Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 08-28-2017, 09:16 AM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Texas
Posts: 63
Need help choosing.

I am looking at several buses, and need some help with engine choice.
[ I know each to his own.]
I already know that I want the overdrive trany.
I have been a mechanic for some 40+ years. But not on diesels.
Here are my choices.
Dt466 130,000 miles.
5.9 cum. I have worked on some of these. 90,000 miles.
6.6 ? 182,00 miles.
T444 with 148,000 miles.
Cat3126 110,000 miles.
6.0 ? 145,000 miles.
Miles will very.
I have heard the cat 3126 is not friendly. I have seen many buses with this engine.
I will travel in this bus when I get one. And I am sheer I will need parts along the way. Any help in my choice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

45acp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2017, 09:36 AM   #2
Traveling
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Midwest
Posts: 2,573
Year: 2003
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: TC2000
Engine: 5.9L Cummins
Rated Cap: '00
Were you after a front engine or rear engine?

What length bus?

What is your intended use- haul trailer,live aboard, weekender, etc.?
Rusty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2017, 10:01 AM   #3
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Texas
Posts: 63
The ones I am looking at rite now are FE. & 70+ passenger. 1999 and 2000.
I like this bus.
Used 2001 Thomas Thomas - Swansea IL Near Nixa MO - Midwest Transit

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty View Post
Were you after a front engine or rear engine?

What length bus?

What is your intended use- haul trailer,live aboard, weekender, etc.?
45acp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2017, 11:38 AM   #4
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,264
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: IH
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by 45acp View Post
I am looking at several buses, and need some help with engine choice.
[ I know each to his own.]
I already know that I want the overdrive trany.
I have been a mechanic for some 40+ years. But not on diesels.
Here are my choices.
Dt466 130,000 miles.
5.9 cum. I have worked on some of these. 90,000 miles.
6.6 ? 182,00 miles.
T444 with 148,000 miles.
Cat3126 110,000 miles.
6.0 ? 145,000 miles.
Miles will very.
I have heard the cat 3126 is not friendly. I have seen many buses with this engine.
I will travel in this bus when I get one. And I am sheer I will need parts along the way. Any help in my choice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Perhaps the biggest thing about Cat engines is parts - you can only get most of them straight from Cat dealers and usually at a premium price. Also, most are only open 8-5 on weekdays. Good luck if you break down Friday evening ...

The Cummins 5.9 engines have 2 fatal flaws. From the late 80's-'98 is the KDP, which can be corrected if done prior to failure, and the '98-01 "53 block" (bad block castings). Aside from these, they're pretty solid engines, albeit woefully underpowered in a full size bus, especially if you ever plan on towing or going through any hills. It is not a sleeved engine so it will have to come out if it ever needs a rebuild.

The IH engines - the T444 and DT466 both have excellent reputations. The latter is a sleeved engine and can be rebuilt in frame; it will also produce much more torque and will be much better suited for towing and ascending hills. The 6.0 (used both in Fords and IH's) earned a poor reputation for various problems which can be addressed, though not cheaply or easily. Best avoided unless you have plans to "bulletproof" it.

IH and Cummins engines have good parts availability. Due to this, there's competition and that keeps prices down. If all other factors were equal, I'd get that DT466. I've long believed those can be million mile engines, if properly cared for.

I'm assuming you want a full length bus based on the ad you posted, but you may also want to consider headroom. Many buses are 6' high inside but some are 6'6". If you *KNOW* this won't be a problem, *or* you know you plan on doing a roof raise, then it may not be an issue. Just something to keep in mind.
Brad_SwiftFur is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2017, 11:59 AM   #5
Bus Crazy
 
Njsurf73's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,497
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: Bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins 24v
Rated Cap: 72 pax
For that bus the 466 is the heartiest. I would trust a 5.9 before the 6.0. lots of people like the 444 in smaller busses but in the full size busses complain it's a bit anemic. The CAT engine is not bad, but a little pricier than the international for parts and service. I am not certain of the others. The 466 will have more torque and is a wet sleeve engine, making an in frame rebuild possible if the bottom end isn't shot.
I would personally take the 466 over the rest, followed by the 5.9 (I have a 35ft all American with a 5.9 and it does just fine), but that is strictly my opinion.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
Njsurf73 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2017, 12:10 PM   #6
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,264
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: IH
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 14
If I were to buy a(nother) full length bus, I'd look long and hard for an M11 or N14 Cummins. (Yes, they *DO* exist as factory options!)
Brad_SwiftFur is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2017, 12:31 PM   #7
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Texas
Posts: 63
The T444, and DT466 are in the top spot. I think I will try for one of these ,or the 8.3 cummins.
patients is not easy. I know I need to take my time. And find a good bus.
45acp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2017, 12:46 PM   #8
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,752
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
I have one bus with a T-444E, for a short bus is a GREAT engine.. for a big bus its going to be very under-powered.. I recently swapped for an overdrive trans. and its Muich better than it was however if it were a full size bus loaded with goodies it would be running that engine loaded pretty heavily..

the bus you posted appears not to be overdrive.. the pic of the shifter looks like an AT545 transmission to me.. it could be a 643. but you ahould verify. as it doesnt appear to an overdrive..

for a full size bus I would want a DT-466 or a Cummins 8.3,(unless you are going to be mainly in flat-land.. hills are what work engines hard and get them too hot / damage them) plenty do run the 5.9s though. and they get along just fine..
-Christopher
cadillackid is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:45 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.