We Bought an Abandoned Church Bus for $800, Will It Drive Home?

[@kevintakalo427]

Omg! I actually got one of these buses a few years back. Mine is an 87 Ford b700 with the Brazilian 7.8 turbo diesel. Mine has air start! Have you ever seen an air start school bus!? Lol! I love it! My bus had sat for 4 years. It was just parked because this native organization had bought a newer bus. I just rolled up with an air compressor to fill the air tank. That damn thing just fired right up! These Ford Brazilian motors are kickass!

[@Carlos-r5n2b]

I've seen air starter but not on something as new as 87 must been a reason. Cold weather? As long as u air it will crank cant burn one up.

[@Carlos-r5n2b]

@@cammos my grandfather had a old dump truck think it was a White that had a air starter. He also had an old bulldozer he used to maintain gravel roads on his property. It had a small gasoline engine ,that would turn and start that big diesel engine. These machines were still running in late 90s. I gave both to his neighbor and friend after he passed. He ran them another 5? Yrs on his property.

[@kevintakalo427]

@@Carlos-r5n2b Yep air starts are more common on gravel trucks. This buses service life was up near settle. So im assuming it was for cold climate starts. This thing will fire in very cold temps no prob! It spins over fast! Love the sound too! remember the movie maximum overdrive? That movie had creepy semi trucks with air start! LOL!

[@kevintakalo427]

@@cammos for sure! Love the sound of an air start! V8 even better!

[@kevintakalo427]

@@Carlos-r5n2b nice! yeah air starts are most common on gravel trucks. Also been around the goat motors on big crawlers. My dad was a heavy equipment field repairmen. So i was raised on big equipment. We always had a few around our property too.

[@vampericknight2692]

Warms my heart to see two guys immediately watching over the kid, so that he dont get tossed around. Big respect ma dudes.

[@LuukvHilst]

Hi Bruce! Luuk from the netherlands here. Im a dutch truck driver working in the asphalt pavement. If you ever happen to come around you can hit me up anytime to show you my MAN TGS 510 10x5. I would love to show you this beast! Love you content dude! Keep it up!

[@josephbugaj8149]

Not a bad find. Chassis is a Ford B700 with a Blue Bird body. School bus salvage yards might have the replacement windows you’d be looking for. Engine is a 6.6L Ford-New Holland I6 diesel (The engine was also available in a larger 7.8L displacement) with what looks to be an Allison AT545 transmission behind it. There are swaps available to other Allison units given the 6.6L is a mechanical engine. Common options are the MT643 and MT653 transmissions, or a manual swap can be done using components from a Ford truck equipped as such, but I’d stick with the Allison transmission. I myself own a bus, granted it’s a fair bit newer (2006 compared to 1989) but it also has the Allison transmission equipped, and I haven’t had an issue so far with it (it’s a 2500PTS which came after the AT545 in school bus applications). One other thing to look into is the gearing in the rear end, and see what gear ratio is equipped. Depending on the year, you might even be able to go to Blue Bird with the VIN and get the build sheet and see what options the bus was equipped with from the factory.

[@matts4290]

It’s probably an Allison AT545 (rated up to 30k gvwr & does not have a locking torque converter clutch). The 545 uses an SAE 3 bell housing. Your new Holland looks like it’s an SAE 2 with an adapter for the SAE 3 Allison. The heavier option is the MT643 or 653 (which has an SAE 2 bell housing and locking TCC). Older mechanical Allison’s use either an electronic or gear driven for a cable speedo output. The modulators can be cable or electronic- make sure you get the right one. The best thing to do is probably find a donor truck with a manual trans. That’s what I did with my bus- now it’s got an eaton 6 speed.

[@markmcguire920]

looks like a 545 to me too.

[@nunya6747]

This is why I love youtube, free knowledge.

[@Failure_Is_An_Option]

This is all way above these trumptards pay grades...

