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Old 10-18-2017, 04:08 PM   #1
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Specs speed question

I am currently bidding on my first bus, a 1999 blue bird TC1000. it has a 5.9L Cummins engine, AT545 tranny (yes I am aware there is much hate for this tranny) with a gear ratio of 5.38:1 tires are 245/70 R19.5. I am how with this handle mountain passes? Should I change out the gears for something else?

Thanks!

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Old 10-18-2017, 04:13 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by Rovobay View Post
I am currently bidding on my first bus, a 1999 blue bird TC1000. it has a 5.9L Cummins engine, AT545 tranny (yes I am aware there is much hate for this tranny) with a gear ratio of 5.38:1 tires are 245/70 R19.5. I am how with this handle mountain passes? Should I change out the gears for something else?

Thanks!
It will most likely go down the mountain faster than it will go up.

It depends on how much you load it, if towing, how tired the engine is, if it is a 12V.... Here are some calculators to play with.

It won't win any races. If you intend to be in the mountains a lot, maybe find different drivetrain.
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Old 10-18-2017, 04:55 PM   #3
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With that engine, transmission, rear gear and tire size you will see a top speed of about 45mph at 2400rpm in top gear.

I lack the patience to drive a rig with a 45mph top speed.
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Old 10-18-2017, 04:58 PM   #4
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if all that is correct.. that says you have 33" tall tires.. though 240 isnt a real ratio.. 245 is.. a 5.38 rear end.. you will be taching 2500 RPM at 45 MPH... either something is wrong in their info or its a really slow bus.
-Christopher
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Old 10-18-2017, 06:04 PM   #5
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I have an 8.2 built for 175 Hp An at 545 and 6.5 rear gears and 9r20 tire and 6.50 rear gears and I get 49 mph on flat land and. In NC beach area usually holds pretty well when I go over big bridges to the islands.
I have been researching rear gear changes,tranny and motor upgrades for quite awhile?
My quickest option is to go to a taller 22.5 tire to get me up to at least 55mph and keep my rear gears?
Or change my rear gears for a thousand or so? The problem In my head I have with changing rear gears is right now I can pull anything I want without losing much speed but if I change (this is my old 8.2 with the 545) to a rear gear into the 5 range then I will get up to the 60 mph range but I Lose some towing capability and if I go to the 4 range I can get into the 60 mph range but can't tow anything.
That is my thought on my set up and rear gears and tire sizes are my only options until I add a tach. To see what my motor actually doing but I don't want to change it out of its factory settings for longevity of the motor and my 8.2 n/a really doesn't have many adjustments
Lesson learned?
Buy the motor tranny rear end combo that fits your final needs for your build?
Lesson learned?
I built for my two kids to have spaces at when they were 10 and 11 now they are 17 and 18 it was good and fun but now momma wants to open up the space and get rid of??? Didn't think about at the time? It was family fun and build worked great? Now we fight over what to change it to? She has an architchts degree? And I do federal/govt. construction for a living? So yeah one of us gets to sleep on the bus when she gets mad? I think she starts some just to sleep on the bus?
Love the build just wish the powertrain was better?????
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Old 10-18-2017, 06:27 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
if all that is correct.. that says you have 33" tall tires.. though 240 isnt a real ratio.. 245 is.. a 5.38 rear end.. you will be taching 2500 RPM at 45 MPH... either something is wrong in their info or its a really slow bus.
-Christopher
I know NC buses all are set to only do 45mph.
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Old 10-18-2017, 07:16 PM   #7
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Older buses are rear geared for and newer episodes busses have it locked out in the computer except for the activity busses if you can find one but even the old activity busses couldn't do more over 55.
Love the older stuff but can't say it was a sign of my times as a kid in TEJAS working cows? You only went what the horse took you and the trucks weren't much faster but hook either to a loaded hay wagon and they would show there true colors?
Then you question what try to fix first?
Sorry all mine and wife's family is in TEXAS and was just talking to them it was on my mind and mine bus is meant to get us back there. Even if it is at 49.
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Old 10-18-2017, 11:14 PM   #8
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49? That makes it a "Late Model" compared to mine at 71 years of age!

The worst part is that I'm still older than my bus!
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Old 10-19-2017, 04:50 AM   #9
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49? That makes it a "Late Model" compared to mine at 71 years of age!

The worst part is that I'm still older than my bus!
No his bus will only go 49 mph.
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Old 10-19-2017, 08:09 AM   #10
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wow, thanks for the info. I still have so much to learn. changing rear gears would make a world of difference for long distance trips.
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Old 10-19-2017, 12:49 PM   #11
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wow, thanks for the info. I still have so much to learn. changing rear gears would make a world of difference for long distance trips.
Whenever I buy a bus I ask what the rear axle ratio is first.
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