It is amazing this is still running with the original Toro-Flow engine considering all of the problems with them related to an insufficiently strong engine block.
I just might be ablt to as my friend not far from here just picked up that very bus from the owner that owned it when I did this video! I do have another video, but not uploaded of one of these buses with the Detroit Diesel two stroke screamer 6V53N engine. I will get it up later when I get a chance! Glad ya liked this!
Yes upload the other bus videos I'd like to see those. We had buses like that in Indiana back in the 70's and I used to ride them was really fun. I think they have different models of the size of bus GM made and I like seeing those..takes us viewers for another ride in those. That would be off the hook LOL. Take some stop and go trips like riding on a bus route,
Nice bus, first Toro-Flow I have ever heard. One comment, the Allison MT-41 is actually a 6 speed transmission used in medium duty applications until it went out of production in 1972. In normal operation it starts in third gear and shifts its way to sixth. First & second were basically granny gears for heavy loads or high demand situations. Selector positions typically were: R N 3-6 3-5 3-4 1-2 1. Does your selector not allow the use of the low gears? Probally not needed in a bus application.
I wish! Hopefully next time I get down there. I road them many times in the late 1980's and early 1990's. However, next inline could be a video of one of the MAN Americana's when I get time!
Originally purchased by the City of Nelson brand new in 1970. At the time of this video, it was owned by a private owner in Vanocuver, British Columbia and was recently perchased by a private owner in Red Deer Alberta.
Yes they are called the toroflow engine, but they are actually by the company GMC. These were 4 stroke engines that were a V6, which was orginally a gas motor converted to diesel. They didn't make very many of these for several things. They were underpowered, and they had problems i guess. the DH-478 has about 170 Hp @ 3200 rpms and 310 Ft-lbs of torque @ 2000 rpms. The 351 only had 130 horsepower. My 305 V6 gas has as much HP as the DH-478.
The only gas-engine-based diesel V8 that was worse than the Toro-Flow was the Oldsmobile LF9 diesel V8 used in certain cars and light trucks from 1978-85. While stories do exist about it being a converted gas block, that is not the case because although it had to be built to fit in the same space as the gas engine (as well as sharing the same bore and stroke dimensions), the LF9 block had to be more robust to handle the diesel's 22-1/2:1 compression ratio, yet they also cheapened it by using the same number of head bolts per cylinder as the gas 350 and not including a fuel/water separator; that made the 1978-80 model year engines very weak and the 1981-85 model year engines had an improved "DX" block to rectify those problems, but it didn't really matter because after '81 sales of diesel cars in general, including those made by the various divisions of GM, would never be the same again. From 1982-85 Oldsmobile also produced a V6 version of the engine; but unlike the V8 version, the V6 actually used more head bolts per cylinder for better rigidity.
@busrailfan That makes her transfive speed auto.. Years ago you know, I simiairly rode a baby fishbowl bus with a four speed Allison 64?? trans [positions R N D 3 2 1].1970 makes it a kind of odd duck to have an automatic with more than two or three [two with over] ratios.
Thanks! I have been wondering what they sounded like as well. That was my first time hearing one after all these years!
I finally get to hear what a GM Toro-Flow engine sounds like thanks for uploading this bus.
Nice to finally see the bus up and running after sitting for a while.
Beautiful! Thanks. I have restored this exact model. Loving her as RV.
Where did you find yours?? I'd love to find one too!!
It is amazing this is still running with the original Toro-Flow engine considering all of the problems with them related to an insufficiently strong engine block.
First time I ever heard of a GMC Fishbowl with a four-stroker in it!
I used to drive a bus with a CAT 3208 and that bus had much more of a rumble than this one! :)
The 3208T had an even more muscular sound, especially when the turbo whizzed.
Yes I was already informed, but I forgot about getting back to it to edit the info. Thanks for the reminder.
This engine had been available for medium-duty Chevy and GMC 60/65 series trucks in the C and M series through 1974.
+ClassicTVMan1981X Sounds like the Cummins and the Detroit Diesel Series 40 engine.
i remember taking this bus back then.. as a kid
@MCOvronnaz - yup! Only an hour and a half drive from my home to see this bus too!
I just might be ablt to as my friend not far from here just picked up that very bus from the owner that owned it when I did this video! I do have another video, but not uploaded of one of these buses with the Detroit Diesel two stroke screamer 6V53N engine. I will get it up later when I get a chance! Glad ya liked this!
Yes upload the other bus videos I'd like to see those. We had buses like that in Indiana back in the 70's and I used to ride them was really fun. I think they have different models of the size of bus GM made and I like seeing those..takes us viewers for another ride in those. That would be off the hook LOL. Take some stop and go trips like riding on a bus route,
My dad had this type of engine in a 1967 GMC Pick-up truck.
