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Old 06-09-2016, 05:23 PM   #1
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DT466 vs T444?

Hey Everyone,

I am on a quest for a bus and have been looking for a good conversion candidate.

I am really stuck on having an MD3060 or an MT643 transmission and a DT466 or 8.3 Cummins.

I have found some 40' Thomas & International busses with the appropriate transmission but the DT466 equipped that I have looked at have all been 300-400k mile rigs. I have found a couple that are under 200k miles, priced right and look good but they have the T444 engine.

What do you all think of the T444 in this application versus the DT466?

Thanks

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Old 06-09-2016, 06:20 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by PNW_Steve View Post
Hey Everyone,

I am on a quest for a bus and have been looking for a good conversion candidate.

I am really stuck on having an MD3060 or an MT643 transmission and a DT466 or 8.3 Cummins.

I have found some 40' Thomas & International busses with the appropriate transmission but the DT466 equipped that I have looked at have all been 300-400k mile rigs. I have found a couple that are under 200k miles, priced right and look good but they have the T444 engine.

What do you all think of the T444 in this application versus the DT466?

Thanks
They're both great engines. But in something like a bus bigger is almost always better.
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Old 06-09-2016, 06:43 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
They're both great engines. But in something like a bus bigger is almost always better.
I do understand. No replacement for displacement...

What has me wondering is that the DT466 busses I am looking at are mostly pushing 300-400k miles while the similar year & price busses with the T444 are mostly under 200k miles.
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Old 06-09-2016, 11:14 PM   #4
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I have long felt that, with proper care, the DT466's can go a million miles without major work. Now, whether the respective care has been done or not is another matter.
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Old 06-09-2016, 11:21 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW_Steve View Post
Hey Everyone,

I am on a quest for a bus and have been looking for a good conversion candidate.

I am really stuck on having an MD3060 or an MT643 transmission and a DT466 or 8.3 Cummins.

I have found some 40' Thomas & International busses with the appropriate transmission but the DT466 equipped that I have looked at have all been 300-400k mile rigs. I have found a couple that are under 200k miles, priced right and look good but they have the T444 engine.

What do you all think of the T444 in this application versus the DT466?

Thanks
The 444 is a good pickup engine.
The 466 is a good medium duty truck engine.
Just my opinion.
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Old 06-10-2016, 07:10 AM   #6
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I like them both, each have there features , and both are good motors, I have the T444e and really happy with it so far, easy to work on and parts are available everywhere
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Old 06-10-2016, 08:59 AM   #7
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I also have the T444e and am happy with it. It's a turd but it has started every time I turn on the key, and I didn't exactly buy the bus to drag race it... And I can walk into any auto-parts store and get parts for it, so there's that.
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Old 06-10-2016, 09:44 AM   #8
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Hi,

The T444 is a V8 diesel, correct?
Is the 466 an inline 6 diesel?
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Old 06-10-2016, 09:52 AM   #9
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correct on both.
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Old 07-18-2016, 10:29 AM   #10
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I have a T444E, yep great motor, starts every time, very reliable. But its down on Hp and pretty gutless on the hills. Pulling long grade tends to overheat due to using every once of power for so long. DT466 more modern, efficient and better power, however plagued with injector failures and EGR cooler clogging. So if you willing to put about $2,000 into the DT466 you will have a better motor, but dam international and there engineering department to go backward with durability.
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Old 07-18-2016, 12:06 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by pegabus View Post
I have a T444E, yep great motor, starts every time, very reliable. But its down on Hp and pretty gutless on the hills. Pulling long grade tends to overheat due to using every once of power for so long. DT466 more modern, efficient and better power, however plagued with injector failures and EGR cooler clogging. So if you willing to put about $2,000 into the DT466 you will have a better motor, but dam international and there engineering department to go backward with durability.
HUh? First I've heard of this. got any links?
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Old 07-18-2016, 04:29 PM   #12
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The basic design of the DT466 far predates the TE444 by decades, it has always been a direct injected turbo charged engine since at least the 70's where the TE444 dates from the early 90'stages. The previous V8, the 7.3 idi was an indirect injected engine and might share the block casting with the TE444
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Old 07-18-2016, 07:41 PM   #13
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OK I gotta ask aa dumb question. What's the best way to tell what engine you have for someone who doesn't know engines?

When I got the bus I was told 444e and I just checked then if I had a the manuals. Well i was looking at the manual for something and the engine manual says DT-466E. So I got wrong book or diff engine.

I'm good with either as they both sound like good engines to have just like to know for sure witch one.

Thanks
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Old 07-18-2016, 08:50 PM   #14
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The DT466 is a "straight-6" engine, the DT444 is a V-8 engine. That's the biggest spotting difference. The hood might have which engine is has (but hoods can be changed), so it's not a 100% thing.
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Old 07-25-2016, 08:31 AM   #15
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IRRC and not sure but doesn't the DT466e have that on the lower left of the block?
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Old 07-30-2016, 07:31 PM   #16
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I just bought a 02 International w/7.3 that ( the district says) was replaced with a new one 2 yrs ago. I had hoped to buy one with actually any DTstraight 6 whether it was a 360, 408, or 466. In our wildest dream we'd get a DT530 or Cummins 8.3 but they're few and expensive. I was lucky I feel to get my shorty 6 window Conv IH with a 7.3 & Allison, since most Automatic IH diesels would be a smaller DT L6. Likewise the V8 7.3's seemingly are mostly combined w/manual trans. from what I've seen. I plan to build a small fleet of buses converted to Flatbds to pull RVs nationwide and definitely plan most to have DT466's, and imagine I'll be buyin a few 545's until finding/replacing them with 643's. Best trucks money can buy for my purpose IMO
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Old 07-30-2016, 07:37 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by BogistJoeSr View Post
... I plan to build a small fleet of buses converted to Flatbeds to pull RVs nationwide ...
I'm guessing you already have one, but I see some folks who get a bit ahead of themselves here. If you don't have one already, you'll need to get a CDL. Unless you're pulling the RVs just for your own recreation.
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Old 08-23-2016, 01:09 AM   #18
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Started researching motors for my skoolie, most of my use will be in the Rocky's Banff to Southern Colorado. Want a good strong motor for climbing mountains. This will include some dirt road and snow use, winter use will be easily 50%. Not planning on hauling anything but, don't want to rule it out just yet.

From what I have read the DT466E is a little more 'robust' than the t444e. Given my application is that the better motor to shop for?

What is a Caterpillar Comparable motor?

Any input on the accompanying Trans? Basically, I have heard steer clear of 545 and get a lower number on the Allison (1000 is better than 3000 - I think that was what was said).

Also, are repressors an easy after market add? Any budget estimates? Necessary for driving canyons?
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Old 08-23-2016, 01:29 AM   #19
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For climbing mountains, you'll definitely want to go with the DT466. LOTS more torque, which is what you need for going uphill. I wouldn't bother with a Cat engine, not so much because they're "bad", as much as parts are more expensive and can only be had from a Cat dealer. Cummins engines are OK, but you'll probably find the (quite common) 5.9 to be woefully underpowered for much mountain running. Look for an 8+ liter Cummins.

"Repressors"? You talking about a retarder?
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Old 08-23-2016, 08:51 AM   #20
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DT466 over the T444 any day of the week. Its superior from every standpoint. And no I'm not knocking the T444, its just a downgrade over the 466.
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