Anyone here own a flat nose 8 window?

[PeteinSF]

for the EastCoastCB...

Big 4x4 version of your cool rig.

https://youtu.be/ONkSV7SKW_Q

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by PeteinSF

for the EastCoastCB...

Big 4x4 version of your cool rig.

https://youtu.be/ONkSV7SKW_Q

Such a cool bus!!!
I wonder what its like on the interstate.
From everything I've been told 4x4 buses tend to top out at low speeds like 45mph or so.

I'm fine with mine being big and 2wd. Its great on dirt roads!

[PeteinSF]

EastCoastCB

What engine/trans/axle ratio is in your bus?

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by PeteinSF

EastCoastCB

What engine/trans/axle ratio is in your bus?

The raised 99 Thomas/Freightliner has a Cat 3126, Allison 545, and 4.11 rear axle.
Check out the MPH and RPM on this rig-


Also note the hours and mileage!

This lil bus was a cherry of a find.

I also have a 2004 IC shorty with a DT466, allison 2000, and 5.29 rear axle.

[Dagnythedoodle]

Originally Posted by PeteinSF

Thanks Dagny.

Yes, some floor plan ideas would be great... Is yours a 8 or 9 length?

Sorry this took me a little bit to respond to, it's been a whirlwind. But we got it spray foamed yesterday and spent the whole day trimming and laying the subfloor down!


Here are the specs on mine:

1998 Bluebird Handybus
Cummins Diesel Engine
A545 Transmission
Air Brakes
9 Window Length
Flat Nose
Handicap Lift Door
24' x 7 1/2' interior living space (not including drivers area)
28' x 8'ish Exterior dimensions
Ceiling will probably end up around 6'4" when floor is fully installed --

I'll try to post my floor plans later today-- Our floor plan space in the workshop was a hot mess from yesterday so I haven't had a chance to take a picture.


However, my floor plan includes a queen sized bed, full bathroom with toilet and shower, small desk area, full kitchen, and 6 1/2 ft couch that will pull out to a guest bed.
So pretty much covers all of my needs for a living space =]

[Dagnythedoodle]

Originally Posted by PeteinSF

Thanks Dagny.

Yes, some floor plan ideas would be great... Is yours a 8 or 9 length?

Here's the floorplan! With most of my appliances

[PeteinSF]

Your virtual layout looks too wide to me. Probably the lack of walls. I do like the “bed forward” design.

UPDATE: She is at the local International dealer so I should have a report on why she was in a “can’t start” condition.

Then I have to figure out how to get her back to NORCAL. I suspect I will have to do the RV title conversion before she can cross the border. I’ll have to ask if she has a DPF, that would be the only non RV option for Calififornia and only good unti 2020 (I think)

Has Anyone done an Alabama bus>RV title conversion?

[Pizote]

Not a flat nose but this is the target layout for my 8-window CE300

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0Uvz...di6tw0eew#Home

[Pizote]

I am heading to Louisiana in two weeks to pick up m 8-window CE300. Driving it back to NCAL. Where in NCAL are you? D’Oh! By your username my guess is the Bay Area. I’m an hour north ;)

Caravan together?

[PeteinSF]

Hi Pizote,

I live in SF and have a cabin in Laytonville (north of Willits) area.

I would love to caravan but I am not sure when I will be driving her back.

[Pizote]

My target departed to Santa Rosa from New Orleans will be Sunday 10/21. PM me any time prior if if works out for you.

[PeteinSF]

UPDATE: Report from the International shop.



The Good: The only obvious problem was a dead battery (and a missing ignition key).


The Bad: The rear end ratio is 6.17!


The shop said it's a Dana 17060S so I can start looking for parts. In my mind that seems more like a tow truck rear end then one for a short school bus.


Hmm, not sure what to do about this.


What would be ideal?



(from Spicer site) http://media.spicerparts.com/cfs/fil...store=original


3.08, 3.25, 3.36, 3.55, 3.70, 3.90, 4.11, 4.30, 4.33, 4.63, 4.78, 4.88, 5.29, 5.38, 5.57

[Pizote]

Mine has the same gear ratio. There are really onl four options:

1. Live with it. ��
2. Unlock your 6th if it’s an Allison 2500 - difficult but there might be hope. There are 3rd parties that will unlock the TCM but it only works on 2500’s that we’re built after 06/2006. Before then you need to do internal work too.
3. Go to bigger tires. If you have an accessibility bus with small tires, you can put some wheel wells in and larger tires - not ideal but certainly possible.
4. Change the gearing to 5.29 or something similar.

Both option 3 and 4 will result in higher highway speeds or lower rpms are cruising, the lower ends will be a bit of a pig.

IMO the best options are 2, 1, 4 and finally 3.

[PeteinSF]

The bus was assembled in July of 2005 (2006 model) so I suspect no easy 6th gear options.



I think the tires are already large. (maybe why the 6.17)


Used carriers are inexpensive < $500 so that may be the long term solution.


Do you have a current bus with 6.17 or is that the LA>CA bus you are planning to drive up? Also what will the 55mph RPM be for 6.17 (not sure I want to know).


