The 'olestationbus'

UPDATE:

Since I initially wrote this blog back in May, I have had the olestationbus painted, with the rust being repaired.

I rattle canned the interior myself in the same color.

I painted the wheels and put the chrome hubcaps on it.

I replaced all of the rear window seals. The windshield and the windows in the front doors still need weatherstriping.

I replaced all of the door seals.

This is a nice bus that always draws a shout out and a thumbs up whenever I drive it.




Following is my original blog from May. The italics were added in October when I updated this blog.

This is my "olestationbus".

1963 Ford Falcon Station Bus
VIN: E11TH342547
E11=Falcon Station Bus series (base model Falcon)
T= 170 engine
H= Lorain, Ohio assembly plant
342547 October 1962 serial number (1963 model)

Also from the data plate I was able to get the following information.
Three speed transmission on the column (3 on the Tree)
Corinthian White paint
3.50:1 light duty rear axle (7 1/4")
Houston sales district

I bought it from a guy who buys estates for the planes in them and just ebays the cars in the estates.

I believe I am the second or third owner but have no way to prove it except the title I got from the seller was issued in 1965 but the damn state of Florida would not let me keep it!! Man I was hot that day.

I will provide a clear Florida title for it.

Since I have had it I have replaced:
Coil
Left front brake line
Electric Fuel Pump
Tires
Wiper blades
Valve cover and oil pan gaskets
Brake light indicator (in the rear of the master cylinder)
Filters
Thermostat

I also rebuilt the carb.

The previous owner had recently installed new plugs, wires, distributor cap, points, rotor. He also replaced the standard fuel pump with an inline electric one and plated off the opening in the block. All works well.

Except for the gas gauge, parking brake and heater, everything works. Blinkers, brake lights, headlights, high and low beams, interior lights, heater , wipers. It has no emergency signals at all.

Except for the stickers and the aftermarket electric fuel pump, it is bone stock.

Empty, I get around 15 mpg around town and 22 on the interstate. My top speed in it is about 55 or 60 mph. I think the speedo is about 5 mph fast.

I would not hesitate in driving my olestationbus anywhere. Just not to fast.

As I mentioned, I bought this last year out in San Antonio, Texas, flew out and drove it home to Daytona Beach. It still has the Texas inspection stickers in the left front corner of the windshield.


On the way home, it started missing, off and on, so I thought the coil was bad and replaced it on the road. Turns out that wasn't it, the fuel tank was full of crud and the electric fuel pump was having a hard time getting fuel to the carb when the gas tank got below a certain level.

Once I got home, I removed the tank, cleaned it out, replaced the electric fuel pump the previous owner had installed and everything works like a champ!! While the tank seems solid, there is a gasoline odor outside the rearend when the tank is full. Less than a full tank, no odor.

This past week, it started running hot. I replaced the thermostat and all is well.


As you can see, it does have some surface rust.



The right rear door window has a BB gun size hole in it and it has cracked. I have found a replacement for it out in a local junkyard for $30. The yard was flooded the day I went for it so I will head out this fall to get it.



This is a small ding on the right rear. Now painted.



It even has a cool old step that comes out when you open the front door of this pair.


That small circle is a rust hole in the above pictured front door, the one that operates the step. One of only three rust holes on the whole bus!




This is the step in the passengers side. No holes, just surface rust.

No radio or glove box door were ever installed in this baby.

Both front seats have seat covers installed by the previous owner. This one, the passenger's seat is original while the driver's seat is out of some other car. Right comfortable though. Both need reupholstering to match.



This is the drip rail at the passengers door opening.

This is the lever that slides the step out. There is a replacement cover for it on ebay for $40.00 $35.00, plus shipping.

Both interior lights work. The previous owner sprayed some of that expanding foam at select spots on the interior of the ceiling.

At first I thought he did it to stop leaks but my brother theorized it was because the welds had gotten old and were squeaking.

That is the Texas tag in the rear door. G63 NSY, Great '63, Not So Young.

The previous owner also sprayed the top of the bus with a "Rhino Liner" type of material.

Those "pee" stains you see on the concrete are actually from my black and tan oleragtop, not this olestationbus. It is tight and dry, where internal fluids are concerned.

He also had a put a hasp on the rear doors as the rear door locks do not work. I have since covered these holes with US Flag decals.



The rear doors have surface rust only.







If you double click on this image, you can see the condition of all of the rubber on this bus.



While out in San Antonio, I bought 5 new tires at Walmart for $40 each and this spare has never been on the ground. I also have four stock, chrome hubcaps I will include in the deal, if you want them.



This is the second rust hole on the bus, and is located at the front of the driver's door opening. Not repaired, just painted. I had to save something just for the memory of it.





82,000.1 miles, now 85,000. Although the title I was given upon purchase was mileage exempt, as will be the one you get, I believe this to be the original mileage. There are were a couple of old school oil change stickers inside the driver's door opening and the mileage seems to correspond with the dates. Both the generator, on the lower left and the oil, on the lower right, lens have broken down and are, what looks like, melted. The gas gauge, along with the ebrake and the heater are the only things on this bus that do not work.

This is the heater located on the floor between the seats and it has a leak in it and has been bypassed. Before I bypassed it, the heat was hot!! I am going to get the one out in that junkyard and see if it is any better.

Straight six, 170 ci, 110 hp. I rebuilt the single barrel rebuilt carb. I also replaced the oil pan gasket and the valve cover gasket. This bus runs strong!

Underneath the hood.

Driver's seat.



This is the third, and last, rust hole located at the base of the "A" pillar on the driver's side. You can see the condition of the windshield weatherstripping in this shot also.



The differential has leaked in the past but does not seem to now.



This is the outside of the door with operates the step. You can see the rust hole from the outside in this image.

A small crinkle, but barely noticable, in the passenger's side front door.

I bought the bus with 78,900 miles on it. The tires have about 6,100 miles on them.

You can't really see it in the above image but the windshield has a couple of chips in it. A replacement windshield is $350 from an outfit up near Atlanta. I saw them at the Turkey Run in 2008.

The driver's wing vent is lexan, plastic, and both of the wing vents are missing handles. I have them but they are not installed. There was never a passenger's sunvisor installed. Also, there are clips for a "cardboard" type headliner that are still in place. The original headliner was only over the two front seats.

I got a cheap mirror at an auto parts store and stuck it on the original mirror base as the original was missing.

Here is a short video of me starting it up for the first time today. It always starts right up when cold but needs a couple cranks when it is warm. I think I need to adjust the carb more, just haven't gotten around to it. Sorry about the focus on the video but you can hear this bus start up.


This olestationbus runs strong. While it is not my daily driver, I drive it nearly every day. It accelerates going up the tall bridges we have over the intercoastal waterway around here.

I am now asking $5,000.00 for it and that is a pretty firm price. It is a lot nicer than any of the other econolines or falcons I have seen listed. Just a lot of sanding, window and door seals, and a little paint and this thing will shine. I found all the door seals on line for $90 a pair and the window seals are $20 each.

I would consider delivering it to you for gas and cheap motel costs.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.

John Lee
longrooffan@aol.com
386-868-7664