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Old 10-02-2019, 07:51 AM   #1
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1999 MD306 Transmission

This is my first post here, so be gentle. I've been researching for several months about the best bus for a skoolie or transit bus conversion. I've found one for sale that checks all the boxes, has an 8.3 Cummins, under storage bays, rear engine, etc. My only concern is that it has a 1999 Allison MD306 transmission. Doing some searching it appears the controllers for these are quite expensive, and for "early 90's" ones Allison doesn't even sell them anymore, you have to have them rebuilt, and some of them can't even be rebuilt. I'm looking for any feedback on this transmission at this point, the only other thing I found about the MD306 was that some did start having leaking seals overtime. Thanks for the help!
EDIT: I'm realizing I probably should have posted this under the Schoolie Tech -> Transmissions -> Cummins thread....sorry

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Old 10-02-2019, 10:12 AM   #2
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Allison switched to WTEC3 in 1998.

If you are certain that it is a 1999 there are TCM's are all over wrecking yards and on eBay. You may even find one for sale here on Skoolie...... Unless I see it first
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Old 10-02-2019, 10:18 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by PNW_Steve View Post
Allison switched to WTEC3 in 1998.

If you are certain that it is a 1999 there are TCM's are all over wrecking yards and on eBay. You may even find one for sale here on Skoolie...... Unless I see it first

Awesome, just what I wanted to know! I am certain it's a '99.
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Old 10-02-2019, 11:03 AM   #4
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Isn't it an MD3060? If so, it is by far the most desirable tranmission to have.
Why are you concerned about the controller, is the one in the bus damaged?
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Old 10-02-2019, 11:07 AM   #5
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That is an awesome drive train if I do say so myself
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Old 10-02-2019, 11:07 AM   #6
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Isn't it an MD3060? If so, it is by far the most desirable tranmission to have.
Why are you concerned about the controller, is the one in the bus damaged?
It's not damaged as far as I know, I have not inspected it in person or anything at this point. Honestly it's mostly this post that scared me.
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Old 10-02-2019, 11:10 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by o1marc View Post
Isn't it an MD3060? If so, it is by far the most desirable tranmission to have.
Why are you concerned about the controller, is the one in the bus damaged?
Oh, and Yes, I typoed in the original post, it is an MD3060
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Old 10-02-2019, 11:21 AM   #8
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It's not damaged as far as I know, I have not inspected it in person or anything at this point. Honestly it's mostly this post that scared me.
I personally would completely ignore that one in a million issue. The MD3060 is the most desired transmission in a bus IMHO. I've not heard the issue you posted as a common one. I have one in my 99 Genesis.
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Old 10-02-2019, 11:38 AM   #9
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I personally would completely ignore that one in a million issue. The MD3060 is the most desired transmission in a bus IMHO. I've not heard the issue you posted as a common one. I have one in my 99 Genesis.
I'm with Marc. In our application it is the most desirable automatic you can find in a bus.

Of all of the breakdown stories I have encountered here I can't recall one that involved a 3060 controller.
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Old 10-02-2019, 11:52 AM   #10
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the TCMs can gio bad.. the software definitely has different versions in them.. the calibrations from one CIN to another do matter.. you can mix and match to some extent as long as the TCM you are going to use is for a similar vehicle.. same trans, generation, and engine and weight characteristics..



ive only seen one MD3060 destroyed in a bus.. and that was done by its owner trying to get the bus unstuck from mud and was just too rough on the trans and ruined it..



-Christopher
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Old 10-02-2019, 12:01 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
the TCMs can gio bad.. the software definitely has different versions in them.. the calibrations from one CIN to another do matter.. you can mix and match to some extent as long as the TCM you are going to use is for a similar vehicle.. same trans, generation, and engine and weight characteristics..



ive only seen one MD3060 destroyed in a bus.. and that was done by its owner trying to get the bus unstuck from mud and was just too rough on the trans and ruined it..



-Christopher
Christopher,

Can an Allison shop reflash a controller from with a CIN from a similar bus?
If you take one from a truck for example and program it with a CIN from a bus?
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Old 10-02-2019, 01:03 PM   #12
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im guessing an allison shop is going to say no unless you find a really nice one.. they seem to be really tight to the chest with this stuff.. just like msanufacturers not wanting to turn on 6th gear..



I am not sure but I **think** every CIN in their mind is unique and no 2 should be alike.. maybe if you told them you were keeping a spare TCM just in case.. they would copy from one to another..



physically its easy to do. and only takes a short amount of time..
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