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Old 10-27-2016, 11:07 AM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: North GA
Posts: 29
Year: 1985
Chassis: Bluebird Short
Rated Cap: 36 Passengers
1985 Bluebird sortie 36person. What's my engine?

How do I find out what engine I have?


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Old 10-27-2016, 01:02 PM   #2
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winlcok, WA
Posts: 2,233
There should be a data plate somewhere on the engine.

Unfortunately, most newer engines have plastic computer printed data plates instead of the older metal tags with the information punched into the metal.

Over time and lots of heat combined with the occasional steam clean or pressure wash the computer printed data plates become illegible. At that point you may have to go to the vehicle's OEM with the VIN to find out what you have.

Most of the newer IHC buses with tilt hoods have the line setting ticket stuck onto the hood just above the hinge on the curb side of the bus. They even mounted it upside down for convenience of reading it while the hood is still on the bus. The LST will also identify which engine you have.

Thomas is not very helpful with information unless you can tell them who purchased the bus originally.

Blue Bird is somewhat helpful if you can find a dealer who will give you the info.

IC buses are relatively easy to get the info by the VIN if you can find a dealer who will share the info with you.

The last resort is to find the engine number. With the engine number you might be able to go to the engine OEM and determine what you have.

On the other hand, as they say a picture is a worth a thousand words, post a picture of what you have. The odds are someone on here will be able to look at it and tell you what you have. They won't be able to tell you which HP rating it might have but they will be able to tell you something about what you have.
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Old 10-27-2016, 01:18 PM   #3
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Join Date: May 2016
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,264
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: IH
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 14
I have an IH/Carpenter bus and my local IH dealer was quite willing to run the VIN to determine engine, (original) transmission, axle ratio, recall and service info, and anything else he had access to as a factory authorized IH dealer.
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Old 10-27-2016, 03:30 PM   #4
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluebirdshortbus View Post
How do I find out what engine I have?


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If its diesel, wouldn't it be an 8.2? Or maybe a 3116 Cat?
I'd bet on it being the 8.2 Fuel Pincher.
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Old 10-27-2016, 04:26 PM   #5
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,755
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
my Local IH dealer runs the VIN all the time for me for parts and such... I asked about certain things on both busses and they told me lots about it...

they cant tell me about the body but can tell me anything I want to know of its chassis... i ask for part numbers all the time... sometimes I buy stuff from that dealer othertimes not...

since I buy sometimes im guessing thats why they are more than willing to help.

when I go in there i always see broken down MaxxForce 7 IC busses...

-Christopher
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Old 10-27-2016, 06:09 PM   #6
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: North GA
Posts: 29
Year: 1985
Chassis: Bluebird Short
Rated Cap: 36 Passengers
Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
my Local IH dealer runs the VIN all the time for me for parts and such... I asked about certain things on both busses and they told me lots about it...

they cant tell me about the body but can tell me anything I want to know of its chassis... i ask for part numbers all the time... sometimes I buy stuff from that dealer othertimes not...

since I buy sometimes im guessing thats why they are more than willing to help.

when I go in there i always see broken down MaxxForce 7 IC busses...

-Christopher


Forgive be but I'm a newbie. What is IH?


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Old 10-27-2016, 06:23 PM   #7
Bus Geek
 
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluebirdshortbus View Post
Forgive be but I'm a newbie. What is IH?


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International Harvester

Whats with us and abbreviations?

Is your bus diesel powered?
Is the engine a straight six or V8?
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Old 10-27-2016, 07:13 PM   #8
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: North GA
Posts: 29
Year: 1985
Chassis: Bluebird Short
Rated Cap: 36 Passengers
Lol okay!
No it's gas.
V8


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Old 10-27-2016, 07:25 PM   #9
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Music City USA
Posts: 737
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freightliner
Engine: Detroit MBE906
Rated Cap: 72
I'd be willing to bet it's the 366 gasser.

GMC chassis?
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Old 10-27-2016, 08:13 PM   #10
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Join Date: May 2016
Location: Richmond Virginia
Posts: 932
Year: 1984
Engine: 366 Big block Chevy! :) w/ Stick shift
Ha, me own brothren! I thought that front end resembled mine. Darn near same bus... just 35' . Lovin me some V8 bbc (big block chevy) Old farm guys who drive dump trucks often praise this motor. After reading up on it and driving it around; I couldn't be more pleased.

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Old 10-27-2016, 09:01 PM   #11
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: North GA
Posts: 29
Year: 1985
Chassis: Bluebird Short
Rated Cap: 36 Passengers
Got it! It's a small block 350 V8!


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Old 03-31-2017, 11:01 AM   #12
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Greater Houston, Tx.
Posts: 589
Carytowncat....what kind of mpg (or yards per gallon) can one expect from the bbc in a bus? Seems like they were the "go to" engine for many years. The last bbc I drove, was in an Impala, and I remember spending a lot of time at the pump, but in a bus it might not be so bad.
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