|
|
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.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
02-15-2017, 10:18 AM
|
#3
|
Bus Nut
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
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
02-15-2017, 08:09 PM
|
#6
|
Bus Nut
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.
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
02-15-2017, 08:30 PM
|
#8
|
Skoolie
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.
|
|
|
02-15-2017, 08:34 PM
|
#9
|
Bus Nut
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
I thought the C7 had a common rail system and the 3126 had HEUI?
|
Nope. Both heui.
|
|
|
02-15-2017, 08:42 PM
|
#10
|
Bus Nut
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.
|
|
|
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
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.
|
|
|
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
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
|
|
|
02-15-2017, 09:11 PM
|
#13
|
Skoolie
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.
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
02-15-2017, 09:59 PM
|
#16
|
Skoolie
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.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|