[@REDBIRD-95]

Bruce, are you going to take that bus to the Freedom Factory and enter it in the school bus races against Garrett and Jackstand Jimmy?😁 Have a great Sunday my friend👍

[@Alex61742]

He should definitely enter that race

[@FredrikOlesen]

Factory Freedom it Called😏😏🤣🤣🤣

[@REDBIRD-95]

@@FredrikOlesen Oh Yeah, I forgot😆 Garrett wasn't very happy after seeing that they messed up his signs.

[@FredrikOlesen]

@@REDBIRD-95It was so funny, they did not belive What they Where seening🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jcc3279]

Its actually a ford b700 chassis with a blue bird school bus body. You got one hell of a deal. Its got a stereo too i saw it mounted under the switch panel. I'm frickin jealous though. Also greetings from Kissimmee, Florida. Also to get the loading lights up top to come on. Turn your warning light master on and there is usually a push button called warning light start. Also you might have to remove the stop sign since its no longer being used as a actual school bus per state law. Add some air conditioning to the bus so you dont burn up on a hot Florida day lol. For windows contact blue bird who makes the bus body and see if you can replacements I'm pretty sure you can get replacements easy. Transmission is gonna be a 4 speed Allison at545 swap the trans with a mt643

[@scottcol23]

You know he's just going to destroy that bus right?... lol But if they keep it, parts are easy, they didn't change the design for almost 50 years. I'm sure he can get parts practically free from the scrap yards he knows. But if he keeps it, for AC just get an old RV AC or 2 and mount them in the escape hatches powered by a Harbor Freight generator. EDIT: Oh its too old, Just noticed it doesn't have the emergency hatches...

[@jcc3279]

@@scottcol23 i hope they don't wreck it. These old Fords B700s are getting harder and harder to find. You could also just run an A/C unit off a big inverter too.

[@BitterDemo]

You turned the fan on and my home A. C. turned on at the same time. Now that is what I call having control. POWER!

[@danw1955]

Well now, that was quite the deal! The bus body isn't worth much since insurance is almost unobtainable if you try to turn it into an RV, but that running gear is solid, and a guy could shorten the frame a bit and turn it into a nice flatbed with a standard cab off of another 700. The Allisons are pretty bullet-proof if you don't try to shove 900 hp. through them, LOL!😄👍👍

[@RobertDickens2002]

This brings back so many memories I started kindergarten in 89 and my first bus I rode was identical to this.

[@brucemcgee2281]

Hey Bruce... Bruce here! That truck is just great. The transmission looks great. First timer.

[@owurawrx]

I rode one of these old blue bird fords as a kid (2002/2003)…some were diesel w/auto and others were gas/5 speed. Those were the days!

[@ChrisHarding-lk3jj]

Those ford ignitions are so easy to pick, for the rookie it's best just to run a drill bit down the center so the wafers drop out and any key works. It's also easy to unbolt the ignition switch from the lower end of the column and operate it with your hand.

[@banditgrizzy1955]

😂 Bruce just can't stop impulse buying.😂😂😂

[@aaronswafford4441]

Love that brake noise!

[@caleblance07]

You could fix it up and paint it and donate it to a church in need of a bus! That would be really cool! I grew up helping my dad get kids to church on a bus. Most of them have those memories forever and looked forward to Sundays especially if they were from less fortunate homes. Enjoyed the video.

[@maxiethefoxxie]

I bought a 40ft 2004 Freightliner FS-65 with the Thomas high roof. Had it for a small amount of time. But, owning and driving a School Bus is SO MUCH FUN! What an experience driving something that large though. I miss it a lot!

