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Old 05-20-2017, 07:14 PM   #2261
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On mine...I have to "Tap" the T-Handle, but the idea is the same. I like being able to choose my gears when I want to.

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Old 05-20-2017, 07:21 PM   #2262
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tango View Post
On mine...I have to "Tap" the T-Handle, but the idea is the same. I like being able to choose my gears when I want to.
what gears and tire size are you running? I know its in the 250 pages of thread somewhere..

gear selection seems important.. esp since im over-gearing.. I was concerned about engine torque with such low gearing.. but they tell me just going to a lockup vs free-wheel its gonna feel like someone also put a new engine in my bus too...

-Christopher
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Old 05-20-2017, 08:08 PM   #2263
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My (new) tires are 33.6" and the Dana rear axle is now 4.30 (changed from 5.13. That should yield about 63mph in 6th at 1800 rpm which is my little 4BT's sweet spot.
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Old 05-20-2017, 08:21 PM   #2264
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so im 31's with 3.54 gears.. my 444E peaks at 2300 RPM.. so im guessing that 1800-1900 will be its weet cruise spot.. thatll ne my 5th gear.. ill have to see if I use 6th.. that will likely push it to like 1650 or so.. since the orice was near the same id definitely kick myself if i didnt get 6 gears and wanted them.. so I figure if i dont need 6th i can just turn it off... then those days when I have a tail wind and want to cruise at 70 i can turn it on... or i may find i use it all the time..
-Christopher
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Old 05-21-2017, 10:27 AM   #2265
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I'm thinking pretty much the same way. There are a LOT of long, flat miles in this country where that extra gear will help keep fuel in the tank. And when you hit some steep angles, the selectable close ratio gears will give you what you need to handle them as well.
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Old 05-21-2017, 07:50 PM   #2266
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Those 3.54s will give it some pretty long legs with a .61 OD, looks like both the 1000 6 speed and the 2200 MH have identical gear spreads.
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Old 05-21-2017, 07:54 PM   #2267
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Those 3.54s will give it some pretty long legs with a .61 OD, looks like both the 1000 6 speed and the 2200 MH have identical gear spreads.
yeah thats why I have them build it so i can turn 6th off when I get in areas that id just lug the engine. one thing for sure itll be better than a free-wheeling 545.. lolol
-Christopher
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Old 05-21-2017, 08:09 PM   #2268
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Tango, at 1800 RPM with the 0.61 6th gear, you're looking at 68.6 MPH

Christopher, at 1800 RPM and a 0.61 6th gear 76.88 MPH, 5th 66.05 MPH

This is using Tremec's calculator Gear Ratio Calculator

Allison 1000 and 2200MH ratios: 1 (3.10), 2 (1.81), 3 (1.41), 4 (1.00), 5 (0.71), 6 (0.61)
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Old 05-21-2017, 08:38 PM   #2269
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definitely some long legs.. my bus is gonna sound like the Semi trucks on the freeway.. almost idling lolol..

the 444E engine has a wierd throttle map. which might actually play into my favor as it tends to put out a lot of its power in the last 25% of pedal.. so depending on I have them map it I can avoid Lugging by it issuing a downshift at say 80-85% throttle.. maybe not do a double downshift till 100%.. im sure there will be some tuning involved to get it right..
-Christopher
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Old 05-21-2017, 08:53 PM   #2270
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You may end up making your own tune to make them match, maybe take advantage of the lower amount to heat that will be generated to add a little horsepower.
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Old 05-21-2017, 08:58 PM   #2271
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Hey Stewzer...I can only hope my mechanical skills are better than my typing. Yes...about 68...not 63. Like Chris, I expect to spend much of my highway time in 5th (.71) which will yield about 60 at 1840. Not looking for speed here...mostly the mpgs and engine endurance these little four bangers are famous for.
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Old 05-21-2017, 09:39 PM   #2272
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I really wanted to post screenshots of what I'd calculated, 68 sounds much better than 63, even if it's only just 5 more. I don't see giving it a few more revs to cruise at 70 hurting fuel economy too much since it's just under 1850 RPM. 5th would be great on the 55 MPH roads. Your ratios are perfect,

Christopher is going to have a bus that theoretically will run at 111MPH, but a regear to a 4.10 keeping the current tire size nets near perfect ratios, It would also be a perfect match in the DEV bus with the 11R22.5s and 4.78 gear.
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Old 05-21-2017, 10:41 PM   #2273
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"Christopher is going to have a bus that theoretically will run at 111MPH..."

