360 w/air ride v 466

naes14 · 10-24-2016, 04:57 PM

Looking for some input. If you had to choose between two similar buses: one being 466e with air brakes, the other 360 with air ride and air brakes....which would you prefer and why?

cadillackid · 10-24-2016, 05:03 PM

the 466E will handle a big bus better..

I have a DT-360 in one of mine..its a short bus and does fine.. and i could imagine it being underpowered in a full size bus...
advantage to the DT-360 is its all mechanical.. no electronics to deal with ..the 466E is a computerized engine.. generally considered very solid and reliable.. just a bit more complex.. and definitely has more brute torque than a DT-360 does.
-Christopher

Rameses · 10-24-2016, 05:09 PM

While the air suspension would be nice, I think I'd trade it in favor of the extra 106 cubic inches any day of the week.

naes14 · 10-24-2016, 06:50 PM

Thanks for your input. We've been grappling with pro and cons of different features for a while at the end of the day I'd prefer a 466. With that said it's been pretty hard to find one..360s seem to be common. We have only found two buses with 466. One being a 466e from late 90s (my gf being the one concerned about its supposed problems-- I on the other hand am more impartial); the other is a mechanical from mid 80s. So finding that sweet spot is a journey indeed.

But you both are continuing to solidify our belief that the 466 is worth scouring and waiting for. Thanks again for the replies! And if anyone has any more guidance on a 96/97 466e model from AL, it would be welcomed.

cadillackid · 10-24-2016, 06:59 PM

my 360 in the short bus does fine in the eastern half of the USA where its only the smaller mountain ranges.. but i think iot would dog out on a rocky mountain run.. sure it would run it.. just slow.. i dont know how much you plan to drive the bus.. ive run mine 9000 miles since i got it in early may... the engine has given me zero issues.. but its definitely not fast.. sure if I floor it on flat ground that bus will run 65-68.. and slow down on the appalachain hills... but it really likes to cruise at 55.. probably too slow for most.. fine for me..

my bus is GVWR 27500.. and is built pretty heavy.. im not sure id want it in a GVWR 33000 lb bus.. esp on the hills...

a DT-466E isnt a bad engine.. there are plenty of them out there running many many miles.. lots of straight trucks, school busses etc.. just notice how many 'DT-466E' badges you see on school busses..

sure the computers *could* give you issues.. but keeping the oil CLEAN, fuel filters CLEAN, and dont get the darn thing over-hot and that DT-466E can go 1/2 a million miles or more before you then could rebuild it if needbe..

-Christopher

EastCoastCB · 10-24-2016, 07:22 PM

I'd take the mechanical engine and air ride for sure. Air ride rules.

cadillackid · 10-24-2016, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I'd take the mechanical engine and air ride for sure. Air ride rules.

you?? a DT-360 over a DT-466?????

EastCoastCB · 10-25-2016, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadillackid

you?? a DT-360 over a DT-466?????

Yeah, the DT360 was great. And you can't beat air ride. If the 466 has air ride then I'd go for that.
After riding on a fully loaded skoolie with leafs, I'm convinced air ride is the greatest thing one can attain on these rigs.
Mine sure rides AWESOME.

cadillackid · 10-25-2016, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Yeah, the DT360 was great. And you can't beat air ride. If the 466 has air ride then I'd go for that.
After riding on a fully loaded skoolie with leafs, I'm convinced air ride is the greatest thing one can attain on these rigs.
Mine sure rides AWESOME.

I agree on the air ride... I really wasnt aware of how much the air-ride does until I recently drove a bus without it... of course i felt like my busses drive like.. well school busses.. much rougher than the silverado LT..

when I drove the non air ride bus those rear wheels i swear actually bounced off the pavement it felt like in a construction zone...

im lucky to have it on both busses...

the DT-360 in dev works well for that size bus.. (i think it was you that told me when I found the bus that the 360 would be fine in a short bus but under-powered in a long bus)... I think that statement applies.. the DT-360 Loves to run at low RPM's... thus why I drive the dev at 55-60 instead of its maximum 65-68.. I dont have a lot of experience with the 466.. and even less wit hthe 466E..

while the DT-360 is happiest at 2000-2200 RPM... the V8 though.. T-444E runs best and seems to like to be a little higher.. in that 2300-2500 RPM range.. I have the red-line set at 2700 on both engines..

-Christopher

EastCoastCB · 10-25-2016, 06:26 AM

All things equal, of course bigger is better. But if a 5.9 cummins can move a bus so can a DT360.
Mechanical and air ride > Electronic and leaf spring

cadillackid · 10-25-2016, 06:37 AM

mechanical is definitely simpler.. im sure you are watching the thread unfold with the T-444E and poil in the exhaust... granted big KUDOS to the OP of that thread in which he has tools and isnt afraid to tear into things to fix it.. but that same exact HEUI system is used in the DT-466E's, VT-365s', and i think some of the CATs, if you can fix it yourself its not a bad system(I presonally like it.. but then im no stranger to electronic (gasoline) angine control systems).. but I venture to say that many here wouldnt have a clue as to how to work on it and troubleshoot it.. whereas on a mechanical system, you get no fuel in the cylinder, you go to heavytruckparts.com order a new pump, bolt it on and go..
-Christopher

Booyah45828 · 10-25-2016, 10:17 AM

Depends on the size of the bus. If they're the same size I'd go with the air ride and dt360, just for the simplicity of the mechanical engine and the comfort of the air ride. You can bump the power up on a 360 quite a bit if that's your primary concern. But most people think they need way more power then what they actually do.

I'd also look at rear gearing and transmission, because that can make or break a good deal as well.

GreyCoyote · 10-25-2016, 10:30 AM

It really depends on what you want to do with the bus.

If you will be hauling tons of gear, challenging hills, etc, then that 466 is your top pick. Yes, you may have Buss Butt after a couple of thousand miles, but you wont be in 1st gear pulling a grade either.

If you are running on the flats, lightly loaded, or a short bus, then maybe trading cubes for comfort is a good idea. Dunno.

Me? I guess I am a cubes guy. I had a pretty decent case of Buss Butt after my 5000 mile Burningman journey, but I was REALLY glad to have the extra torque when I needed it. YMMV.

naes14 · 09-21-2017, 11:18 AM

I feel that I should follow up with this and say I waited and found a 466e with both air ride and air brakes. So the moral of the story is wait and shop around because you can find what you're looking for with enough time and patience.

EastCoastCB · 09-21-2017, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naes14

I feel that I should follow up with this and say I waited and found a 466e with both air ride and air brakes. So the moral of the story is wait and shop around because you can find what you're looking for with enough time and patience.

Its worth it to get THE bus you want!

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