Ready to pull the trigger

jake_blue · 05-08-2016, 05:20 PM

Hey there, long time lurker and infrequent contributor here but finally ready to take that dive and buy my bus. I have a line on a 2003 Thomas RE, 138k miles, Cummins 5.9 with an Allison MD3060. I looked it over, clean and rust free, new tires all around, clean oil although a little accumulation from around the oil pan seal, and only minor cosmetic damage is the skirt on one side which will be going away anyways. I didn't have an opportunity to drive it yet but assuming it runs well and can hold 60mph without screaming I will be going home with a new project! I have a couple of options for where to park and work on this project too which is nice.

Robin97396 · 05-08-2016, 07:05 PM

Congratulation. Camouflage it, then park it at home. It's not that people don't see it, they're just afraid to say anything to you.

jake_blue · 05-08-2016, 07:16 PM

I was going to put, "NOT an NSA Surveillance Van" on the sides lol

Robin97396 · 05-08-2016, 08:17 PM

You can always be the FBI (Female Body Inspector) like has been in several movies.

Carytowncat · 05-08-2016, 11:09 PM

How exciting! Look forward to seeing pics and hearing more about the adventure.

jake_blue · 05-18-2016, 02:30 PM

Okay, now I'm frustrated... I was really excited and planning to test drive / take it home at the end of the month but my diesel mechanic has concerns about the performance of the Cummins 5.9 on hills and that they had a series 53 engine block that was prone to cracking I guess from a thin spot in the casting. Now I'm second guessing myself and quite frankly just paralyzed by the prospect. Sure for the price I can't beat it but I don't want the power train to become a money pit before I even get into the renovation. And if I keep looking around I could find something better but it just seems like it's always something that just doesn't line up and I'm afraid I'll never get past the buying stage at this rate.

Sorry, just venting

Robin97396 · 05-18-2016, 04:26 PM

Consider how many of us are driving 5.9s. True it kind of feels like a VW motor powering a loaded truck, but it gets you on the highway at speed, eventually. I haven't heard anything about the weak block on this site, but that doesn't mean much. So far I'm pretty impressed that a pickup truck motor is powering something this heavy.

That bus you've been looking at is a nice package with that transmission. If it's not the right bus for you, don't get it. Regret pops it's head up often enough already. Chances are you may own more than one bus in your life, if you get started.

jake_blue · 05-18-2016, 05:02 PM

Yeah so I talked to another dealer who has buses with engines like the 8.3 and he was not down on the 5.9. Sure I don't expect it to rocket up hills. So based on that I think I will move forward I just needed apparently a third opinion!

Robin97396 · 05-18-2016, 05:49 PM

It's a very popular engine in a lot of pickup trucks. It can't be all bad. You even got a good transmission in that bus.
If you find a knowledgeable mechanic they can increase the power from that engine or you can do it yourself, but don't take it to far. You can turn up the power but you don't want the heat problems you could get from turning it up to far. Does that make sense. This engine is capable of more power but that creates heat. It's likely you don't want to mess around with a bigger radiator.

cadillackid · 05-18-2016, 05:53 PM

I just drove a bus with an AT545 a GVWR of 27000 lbs and a DT360 (5.9 innline 6) 400 miles and ran 65 on flat ground and even on some hills only slowed down to 60 or so... and thats with an AT545..

granted i just blew my air brakes compressor up but thats not related to the engine..

-Christopher

EastCoastCB · 05-18-2016, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jake_blue

Yeah so I talked to another dealer who has buses with engines like the 8.3 and he was not down on the 5.9. Sure I don't expect it to rocket up hills. So based on that I think I will move forward I just needed apparently a third opinion!

Sounds like something to avoid, man.
Cummins 53 Block Casting Information

53 Block FAQ and Information

Cummins' Fatal Flaws - Diesel Power Magazine

cadillackid · 05-18-2016, 06:15 PM

wow i never knew the 5.9 had so many things going on.. but then every engine seems to,. people hate on the cat 3126 yet there are 1000s running down the road just fine.. the DT466 is good the DT466E is bad. . you'll hear bantar all day long...

everyone also said the Bendix Air brakes compressor on a mechanical engine beats the hydraulioc brakes any day and will last forever.. yet i had one BUST TODAY...

a VT365 that has had its injectors updated may run forever yet everyone and their brother will say dont touch a VT365...

honestly it all comes down to a game of chance and how well it was taken care of...

all of our busses are older and anything can happen to any of them at any time... there are definitely combinations that have more power or a more proven reliability than others but in reality its like any vehicle at high hours / high mileage..

-Christopher

Tango · 05-18-2016, 07:03 PM

For the record...

Only the 1998 to 2000 have 53 blocks and they are clearly marked on the casting. The letters are about 1" tall and are below the injection pump, just above where the oil pan bolts to the block.

Robin97396 · 05-18-2016, 07:48 PM

Yeah great, I've got the KDP.

jake_blue · 05-18-2016, 08:54 PM

I'll just double check that 53 block issue but otherwise I think my apprehension just stemmed from getting all the worst case scenarios from an overzealous diesel mechanic. All things considered it's still the best deal I've seen for what I want and I'm sure I'd get alot of miles out of even if it has some well-known flaw. I think cadillackid is right too, every model of engine is going to have some Achilles heel and it's just a roll of the dice if you get a good one or a lemon.

Robin97396 · 05-18-2016, 09:43 PM

That's all true. As the read said, a lot of that issue is how you drive it. Overheating and cold starts. Since you're not going to drive it like it belongs to someone else things should work out fine.

jake_blue · 05-31-2016, 05:30 PM

So I test drive this bus and it ran fine but without going out on the highway I did the math and the gearing is my biggest concern. I was turning 2100rpm to 55mph in fifth gear, that's not good. Even if I can get the sixth gear unlocked which is just supposed to be software but from what I've read no one will do it, that's still higher rpms than I want to run on the highway. I may just have to deal with it though because I'm guessing if the gearing is too (numerically) low the 5.9 may have trouble just getting it moving from a stop.

Any Cummins 5.9 owners who know what their differential gearing is for comparison?

EastCoastCB · 05-31-2016, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jake_blue

So I test drive this bus and it ran fine but without going out on the highway I did the math and the gearing is my biggest concern. I was turning 2100rpm to 55mph in fifth gear, that's not good. Even if I can get the sixth gear unlocked which is just supposed to be software but from what I've read no one will do it, that's still higher rpms than I want to run on the highway. I may just have to deal with it though because I'm guessing if the gearing is too (numerically) low the 5.9 may have trouble just getting it moving from a stop.

Any Cummins 5.9 owners who know what their differential gearing is for comparison?

Sounds like your gearing is LOW, but not numerically.

jake_blue · 05-31-2016, 06:35 PM

By my calculation it must have a 6.73 gear ratio... I didn't know they went that low! Yeah, I got that turned around didn't I? It would be numerically higher than I want.

cadillackid · 05-31-2016, 06:56 PM

you want numerically Lower which leads to Less driveshaft revolutions per wheel revolution.. I never realized they put that high of gears on an O/D transmission bus..

are you sure it actually shifted to 5th and hit the Lock up?

I wouldve expected 4.78's or 5.31's in a school bus...

-Christopher

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