4 Curious Georges' 2001 Saf-T-Liner

[david.dgeorge07]

Good call! Max RPM is 2400. Some other forums suggest 2000 is a good cruising RPM. Not sure what ratio 6th is but seems likely it has been engineered to a good final cruising ratio.


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[cadillackid]

if you have allison MD-3060 your ratio will be .65 in 6th (.75 in 5th).

2000 - .74 in 5th and .60 in 6th
1000 - .71 in 5th and .60 in 6th

-Christopher

[david.dgeorge07]

Thanks Christopher! I did some math at it looks like the bus is designed to max out at about 70mph in 6th gear, and to cruise most fuel efficiently around 55-60mph in 6th gear. Wouldn't mind getting a little more top end, but I'm sure it will save a lot of fuel if I keep it slower anyway. Not planning on driving it to win any races!

[cadillackid]

I havent taken a trip at the slower speed in my redbyrd yet.. with the recent trans upgrade from the old AT545 to the 6 speed allison 1000 I netted huge gains.. however i also found out that running the engine at too LOW and RPM can cost MPG..

my bus was originally geared with the AT545 (1.00 ratio) to max out at 2700 RPM at around 72-74 MPH... running at 65 I would var y(no lock converter) between 2300 and 2600 RPM.. and got 7.5 - 9.. running it at 60 my RPMs varied between 2100 - 2400 or so and I got 10 - 11 MPG. (various trips of 500 - 1100 miles)

running in 6th gear(0.60) on the new trans at 65 in 6th gear (tach 1450-1500 RPM) I netted 11 - 11.5 MPG. (3 legs. 700 miles, 450 miles and 750 miles)

running in 5th gear (0.71) at 65 on the new trans (tach 1650 - 1700) I netted 12 - 12.5 MPG.. (1070 miles)

I havent tried a trip at 55-60 yet.

the trip legs i measured here were on up and down terrain.. 650 - 2500 feet or so with mostly light or some headwinds.. on the middle trip (6th gear) I had a tailwind for awhile.. on the last trip (5th gear)winds were generally light though I had a couple thunderstorms, lots of rain.. on the middle trip(6th gear) I had only a little rain..
both trips on the new trans were run with nearly constant A/C usage.)

my earlier trips on the old trans were a mix of A/C and non A/C.. some of those were in dead winter... all the travelling on the new trans has been in the last couple months..

my engine is a T-444E with 157,000 miles on it. the bus is a shorty blue-bird (GVWR 17500).. all stock (no conversion.. stock seats and interior).

I have a couple short (250 miles round trip) trips coming up and ill run them at 60 to see how the MPGs are

-Christopher

[david.dgeorge07]

Took her out for a spin! Nice day for it!


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[david.dgeorge07]

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[david.dgeorge07]

I also got the rest of the interior wall panels taken out today. The fiberglass insulation that is shoved down in the bottom quarter of the wall is pretty hard to get out. Do you guys have any awesome tips for how to best insulate that space? It seems like the two-part closed cell foam would be the easiest to fill in all the voids down there. But I was thinking of using the 2 inch rigid foam on the rest of the bus.


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[david.dgeorge07]

Update on transmission upgrade to unlock 6th gear. Got as far as realizing that I do need a letter from Thomas. Called today and they said it would take a couple of weeks to get the authorization letter. Nice people.


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[david.dgeorge07]

So I'm still waiting for the letter from Thomas allowing Allison to unlock 6h gear. In the meantime, I'm working on paint designs. What do you guys think about these two directions?

[WanderWoman]

Originally Posted by david.dgeorge07

So I'm still waiting for the letter from Thomas allowing Allison to unlock 6h gear. In the meantime, I'm working on paint designs. What do you guys think about these two directions?

I like #1... and what program did you use to do that in?

[david.dgeorge07]

Originally Posted by WanderWoman

I like #1... and what program did you use to do that in?

Just Adobe Photoshop. My previs is sloppy but serves its purpose.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by david.dgeorge07

My previs is sloppy but serves its purpose.

Just a Warning: This is a FAMILY Forum.

I am painting my bus also- as in I should be sanding right now as I have 40% to go

Anyway, what I did is got white primer and lightly tinted to see what it would look like on big bertha. Photoshop is one thing, but wowsa these are some big canvases. Try the tint trick- it's good painting practice anyway.

Oh, BTW- I am using rustoleum and ONLY use that to tint it. Store tints are not for rustoluem as they will oxidize. I tinted rustolum primer with rustolyum paint.

Here is where I am at- don't laugh. I like your #1

[BlueDays]

Originally Posted by david.dgeorge07

So I'm still waiting for the letter from Thomas allowing Allison to unlock 6h gear. In the meantime, I'm working on paint designs. What do you guys think about these two directions?

I like the first design. Original, but I can imagine that it would be difficult to paint.

[WanderWoman]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Just a Warning: This is a FAMILY Forum.



I am painting my bus also- as in I should be sanding right now as I have 40% to go



Anyway, what I did is got white primer and lightly tinted to see what it would look like on big bertha. Photoshop is one thing, but wowsa these are some big canvases. Try the tint trick- it's good painting practice anyway.



Oh, BTW- I am using rustoleum and ONLY use that to tint it. Store tints are not for rustoluem as they will oxidize. I tinted rustolum primer with rustolyum paint.



Here is where I am at- don't laugh. I like your #1



Attachment 15573

I like that, Rusty! Pretty design.


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[david.dgeorge07]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Just a Warning: This is a FAMILY Forum.

I am painting my bus also- as in I should be sanding right now as I have 40% to go

Anyway, what I did is got white primer and lightly tinted to see what it would look like on big bertha. Photoshop is one thing, but wowsa these are some big canvases. Try the tint trick- it's good painting practice anyway.

Oh, BTW- I am using rustoleum and ONLY use that to tint it. Store tints are not for rustoluem as they will oxidize. I tinted rustolum primer with rustolyum paint.

Here is where I am at- don't laugh. I like your #1

Attachment 15573

Sorry! I'll try to keep it clean! Not sure that I understand what you mean about tinting. Are you just mixing in darker paint to take the edge off the white?

BTW this is the paint that planning on using:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Valspar-Res...-oz/1000218031

Did you post a pic of your project?

[david.dgeorge07]

Ah, just clicked on attachment! That should look nice!

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by david.dgeorge07

BTW this is the paint that planning on using:

I was just saying you can tint the primer to get an idea of what colors look like on the bus- practice run.

Not sure if that latex paint is suitable- I never tried for vehicle.

I have used the Behr Ultra on vehicles with very good luck- is enamal.

[CaptSquid]

Ditto, Number 1.

[EastCoastCB]

You can get a Valspar oil based enamel that's tintable to whatever color you want at Lowes. We gave SuperDave a hand painting his bus with this stuff and its pretty good paint for the money.
I was gonna use Rustoleum or whatever brand enamel was cheapest, but I went to a local automotive paint supplier and found single stage acrylic with hardener for $60/gallon so I'll be going with that.
I'd definitely avoid latex house paint, as its just going to make it harder to paint "right" later on.
Just my 2 cents.

[david.dgeorge07]

I had read elsewhere of good results with acrylic paint. Based on the description and attributes it looks like a good, fit, but you raise good questions. For some reason I was thinking acrylic paint was not water based, but it is.