At least the engine never worked too hard on the torque side with that high gear.


Is 5.29 the magic number, I have seen 3.90, 4.11, 4.88 and 5.29s used.


Sorry for the quick fire questions... Just thinking right into the keyboard.

[Pizote]

Forgot to answer what would be best. That requires a bit of a calculation.

You will need to find your tire height - there are tire size calculators out there that will tell you that.

If you have an Allison 2500, your 5th gear ratio will be .74. Otherwise, find your 5th gear ratio and plug it in.

You will need to find the technical specs on your engine and find the sweet spot between lower RPM, max torque and max HP. Use that as a target RPM.

Plug in all your values into the calc at the URL below and you can get the speed at your desired RPM. Then make a determination of whether or not regearing is worth it.

https://spicerparts.com/calculators/...rpm-calculator
https://tiresize.com/calculator/

[Pizote]

The bus I am talking about is the LA->CA bus.

Here's the calcs for mine:
DT466
Allison 5sp
6.17 R&P
40" tall tires

Sweet spot for the engine is ~2200 RPM. So that puts me at 57.31MPH. If I bump that up to 2500RPM, I will travel at 65MPH. I have heard the governor is set to 2400RPM so that would be 62.58MPH.

If I geared down to 5.57, the governed speed would max out at just shy of 70MPH. Sweet spot would be 63.54MPH

[UPDATE]
If I went the route on unlocking 6th on mine (questionable as mine was manufactured in 04/2006, then sweet spot travel with current gearing would be 61.52MPH and governed speed would be 67MPH.

If I did the unlock and re-gearing it would be 68 and 74MPH

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by PeteinSF

UPDATE: Report from the International shop.



The Good: The only obvious problem was a dead battery (and a missing ignition key).


The Bad: The rear end ratio is 6.17!


The shop said it's a Dana 17060S so I can start looking for parts. In my mind that seems more like a tow truck rear end then one for a short school bus.


Hmm, not sure what to do about this.


What would be ideal?



(from Spicer site) http://media.spicerparts.com/cfs/fil...store=original


3.08, 3.25, 3.36, 3.55, 3.70, 3.90, 4.11, 4.30, 4.33, 4.63, 4.78, 4.88, 5.29, 5.38, 5.57

With an allison 5 speed I'd go with 4.88 or 5.29. I've got 5.29 in my shorty with DT466/2000 and its nice. I do wish I had 4.88 just for a bit lower cruising rpm/top speed.

[Pizote]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

With an allison 5 speed I'd go with 4.88 or 5.29. I've got 5.29 in my shorty with DT466/2000 and its nice. I do wish I had 4.88 just for a bit lower cruising rpm/top speed.

with 4.88 gears I think it would be a bit too sluggish and tend to overheat the transmission in the mountains and at sustained lower speeds. But again, I come from the Jeep world where higher gear ratios are wanted for more torque on the trails. But that kills any street drivability - especially in stop and go traffic.

eg: I had 3.73 gears in my Jeep - went to 33" tires and could no longer start from a stop in second. First was too low for comfort on the streets. Changed the gearing to 4.10 and I was back to factory specs/behavior. My jeep buddies all told me to go to 4.56, but then my top speed would be somewhere around 60. Now I can comfortably cruise at 70 and I can start from a stop in second gear comfortably - and best of all, it works for my purposes on the trails just great.

With a bus in the mountains, I would not think that lower gears are would be desirable. But again, I am new to busses but do understand the physics of the gearing.

I guess it's all about finding the balance for the type of driving that the bus is headed for.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Pizote

with 4.88 gears I think it would be a bit too sluggish and tend to overheat the transmission in the mountains and at sustained lower speeds. But again, I come from the Jeep world where higher gear ratios are wanted for more torque on the trails. But that kills any street drivability - especially in stop and go traffic.

eg: I had 3.73 gears in my Jeep - went to 33" tires and could no longer start from a stop in second. First was too low for comfort on the streets. Changed the gearing to 4.10 and I was back to factory specs/behavior. My jeep buddies all told me to go to 4.56, but then my top speed would be somewhere around 60. Now I can comfortably cruise at 70 and I can start from a stop in second gear comfortably - and best of all, it works for my purposes on the trails just great.

With a bus in the mountains, I would not think that lower gears are would be desirable. But again, I am new to busses but do understand the physics of the gearing.

I guess it's all about finding the balance for the type of driving that the bus is headed for.

Well mine certainly wouldn't be "sluggish" by just a minor regear like 4.88 from 5.29.
It pulls HARD already in 1st.
This whole "losing bottom end" thing is a lot less of a worry when you've got GOBS of torque. In a rpm hungry gas engine its a lot more crucial.
These buses come setup for stop and go and 95% of them could greatly benefit from regearing for the new intended use.

[PeteinSF]

In glancing at the DT466E torque curve it looks to me like cruising speed should be in the 1600-1800 RPM range.


Even my 5.9 pickup like 1700 best...


http://www.astleford.com/pdf/dt466dt530brochure.pdf