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Old 08-09-2016, 09:14 AM   #1
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Allison 2000 transmission? Is it a MT643?

Looking at: 2002 IH 71 pass school bus T444 diesel motor Allison trans,

The man says it has a 2000 transmission and it is not a 545.

1000-2000 Series

Allison Transmission’s 1000 and 2000 Series are rated up to a maximum of 224 kW (300 hp) and have up to six speeds available, including two overdrives. Both close and wide ratio gearing are offered. The addition of 5th Generation advanced electronic controls enhances operation and prognostics capability

Thanks in advance.

OOPS! I should have searched a bit more.


The Allison transmission series 1000, 2000 & 3000 are 5/6 speed automatics with overdrive. The differences of interest to skoolies are horsepower & torque limits. If it came in the bus with the engine, it's fine. These are generally the preferred automatics installed in school buses in the last 25 years.

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Old 08-09-2016, 10:28 AM   #2
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the 2000 series is a nice transmission, its still run in many of the newest busses. in most cases it will be limited to 5 speed, however allison can unl;ock the 6th gear if you need a taller over-drive gear...

-Christopher
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Old 08-09-2016, 04:37 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
the 2000 series is a nice transmission, its still run in many of the newest busses. in most cases it will be limited to 5 speed, however allison can unl;ock the 6th gear if you need a taller over-drive gear...

-Christopher
Oh! I thought that whole freebie-sixth-gear thing was limited to the 3060. Is it available in any 2000-3000 series?
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Old 08-09-2016, 06:34 PM   #4
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Having 6th gear unlocked seems to only be successful with REs. Allison claims they're concerned about the drivetrain durability/speeds on the FEs. I believe that all the REs use 3060s. I may be wrong about that, however.
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Old 08-09-2016, 10:39 PM   #5
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Our buses all have the Allison 2000 series transmissions.

They're pretty great. We have Bluebird FE buses so the 6th gear is locked out. We can hit 74 mph on the Interstate once you're in 5th.

They are great units and I wouldn't hesitate to buy one for skoolie purposes.
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Old 08-10-2016, 07:44 AM   #6
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I was told by my international dealer here in town that he could get allison to open 6th gear on any International-chassis bus.. im not sure if the newer bluebirds and Thomas's count?

at the time I was looking at a newer IC CE-200 (2009). with an allison 2100 in it and a Maxxforce DT (DT-466E?).. and if i wanted to Lease or Buy a brand new bus he could get it shipped to me with 6th gear open...

allison will see a bare transmission with 6th open. a couple on this forum have gotten them for their custom projects this way..

as many have stated running a diesel at low RPM's is preferred over "maxxing it out" .. openbing 6th wont stress the dirvetrain any-more as the trans should just drop into a lower geasr when you run the bus up a hill.. but will practically idle down the road on flat ground...

-Christopher
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Old 09-27-2018, 11:43 AM   #7
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2500 allison

sorry posted to wrong place.
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Old 09-27-2018, 11:45 AM   #8
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The 2500 pts is most likely what’s in it and it does have lockup and an overdrive gear
Christopher
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Old 09-27-2018, 11:52 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
The 2500 pts is most likely what’s in it and it does have lockup and an overdrive gear
Christopher
Does the bus need to be taken to a facility to open 6th gear, or can the computer be sent off to do it? Whats the process?
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Old 09-27-2018, 12:02 PM   #10
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Does the bus need to be taken to a facility to open 6th gear, or can the computer be sent off to do it? Whats the process?
I am also interested to know the process.
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Old 09-27-2018, 01:41 PM   #11
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theres several threads about opening 6th gear. to get 6th on a 2500. it needs to be year 2006 or newer. (or you replace the valve body and TCM)...


for the MD3060. its a process.. search for unlocking 6th gear and we have a few who have gotten it.
-Christopher
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Old 05-15-2020, 11:03 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
theres several threads about opening 6th gear. to get 6th on a 2500. it needs to be year 2006 or newer. (or you replace the valve body and TCM)...


for the MD3060. its a process.. search for unlocking 6th gear and we have a few who have gotten it.
-Christopher
Looking at a 2003 Bluebird FE - so I would suppose that the Allison 2000 transmission would not be able to get the 6th gear unlocked.
Anyone know if they all came with a lock up converter?
The bus has 5.29 gears - I'd like to be able to do 60 - 65 without running north of 2000rpm.
Thoughts?
thanks
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Old 05-15-2020, 11:30 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackHeart View Post
Looking at a 2003 Bluebird FE - so I would suppose that the Allison 2000 transmission would not be able to get the 6th gear unlocked.
Anyone know if they all came with a lock up converter?
The bus has 5.29 gears - I'd like to be able to do 60 - 65 without running north of 2000rpm.
Thoughts?
thanks
All of your electronic allisons came with a lockup torque converter.

