Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 02-14-2017, 08:37 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: BC
Posts: 21
Year: 2002
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP EF
Engine: 5.9 Cummins
2005 Bluebird CAT C7

So I bought a couple of busses at auction, a 2002 12 window row Thomas coach with a 5.9 and allison 545, drove it all summer after a makeshift living conversrion, and the second is a 2005 10 window row Bluebird with a C7 with 295xxx km on it, allison 4 speed with OD, cruise control, and a wheelchair lift at the front.

I never did any research into the CAT bus, and now I am regretting that purchase after reading up on the C7. The bus being in imaculate shape. I paid $2400 Canadian for it, i'm sure I can sell it for the same price.

Krazyistkarl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2017, 09:09 AM   #2
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: West Ohio
Posts: 3,678
Year: 1984
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International 1753
Engine: 6.9 International
Rated Cap: 65
I'm not following, do you have a problem or question about it or what's your point in the post?

That's the goal of the mechanical/drivetrains section is to ask/answer questions and give feedback.
Booyah45828 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2017, 10:18 AM   #3
Bus Nut
 
Rameses's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 855
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cummins 8.3/Allison MD3060
Rated Cap: 84
Rameses is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2017, 07:01 PM   #4
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: BC
Posts: 21
Year: 2002
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP EF
Engine: 5.9 Cummins
Yea I kind of rambled and didn't articulate my point well. It's mostly a general question as to whether the hate for the C7 is merited. Are they really THAT bad. If they are, I'll likely unload it.
What I've found on RV forums is people really hate the C7
Krazyistkarl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2017, 07:28 PM   #5
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: West Ohio
Posts: 3,678
Year: 1984
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International 1753
Engine: 6.9 International
Rated Cap: 65
Not terrible as far as reliability. It's not nearly as good as an old fashioned 12v cummins or a mechanical dt466 but they can still be fairly reliable. Biggest thing is oil changes because the engine oil is abused harder due to the heui system.

Certain proprietary parts are alot more expensive then on a cummins but that has more to do with production levels and availability then manufacturer.

If you got a good deal on it and it seems in relatively good shape I wouldn't be afraid of it.

I'm not a fan of any engine, so take what I said for what you paid for it. But some people will trash talk anything based off of secondhand stories/knowledge. As for the ones I've worked on, they've been relatively trouble free, no worse then the first generation isb cummins.
Booyah45828 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2017, 08:09 PM   #6
Bus Nut
 
Rameses's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 855
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cummins 8.3/Allison MD3060
Rated Cap: 84
Yeah, they really aren't that bad of an engine, just expensive to buy parts for.

The 3116 is the one to absolutely avoid.
Rameses is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2017, 08:14 PM   #7
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,757
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
your DT-466's post-95 are almost all HEUI engines too... and keeping clean oil in them lets them last nicely...

-Christopher
cadillackid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2017, 08:30 PM   #8
Skoolie
 
Stewzer55's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 142
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Fisher Body
Chassis: GM "B" Platform
Engine: 350 TBI Chevrolet
Rated Cap: 8
I thought the C7 had a common rail system and the 3126 had HEUI?
__________________
Closest I have to a Bus would be my '92 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Station Wagon 1 of 4,347 built.
Stewzer55 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2017, 08:34 PM   #9
Bus Nut
 
Rameses's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 855
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cummins 8.3/Allison MD3060
Rated Cap: 84
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stewzer55 View Post
I thought the C7 had a common rail system and the 3126 had HEUI?
Nope. Both heui.
Rameses is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2017, 08:42 PM   #10
Bus Nut
 
Rameses's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Posts: 855
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All American
Engine: Cummins 8.3/Allison MD3060
Rated Cap: 84
Well, let me clarify.

