Mullet's Thunder Bus Build

[EastCoastCB]

Man that bus sure looks good! Congrats on a year of progress!!

[Tango]

A year well spent!

[Yukon Cornelius]

This rig sure has come a long way in 1yr,
Well done sir

[cadillackid]

what size pipe is the exhaust on our busses? trying to locate a section of pipe to make myself a bypass yields many results.. I like the idea of running str8 piped

[Johnny Mullet]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

what size pipe is the exhaust on our busses? trying to locate a section of pipe to make myself a bypass yields many results.. I like the idea of running str8 piped

My exhaust is 3" from the turbo to where the muffler inlet was. The muffler had a 4" outlet and 4" all the way out the back. I used a 3" ID to 4" ID adapter and then a 4" coupler.

I am now planning my cross country trip...........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmkd--KBYSY

[leadsled01]

You will love the west coast. Epic road trip you have planned. Just remember to slow down and smell the roses. Maybe I will stow away, to get out of this cold weather. lol

[cadillackid]

awesome trip!!! hey did you turn your motor up to 210? I think I saw in one post you mentioned that you have 210 now?



def take it nice N easy and enjoy!!! I love cross c ountry road trips!
-Christopher

[Johnny Mullet]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

awesome trip!!! hey did you turn your motor up to 210? I think I saw in one post you mentioned that you have 210 now?



def take it nice N easy and enjoy!!! I love cross c ountry road trips!
-Christopher

My SnapOn scanner cannot turn it up to 210 unless I am missing it somewhere. It's still at 190.

[cadillackid]

interesting.. if it will let you edit the Family code you may be able to.. the EFRC code is what seems to open it up to almost anything..



it seems if you are careful you can run them at 230 with the stock turbo, that turbo is a little small so the EGT's can spike fairly fast I noticed eso if I let its RPM;s get crowded at all.. I did find a boost leak.. ordered a couple parts to fix that then i can see how my EGTs are with the proper boost..



at 210 the EGT's never even get close to being too high..



if we can end uo in the same part of the state at the same time before you leave on your trip we could easily bump you to 210.
-Christopher

[Ronnie]

Look forward to meeting you(and other skoolies) at skooliepalooza. We expect to arrive 15th in the evening or 16th. We plan to then continue on to California to visit friends, then Washington state to see family.

Mufflers, for those who do not want straight pipes, there are straight through mufflers available for larger trucks and buses at Napa, and any big fleet supplier. These will knock off the bark of straight pipes but not much else.

[cadillackid]

I decided to do johnnies method and going to straight pipe it. I noticed my turn down is bent and kinked so I’m going to straighten that out .. since I have a short bus it may prove too loud and I may need one of those mufflers.. I’m not going to weld my pipe in so I can easily change if I want
Christopher

[Ronnie]

Here is Napa's part number 21468
3" in and out
6" diameter
21" body length
30" total length

[Johnny Mullet]

Running straight pipe has been a game changer driving my bus. The bus is more responsive and "peppier" if that is a legit mechanical term. My top speed is not any faster. The bus is not louder from the cab, but from behind it is a little louder or let's say "rumbly", but nothing like a gas engine with a straight pipe. I can actually hear my turbocharger working. My buddy at work who followed me into town said it "sounds freaking awesome" but not loud.

[Tango]

"Rumble"? I just played that tune by Link Wray on the Juke at REHAB!


Still rocks after over 60 years!


And it sounds good comin out of a diesel exhaust too.

[cadillackid]

Super.. I ordered the parts from summit to just pipe it rather than a quiet muffle. I couldn’t find any good info on the turbo and whether it requires back pressure but the ford guys who swap exhausts seem to concur that it makes gains.

Now to find the right gt37 turbo .. navistar has dozens of turbos they used on these over the years
Christopher

[Ronnie]

less back pressure means more boost within what the waste gate allows. No need for turbo back pressure, it also runs a little cooler, the turbo that is.

[Johnny Mullet]

I finally did an official tour video of the bus...........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NiFeAIE4Lg

[snonut]

Outstanding job!! And your video provides a nice incentive for those of use just plodding along hoping someday to have something nice when we get finished.

[Johnny Mullet]

The weather was nice enough to try out my awning idea. I mounted 2 permanent hooks at each end of the tarp and magnetic hooks down the side.......

[cadillackid]

nice and simple.. just unhook and fold it up to stow.. no rollers and springs to jam up!
-Christopher