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Old 09-21-2019, 03:37 PM   #1
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Dt444e bus zf manual conversion

I'm waiting to go pick up my dt360 5 speed s1853 and there's a really cheap 1999 dt444e 3700(I believe) for sale. Would the powerstroke zf stand up to a full size bus? Anyone done the swap?

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Old 09-21-2019, 05:38 PM   #2
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The 7.3l is a common engine in a bus but might be a tad underpowered in a full size bus.
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Old 09-21-2019, 07:29 PM   #3
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The ZF5 was rated for ~26k lbs. If you can find an S5-47 it has a slightly higher input torque rating and higher 1st-3rd. If you're pairing it behind a 444E that would help a lot.
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Old 09-22-2019, 03:47 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnny Mullet View Post
The 7.3l is a common engine in a bus but might be a tad underpowered in a full size bus.
I think you missed that. A 7.3 powerstroke is a dt444e. International sold them to Ford. They also put them in busses and some other medium duty trucks. I just wasn't sure what the zf 5 or 6 speed was able to handle weight Wise. The bus is gvrw at 26500 I believe. I doubt I'd ever get near that unless I ended up towing as well.
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Old 09-22-2019, 06:14 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rwd4evr View Post
I think you missed that. A 7.3 powerstroke is a dt444e. International sold them to Ford. They also put them in busses and some other medium duty trucks. I just wasn't sure what the zf 5 or 6 speed was able to handle weight Wise. The bus is gvrw at 26500 I believe. I doubt I'd ever get near that unless I ended up towing as well.
lol no one missed it man. 7.3/444 is a very underpowered engine in a full size bus. Johnny works on these engines every day.
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Old 09-22-2019, 09:35 AM   #6
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I own a DT360 and a T444E engine..



my T444E in my bluebird short bus is turned up all the way that the stock electronics and hardware will allow me.. (250HP).. and that short (6 window bluebird with a GVWR of 17500) hauls pretty good.. HOWEVER I really wouldnt want this engine in a Big bus... even if you turn it way up, EGTs are a concern unless you run at the top of the RPM band to keep the turbo spooled.. I Love this engine.. however I doubt id ever buy it in a full sized bus



my DT360. is in a heavier bus.. (7 window short bus GVWR 27500).. and it is completely stock 185 HP (jasper reman with 105k miles on it)



even wit ha Bosch A-pump you can turn up a DT360 pretty readily and pretty good to give you great low end torque.. granted a 466 its not.. its a short stroke engine thus doesnt have quite the low end torque its bigger brother the DT466 has.. being inline 6 it will tend to do better than the T444E V8 will when it comes to brute.. Like all smaller displacement diesel engines, getting the turbo spooled up for good torque is crucial on the DT360 or it will feel "laggy"..



im not sure if the ZF has a granny gear or a nice low-end first gear, but if it does thats beneficial in gettingyou started from a stop.

-Christopher
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Old 09-22-2019, 09:39 AM   #7
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I personally would take the dt360 over the t444e any day if even just for mechanical reliability ease of maintenance.
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Old 09-24-2019, 02:05 AM   #8
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Interesting. Well it's not so important now since I sold my van and put the deposit down on the dt360 5 speed s1853. Is the 444e/7.3 trans compatible with the dt360/444? Maybe that would be an option, rather than changing the rear gear put an od trans in it.
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Old 09-24-2019, 06:22 AM   #9
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The ZF, this is a pickup truck trans, correct?
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Old 10-01-2019, 02:09 AM   #10
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Yes the one a f350 or 450 would have. I'm not sure if the really big boys like 550 and 650 use them.
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Old 10-01-2019, 07:03 AM   #11
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I would not use a pickup truck trans behind a 6 cylinder diesel, that would have been behind a 7.3 8 cylinder diesel. The rpm's a 360(or a 5.9 cummins) runs are lower, and the torque is at a lower rpm, plus there are fewer cylinders making the torque. What all this means is each power pulse is stronger with a slower turning 6 then a faster turning 8. So stress on gears and all other transmission parts are greater even though you may be within the weight limit. Us Dodge guys have plenty of broken trannys, and there are those who have taken transmissions out of medium duty trucks to get something stout enough for the engine.

So in the bus world with medium duty stuff it seems a bit backwards to put light duty pickup truck parts in. Just my thoughts.
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Old 10-01-2019, 07:26 AM   #12
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Ronnie has it right.. and the ford 7.3 guys talk about how their ZFs break when they turn their engines up at all or are towing heavy car haulers etc.. there are still enough trucks in the junkyards with 5 or 6 speed spicer MD transmissions to be had at reasonable prices ..

-Christopher
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Old 10-07-2019, 11:27 AM   #13
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If you are going to do a ZF swap on a T444E there will be the issue of the bell housing spacer, buses are setup with SAE adapters, you will need the spacer off the truck and probably starter as well....
I wouldn't do it, trans won't hold up in the bus well, best to find a medium duty trans for it and not a light duty 1ton pickup trans. Getting all the hardware to work might be more of a chore than ever worth it, rigging up clutch pedal too might be a royal pain....
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Old 10-26-2019, 07:14 PM   #14
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Thanks. That's what I was curious about.
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Old 10-26-2019, 11:30 PM   #15
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If you do the swap, I would be interested in the dt360 if you are going to sell it.
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