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Old 05-24-2019, 06:46 AM   #1
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Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Claremont, NH
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Year: 2003
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Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DT466E (195hp, 520tq)
New PSI 8.8 liter propane powered IC bus

Today I get to use a new IC propane powered bus for a field trip. It only has 4400 miles and the PSI 8.8 liter V8. Obviously more power than the Rousch powered ones. It's also nice driving a bus that doesn't have a quarter million miles on it for a change....

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Old 05-24-2019, 06:57 AM   #2
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Tracking... let us know how you like it
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Old 05-24-2019, 09:12 AM   #3
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I'll get a picture of it later, but during my pre-trip I opened the electrical access panel under the driver's window and was amazed. Just two large fuse/relay panels and a few wires. No rats nest of wires, fuses and connectors!
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Old 05-24-2019, 11:16 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ermracing View Post
I'll get a picture of it later, but during my pre-trip I opened the electrical access panel under the driver's window and was amazed. Just two large fuse/relay panels and a few wires. No rats nest of wires, fuses and connectors!



its all on the computer network now.. individual items have individual fuses but the wiring is streamlined to localized controllers.. similar to the way city and coach busses are done (and have been for awhile)...
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Old 05-28-2019, 05:42 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
its all on the computer network now.. individual items have individual fuses but the wiring is streamlined to localized controllers.. similar to the way city and coach busses are done (and have been for awhile)...


Sorry for the crappy picture, cheap phone.
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Old 05-28-2019, 02:18 PM   #6
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Location: Fingerlakes region NY
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Year: 1999
Coachwork: AmTran/Wolfington
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Engine: International DT466E 190HP variant
Rated Cap: 72 pax 29500 GVWR
I saw that engine on Wolfington Body Company’s website the other day (they made my bus’s body). They had a gasoline powered version as well. Lots of torque and HP, can’t remember the numbers right now but I’d sure love to hear one of those engines through some glass packs!
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Old 05-28-2019, 02:25 PM   #7
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that engine is being sold in IC (international) school busses as a gasoline engine.. I dont know of anyone running them yet but quite a few people I know running trans departments have them ordered
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Old 05-28-2019, 02:30 PM   #8
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Engine: International DT466E 190HP variant
Rated Cap: 72 pax 29500 GVWR
Are they exclusive to IC? I mentioned it in my post because Wolfington appears to make bodies only for IC. I wonder what the expected lifespan of this engine will be.
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Old 05-28-2019, 02:49 PM   #9
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IC is the only one I know of right now.. I think I heard Bluebird will offer the ford 7.3 as its option,.. up till now its been offered with the V10...



havent heard on thomas gas offering.. theres a lot of IC and Bluebird fanboys in the bus enthusiast clubs so its sometimes hard to see through all the "wishing" vs reality..

ive only seen wolfington associated with IC.. unless its different outside of the states..



theres also Lion which I never saw a single one around here for years but they are starting to show up in the mix.. their claim to fame is they are composite material and dont rust..(supposedly) they seem to be trying to push forward with electric busses.. but offer a diesel.. (cummins 6.7 like everyone)
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Old 05-28-2019, 03:21 PM   #10
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Engine: International DT466E 190HP variant
Rated Cap: 72 pax 29500 GVWR
I’ve never seen another “Wolfington” bodied bus. I guess it’s just an AMTRAN at the end of the day though
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Old 05-28-2019, 04:03 PM   #11
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essentially a play on the original WARD. which when international got involved called it AmTran..



Ward's materials seemed to be a mix of Superior, Wayne, and carpenter if you ask me... oncde it became amtran it got more "plain".. ie they dropped the iconic shaped windshield and went to a standard rectangle driver window and 4 piece windshield like Bluebird ... Superior / Wayne / Carpenter all went Bust.. Crown-by-carpenter in the mid 90s bought the old Wayne Factory and re-used the toolings... interesting to see the Carpenter / Crowns with Wayne interiors..



of course in today's Climate the Best built of anything dont sem to be ion demand.. the best-built school busses were considered to be the Real crowns (not the carpenter stuff).. and Superior.. both gone..
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Old 05-28-2019, 05:13 PM   #12
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My company has been buying the V10 propane Bluebird Visions the last few years....they're decent on flat land but really struggle in the hills with 45 kids on board. They're mostly used as route buses at the rural districts.