The C7 was eventually changed to a common rail, but that didn't happen until pretty close to the end of its production run. If you buy something with a C7 in it, chances are it's going to have a heui system.
Rameses is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2017, 08:45 PM   #11
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: BC
Posts: 21
Year: 2002
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP EF
Engine: 5.9 Cummins
Quote:
Originally Posted by Booyah45828 View Post
Not terrible as far as reliability. It's not nearly as good as an old fashioned 12v cummins or a mechanical dt466 but they can still be fairly reliable. Biggest thing is oil changes because the engine oil is abused harder due to the heui system.

Certain proprietary parts are alot more expensive then on a cummins but that has more to do with production levels and availability then manufacturer.

If you got a good deal on it and it seems in relatively good shape I wouldn't be afraid of it.

I'm not a fan of any engine, so take what I said for what you paid for it. But some people will trash talk anything based off of secondhand stories/knowledge. As for the ones I've worked on, they've been relatively trouble free, no worse then the first generation isb cummins.
Well now this makes me wonder which bus I should spend time and money on converting. It's in really good shape all around, well maintained by the school board, good rubber. Needs the turn signals rewired with relays instead of the company bus or whatever the hell it is.

I chose the Thomas coach mainly because it has more headroom, and is more unique with the flat front, don't see many around. It turns sharper than the conventional with the shorter wheelbase, but the front wheel wells limit the floor plan layout having to work around them.

As far as driveability, hardly comparable at all, the Bluebird CAT is quieter, has more power and pickup, the "cockpit" is far more modern, digital gauges, cruise control and OD is nice too. I never drove it enough to compare fuel mileage between the two busses.
Krazyistkarl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2017, 08:52 PM   #12
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: BC
Posts: 21
Year: 2002
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP EF
Engine: 5.9 Cummins
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rameses View Post
Well, let me clarify.

The C7 was eventually changed to a common rail, but that didn't happen until pretty close to the end of its production run. If you buy something with a C7 in it, chances are it's going to have a heui system.
It is a HEUI yes
Krazyistkarl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2017, 09:11 PM   #13
Skoolie
 
Stewzer55's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 142
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Fisher Body
Chassis: GM "B" Platform
Engine: 350 TBI Chevrolet
Rated Cap: 8
Ah pHEUI (fooey)!

Have any pictures of the busses?
__________________
Closest I have to a Bus would be my '92 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Station Wagon 1 of 4,347 built.
Stewzer55 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2017, 09:20 PM   #14
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,757
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
id keep the 05!!

most likely the bus itself is probably insulated better and has better ride quality...

its night and day for me going between my 91 and my 00
-Christopher
cadillackid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2017, 09:30 PM   #15
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: BC
Posts: 21
Year: 2002
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP EF
Engine: 5.9 Cummins
Not too sure how to embed, and I don't really have photo bucket or any other photo hosting account other then Instagram, check out my Instagram handle @theroamsteadproject
I haven't posted in a while as I parked it for the winter
Krazyistkarl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2017, 09:59 PM   #16
Skoolie
 
Stewzer55's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 142
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Fisher Body
Chassis: GM "B" Platform
Engine: 350 TBI Chevrolet
Rated Cap: 8
I followed you.
__________________
Closest I have to a Bus would be my '92 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Station Wagon 1 of 4,347 built.
Stewzer55 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2017, 09:26 AM   #17
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: West Ohio
Posts: 3,678
Year: 1984
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International 1753
Engine: 6.9 International
Rated Cap: 65
What allison does the c7 have? that would make more of a differece to me then cummins vs cat.
Booyah45828 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-2017, 09:44 AM   #18
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: BC
Posts: 21
Year: 2002
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP EF
Engine: 5.9 Cummins
Allison mt643
Krazyistkarl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2017, 10:10 AM   #19
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: West Ohio
Posts: 3,678
Year: 1984
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International 1753
Engine: 6.9 International
Rated Cap: 65
If it runs good, I'd choose that over a cummins/at545 combo.
Booyah45828 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2017, 02:52 PM   #20
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: BC
Posts: 21
Year: 2002
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP EF
Engine: 5.9 Cummins
Can you elaborate on why you'd chose that combo?
Krazyistkarl is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:05 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.