Would you choose a DT466 or a 5.9 cummins?

[dentedvw]

I had my sights set on getting a bus with a 5.9 cummins due to the parts availability, and commonality, but an opportunity to get a bus with a DT466 has come up. It has insanely low mileage, like 20K miles. I am dubious of this, but it's not a school bus, so I guess it's possible, but I will be checking for the possibility of shenanigans when I go look at it.

What is the consensus on the DT466, is it a good motor, how does it compare to the cummins?

[Elliot Naess]

No personal experience with the IH DT466, but it seems to be universally agreed that it is the best engine you can have in a skoolie.

[Jarlaxle]

The 466 is the best MDT engine ever built, period. The 5.9 Cummins is GOOD, but the 466 is a better engine. It also has the BIG advantage of what's behind it: it will have at least an MT643 Allison, while most 5.9's I have seen with automatics have the (very) light duty non-lockup AT545 or AT542. Some have the 643 (my friend's TC1000 does) or a lockup AT500, but most have 545's.

International's DT360 and DT408 have the same issue: great engines (smaller versions of the 466), but often backed by the AT545.

[lapeer20m]

agreed, 466 is the best medium duty truck engine out there.


one advantage of the 5.9 is fuel economy...but with a non-lock up trans may be comparable to a 466/mt643 combo

many people would kill to have a bus with a low mileage dt466/mt643 engine/trans combo.

[dentedvw]

Turns out it's too long for my driveway. Exactly 41 feet front to rear. They were willing to come down to 7K on the price, and it really does only have 20k miles on it, it was used for tours around the DTE energy farmington hills facility.
I found it on Craigslist, and Joyce is the gal that owns it, she seems real nice. It's listed for something like 8500. I think I found it in the Port Huron Craigslist.
Good Luck! It seems nice, but too big for us, and no rear door for bikes.

[crazycal]

CUBES! Give me more cubes.