Well...he is an old school hot rodder, so it'll be interesting to see where he goes with this one.
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Old 05-22-2017, 06:04 AM   #2274
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Quote:
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"Christopher is going to have a bus that theoretically will run at 111MPH..."

Well...he is an old school hot rodder, so it'll be interesting to see where he goes with this one.
the big issues for extra horses are the limits of the navistar computers on the 444E.. and if I swap to the Ford 7.3 computers i could tune.. but am limited to the fact that the 444E variant has a thinner head gasket so i cant really spin up the RPMs for off-the-line power..

NOW... if I were to rebuild the engine with the ford specs and electronics then the sky is the limit... 500 HP (while $$$) isnt out of the question for a 7.3 ford diesel...

-Christopher
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Old 05-22-2017, 10:08 AM   #2275
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Curious...could the 444E benefit from stouter headbolts or possibly replacing them with studs? That is a common practice on the B Series Cummins that people get crazy on.
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Old 05-22-2017, 10:17 AM   #2276
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That would be interesting to see who has a faster bus between all of us.
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Old 05-22-2017, 10:25 AM   #2277
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As a side note to the "speed" issue...

My shop mate (who runs the Art Car Museum here) and I are working on plans for building The World's Fastest Art Car. It is a flying mile competition and the current record is under 150. Piece-O-Cake. I've gone way faster on 23 cubic inches and we think we have an engine doner with a proven 180 mph motor that will handle much taller gears. And...so far, it is looking pretty "arty".

Stay tuned.
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Old 05-22-2017, 12:43 PM   #2278
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what classifies it as an art-car? I know here in columbus art-cars seem to be run of the mill cars that have been altered.. ie the Plaid painted 1980 Fairmont Futura.. and the pontiac APV altered and painted to look exactly like a star-trek shuttlecraft.. down to the seats..

are your guys art cars complete build ups from tube chassis?

as for my 444E, navistar is so conservative on their version.. only 16 lbs of boost and a max of 210 HP (mine is a 190 HP variant.. most are 17o or 175 HP).. blowing head gaskets doesnt seem to be an issue.. most 444E failures are electronic related.. (though injector cups can crack and hydrolock the engine which breaks rods).. over-heating is commonplace as the cooling system on a good day is barely adequate. esp on the highway at high RPM.. im told even lugging the 444e a bit doesnt create near the heat of moderate loaded high RPM does.. the tranny will be a super "cool" experience hopefully.. as you know its not cheap..
-Christopher
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Old 05-22-2017, 04:23 PM   #2279
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Technically, to run in the Art Car Race, a vehicle has to first qualify for and run in the Houston Art Car Parade. And the vehicles are all over the place. From artsy paint jobs to full on, ground up constructs that absolutely defy explanation. The whole Art Car scene started here many decades ago but the "Parade" is only 30 years old. You can check out a few rigs here...
2017 Houston Art Car Parade Lineup | Houston, Texas USA | Houston Art Car Parade

Cheech Marin was this years Grand Marshall.

The car that currently holds the record is much more a track car than an Art Car in my mind but hey, we hope to do better in both the speed and art categories. The races are held in the Fall at the Texas Mile on the Victoria Regional Airport in Victoria, Texas.

TEXAS MILE // OFFICIAL SITE // 3 DAYS, 1 MILE: NO SPEED LIMIT

No way we will make it this year, but...


And...genuine "Cool" is never cheap. The build on your upgrade will be fun to follow.
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Old 05-22-2017, 04:30 PM   #2280
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cool stuff!!. we have a similar parade here but on a Much smaller scale.. similar concepts though.. I see in yours theres even busses!!

-Christopher
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