1995 TC/2000 Chevy - How do I identify the Transmission?

[garycolwill]

Hello, all. I have a 1995 TC/2000 with VIN number 1BAANCFA7SFxxxxxx (x's are the serial number - left that out. According to the info I found on Google, the numbers mean:

1 - Country: US
BA - World Manufacturer Identifier: Blue Bird Bus
A - TC/2000
N - Series: 3210 (prior to 1987) or 3904-4100
C - Body Type: Front engine
F - Engine: Chevrolet Gas 427A
A -Brake System Type: Air
7 - Check Digit
S - Year: 1995
F - Plant of Manufacture: Fort Valley, GA

So, nothing about what transmission I have. According to the info I've gathered, the only choice for auto trans in a Chevy TC/2000 of this year is an Allision AT-545. Is this correct? If there are other possibilities, how would I be able to identify what my vehicle has?

Thanks!

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by garycolwill

Hello, all. I have a 1995 TC/2000 with VIN number 1BAANCFA7SFxxxxxx (x's are the serial number - left that out. According to the info I found on Google, the numbers mean:

1 - Country: US
BA - World Manufacturer Identifier: Blue Bird Bus
A - TC/2000
N - Series: 3210 (prior to 1987) or 3904-4100
C - Body Type: Front engine
F - Engine: Chevrolet Gas 427A
A -Brake System Type: Air
7 - Check Digit
S - Year: 1995
F - Plant of Manufacture: Fort Valley, GA

So, nothing about what transmission I have. According to the info I've gathered, the only choice for auto trans in a Chevy TC/2000 of this year is an Allision AT-545. Is this correct? If there are other possibilities, how would I be able to identify what my vehicle has?

Thanks!

as far as I'm aware, buses equipped with chevy motors come with chevy transmissions - they seem to have a good reputation

[garycolwill]

Originally Posted by Sleddgracer

as far as I'm aware, buses equipped with chevy motors come with chevy transmissions - they seem to have a good reputation

Wikipedia (I know, not the greatest source) says "To keep the price down, Blue Bird simplified the powertrain lineup with a single gasoline engine (a Chevrolet 427 cubic-inch V8 ) and a single diesel engine (a Cummins 6BTA5.9/ISB inline-6). Theoretically, a manual transmission was available, but almost all TC/2000s were supplied with an Allison AT-545 automatic transmission. When the TC/2000 RE was added in 1991, the Cummins C 8.3/ISC 8.3 and Allison MT-643 were added to the lineup; however, these were exclusive to the RE. After 1995, the gasoline engine choice was dropped due to the popularity of diesel engines in Type D school buses."

No mention of a Chevy transmission.

[PNW_Steve]

I have seen discussion of buses with gas engines backed by an AT-545.

Quote from another site:

"The gas buses used GM Gas engines (I'm not sure what the numbers were). The transmissions in the GM's I think are Allison AT545 or AT543's "

[garycolwill]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

I have seen discussion of buses with gas engines backed by an AT-545.

Quote from another site:

"The gas buses used GM Gas engines (I'm not sure what the numbers were). The transmissions in the GM's I think are Allison AT545 or AT543's "

Well, this was easier than I thought. I noticed a tag above the blue tag that has all kinds of numbers on it, one of which was a transmission number: 3210731390. I called a local commercial vehicle transmission service place and they were able to tell me based on that number that this is definitely an Allison AT-545.

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by garycolwill

Wikipedia (I know, not the greatest source) says "To keep the price down, Blue Bird simplified the powertrain lineup with a single gasoline engine (a Chevrolet 427 cubic-inch V8 ) and a single diesel engine (a Cummins 6BTA5.9/ISB inline-6). Theoretically, a manual transmission was available, but almost all TC/2000s were supplied with an Allison AT-545 automatic transmission. When the TC/2000 RE was added in 1991, the Cummins C 8.3/ISC 8.3 and Allison MT-643 were added to the lineup; however, these were exclusive to the RE. After 1995, the gasoline engine choice was dropped due to the popularity of diesel engines in Type D school buses."

No mention of a Chevy transmission.

I'm certainly no expert, but by searching online, I've been able to do stuff like discern what chev motor a bus had in it by the standard transmission the bus had - I've been checking out gas and propane powered buses for some time now, and the automatics were all 4 speed GM transmissions as far as I could tell - don't take my experience to the bank and try to cash it though

[garycolwill]

That transmission serial number was everything. It's amazing what information Blue Bird keeps on the vehicles it produces. I called a local authorized service center and the guy was very helpful and looked up the bus based on the vehicle's body number, which is located on the inside of the bus just above the windshield on the curb side. He was able to pull the transmission number, which matched what I had on the black label just above the blue label. From that I could go to the Allison Transmission website and look it up:

https://www.allisontransmission.com/...y-transmission

This source also confirms that I have an ATA545.

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by garycolwill

Well, this was easier than I thought. I noticed a tag above the blue tag that has all kinds of numbers on it, one of which was a transmission number: 3210731390. I called a local commercial vehicle transmission service place and they were able to tell me based on that number that this is definitely an Allison AT-545.

thanks for that information - that's something I will definitely keep my eyes open about - there is no way I want to be driving a bus through mountainous snowy roads with a transmission that won't hold back

maybe I should raise my budget and look for a newer bus, ( 2008 - 2010 ) with a 454 and the 6 speed ( shiftable? ) transmission, top two gears as overdrive?