The range sucks on them too, you're lucky to get 200 miles out of one. Would never work at my bus terminal as lots of us can do 300-400 mile days especially on busy weekends.



A common problem on them is the manifolds cracking, the local Bluebird shop (Wisconsin Bus Sales) always has at least 5-6 of them in the service area for that every time I go in there.
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Old 05-28-2019, 05:28 PM   #13
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Thread hijack alert:
I've long wondered how durable the V10 engines were and as a result, stayed away from purchasing one.
Not sounding too promising as a long term, reliable powerplant.

I have noticed their widespread use in the lightweight shuttle busses around the northeast. Maybe they're better suited in those platforms vs a metal bodied skoolie..?

Now back to our regularly scheduled 8.8 propane fueled bus discussion...
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Old 06-09-2019, 06:58 PM   #14
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From what I see from Wolfington's website (not Wikipedia) they are a distributor of buses manufactured by other companies.

Quote:
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My company has been buying the V10 propane Bluebird Visions the last few years....they're decent on flat land but really struggle in the hills with 45 kids on board. They're mostly used as route buses at the rural districts.

The range sucks on them too, you're lucky to get 200 miles out of one. Would never work at my bus terminal as lots of us can do 300-400 mile days especially on busy weekends.

A common problem on them is the manifolds cracking, the local Bluebird shop (Wisconsin Bus Sales) always has at least 5-6 of them in the service area for that every time I go in there.
Do you work for Student Transportation of America (STA)? That's my employer and they use these things, too. And they just bought several more!

The bodies/chassis are OK (though our Int'l diesels feel more solid), but oh, the electrical problems! Not just the computer stuff, either: lights seem to go haywire, too. Ours run on cheap Chinese wheel rims with paint that fell off after two years. They won't last anywhere near the 40+ years like the ones on my '76 Dodge.
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Old 06-09-2019, 07:01 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ermracing View Post
Today I get to use a new IC propane powered bus for a field trip. It only has 4400 miles and the PSI 8.8 liter V8. Obviously more power than the Rousch powered ones. It's also nice driving a bus that doesn't have a quarter million miles on it for a change....
When you start the engine, does it respond right away, or does the damn computer have to boot up like on the (Rousch/Ford) BB Vision?
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Old 06-09-2019, 08:31 PM   #16
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Computer Control

Windows is updating. Please do not turn your bus off.
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Old 06-10-2019, 05:50 AM   #17
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When you start the engine, does it respond right away, or does the damn computer have to boot up like on the (Rousch/Ford) BB Vision?
You could do about half the pre-trip before it fires up.....
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Old 02-25-2020, 09:28 PM   #18
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Wolfington is a distributor of IC buses in one state, PA. They don't build the body. IC buses are built in Tulsa, OK by IC Bus (International).


Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
IC is the only one I know of right now.. I think I heard Bluebird will offer the ford 7.3 as its option,.. up till now its been offered with the V10...



havent heard on thomas gas offering.. theres a lot of IC and Bluebird fanboys in the bus enthusiast clubs so its sometimes hard to see through all the "wishing" vs reality..

ive only seen wolfington associated with IC.. unless its different outside of the states..



theres also Lion which I never saw a single one around here for years but they are starting to show up in the mix.. their claim to fame is they are composite material and dont rust..(supposedly) they seem to be trying to push forward with electric busses.. but offer a diesel.. (cummins 6.7 like everyone)
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Old 02-26-2020, 05:49 AM   #19
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Wolfington is a distributor of IC buses in one state, PA. They don't build the body. IC buses are built in Tulsa, OK by IC Bus (International).
I don't think anyone was suggesting that "wolfington" built ANYTHING.
My IC was built in Conway Arkansas. Many were up until 2010.
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Old 02-26-2020, 06:57 AM   #20
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Read the thread. I only posted bc someone thought wolfington built the bodies for IC.


you
Quote:
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I don't think anyone was suggesting that "wolfington" built ANYTHING.
My IC was built in Conway Arkansas. Many were up until 2010.
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