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Old 02-06-2019, 03:47 PM   #1
Skoolie
 
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Allison 2000 ID

I’ve come across an Allison 2000 transmission from another bus. The junk yard only wants $700 for it (transmission with Ecu, but not the shifting buttons).

How do I find out if it’s the 5 or 6th speed version?

My top speed of my current 545 w/t444e is 55 at 2500rpm. Trying to figure out what my new top speeds would be with a 5 and speed OD?

Is this a good deal?

I’m trying to decide if I should regear the bus or change the transmission.

Thoughts?

Thanks!Click image for larger version

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Old 02-06-2019, 03:51 PM   #2
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Contact Allison. They can give you all the details from the serial number.
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Old 02-06-2019, 04:36 PM   #3
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Allison said it’s a 5sp capable of 6sp.. trying to find out the final gear ratio... I think it’s .74
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Old 02-06-2019, 04:44 PM   #4
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For 1000 & 2000 series the following are supposed be the ratios...


First: 3.10

Second: 1.81

Third: 1.41

Fourth: 1.00

Fifth: 0.71

Sixth: 0.61

Reverse: 4.49




However, I believe there are both wide & close ratio versions. Best to check with Allison. With the serial number they should be able to tell you exactly what you have.
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Old 02-06-2019, 04:49 PM   #5
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IIRC: 2005 and earlier are 5speed. 2006 and later are 6 speed.

The 6 speed transmissions in school buses typically have 6th gear disabled.

You can upgrade an earlier 5 speed to 6 speed by swapping out the valve body and reprogram the TCM.
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Old 02-06-2019, 05:27 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tango View Post
For 1000 & 2000 series the following are supposed be the ratios...


First: 3.10

Second: 1.81

Third: 1.41

Fourth: 1.00

Fifth: 0.71

Sixth: 0.61

Reverse: 4.49




However, I believe there are both wide & close ratio versions. Best to check with Allison. With the serial number they should be able to tell you exactly what you have.
I know the od on a 5 speed 2000 series in a school bus is .74

Edit- you're close. Those ratios you listed are for a 1000. The 2000 series has ever-s0-slightly lower gearing.
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Old 02-06-2019, 05:51 PM   #7
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Allison 2000 ID

Right on. Thanks for the replies! I’m going to pull the trigger and get it in the morning. Seems like a really good deal, supposedly it came off a bus with the same engine T444e with less than 100k miles.

Since it came off a bus with the same engine and I’m getting the transmission ECM with it I wonder if it’s going to be plug and play?[emoji848]
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Old 02-06-2019, 05:52 PM   #8
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Allison 2000 ID

.74 final gearing will take my top speed from 55 to 75mph, and my cruising speed from 44 to 60mph[emoji41]

Which I don’t even see the point in trying to unlock 6th gear...
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Old 02-06-2019, 06:02 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogue1bus View Post
.74 final gearing will take my top speed from 55 to 75mph, and my cruising speed from 44 to 60mph[emoji41]

Which I don’t even see the point in trying to unlock 6th gear...
The only reason I want 6th unlocked is for the fuel economy.
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Old 02-06-2019, 06:20 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rogue1bus View Post
.74 final gearing will take my top speed from 55 to 75mph, and my cruising speed from 44 to 60mph[emoji41]

Which I don’t even see the point in trying to unlock 6th gear...
OD is great but I think folks get a *little* too carried away with the whole "have to unlock 6th" thing. I get it, I love modifying stuff for more enjoyable use.
OD would be awesome!!!
This is probably THE best swap especially behind a 444E.
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Old 02-06-2019, 06:22 PM   #11
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My bus easily runs at 85mph. I don't need more gears for more speed as beyond this just gets dangerous. Fuel mileage difference is substantial though.The 5 speeds have OD.
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Old 02-06-2019, 06:33 PM   #12
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Honestly I don’t wanna cruise faster than 60mph at that speed I’ll be turning around 2000 rpm which is perfect. My goal is to cruise between 55-60 and get good fuel economy. My bus is a RE so it’s shaped like a brick and will have a top deck soon so I don’t see the point cruising faster than 60, with that much air resistance my fuel economy will go to **** no mater the gearing.
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Old 02-06-2019, 08:38 PM   #13
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"Cruising speed"...but at what rpm? The best game plan is to gear for your chosen cruising speed to be within about 10% of your engines sweet spot...which will always be within about 10% of its' peak torque rpm.


On my 4BT for example, that spot is 1800 rpm so all my re-gearing was designed to run about 63-65 at those rpm's. I can always push a little harder if needed but keeping within that range will yield the best mpg's as well as engine life.


Ooops...late reply.
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Old 02-06-2019, 09:58 PM   #14
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It will NOT be plug and play, you will need the wiring harness for the 2000 series transmission, which cost me $750 to have made, hopefully the vehicle the transmission came out of is still around and they did not destroy the old harness getting it out
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Old 02-06-2019, 10:08 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kubla View Post
It will NOT be plug and play, you will need the wiring harness for the 2000 series transmission, which cost me $750 to have made, hopefully the vehicle the transmission came out of is still around and they did not destroy the old harness getting it out


Damn, the bus it was removed from was destroyed as a monster truck thing.... I’m going to have to figure out the wiring.. the transmission is coming with its own ECM though.
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Old 02-06-2019, 10:34 PM   #16
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It is going to cost, just the plug ends you need will be several hundred dollars, I saved about 100 dollars because I had the yellow and red plugs for the TCU because the scrap yard cut the harness instead of figuring out how to unplug them, there is also a big round plug that goes into the transmission plus about 4 small ones on the trans, at least one to the engine ECU, diagnostic port to the inside of the bus, another for trans temp gauge if you want one. I bought my 2000 series before I found out about the wiring harness, if I had known that the harness was going to cost more than the transmission I probably have done an axle ratio swap instead
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Old 02-06-2019, 10:37 PM   #17
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Another thing that you need to know is that the TCU body cannot be grounded, must be electrically isolated from the chassis, grounds through a ground wire
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Old 02-07-2019, 08:42 AM   #18
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Even if it was destroyed in a monster truck show, the wiring and connectors you need might still be intact?
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Old 02-07-2019, 09:16 AM   #19
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Looks like they have a wiring harness, I’ll pick it up tomorrow.
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Old 02-07-2019, 10:51 AM   #20
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you'll need to repgoram the Navistar ECM transmission type from AT/MT to Allison MD. so that your dashboard speedometer works, cruise works, and you dont set error codes in the computer..


sounds like you got this project under control!. is the TCM a single connector TCM or a 2 connector?


if its single connector, its a 6 speed capable trans and TCM.
-Christopher
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