[@focus82grothm.84]

Excellent purchase, just replace the necessary things + a good wash and she's sweet 🤩 A train horn would be cool on the school bus 🔊😁

[@BobbyDavenport-t2z]

I always love these older busses there's just something about them

[@robertrabhudsonhornet5869]

You need a slide hammer with screw on the end of the slide hammer. But if the string wheel is not locked and I seen the shifter moved so all you need is run a wire from the battery to the coil

[@Randall-mt7jk]

It's A diesel! No coil

[@jamesbarrow4688]

This is James Barrow this bus is Cool and it's needed to clean up and New windows and New seats and still starts

[@OutlawNix]

I got a Leatherman Multitool ended up getting it for nothing. One day while my mother was checking the mail at the post office during one summer. Someone dumped fish by the side of the road next to the post office and must have dropped the Leatherman Multitool. My mother ended up giving me the Leatherman Multitool god it stink so bad. Got a tub of soapy water + bleach and ended up soaking the Leatherman Multitool took for a bit. Afterwards cleaned off and placed a few drops of oil on it. It's working like a champ.

[@sheacole2]

Hopefully they will get this baby restored and working cause these newer buses are total SCRRRAAAPPP!!!!

[@kagome122885]

Newer buses have too much stuff that can go wrong, especially the newer diesel engines with emissions systems

[@coondogtheman]

Watching this video brought back memories when I rode the bus to school. Also my mom drove a school bus and that one shot of the person driving brought back memories when I'd sit in the seat behind the driver. I remember most of the parts like the vents, those fans that could chop up a pencil and the control panel to the left of the driver's seat as well as the funky door handle hinge.

[@markgloverville]

My Grandmother drove one very similar. Love this.

[@simonleavesley3986]

Twin turbo viper v 10 , hood stacks , paint her black , mirror the windows , polish the chrome , put department of correction decals on the sides , last but not least , bag her 👍👍

[@guineapiglady2841]

If that church bought that SCHOOL bus, they should have painted in the different colors!

[@jus10dun]

Now you got me work on uploading my bus video series. Thanks for the kick in the butt Bruce. Great video.

[@Zach-sg5uu]

Are you using 40 year old fuel? Or did you recently put diesel in it?

[@GamingwithMrRalesandMrRales3]

You are a professional bus driver now

[@strawberryfieldsforever5386]

Locksmith

[@devingibson9201]

Dude, you should turn it all the way up hood stacked, and drop it! Low riding school bus burn out monster!!🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@paullalone4718]

Killing me with that ignition next time take a 3/8 drillbit and drill right down the center that will cut kick tumblers out. Then you can take it turn it enough to pop it but it made good content.

[@LSRG-YT--LandonSRobloxGaming]

Interesting fact, back in the old days, GM and Ford had a collaboration with BlueBird and this is the type of buses they gave us. They were normal car brands but on a bus chassis

[@RyanAumiller]

2:29 - was that unintentional ASMR? as a former frequent rider of one of those exact buses that door sounded spot on, like instant flood of nostalgia.

[@bigskunk801]

You know it’s a good video when it starts with a BANG!!!

[@jmac217x]

Oh yeah!! 89 Bus! That'll start

[@ThatCloneSvt]

Put air ride, visor, window chops, lugs and legacy seat and things mint

[@69Nova250Six]

I uncle Don owned a 1973 Ford F600 Bus with a 5 speed & a industrial gas big block engine with a 4BBL Carburetor. It had a Big Rear End. it sat in my yard for 8 years it did ran when he parked it. I sold it for $500 i only got $400 dollars i also got to watch & ride with the tow truck driver & haul it to mom's friends house. the 3 ton tow truck was shaking down the highway. it was a heavy bus. i played in that bus when i was kid & climbed up on top of it.

[@cH-lq3hc]

Bobby from NJ. Great videos Bruce. I am an old school truck driver and would love to see you put a manual transmission in the bus. You are going to need to get a pedal setup from the latest year manual bus. Nice of you to buy the bus and help the church out. God bless!

[@maguslloretmunoz2354]

For 800 dolars its just a robbery, AMAZING DEAL, i love those old school buses, congrats from Spain

[@justincausey8287]

Would it been easier just to pull the steering wheel to remove the key ignition

[@jaygraham5407]

Yes.

[@tnolan3176]

Just park it next to the other projects that are sitting waiting to be finished !

[@BatangIlocandia]

17:50 Hello. Came from The Philippines. It Feels like im Riding Times Transit (Now Dominion Bus Lines). It's a Nostalgic Ride for me From 80's.

[@Zach-sg5uu]

That verse should be painted white with chrome down the sides or polished aluminum!

[@Partnerthedog]

All you had to do was take a drill bit to the lock cylinder, drill it out and then hammer in the flathead and itll turn

[@Partnerthedog]

We need a pressure washing video next

[@jamesthetrainman6457]

Hey I just wanted to say great find. I have a 1987 bluebird that's what bus body ur bus is. I don't have a ford front I have an international front s1700. I still have the folding door. I converted mine. Into my man cave. Mine still drives and it's a stick shift.

[@stylze5767]

IDEA: Turn it into a toy hauler. Cut back, leaving 1 or 2 rows of seats, then flat bed the rest. Using the cutoff rear of the cab, build the back wall to your now "extended cab" school bus

[@johnnyo7621]

Should Fix it up and sell it to Mr McFarland so he can use it as a courtesy / shuttle bus for the freedom factory to take people who park a slight distance from the entry gates to the arena.

[@chadha1412]

I'm jealous. I want to buy the bus I use to ride when I was a kid. I'm looking for the same thing as this Ford Bluebird but a 85-86. I'd keep it original as possible. Maybe beef up the motor. Put a better transmission it like you said. Very cool find!

[@AschTheWolf]

I clicked on this as soon as I saw it! Love the Ford B-Series buses from 1980-1994. The BlueBird body makes it even better. Windows for it will be easy to find off of any BlueBird. School bus enthusiast heaven here. It even has a jacknife door. As you can tell, I'm typing as I watch.

[@dandorneman9840]

Allison at 545, if you plan on keeping it make sure you put synthetic Trans fluid in it. They are very susceptible to failure from heat.

[@BryceCBS]

That’s nice you got this Ford/Blue Bird school bus running I wish you can get my transit bus started

[@DojDirector1A-1]

Riding In style 😂😂

[@tryngetme12ps4]

Imo would be sick to see it painted and put on newer air suspension or if it close to being the same size maybe use a semi frame swap it so you have better parts to put power to just my opinion with the out of the box build will watch regardless of how its build love the content

[@countrygirl3022]

You guys should take it to a nascar race

[@chrisarita]

i really love your start upps, keep it up

[@AlfredHawthornBennyHill]

One school that I went to in '88-'89 had a Ford diesel bus like that. I think it was an '86 and it was loud and clacky 6 Cylinder just like that one. The only difference between yours and the one I remember is the rims. It had the six spoke truck/bust rims in the front and I think it had regular five spoke truck / bus rims in the back. It also had tinted windows too. Idk why I liked it but I did.

[@sidgreentherhymeofreason]

You might need to fix up those windows and put a powerful roof mounted air conditioning unit with ducts ran throughout the inside of the bus to stay cool during hot summer days while on trips. I remember back in elementary school.I actually had to go back and forth to school in a 1987 Ford B700 Blue Bird school bus. I remember riding on that bus during summer. Although all the windows was open the temperature inside the bus was still pretty brutal.

[@evan__kumar]

2:20 It’s actually a law!!!!

[@elcamionologoprod.8639]

15:48 hear the roar of Diesel.

[@evan__kumar]

8:40 DAKOTA IS RIGHT!

[@Mayonnaise12210]

Great to see another will it start😊

[@PatrickBaptist]

Thanks for posting, fun to watch Hows is the battery box not rusted out? I've scapped a few buses and own one I converted to an RV and the one I made an RV out of was the only bus that the battery box wasn't rotted and I've had 96-04 years, your batt box looks new. Crazy that bus has a steering wheel lock, NONE of mine ever did, they were all international flavored buses though not the good ol ferd. Man y'all need a cheap ol cordless drill to make light work of stealing that thang lol. With that column shifter I don't believe that bus has an allison unless it was swapped after it was new kinda thing, an allison has a T-shfter not a OEM column shifter, I've had several vehicles with allisons in them always a T shifter or push button pad.

