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01-06-2019, 09:36 AM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 32
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Cat 3126 any good??
About to buy another bus for conversion. It’s a 7 window Thomas with the wheel chair lift. 9 window on the drivers side. It comes with the cat 3126 and Alison 4 speed. Doing some research and getting more negative opinions on this powertrain. We are going to be driving full time. Lots of highway miles.
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01-06-2019, 09:46 AM
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#2
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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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I love mine. But its nearly new. I got a backup bus with extremely low use.
Its a great engine as far as I can tell. Smooth, powerful. Nice torque curve. With the highway gearing I've got this is one seriously quiet bus.
I'd buy another if it were in great condition and not too many miles/hours.
They're as good as any other school bus engine of their era. Most of the negativity is due to some problems with the 3116 before it and the C7 that came after it. Of all the school bus Cat engine's I'd say the 3126 is the one to get.
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01-06-2019, 02:24 PM
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#3
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Wright City MO
Posts: 280
Year: 1998
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: Bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins/Allison
Rated Cap: 74
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All of the diesels are pretty good up until computerization/emissions. Electric diesels are pretty good up until emissions I have taken care of almost every kind of diesel engine. Every model from the big 4 since 1971+ Deutz Iveco Renault Nissan Yanmar and others. Until Emission Control came along as long as they were used in a proper application they were all pretty long lived and dependable.They all had and still have their little quirks and problems which is why you get people hating on one or another just like some people like Ford over Chevy over Dodge ect..I cared for a mixed fleet of CATS and MBE and preemissions they were both great powerplants 3116&26 were both good for us the MBE's maybe not quite as good as the CATS but very good none the less well maintained and very few problems with either make. Gene
__________________
Its hard to be wrong when you live in Wright City!
There is no mechanical problem that cannot be overcome by a skillfully applied combination of brute force and ignorance!
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01-06-2019, 03:23 PM
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#4
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Ashtabula, Ohio
Posts: 1,494
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: International
Engine: T444E 7.3L
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These are very good engines. Keep up on the maintenance and it will serve you a long time.
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01-07-2019, 08:51 AM
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#5
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB
I love mine. But its nearly new. I got a backup bus with extremely low use.
Its a great engine as far as I can tell. Smooth, powerful. Nice torque curve. With the highway gearing I've got this is one seriously quiet bus.
I'd buy another if it were in great condition and not too many miles/hours.
They're as good as any other school bus engine of their era. Most of the negativity is due to some problems with the 3116 before it and the C7 that came after it. Of all the school bus Cat engine's I'd say the 3126 is the one to get.
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Thank you guys you for helping. Your input helped us a lot with our 2 previous conversions.
Another question now. The owner said it has a 4 speed Alison. Does that mean the at 454 ? Because I had that one in my amtran pusher and it wasn’t really a highway tranny.
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01-07-2019, 09:42 AM
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#6
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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 madhat
Thank you guys you for helping. Your input helped us a lot with our 2 previous conversions.
Another question now. The owner said it has a 4 speed Alison. Does that mean the at 454 ? Because I had that one in my amtran pusher and it wasn’t really a highway tranny.
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Most likely a 545 but could be a 643.
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01-07-2019, 09:47 AM
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#7
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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There are two different 4 speeds that could be in that bus.
The AT-545 or MT-643. The 643 is the desirable one.
There should be a tag on the transmission. Or take a look at the thread here that details how to tell them apart. Hopefully someone here can remember where to find it......
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01-08-2019, 01:06 PM
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#8
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW_Steve
There are two different 4 speeds that could be in that bus.
The AT-545 or MT-643. The 643 is the desirable one.
There should be a tag on the transmission. Or take a look at the thread here that details how to tell them apart. Hopefully someone here can remember where to find it......
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The dealer said it’s an Allison 2000 series. He wasn’t sure if it was 2500 or something similar. My amtran had the not so desirable 454 and it struggled with hills.
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01-08-2019, 01:08 PM
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#9
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 32
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I shall name thee “Bigsmall”
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01-08-2019, 01:30 PM
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#10
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by madhat
The dealer said it’s an Allison 2000 series. He wasn’t sure if it was 2500 or something similar. My amtran had the not so desirable 454 and it struggled with hills.
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The 2000 series are 5 or 6 speed. As best I understand earlier years were 5 speed and around 2006 they had a different valve body and were 6 speeds.
Where is Christopher when you need him?
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01-08-2019, 01:31 PM
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#11
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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That should be a nice highway rig with the 3126 and 2500.
Keep us updated.
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01-08-2019, 01:41 PM
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#12
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,835
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
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steve - correct in model year 2006 the allison 1000/2000 series could be 6 speed.. however seems in school busses 6th gear is always turned off..
with extensive mods you could make the earlier 5 speed into a 6 speed.. by replacing the valve body, the TCM and nodding the harness..
-Christopher
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01-08-2019, 01:54 PM
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#13
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid
steve - correct in model year 2006 the allison 1000/2000 series could be 6 speed.. however seems in school busses 6th gear is always turned off..
with extensive mods you could make the earlier 5 speed into a 6 speed.. by replacing the valve body, the TCM and nodding the harness..
-Christopher
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Yeah, same as the MD-3060's. I will be shopping soon for a spare TCM for you to program up for me
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01-08-2019, 02:01 PM
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#14
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,835
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW_Steve
Yeah, same as the MD-3060's. I will be shopping soon for a spare TCM for you to program up for me
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I dont have a bench harness for those TCMs yet.. i have to find or make one. they use different connectors than the Gen4/Gen5 TCMs found on the 2006+ 1000/2000
-Christopher
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01-08-2019, 03:35 PM
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#15
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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 madhat
The dealer said it’s an Allison 2000 series. He wasn’t sure if it was 2500 or something similar. My amtran had the not so desirable 454 and it struggled with hills.
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Allison 2000 is a 5 speed with OD and lockup t/c. That's a GOOD drivetrain.
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01-08-2019, 03:52 PM
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#16
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: south east BC, close to the Canadian/US border
Posts: 2,265
Year: 1975
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 8 window
Engine: 454 LS7
Rated Cap: 24,500
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is your 9 window flat nose shorter than a 9 window bus with a hood?
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01-08-2019, 04:00 PM
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#17
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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 Sleddgracer
is your 9 window flat nose shorter than a 9 window bus with a hood?
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It would have to be.
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01-08-2019, 04:47 PM
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#18
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB
It would have to be.
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Does it? Isn't the motor just as far from the bumper on both models, they should be close to the same length. FE will have more room inside.
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01-08-2019, 04:49 PM
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#19
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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 o1marc
Does it? Isn't the motor just as far from the bumper on both models, they should be close to the same length. FE will have more room inside.
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9 windows vs 9 windows and a hood.
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01-08-2019, 04:57 PM
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#20
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by o1marc
Does it? Isn't the motor just as far from the bumper on both models, they should be close to the same length. FE will have more room inside.
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New math??
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