Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 12-18-2016, 10:59 AM   #1
Almost There
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 71
1999 blue bird

Looking into buying a 1999 blue bird with t444e with the mt643 4 speed transmission. The odometer says it only has 85,000 on it? Could be possible bus is from a small town in montana. Just looking for input on this particular bus.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Qya1991 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2016, 12:02 PM   #2
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 136
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird?
Chassis: 26ft Bluebird TC2000
Engine: Cumming 5.9 12v, AT545
Great transmission, meh engine, imho.
dalez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2016, 12:10 PM   #3
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,758
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
Quote:
Originally Posted by dalez View Post
Great transmission, meh engine, imho.

engine is oerfectly fine.. easy to find parts for.. similar enough to the ford 7.3 Powerstroke that anyone can work on it..

not real powerful but with a 643 it will do fine..

-Christopher
cadillackid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2016, 12:49 PM   #4
Almost There
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 71
Will a dt engine bolt up to this tranny. And how hard would it be to get the motor mounts right for the swap if a guy was to go this route.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Qya1991 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2016, 01:07 PM   #5
Almost There
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 71
What are some common oil leaks on the 643 and the t444

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Qya1991 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2016, 01:08 PM   #6
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,758
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
Quote:
Originally Posted by Qya1991 View Post
Will a dt engine bolt up to this tranny. And how hard would it be to get the motor mounts right for the swap if a guy was to go this route.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
it would but you'll have some mods to make for sure... DT-466 and T-444E are very different engines.. you may have to put different springs in the front as the DT-466 is a heavier engine..

theres a guy on youtube who swapped aT-444E for aDT-360 (the 466 smaller cousin).. im not sure what work he had to do.. I remember it being a bit of a project but using parts from a donor bus helped him make it all work.

personally if you want a DT-466 bus id look to buy a DT-466 Bus off the bat.. you have the advantage you have not yet bought a bus so you can pass this one by and look for a DT-466 unit..

-Christopher
cadillackid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2016, 01:14 PM   #7
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 136
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird?
Chassis: 26ft Bluebird TC2000
Engine: Cumming 5.9 12v, AT545
When you buy a bus, you're mostly playing for the drivetrain anyways, buy one that has what you want in it.
dalez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2016, 01:23 PM   #8
Almost There
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 71
It really doesn't matter what motor just something that's been maintained. I'm very anal about up keep on maintenance and the bus won't be drove much I would guess not more than 5 or 6 thousand a year.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Qya1991 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2016, 01:33 PM   #9
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 136
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird?
Chassis: 26ft Bluebird TC2000
Engine: Cumming 5.9 12v, AT545
I've heard the t444e is a little more pricey to repair/maintain but it's far from the worst. A bit underpowered probably. But if you just need to get there and you dont care if it's slow, I'm sure it'll get the job done just fine.

I personally like my all mechanical DT466 though, only 6 cylinders, no electronics to fail, it just goes and goes as long as you keep oil and coolant in it
dalez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2016, 01:37 PM   #10
Almost There
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 71
So I've read that the t444 is only a 200,000 mile engine is this true? I would like to get an honest opinion on how long the life span is.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Qya1991 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2016, 01:45 PM   #11
Almost There
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 71
Maybe I'll try and upgrade to a dt down the road. But for now I think I'll stick to the t444. Any thoughts on a 2003 dt motor are they as good as the old ones. I do have a chance to buy one for 3,000 it has 130,000 on it but it has an issue with cutting out at random times. They guy said when it happens turn the key off and back on its fine. So I don't know might be more of a project then I would like to get into. Any thoughts on what could be wrong with it is it a common problem?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Qya1991 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2016, 02:48 PM   #12
Almost There
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 71
What is the oil change interval with t444e? How many miles or months?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Qya1991 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:16 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.