Saoirse- The Freedom Unicorn - Page 5

cadillackid · 07-19-2018, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I wouldn't dream of it.
But my 545 never really sees anything close to 2000 rpm.

thats why you dont want to beef up the engine... with 190HP the low line pressure doesnt matter as much... line pressure is what drives the hydraulics inside the transmission.. applies force to the servo pistons which engage the clutches.. I dont have a working 545 anymore to show you just how much that pressure drops...

allison didnt see it as an issue as the slipping converter generally raises the RPMs up enough to handled the rated torque and HP of the transmission..

the 1500-1800 you get is enough to get the pressure up to handle your engine.. its also possible that the reman company installed an improved front pump which would increase line pressure. most often remans are great because they get the updates of the factory TSB's that were put out over the years..

-Christopher

EastCoastCB · 07-19-2018, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadillackid

thats why you dont want to beef up the engine... with 190HP the low line pressure doesnt matter as much... line pressure is what drives the hydraulics inside the transmission.. applies force to the servo pistons which engage the clutches.. I dont have a working 545 anymore to show you just how much that pressure drops...

allison didnt see it as an issue as the slipping converter generally raises the RPMs up enough to handled the rated torque and HP of the transmission..

the 1500-1800 you get is enough to get the pressure up to handle your engine.. its also possible that the reman company installed an improved front pump which would increase line pressure. most often remans are great because they get the updates of the factory TSB's that were put out over the years..

-Christopher

Oh, believe me I know- I would never put any kind of HP/TQ through a 545. 175-195 seems to be about the limit.
I think that my bus is geared so high and the engine makes its torque so low that the reman had to be installed due to frequent low line pressure like you describe.
I get the usual ugly noises from the trans if I don't maintain pressure. Like if I'm going 60 and let off and just barely crack the throttle open. It does NOT like that but my last one was the same way too.

EastCoastCB · 07-19-2018, 08:40 PM

Was hard to get a pic in the low light and all, but I found two tags on the rear diff that indicate a 4.11 ratio.

Man, the lifting blocks make the bus look COOL.

cadillackid · 07-19-2018, 09:38 PM

Nice lookin bus! I love the chair door in front. I have that on my dev.. I can park and open up both doors and feel like I’m in an open space..

On the trans.. the modulator .. that little device is the death of many an at545 on an electronic engine.. it’s a silver cab with a 2 pin connector on the left side .. yours looks more black/gray I see it there..

When you are at light throttle and your trans upshifts seemingly early if you mash it after the upshifts it should do a kick down to the lower gear.. let off to light throttle it should upshift again.. if your shift points are always the same whether at light or full throttle that device is not functioning properly.. if it’s stuck on your trans shifts late and hard. If it’s stuck off then your trans shifts a bit early and usually light though all 535s give a bump esp into 3rd gear..

The noise is not a bad thing it’s the gear cut that makes the noise ..

If you suspect the modulator , put 12 volts across its terminals it should give a snap sound and a piston protrudes from the end going into the trans.. no noise no worky ..

I have an almost new one I put on the red bus before I realized it was too late that trans was dying. So if yours is bad don’t buy one they are pricey I’ll send you mine as I’ve no need for it ..

There’s only one more bus I really want to own.. and I found it nowxto figure out how to buy it and get it home

david.dgeorge07 · 07-19-2018, 10:57 PM

IMG_7188.PNG

This is what I look like at 65! I have a 6:1 rear end. This is in 6th gear (double overdrive). If I had a different transmission I would have no top end at all. I think my bus would be perfect around 5:1.

Are you going to leave yours at 4.11? How is it off the line?

EastCoastCB · 07-20-2018, 05:15 AM

Its decent off the line. But it is half a bus!
Definitely leaving the 4.11 in.