[@danwilson7776]

Solid purchase great deal

[@1393_JoeTurner]

And that children is How to steal a school bus class dismissed

[@Andrewtheincubs]

That's cool bus 277 was actually the first bus route I took as a kid

[@bigwilllll5311]

6:35 ole son sprayed ya leg down 😂

[@loganb5657]

Straight pipe mud tires and some power upgrades and I thought you moved to Tennessee

[@kagome122885]

What transmission does this bus have? I like the older buses because the engines on them have no electronic controls. I would consider getting new tires since they were made in 2015. Tires begin to dry rot after 6 years, so it's better to be safe than sorry.

[@BrandonHenderson-n8f]

All aboard the magic school bus

[@TheBurcham1]

you don't need somewhere special to find windows for that, just like a 379, 389, and W900 you can measure what you need and get it at any glass shop with it being flat glass

[@Blakeyrobinson858]

is the bus powered by 12v batteries? because i really need the horn it sounds so good

[@VintageCR]

man thats so cool! imagine getting the whole family/friends group together on that bus and do a road trip😂😂

[@gaelenspirko2527]

That's awesome this buss came from the neighborhood I grew up in

[@Ron-zi3cg]

Don't if you could use this process, but we used to just find the ignition wires and put em together and get it started like that but don't know if you can do that on this or not.

[@LauraKolbe-ur7uf]

The whole bus looks brand new

[@timmymeme1071]

17:22 love it

[@dannyhannah2487]

Awesome job! You got it going in no time!

[@bobbydavenport8941]

For the windows you might contact adventures made from scratch he gets buses in at his scrap yard some times you should check out one of his videos 😊

[@jeffreyzimmerman2553]

Turn it up and bring it to the truck pulls

[@hundybenggong9503]

It's good to revive the church service.

[@OFFICERYUSUF56556]

This school bus is so worth for that prize and it is work so well.

[@mahatma171]

These old Ford diesels are pretty tough. I like ‘em for sure…. Right up there with a good old dt466

[@christianbattestin9747]

Referring to the STOP sign, I say that even the school buses want people to do burnouts ( Spin Tires On Pavement).

[@LeamonPullens]

I would have called a locksmith ! He could have made you some keys.

[@officialoofyt]

0:57 Its a b700 SBCV

[@elijahharris6582]

You are best, Bruce Wilson 😊

[@TruckzNTrainz]

Love ford and bluebird buses.

[@FredrikOlesen]

Take the bus to “Factory Freedom” 😏😏🤣🤣🤣

[@mattsceilingfansandmore2573]

Bruce I believe what you have here is an 89 Ford B700 Bluebird with Jacknife doors

[@robertsilva5041]

The spring fell off when you first got it out. I saw something chome or silver fall off from that spot. 😂

[@alanclark249]

hi bruce you could take all the seats out and have it has a mobile workshop for you qwade bike put a tail lift on the back end drive in drive out and fix it

[@RayBrown-d8n]

Take the bus out of Reverse an put it in Neutral with airbrake applied. That how the bus is in Park.

[@Leopard-2-PL]

its like right as I become a enthusiast of something creators start posting about that thing, interesting

[@S733l_Hyp]

I'd make it top-notch shape, all needed repairs and offer myself for service, if i was you, Bruce. Consider that as side business for community and all children near you, who goes to school :)

[@42luke93]

Cool to see a column shifter on a full sized school bus. There is always a story and I wonder why the church stopped using it.

[@42luke93]

23:00

[@samanthavanwitzenburg5479]

1989 Ford B700 School Bus Model Child restraint devices are required for children through the age of seven (until 8th birthday). Safety seats must be properly used and approved to meet Department of Transportation standards.

[@ESDI80]

Make it into a RV / Party Bus!

[@TowMater603]

Mrs.Frizzle is going to be mad ! lol

[@alaindore5988]

Sletpool schoolbus great idea I never seen that before