Smitty's Bus

[crazycal]

It would make a great hood ornament.

[Stuff]

Originally Posted by crazycal

Smitty's an old man. He'll be driving so slow, there won't be any wind resistance. He's in this video driving the Lincoln.

Ya i could see Smitty lowering the dash in his bus so he can see over it

[jkindt]

Sweet job Smitty....you can now join the 'Primered bus club'....

[jkindt]

You just need to find a paint that is light when its hot out and dark when its cold out. Like some kind of UV activated chameleon or something.

[Doodlebug]

Smitty, I have a question about your windows... are they standard house windows? Are they single or double paned? And how thick are they? Did you have to modify them to fit in the bus walls? OK, more than one question..... I am having trouble opening my windows, would like to replace them with jalousie crank out type, but installing them looks to be very difficult. Leslie

[crazycal]

Is that a gunmetal gray?

[crazycal]

I read that. So what color does it look like if it doesn't have a name?

[CVanDamme]

Looks like its going on good!!??
I like the colour by the way!

[Seeria]

Pink

[Stuff]

dont forget to undercoat lol

[dogfinn]

Smitty, Where did you find your captains chair? I am in need of one real bad but can't afford the asking price for most of them.


Thanks
dogfinn from the Akitabus

[JakeC]

Originally Posted by crazycal

I read that. So what color does it look like if it doesn't have a name?

ummm....it looks like the color in the picture...

[bunedoggle]

oooohhh shiny. When can I bring my bus down for painting?

[Will]

Originally Posted by crazycal

I'm just thinking in terms of the terrain on the west coast. I have been on hills climbing at very slow speeds, like 25MPH. I know the 360 is just as bulletproof as the 466.

Just so everyone understands my intentions, it was not to slam Smitty's bus in any way. I was just curious.

I don't know what tranny he has, but I have a DTA360 with a 6-speed Fuller. I generally cruise at 65mph with the tach showing 2700rpm and get around 13mpg in the midwest. There is no hill west of West Virginia on I70 that will make me downshift until I get past Kansas. A 5% grade will drag me down to 50mph with a shift down to 5th. A 6% will bring me down to 45mph. Beartooth Pass is a 6%--though lots of turns that might send you down another gear and make catching back up a problem. I have been over a 9% (US30 west of Chambersburg, PA) and that took me down to 4th and 35mph. I68 is 100+ miles of 6% and 5% grades and that's where I was last weekend. I go around loaded tractor-trailers on the uphill parts and they blast by me on the downhills. Power to weight-wise, a 20,000# schoolie with 185hp is equivalent to an 80,000# semi with 740hp. Most semi's are 375-525hp. The semi has better gears and can use maximum power more often so they will often seem stronger, but when the grades get bad enough you will out perform them. I'm guessing having a slushbox Allison without a lockup converter would be worse, but I don't think power with a DTA360 is a problem. The transmission is more of a problem.

I think Smitty won't notice any lack of power. He'll drive 55 and get 10-12mpg and be fine on the hills. Just don't be afriad to let that motor spin. It's happy for thousands of miles on end at maximum rpm.

[Will]

I'm pretty confident. When I left the marines in 1996 I rented a Budget F700 with a Cummins 5.9 at 180hp and an auto. It was a self move and it weighed 30,000# almost exactly, with my '64 Galaxie in tow. I averaged 12mpg (and a killing on the self-move) and I took it easy to make sure I got the best mileage I could. That was Southern California to Columbus, Ohio. My buddy that got out the year befoe tried to save money with a gasser U-Hual and made about 6mpg and lost money.

My rental truck box was 12' 6" tall--taller than your bus--so I don't see your addition as being significant. And you won't come close to 30,000#.

I said to not be afraid to let the motor spin and I meant it. On hills, downshift and hold it down and let the motor do the work. If you let the converter do the work, it does it by making lots of heat--slipping. I don't think the 500-series has a lock-up clutch. Lots of your fuel goes into making heat. The more torque the motor makes, the hotter the converter gets. Use the rpms.

[Jerry Campbell]

When my bus was empty I got 12 mpg. Last trip, 6000 miles and lots of mountains, I weighed 27,500 lbs and I got a little less than 10 as an average. Judging from the weight you got going on I doubt if you'll do any better.
When you start driving down the road with all that stuff it gets a little spookie going much over 60, especially if you're on the rough back roads which we like so well, the handleing changes, the brakes don't work as well, the steering gets a little sloppier. 55 to 60 is just fine by me + I get better mileage. I have a friend who has a rig similar to yours I think power wise. A BlueBird Wanderlodge, loaded to death. About an 82, with a 3208 Cat and an allison 6 speed. With my 6-71 with 5 speed tranny I pass him on a hill but when we get to the flatlands he buzzes by me. I'm sure whatever it turns out to be You'll love it.
Jerry

[jkindt]

Originally Posted by Smitty

If I break double-digits I'll be tickled to death.......

Smitty

I would have to agree!!! Last trip out I got 4.76 mpg! But, I have since found some issues with my distributor and ignition timing and am working to resolve that right now. I expect to be able to get 7-8 mpg if I really try. Of course we are comparing apples to oranges here so it is kind of a moot point.

[Will]

A 6-71 and 27,500#...A 4-stroke DTA360 will get better mileage than a 6-71, and he will be 5,000# lighter more than likely. I don't think his bus will reach 20,000#, honestly.

As to the gas motor--what do you expect? My Winnebago weighed less than half what my bus weighs--much less than half--and got half the mileage. I think 5mpg in a gas schoolbus sounds great.

[Jerry Campbell]

If I break double-digits I'll be tickled to death, but if not.....it ain't gonna stop me from leaving these Indiana winters in the rear-view mirrors
Smitty

Think you're going to be ready by the winter?
And where to?
I'm hoping to leave the first of November. I can already feel the call of the highway.
Jerry

[bus-ted]

Well damn, that looks sharp. B.A. Baracus would be proud to drive that tank- and probably should.
You should do a similar guessing game w/ the bus weight as you did w/ the scrap weight...$$$. haha