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Old 09-25-2017, 12:31 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: WA
Posts: 31
Year: 1997
Chassis: International 3800 AmTran (wish it was a TransAm)
Engine: DT466E
Am I missing a drain plug?

Preface: I have an full-sized 1997 International 3800 with DT466e and Alison 4-speed auto transmission.

I was crawling around yesterday underneath and noticed a hole in the center of the trans (see arrow in pic). It is particularly weird because I can see gear teeth through that hole, and I know mud/water never belongs around gears.

I thought I was missing a drain plug or something, but the hole is NOT threaded. In fact, it is kind of rounded actually. There is some oil residue around it, but I have no idea what kind of piece would cover that hole at all other than like a rubber stopper plug which I've never seen on any engine ever.

Any insight as to what this is?






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Old 09-25-2017, 12:35 PM   #2
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Indianapolis, IN
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Year: 1999
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: International FE
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 84 passengers
Nope, you're not missing anything. My bus has the exact same thing. It's not unusual for flywheel housings to have an opening like that.
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Old 09-25-2017, 12:37 PM   #3
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Location: Eustis FLORIDA
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Year: 1999
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Its so when the rear main goes out, you'll see oil dripping from there.
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Old 09-25-2017, 01:27 PM   #4
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: WA
Posts: 31
Year: 1997
Chassis: International 3800 AmTran (wish it was a TransAm)
Engine: DT466E
Awesome, thanks guys! I was worried I was driving around on an empty trans or something for the last few months.
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Old 09-25-2017, 01:33 PM   #5
Traveling
 
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Year: 2003
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Chassis: TC2000
Engine: 5.9L Cummins
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Inspection hole/ drain for torque converter (some). Should be a plug in there to keep out (in??) grime.

Your ring gear is beautiful
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Old 09-25-2017, 05:55 PM   #6
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I concur what they said I've actually seen some trucks with a hanging or dangling Grease zerk that goes up to the bearing in a manual transmission obviously you don't have one of them and I don't think your bus has a DT 466e the electronic model came after 2001 or something like that, right boys?
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Old 09-25-2017, 07:23 PM   #7
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Join Date: May 2009
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Year: 1991
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Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
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Quote:
Originally Posted by milkmanchip View Post
I concur what they said I've actually seen some trucks with a hanging or dangling Grease zerk that goes up to the bearing in a manual transmission obviously you don't have one of them and I don't think your bus has a DT 466e the electronic model came after 2001 or something like that, right boys?

the DT-466E was introduced in 1995 to normal production... you'll seem some busses up through 98. or so that still had mechanicals.. but also some 95's with DT-466E's in them.

-Christopher
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Old 09-25-2017, 10:22 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by milkmanchip View Post
I concur what they said I've actually seen some trucks with a hanging or dangling Grease zerk that goes up to the bearing in a manual transmission obviously you don't have one of them and I don't think your bus has a DT 466e the electronic model came after 2001 or something like that, right boys?
97-99 saw the last of the mechanical injected engines. My 97 most were electronic, but a few mechanical buses from the really late 90's still pop up for sale. I know a guy who just got a mechanical 99 8.3 cummins in a 40' RE.
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Old 09-25-2017, 10:23 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
the DT-466E was introduced in 1995 to normal production... you'll seem some busses up through 98. or so that still had mechanicals.. but also some 95's with DT-466E's in them.

-Christopher
All the 95's and most of the 96's I've seen are mechanical.
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Old 09-26-2017, 06:27 AM   #10
Skoolie
 
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That's good information thanks you two are the best researchers on them DT's I've ever seen, my 93 DT360 is mechanical and I knew that I just didn't know how late the mechanical DT466 went but I would like to get a DT466 non electrical as new as possible on my next rig.
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Old 09-26-2017, 06:48 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
All the 95's and most of the 96's I've seen are mechanical.
I agree most in those 2 years were still mechanical. I think alot of the body manufacturers bought up a ton of the mechanical chassis ahead of time. its not uncommon for a bus to have an older chassis even by 2 model years as the body.. the bus will be titled with its body year but the bus chassis very well may be older..

the 444E had a ton of issues in its first year so i think bus manufacturers got scared when they heard the 466 was going to get the identical fuel injection system.
-Christopher
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Old 09-26-2017, 07:01 AM   #12
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I was shocked when my buddy Wim got a 99 Bluebrid AA with underside pass through storage, air ride, RUST FREE, high headroom, 3060 trans, and mechanical 8.3.
Bus came from Renton WA and is as nice as they come. He paid $4k at auction.
I'm sure that bus would be ten grand or more at a dealer or on CL.
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Old 09-26-2017, 07:09 AM   #13
Bus Geek
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
I was shocked when my buddy Wim got a 99 Bluebrid AA with underside pass through storage, air ride, RUST FREE, high headroom, 3060 trans, and mechanical 8.3.
Bus came from Renton WA and is as nice as they come. He paid $4k at auction.
I'm sure that bus would be ten grand or more at a dealer or on CL.
some nice busses go for pretty good prices on 422sales. these schools often push out 30 or more busses and ive noticed that the first ones in the listings often go higher than the ones deep down in - people get oogly-eye on the first one they see and bid it..
-Christopher
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