| Author | Message | ||
| PAUL COLLYER (Paso_1)
Rating: N/A |
I have just acquired the above it is in fairly good shape. The previous owner has parked it at my location for the last 10 years. It has I believe a Detroit 6V71 and a VH9 trans. As it was a old transit bus it has a city only rear end. Any idea what ratio it might be?? Any recomendations on what ratio I should look for 4:11 ?? Any suggestions on where to buy the up grade to a more highway friendly rear end. The last time this unit was out on the highway was in 2001 and the motor was just screaming. Any tips you have for a " green " owner with a green bus?? | ||
| Brian Brown (Fishbowlbrian)
Rating: N/A |
Wow, almost the same model as mine! In fact, I'll bet yours is a 5305 if it's a '68. My bus has the 8v71 and VS2-8, a two-speed plus OD tranny that runs less rpms on the highway than the VHs or V730s. If you're going to be doing a lot of highway driving, the VS2's are an easy way to get essentially an extra gear and might avoid a rear-end swap. You might float your question to the Yahoo Fishbowl group: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/GMfishbowl/ There's some real knowledegable guys on there and some good resources for parts. Here's a link to Nimco's NewLook parts: http://www.nimcobus.com/catalog/newlook_page1.shtml Hope this helps and good luck! FishBowl Brian T8H-5305-021 http://www.browncowpro.com/bus/ | ||
| PAUL COLLYER (Paso_1)
Rating: N/A |
Thanks Brian for the links I rechecked the serial # it is indeed a TDH 5303 I also checked the tag on the tranny and it says VH9 Thanks for the tranny swap idea. All I'm really looking for is better highway speeds. What year is your bus? | ||
| Johnny Rating: N/A |
We have a 1961 at work--it's stupefyingly underpowered with a 6V71N & V730...I don't even want to THINK about a 6V71N and 2-speed. The OD should be a big help...but you still have a lot of bus with not a lot of engine. | ||
| Brian Brown (Fishbowlbrian)
Rating: N/A |
Hi Paul: If yours is a 5303, it's a '67 or older I think. You can check the roster with your serial number here to see where and when yours was originally ordered: http://www.omot.org/roster/GMList/tdh5303.html Mine is a '68 and was originally a transit for the Metro in Seattle. Someone else partially converted it and it's my job to finish it and make it look presentable for my wife ;-) There's a guy doing a fast and furious conversion on a Fishbowl up in Canada here: http://www.plumcrazy.ca/ You might get in contact with him, too. Good luck and feel free to email me anytime: brian at browcowpro dot com Cheers, Fishbowl Brian http://www.browncowpro.com/bus/ | ||
| PAUL COLLYER (Paso_1)
Rating: N/A |
Thanks Brian sure enough C1069 is a 63 according to the chart. Better yet in my books I have his son 63 Chevy II in my stable  The bus is registered as a 68 but some DMV person thought the 3 was a 8 I guess. But I'm glad it is as old as it is because it is in pretty good shape for it's age. thanks | ||
| PAUL COLLYER (Paso_1)
Rating: N/A |
I just thought of something this is a Canadian bus Does that production list cover that?? According to the list it went to NYC. I'm sure The city of Saskatoon had this bus since new. | ||
| Brian Brown (Fishbowlbrian)
Rating: N/A |
D-oh, of course yours is Canadian. What was I thinking?! The "C" in your model number says that. Yours was built in London, Ontario and here's the roster for your year/model: http://www.angelfire.com/ca/TORONTO/builders/TDH530304.html Looks like you were right the first time! Yours IS a '68 and delivered to Saskatoon Transit in '68. Something else cool about your bus: it appears to be the last 5303 made! How cool is that?! I'd think that it's fairly collectable. You won't get much support in the traditional Fishbowl community for converting it to an RV, especially with a unique bus like yours. But those folks must not realize that few of us have a need to have 52 seats and passengers. I say anything that keeps the Fishies out of the scrapheap should be encouraged, RV, seated bus, mobile command post... whatever. Forgive me for my "American-itis"... i.e. thinking everything that happens on this continent is strictly US by nature. I'm still recovering *LOL*. Cheers, FBB Longmont, CO USA | ||
| PAUL COLLYER (Paso_1)
Rating: N/A |
Heh ! brian thanks for all the good news. Now I'm going to feel guilty if I convert the bus. But actually It has already been butchered. The group that owned the bus for the last 10 years or so carried old guns and cannons and military antiques they have a cage from the back door to the back of the bus made with heavy steel mesh etc.. They performed and various events in Saskatchewan. I was out in the bus today putting it thru the paces. It's been sitting so long in one spot I thought I had square tires as there was a vibration like the tire had a bulge in it.I will have to figure that out at a later date. What a way to hook somebody on these old buses owner of the last Canadian built fishbowl what a handle. thanks again | ||
| Brian Brown (Fishbowlbrian)
Rating: N/A |
Paul, let me clarify: yours is the last of the series (TDH5303), not the last of the Canadian-built FBs. The Canadian factory built them all the way up until '86! That's a testement to how solid, well-designed and made these units were (are). Santa Monica ("Speed" movie was supposedly on S.M. FBs) owns the last FB built, I believe (a T8H-5307A), and will hang onto it to restore it and keep it in their museum. The S.M. FBs from '86 have the 6v92 turbo DDEC engine in them and the V730 tranny. The other last ones from S.M. will be auctioned off in the next few months. I'd love to get one. You should upload some pics of your bus. It sounds interesting. And drive that baby. It's the best thing you can do for them. FBB | ||
| PAUL COLLYER (Paso_1)
Rating: N/A |
Thanks Brian for the corection. I will change my Boast to This is the Last Canadian built TDH 5303 Had time to go thru your web site last night Sounds to me as you got the better part of the deal. I did take pictures yesterday. I will upload them as so as I decide what picture web hosting site I'm going to. I am on my third site photo island just announced they are shutting down. I was also with Picture stage before they shut down. Seems like webshots is the place to be? |