EastCoastCB · 07-21-2018, 10:48 PM

Did a little google searching and the 3126 has a #2 bellhousing so I guess mine would have a #3 to #2 adapter? I've gotta go look.
If so- then I'd need a 643, flexplate, and what else?

cadillackid · 07-22-2018, 08:25 AM

youd have to see if you need a new flexplate or not... with CAT you may not.. and need to see if the CAT based engines require extra support for the 643 or not.. it weighs 650 lbs. to the 545's 350 lbs. you almost need to find a 3126 with a 643 and get its VIN.. and the VIN for yours, call a CAT dealer and ask about parts or service-diagrams for both.. thats where you really learn about what a vehicle came with form the factory and what parts are needed to make it work. with an electronic engine i'd be inclined to go 2000, you are in similar shoes to me and my red bus which is over-geared in the rear. you would go 2000 series and downgear to a 4.10 or 4.44 or such and probably have a screamer...

-Christopher

EastCoastCB · 07-22-2018, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadillackid

youd have to see if you need a new flexplate or not... with CAT you may not.. and need to see if the CAT based engines require extra support for the 643 or not.. it weighs 650 lbs. to the 545's 350 lbs. you almost need to find a 3126 with a 643 and get its VIN.. and the VIN for yours, call a CAT dealer and ask about parts or service-diagrams for both.. thats where you really learn about what a vehicle came with form the factory and what parts are needed to make it work. with an electronic engine i'd be inclined to go 2000, you are in similar shoes to me and my red bus which is over-geared in the rear. you would go 2000 series and downgear to a 4.10 or 4.44 or such and probably have a screamer...

-Christopher

As fast as it is at low rpm's I really don't think it would benefit much from OD.
If I went with a 2000 I'd have to swap rear ratios for sure.

Brewerbob · 07-23-2018, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Man, the lifting blocks make the bus look COOL.

Leave the tranny alone until it dies or convert the bus to AWD.

EastCoastCB · 07-23-2018, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

Leave the tranny alone until it dies or convert the bus to AWD.

Nah, I don't need the added weight, complexity, or expense of 4wd.
IF I keep this bus it will get a trans upgrade. For now, the reman 545 will suffice.

cadillackid · 07-23-2018, 07:44 AM

the lift and the gears make me wonder if it was sold with 19.5" wheels then the schools upgraded them to the 22.5's later on and left the original gearing.

-Christopher

brokedown · 07-23-2018, 07:56 AM

It's jacked up so high you could probably put water tanks in the wheel arches!

EastCoastCB · 07-23-2018, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadillackid

the lift and the gears make me wonder if it was sold with 19.5" wheels then the schools upgraded them to the 22.5's later on and left the original gearing.

-Christopher

NOPE. It came with 22.5's and 10R's.

Brewerbob · 07-23-2018, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Nah, I don't need the added weight, complexity, or expense of 4wd.
IF I keep this bus it will get a trans upgrade. For now, the reman 545 will suffice.

There are a lot of things you don't need.

With a shorty it's gotta be fairly simple. With a 40 footer that would be a project!! Even more so with a 40 RE.

cadillackid · 07-23-2018, 11:31 AM

gonna be the same to install front axle drive on a full size conventional as it would a shorty conventional.. an RE would be the tough one to do...

not really sure why EC would install front drive on a bus he tends to keep mainly in the south for outings around florida / georgia, and the like..

-Christopher

Brewerbob · 07-23-2018, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadillackid

not really sure why EC would install front drive on a bus he tends to keep mainly in the south for outings around florida / georgia, and the like..

-Christopher

You answered your own question. Hey y'all I wanna trying something. Hold my beer.

EastCoastCB · 07-23-2018, 01:43 PM

I've never been much for 4x4's. At least not for driving around in town and on the highway.
I'd rather haul some dirtbikes out to the woods if I wanna go off-roading.

Brewerbob · 07-23-2018, 01:45 PM

I don't like bikes much so I prefer the 4x4. The U.P. of MI has thousands of miles of ORV trails/roads for snow mobiles and ORVs. I'll have to look into getting a side by side.

EastCoastCB · 07-23-2018, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

I don't like bikes much so I prefer the 4x4. The U.P. of MI has thousands of miles of ORV trails/roads for snow mobiles and ORVs. I'll have to look into getting a side by side.

I just never saw much point in riding around in a 4wd. Eating up tires 99% of the time on the paved roads.

I like rail buggies. But they're not 4x4 either.

I've had some Cherokees and a really nice 74 Scout. They were all great, but I wouldn't be the type to build an offroad vehicle out of a bus.

A dirt road cruiser? yes
A real off road machine? nah

You may also like: