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1964 Chevy Blue Bird Bus
"Bessy"

This beauty is my 1964 Chevrolet bus. My buddy has had it for the last 25 years and I finally got it off him a while back. I came across it about 20 years ago tho. So, for six months I have been trying to get anything on it I can. A a nice gentlemen told me about stovebolt.com. One day with this group here and I have gotten more answers than the last six months from anyone and any dealership or even the factory it came from.

My kids have come to name her Bessy, and we absolutely love her. I have tried to do as much research as I can. I have called Blue Bird (body maker) and tried to get what info I can on it. The only thing I could deduce is that the body came from the Georgia plant and the chassis is a good ole c60.

As far as Bessy as a whole, she spent most of the '90s running tubers back to the tube house for a river floating company in Wyoming. Late 99/00 she found her way to an auction house and my friend was the lucky recipient.

The conversion to a medieval / camping RV began. There are beautiful iron works shelves made by a third-generation welder lining the back. There is a bench seat that spans four or five windows on the passenger side and two seats on the driver side both fold into beds and it makes a wonderful camping experience.

I plan on fixing her as much as I can. Restoring it and perfecting it. Then traveling in it going to see different things and enjoying the nostalgia.

I will certainly be adding more pics.

Glad to see you made it into the group. Told ya they'd be friendly and helpful! Joe

Oh Joe! That must have been you! Glad to see you pop in now and then.

That's an awesome looking Blue Bird. I've had my Carpenter coach '65 C60 for thirty years now. Four generations of my family have worked on it with me. Grandpa, Dad, spouse, kids. Would love to see more pics, including the inside.

If you actually mean to drive it, you'll want some new wheels and tires. Here's where to get them.. Buy truck wheels -- 22-5x6-75-white-steel-10x8-75-old-chevy-2-ton-trucks

I don't work for them, I just bought a set of the wheels after literally decades of searching for a more modern option than the Firestone FR-5 widow makers these rigs came with.

Tronman you are heaven sent I have been scouring everywhere to find good tires and once again here comes Stovebolt to the rescue ........I love you all

Here is a source for bus parts, for the coach versus the engine / chassis. (A pdf file.) They're still in business and I had a nice chat with the man, who didn't happen to have what I was looking for, the door seal rubbers, for my Carpenter coach. But he did tell me exactly what to use to make them.

I've had my 1965 Chevrolet C60 Carpenter coach school bus for 30years, as of this month. What a long, strange trip it's been -- four generations of my family have worked on this bus or helped me with it. What follows are recently discovered (by me) solutions to problems and issues I've had for decades.

Here's how to delete the factory Firestone widow maker wheels before they explode and kill you. "22.5x6.75 White Steel 10x8.75" (Old Chevy 2 Ton Trucks". It's $1800 for all six, but at least you only gotta spend it once-and then tire service shops will let your rig onto their property. With the original RH-5s ... not so much. It's OSHA illegal to even work on 'em. Will make great fire pits, however.

Here's where to get that steering drag link between the Pitman arm and knuckle. Mine was loose for decades, and I bet yours is, too. Rare Parts with the 5,000lb front axle -- they can sell you #TRDS900 . You'll notice a full eighth of a turn less slop in your steering after replacing this. Also, one less thing that can come apart and kill you.

The front brake drums are a somewhat currently active Webb #64425F and the 14x2.5" shoes are available at O'Reilley's if you can find the right counter person to look 'em up from FMSI #299

Finally, if it's still got the original oval housing 15,000lb two speed rear axle, then it probably has 15x4" brakes and I have a pair of the drums. Fleet Pride somewhat might have the new Gunnite #2770B, maybe. Website says not available for shipping at the moment.

Lastly, to my pleasant surprise, online vendor Parts Geek has a rather substantial 1964 era C60 parts selection, including wheel cylinders, clutch and brake master cylinders, even some body parts like the inner fender aprons. (1964 and 5 are pretty identical.)

Some of these items I literally spent decades searching for, so now you won't have to. I hope some of this helps you, I sure wish someone had laid all this on me back when I got my bus!