You can do a valve body and tcm swap on a pre 2005 allison 2000 and get 6th gear that way. Changing the valve body only requires a pan drop, it doesn't require transmission removal.

If it's post 2005, the hardware for 6th gear is there, it just needs enabled through software.

I believe the cutoff year is 2005 for the 5-6 speed change, but I'm going off memory so it could be different.
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Old 05-15-2020, 11:38 AM   #14
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All of your electronic allisons came with a lockup torque converter.

You can do a valve body and tcm swap on a pre 2005 allison 2000 and get 6th gear that way. Changing the valve body only requires a pan drop, it doesn't require transmission removal.

If it's post 2005, the hardware for 6th gear is there, it just needs enabled through software.

I believe the cutoff year is 2005 for the 5-6 speed change, but I'm going off memory so it could be different.
Thanks - after the valve body and tcm swap - does there need to be further software work?
Also, thoughts on what it may do at freeway speeds? are the 5th gear normally 1:1 or do they sometimes have a touch of OD?
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Old 05-15-2020, 01:54 PM   #15
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Quote:
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Thanks - after the valve body and tcm swap - does there need to be further software work?
Also, thoughts on what it may do at freeway speeds? are the 5th gear normally 1:1 or do they sometimes have a touch of OD?
The tcm swap should have the 6th gear enabled into it already, no need for further software changes.

4th gear is a direct, 5th is already an OD gear. It's ratio depends on the model of the transmission, usually either .74 or .71. 6th is typically .64.

Freeway speeds-rpm depends on your axle ratio, tire circumference, and transmission gearing. There are numerous calculators online that you can play with to see various speed and rpm relationships.

However, enabling and using 6th gear will give you a 14% rpm drop IIRC. Whether that is usable or advantageous in your scenario depends on what your current scenario is. Some enable 6th to gain fuel economy and see no change in it.
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Old 05-15-2020, 02:07 PM   #16
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black heart

with 5.29 rear gears and allison 2000 series 5speed transmission, i dont think you are going 60-65 and stay under 2000 rpm

william
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Old 05-15-2020, 02:22 PM   #17
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with 5.29 rear gears and allison 2000 series 5speed transmission, i dont think you are going 60-65 and stay under 2000 rpm

william
I think you are right.
Using an assumed 245/70/19.5 tire size
and assuming 5th gear is .74 and the rear end is 5.29 - 2000rpm = 50 mph
5th gear being .71 = 52.3
6th gear being .64 = 58.02

There is a 1999 up for sale there that has 4.78 gears.
It looks like this, with the same assumptions:
.74 = 55.5mph
.71 = 57.88 mph
.64 = 64 mph

Looks like if the 5.29 buses were in better shape - I would need to be shopping for some new rear end gears, or hope that the 99 is in great shape - or plan on going really really slow
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Old 05-15-2020, 04:23 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackHeart View Post
I think you are right.
Using an assumed 245/70/19.5 tire size
and assuming 5th gear is .74 and the rear end is 5.29 - 2000rpm = 50 mph
5th gear being .71 = 52.3
6th gear being .64 = 58.02

There is a 1999 up for sale there that has 4.78 gears.
It looks like this, with the same assumptions:
.74 = 55.5mph
.71 = 57.88 mph
.64 = 64 mph

Looks like if the 5.29 buses were in better shape - I would need to be shopping for some new rear end gears, or hope that the 99 is in great shape - or plan on going really really slow
Why are your tires so small...?
Full frame buses usually have 11Rx22.5" = ~ a 41" diameter tire compared to the 33" you picked...
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Old 05-15-2020, 04:24 PM   #19
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Why are your tires so small...?
Full frame buses usually have 11Rx22.5" = ~ a 41" diameter tire compared to the 33" you picked...
I will need to verify - that WILL make a pretty big difference. thanks
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Old 05-15-2020, 04:26 PM   #20
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Or upgrade to a fullsize 22.5 tire. Your 245/70/19.5 is only 33" diameter, where as the more common 11r22.5 is 42.2".

Doing that upgrade would give you 64 mph at 2000 rpm with your current setup of .74 OD and a 5.29 rear axle ratio.

That's if a full sized tire would fit. Some flat floor low clearance buses can't use the larger tire.
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