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05-16-2017, 06:05 AM
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#21
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,846
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB
Both my cheapo AmTrans came with air ride rear. The bags are a couple hundo to replace, each. Two in rear like any normal setup I've ever seen on a school bus.
Maybe I don't need a Crown if they're made so heavily of unobtainium.
After owning a bus on leafs and two on air bags, I'd never buy a leaf spring bus and spend time and money turning it into a horrible-riding home.
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THIS!! air springs arent expensive.. the "control" for them is a simple lever arm valvew that costs 50 bucks and has 3 bolts to change it.. you can even change air springs yourself if you have a couple decent jacks and some good jackstands.. a broken air spring wont put you along side of the road.. a broken leaf spring will..
that bus with 4.78 gears and a 643 will likely top out at 55-60 unless you can push 2700 RPM out of that engine...
the one with 5.38's better have an MD3060 or you will be goin slow...
-Christopher
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05-16-2017, 06:45 AM
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#22
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Skoolie
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Gulfport, MS
Posts: 154
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Bluebird All American Re
Engine: Cat 3126
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The 4.78 geared air suspension bus has the Cat and 3060 Trans, when I drove it yesterday it got right on up to 60mph with no problem. At 60mph it was turning 2000rpm. I don't know if 5th and 6th gears are unlocked. When I put it in gear a 5 appears. Does that mean I am only getting 5 gears?
Mike
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05-16-2017, 06:49 AM
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#23
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bridg73988
The 4.78 geared air suspension bus has the Cat and 3060 Trans, when I drove it yesterday it got right on up to 60mph with no problem. At 60mph it was turning 2000rpm. I don't know if 5th and 6th gears are unlocked. When I put it in gear a 5 appears. Does that mean I am only getting 5 gears?
Mike
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Yeah, 5 gears.
If its running great and you don't mind spending more for parts if they break that Cat bus sounds pretty nice. 3060 will be a 5 speed in a bus. 6th *can* be unlocked, but not for everyone.
Cats are great engines, if you're not paying for the stuff.
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05-16-2017, 08:08 AM
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#24
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Skoolie
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Gulfport, MS
Posts: 154
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Bluebird All American Re
Engine: Cat 3126
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What do you mean it can be unlocked but not for everyone? Is there restrictions on who can and can't? How does one go about getting it unlocked?
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05-16-2017, 08:15 AM
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#25
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bridg73988
What do you mean it can be unlocked but not for everyone? Is there restrictions on who can and can't? How does one go about getting it unlocked?
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A couple owners have managed to get theirs unlocked, but others have been shot down.
You'd have to ask them.
5 gears with OD is still better than 4 with no OD.
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05-16-2017, 08:36 AM
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#26
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Skoolie
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Gulfport, MS
Posts: 154
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Bluebird All American Re
Engine: Cat 3126
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Who do I ask? Allison? 5th gear OD is better than nothing - Roger That! But, 6th gear OD on flat open highway would keep the rpm down at 65 mph!
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05-16-2017, 09:04 AM
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#27
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: KANSAS CITY
Posts: 751
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin97396
Go with the '97 and stay all mechanical.
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Great advice. I read here that you can buy a full set of fuel injectors for a 12v 5.9 cummins for the same money or less than one injector for the electronic 24v 5.9 cummins. After you start your 5.9 12valve. then you no longer need electricity to keep it running..No codes to read and just basic knowledge will get you there and back engine wise.
__________________
Former owner of a 1969 F600 Skoolie.
1998 Ford B700 Thomas body 65 passenger. 5.9 Cummins 12 valve with MT643 Transmission 123,000 miles.
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05-16-2017, 10:35 AM
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#28
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 855
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cummins 8.3/Allison MD3060
Rated Cap: 84
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Versatile
Great advice. I read here that you can buy a full set of fuel injectors for a 12v 5.9 cummins for the same money or less than one injector for the electronic 24v 5.9 cummins. After you start your 5.9 12valve. then you no longer need electricity to keep it running..No codes to read and just basic knowledge will get you there and back engine wise.
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That's only true if you're talking about a common rail engine. Those electronically controlled injectors are about $300 each.
However, Cummins didn't adopt common rail injection until about 2003.
Prior to that, the injector pumps were electronically controlled, but the injectors themselves were not. An electronic engine with the VP44 pump uses injectors that cost about $75 each.
Still a little more expensive than a $55 injector for a P-pump engine, but not a huge difference.
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05-16-2017, 10:46 AM
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#29
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Skoolie
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Gulfport, MS
Posts: 154
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Bluebird All American Re
Engine: Cat 3126
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At first I was looking for a bus with the mechanical Cummins, but after driving a 40ft pusher with an older Cummins 5.9 it's just not gonna make traveling in it any fun at all.
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05-16-2017, 11:21 AM
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#30
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
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You're right, I wouldn't get into a 40' bus with a 5.9 either. It's a school bus, and someone obviously had a flat route hauling kids at low speeds. City school bus.
Even in my 26', 9 window, bus the 5.9 feels a bit on the weak side, but it does get up to speed on the highway. A little traffic will pile up behind me while entering the highway, but I'm soon up to speed. I wouldn't want a 40'er with this engine either, then again I do live in the mountains. I climb mountains just going home that are steeper than the passes you guys talk about traveling. Even here in the mountains I'm not finding that much trouble with my 545, but I can see where it could be a problem. I can only do about 25 mph climbing the steeper grades in this area. Climbing to the top of the mountain was the first time I'd ever seen the fan engage and it scared the carp out of me.
We're all in a hurry to get where we're going. It's not so bad to slow down. Someone with an actual fast bus would scare me.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
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05-16-2017, 01:23 PM
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#31
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Skoolie
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Gulfport, MS
Posts: 154
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Bluebird All American Re
Engine: Cat 3126
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Yep! The destination is just the half of it, the journey is the real fun! I don't need a tour bus that will cruise at 80-90mph, but something that can hold a steady 65 maybe 70 on the interstate would be awesome! I don't have to be the first one there, but I don't want to be the last either!
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