, but am new to this conversion stuff - so I'm learning a lot too.  Fortunately, we have some great expertise on this board.  We're about 30 miles from Ft. Worth, in Carrollton - just north of Dallas.  There was a Texas Bus Roundup last fall, set up by Paul Lawry - Dreamscape.  You might drop him a note to get on the information list for the next Texas roundup.  We could only stay one night, but still learned a lot from the other attendees.

Arthur

[TrevorH]

AHHHH, am I the only one that thinks the picture from the back looks like there was an engine fire?

[Dallas]

Bob,

Is there any chance of getting a better photo of the engine compartment? The one you have posted doesn't show too much.

Thanks.

Dallas

[buswarrior]

Fascinating piece of detective work here!

Yes, a more detailed picture of the engine room would help.

Does this bus have air suspension or springs?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Hartley]

It almost looks like a Custom Coach Land Cruiser.

They took buses and custom chassis and re-fabricated them
and a lot had the fluted sides.

Would be circas 1966 to 1970's range.

There has to be some label or something that would indicate the MFR.

We need a better photo of the engine compartment showing the engine.
and whether it actually is diesel or gas engine. looks like a gas from that picture.

Dave....

[Busted Knuckle]

I don't recall when, but this exact bus was the subject of another thread sometime back! If I remember correctly someone was try'n to figure out what it was then too! I don't ever recall seeing the pics of the rear with fire damage before (I just look like an elephant, I don't have the memory of one so I don't remember everything all the time! LOL!) I do seem to remember whoever posted it b4 was looking to find wiring diagrams or harnesses for it. I don't think we were ever able to come up with the needed info to make a positive ID.
FWIW   BK 

[Bob Gil]

This is the best I can do until I get to the bus again as far as pictures of the engine area.

I may have opsed one of these before.

3327 was taken from the rear over the top of the engine.

As you can see I did not get a good picture of it from the rear.

I don't think I will be able to get a wiring harness, made for it I figure I will have to custom wire it my self.  A lot of learning about a detroit, Macks are my thing I own 3 of the a 1945, 64 & 65.

I drive a 1985 chevy suburban with a 4BT cummins in it that I did my self hope i can figure out the bus.

Bob