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05-01-2017, 11:54 PM
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#1
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: May 2017
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 24
Year: 1972
Engine: Cummins NH220
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First Bus! 1972 Crown w/ Cummins 220
Hi all!
I just bought my first bus, a 1972 Crown with a Cummins 220. She's a beauty! Planning to drive it from LA to SF in a few weeks. The engine looks solid and I had a chance to take it for a spin but I would love some advice on how to best prepare for the trip. Anything in particular I should check aside from regular levels? Any overheating risk I should be aware of, especially in the hills outside of LA on the I-5? Any RPM range I should keep it in?
Thanks!
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05-01-2017, 11:56 PM
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#2
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,497
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: Bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins 24v
Rated Cap: 72 pax
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hanaiapa
Hi all!
I just bought my first bus, a 1972 Crown with a Cummins 220. She's a beauty! Planning to drive it from LA to SF in a few weeks. The engine looks solid and I had a chance to take it for a spin but I would love some advice on how to best prepare for the trip. Anything in particular I should check aside from regular levels?
Thanks!
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Tires!
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
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05-02-2017, 12:08 AM
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#3
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Vacaville, Ca
Posts: 1,634
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Crown / Pusher
Engine: 8.3 Cummins
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Nice, Why SF ?
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05-02-2017, 12:12 AM
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#4
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: May 2017
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 24
Year: 1972
Engine: Cummins NH220
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Coz I Live there 
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05-02-2017, 12:13 AM
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#5
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Vacaville, Ca
Posts: 1,634
Year: 1988
Coachwork: Crown / Pusher
Engine: 8.3 Cummins
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hanaiapa
Coz I Live there |
In SF or the surrounding area ? I'm in Vacaville
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05-02-2017, 12:20 AM
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#6
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: May 2017
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 24
Year: 1972
Engine: Cummins NH220
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Live in SF but the bus will be in Sierra Foothills.
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05-02-2017, 12:23 AM
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#7
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 1,001
Year: 2000
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: International
Engine: TE 444
Rated Cap: 12
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Cummins 220 redline is 2000 rpm, like all the small cam Cummins engines, operating rpm is 1400 to 2000 rpm in the higher gears, don't lugg the engine as you get somthing called driveline resonance, a harmonic condition that does bad things to the transmission. Ignore if it is an automatic. Check your tire age
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05-02-2017, 12:30 AM
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#8
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: May 2017
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 24
Year: 1972
Engine: Cummins NH220
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Thanks! It helps. It's a manual. As for the tires, they're in good shape with a good amount of thread left on them. the spare looks good too.
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05-02-2017, 12:36 AM
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#9
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,402
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hanaiapa
Thanks! It helps. It's a manual. As for the tires, they're in good shape with a good amount of thread left on them. the spare looks good too.
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Congrats on the beautiful Crown!!
I am hoping that the tires have good tread. Last time I had tires that showed good thread it was a bad thing... 
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05-02-2017, 01:25 AM
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#10
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: May 2017
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 24
Year: 1972
Engine: Cummins NH220
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PNW_Steve
Last time I had tires that showed good thread it was a bad thing... |
What happened?
Save
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05-02-2017, 05:40 AM
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#11
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Dowdy Lakes, Colorado
Posts: 1,444
Year: 1989
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner ER
Engine: 3208 CAT/MT643 tranny
Rated Cap: 87
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hanaiapa
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Dry rot happened! 
__________________
Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence. — George Washington
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05-02-2017, 09:32 AM
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#12
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: SW New Hampshire
Posts: 1,334
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tires are date coded
http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f33/ti...hem-16496.html
or Google "tire date code" and become an instant expert. I can't quickly find whether commercial trucks are required to change out tires at a certain age; I'm sure others will chime in. There are LOTS of buses out there that have acceptable or better tread gut the tires are suspicious simply due to age. Sun and air pollution are the main culprits but even if it's been kept in a bottle old tires can be bad mojo.
At least check the codes, know the age, and plan your budget accordingly.
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05-02-2017, 10:48 AM
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#13
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 1,423
Year: 1990
Coachwork: Crown, integral. (With 2kW of tiltable solar)
Chassis: Crown Supercoach II (rear engine)
Engine: Detroit 6V92TAC, DDEC 2, Jake brake, Allison HT740
Rated Cap: 37,400 lbs GVWR
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I suggest you leave LA very early in the morning, long before the morning "rush hour", then you'll be over the Grapevine before it gets hot. Climb at a 3/4 throttle and about 1800 RPM to prevent lugging the engine. The northbound descent is several continuous miles of 6%, so use the Jake if it has one. If no Jake, descend no faster than you climbed. Respect the Grapevine - it's not high by Rocky Mountains standards, but many trucks have got into trouble on it.
Or if I-5 bores you, take 101 instead - it's much nicer scenery, good Danish pancakes in Solvang, but it may be slow though San Jose.
Have fun!
John
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05-02-2017, 04:27 PM
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#14
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: May 2017
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 24
Year: 1972
Engine: Cummins NH220
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iceni John
I suggest you leave LA very early in the morning, long before the morning "rush hour", then you'll be over the Grapevine before it gets hot. Climb at a 3/4 throttle and about 1800 RPM to prevent lugging the engine. The northbound descent is several continuous miles of 6%, so use the Jake if it has one. If no Jake, descend no faster than you climbed. Respect the Grapevine - it's not high by Rocky Mountains standards, but many trucks have got into trouble on it.
Or if I-5 bores you, take 101 instead - it's much nicer scenery, good Danish pancakes in Solvang, but it may be slow though San Jose.
Have fun!
John
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Thanks a lot. Great advice guys. I ll check the tires and be extra careful in the hills.
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