I believe this bus is serial #0112, delivered in August 1971. The original fleet # for this unit is #118.
Nice bus, first Toro-Flow I have ever heard. One comment, the Allison MT-41 is actually a 6 speed transmission used in medium duty applications until it went out of production in 1972. In normal operation it starts in third gear and shifts its way to sixth. First & second were basically granny gears for heavy loads or high demand situations. Selector positions typically were: R N 3-6 3-5 3-4 1-2 1. Does your selector not allow the use of the low gears? Probally not needed in a bus application.
Brian Babcock I know those mostly from old blue bird 🐦 buses!!
@busrailfan
As I understand it was the first 4-stroke diesel GM built, and the early V6 version was built on a gas block!
I just bought a 1970 Baby Fishbowl from a tour bus company in Indiana and brought it home.
busrailfan In the 70's through the 80's when my car was in the shop. i always caught buses..
@GoldenSlurpee - This bus has gone through a few different owners since she was retired sometime before 1990. So I am not really sure.
@leathertool - Nope. As mentioned in the video info, this is the Detroit Diesel Toro-Flow engine.
@ClassicTVMan1981X - That's correct.
see sound amazing and look amazing
I wish! Hopefully next time I get down there. I road them many times in the late 1980's and early 1990's. However, next inline could be a video of one of the MAN Americana's when I get time!
Originally purchased by the City of Nelson brand new in 1970. At the time of this video, it was owned by a private owner in Vanocuver, British Columbia and was recently perchased by a private owner in Red Deer Alberta.
Yes they are called the toroflow engine, but they are actually by the company GMC. These were 4 stroke engines that were a V6, which was orginally a gas motor converted to diesel. They didn't make very many of these for several things. They were underpowered, and they had problems i guess. the DH-478 has about 170 Hp @ 3200 rpms and 310 Ft-lbs of torque @ 2000 rpms. The 351 only had 130 horsepower. My 305 V6 gas has as much HP as the DH-478.
The only gas-engine-based diesel V8 that was worse than the Toro-Flow was the Oldsmobile LF9 diesel V8 used in certain cars and light trucks from 1978-85.
While stories do exist about it being a converted gas block, that is not the case because although it had to be built to fit in the same space as the gas engine (as well as sharing the same bore and stroke dimensions), the LF9 block had to be more robust to handle the diesel's 22-1/2:1 compression ratio, yet they also cheapened it by using the same number of head bolts per cylinder as the gas 350 and not including a fuel/water separator; that made the 1978-80 model year engines very weak and the 1981-85 model year engines had an improved "DX" block to rectify those problems, but it didn't really matter because after '81 sales of diesel cars in general, including those made by the various divisions of GM, would never be the same again.
From 1982-85 Oldsmobile also produced a V6 version of the engine; but unlike the V8 version, the V6 actually used more head bolts per cylinder for better rigidity.
@ukkfayooyay - Very nice! I look forward to seeing your new bus!
@serioussteve18
There was the lighter-duty MT31 6-speed auto, in which the AT540 replaced in 1970.
Nice! That's interesting!
@retroolschool - Neither... Take a look at the video info.
is there anyway you can get more of this type of video of more of this type of bus? Love to see more video in it.
Ok... So the DH-478 is the proper model name for the Toroflow engine? And they are in fact Detroit Diesel, correct?
Interesting! When did you ride this bus? It has not been used since at least the late 1980's in regular Transit service at all.
I wish GM would have built 102" Baby Fishbowls.
I would LOVE to own one of these GM New Look Buses. But what are my chances?
@busrailfan
That makes her transfive speed auto.. Years ago you know, I simiairly rode a baby fishbowl bus with a four speed Allison 64?? trans [positions R N D 3 2 1].1970 makes it a kind of odd duck to have an automatic with more than two or three [two with over] ratios.
PS That bus was one of the 1966 Flxibles with pepermint candy stripe roofs.
@douro20
But then it was the V6, not the V8 that had the problem.
Low priced well running GM's are hard to find. All I could find the might fit in my driveway is a D30LF and a Orion II.
Cool! But what City was this in?
Is that a Cummings or CAT engine?
Nope... Toro-Flow D478; sounds also like a Cummins V6-140.
baby Fishbowl -ahah - cute nickname)
Cummins L-10 Transmission Alison Automatic
Hehe, wrong-sounding Fishbowl. ;)
But seriously, that thing hauls ass. What's the max speed?
Drivers license and lotsa and lotsa moiney...:)
I am not sure. Maybe contact TH-cam user "serioussteve18" as he may be able to answer that question for you.
@busrailfan Oh, well duh. I had a brain fart there.