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Old 08-28-2022, 08:48 AM   #1
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Location: Salt Lake City
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Year: 2004
Coachwork: Thomas Built
Engine: 3126
Thumbs up Hello Skoolie community

I am thinking of finally getting a skoolie bus, its 2004 Thomas Built 32 ft bus with a 3126 and Allison 2000 trans.

Any info would be greatly appreciated for this bus combo.


The motor looks and sounds solid, the trans I am told has a locked 6th gear but haven't looked into it further, as I have not yet purchased the bus yet.

Also, how in the heck do you disco the Zonar system, I hate that thing.

Thanks for having me here, looks like a great place.

I look forward learning more and meeting like minded travelers.

Cheers.
GB

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Old 08-28-2022, 06:52 PM   #2
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Location: Philadelphia
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Year: 2003
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Chassis: CE 300
Engine: DT466e
Rated Cap: 65C-43A
Others here will have more/better info, but the 3126 is a generally good engine (and pre-emissions despite the 2004 vintage). The 2000-series transmission would require some hardware modifications in order to enable the sixth gear; it's not just a software mod like the MD3060 or 2000-series transmissions from 2006 or later.

Your rear gear ratio is probably more important for how fast you're going to go on the highway. See if you can find out from the seller what that is.
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Old 08-30-2022, 06:47 AM   #3
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Out of curiosity, I just had another bus come up for sale in my area, its a 2006 Blue Bird with the 3126 of the two buses which would be better to purchase.

I have heard the 2006 and newer CAT motors have issues with smog.


What is the census of the forum on these two buses?
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Old 08-30-2022, 08:26 PM   #4
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Year: 2005
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Engine: Mercedes 6.4L
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From what I've read on this website, most of the skoolie.net people would encourage you to get the earlier model. Apparently, the emissions systems can be problematic...may depend on manufacturer and/or which engine is in that bus.
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Old 08-31-2022, 06:21 AM   #5
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A 2006 would probably have a CAT 7 instead of the 3126.
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Old 09-18-2022, 08:27 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by musigenesis View Post
A 2006 would probably have a CAT 7 instead of the 3126.
I believe the C7 is the same as the 3126, I forget the breakdown but 3126 means its 1.2 liter per cylinder times 6 which is 7.2 or C7

I went ahead and got the 2004 with the C7, and after some research I am going to install a few upgrades per CAT for the HEUI system, which is just an additional filter before the pump.

Its a front engine bus but has a lot of room both on top and bottom. Not a lot of emissions either

I was a Diesel mechanic 40 years ago lets see if I still remember what I'm doing.
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Old 09-18-2022, 09:52 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenbug View Post
I believe the C7 is the same as the 3126
https://www.enginebuildermag.com/201...aterpillar-c7/

Quote:
From 2003 to 2009, the C7 was Caterpillar’s primary engine for medium-duty trucks with a GVWR of 18,000 to 33,000 lbs. ... The C7 was Caterpillar’s answer to growing demands for emissions reductions and was derived from its older engine brother, the Cat 3126.
That's all I know.
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