International trams used at Dollywood!

[Wayne M.]

Hello all. I just got back from vacationing in East Tennessee. During my visit to Dollywood, I was stunned to see what they were using as tram vehicles. They are (Bill Stockard- HELP!) I believe custom built early 1970's IH Loadstars with V8 power. I loved riding in them but nobody could answer any questions about them. They are serving along with Ford Econoline based trams, and the futuristic looking ones as seen at Disney-world in Fl.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Wayne,



Good call!



Yes, those are custom bodies. I sold area churches busses which were basically school buses painted in a custom color that the customer wanted of school bus yellow. Local dealers in Texas don't usually sell to the local school districts. All school busses in Texas were purchased by the state purchasing agency in order for the busses to be standardized.



Those busses were more than likely equipped with I-H 345 cid V-8s and from looking at the inside they have Allison automatic transmissions. The I-H V345 was a tough engine, could stand a lot of abuse and neglect, and did especially well when converted to LP gas. If you could smell hot/burning oil around the engine, it's not unusual for the rocker cover to be seeming/leaking with the oil seeping down on the exhaust manifolds.



Bill

 

[mwilson]

The dash looks to be for a lot newer style Loadstar than the front fenders. I think that the parking lights in the fenders were eliminated by 1968 and replaced by the square combo park/signal mounted on the top.



At least that was the case on the trucks, maybe they used some holdover parts on the bus chassis.



Mike.

 

[Bill Stockard]

The dash looks to be for a lot newer style Loadstar than the front fenders. I think that the parking lights in the fenders were eliminated by 1968 and replaced by the square combo park/signal mounted on the top.



At least that was the case on the trucks, maybe they used some holdover parts on the bus chassis.



Mike.

WOW!! Good memory, Mike. I don't recall what year the parking lights were moved to the top of the fenders and when the instrument panel was changed. That's a long time ago... lots of trucks down the road since then.



Bill

 

[Wayne M.]

Glad you guys are getting a kick

Definetly the 345 with looong fence pipe exhaust with the rappp I remember as a kid. LOL. Yes definitely Allison but there was only D1 and D2 on the quadrant. It only shifted once. I rode front in those shots, and once in back- just to listen. Running on gasoline- real stinky.

 

[Bob V]

Related story, when I was in high school the auto shop instructor was tuning up an scout with the 4 cyl and couldn't get the timing right. Being that we had a few corn binders on the farm I knew about timing them on #4 and #8. At first he thought I was kidding, then I had him read the valve cover. He then told me the story of HIS shop teacher and the timing light that was tagged "will not work on International Harvesters"

 

[Bill Lins]

Going by the windshield & cowl, it looks like the body was built either by Superior or Blue Bird.

 

[jgillott]

Quick question. What year did they change from that front end to the more squared off front end with the square grill? I remember it being somewhere in the mid to late 70's, but I can remember for sure. Does 1977 or '78 sound right?

 

[mwilson]

1976 I think, for the first year with the fiberglass tilt hood. And the MV motors... .

 

[jgillott]

Excellent. Thanks. I remember getting a new school bus sometime in that era and it having the new front end. Couldn't remember exactly what year.

 

[mwilson]

Check out the vintage Australian Loadstar. Trying to find out what it had for an engine, I suspect a 6V-53.

 

[mwilson]

It would be a lot harder to drive from the right side if it is a 2 stick, plus you would have to slam a different hand in the door to get prepped for the mighty Detroit... .



Mike.

 

[Wayne M.]

I love the trucks you guys are putting up.

What do you all think of the front spokes on the tram? they were very slender and curved. Not typical. You can see about half of the wheel in the picture.

 

[NIsaacs]

Here is a cool truck. This guy has a huge supply of good stuff. Including a 1990 W350 with a tag axle and 16' flatbed, he hauled some huge loads with it. In video part one he tells about the build of this KB12.



Nick

 

[Bill Stockard]

Check out the vintage Australian Loadstar. Trying to find out what it had for an engine, I suspect a 6V-53.





View attachment 86360

Mike,



That's a Fleetstar, probably a 2100 series. Yep, I'll bet you are right about the engine... a little screamin' Detroit... big sound, little action.



Bill

 

[Bill Stockard]

Check out the vintage Australian Loadstar. Trying to find out what it had for an engine, I suspect a 6V-53.





View attachment 86360

Mike,



That's a Loadstar with a Fleetstar grille. Yep, I'll bet you are right about the engine... a little screamin' Detroit... big sound, little action.



Bill

 

[Bill Stockard]

I love the trucks you guys are putting up.

What do you all think of the front spokes on the tram? they were very slender and curved. Not typical. You can see about half of the wheel in the picture.

Lighter weight capacity front axle.

Spoke wheels=cultivator wheels. :-laf

Bill

 

[Wayne M.]

Here is a cool truck. This guy has a huge supply of good stuff. Including a 1990 W350 with a tag axle and 16' flatbed, he hauled some huge loads with it. In video part one he tells about the build of this KB12.



Nick

What engine in the KB? I want to know where he's going!

 

[NIsaacs]

What engine in the KB? I want to know where he's going!

Thats a Cummins 275 with the roots blower, built into a 300 I think. He was probably going to a truck show. He has about 20 acres of old trucks and crawler tractors. He has a tourist attraction with an old saw mill powered by a one cylinder diesel engine "Huge" he cuts a board about every 30 minutes and is open year around. I love to go there, Jerome, Az.



Nick

 

[mwilson]

Mike,



That's a Loadstar with a Fleetstar grille. Yep, I'll bet you are right about the engine... a little screamin' Detroit... big sound, little action.



Bill

If I remember the nomenclature correctly that would be at least contain F-1890