Bluebird Site Accurate?

jofred99 · 10-27-2019, 01:01 PM

I think that I've found the bus of my dreams, but have a question about the Bluebird site.

The bus owner (Missouri school district) is giving me information that the bus has an AT545 installed, but Bluebird shows a series 2000 tranny installed from the factory. As far as I can tell, it has not been replaced and the verbiage that I get from the shop foreman is 'I think that it has an AT545'.

Thus raises the question about Bluebird's accuracy. What is the experience that you've seen?

o1marc · 10-27-2019, 01:15 PM

I'd believe the factory as more accurate than an unknown mechanic who is guessing.Does BBshow a 2000 according to a VIN check?

jofred99 · 10-27-2019, 01:18 PM

BB shows a serial number for the tranny and when I enter the serial# at Allison's site, it shows up as a 2000 series.

JDSquared · 10-27-2019, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jofred99

BB shows a serial number for the tranny and when I enter the serial# at Allison's site, it shows up as a 2000 series.

I just bought a Bluebird from a school district who told me it was a 545. I've got an Allison 2000 as well.

I would trust the BB site.

o1marc · 10-27-2019, 01:46 PM

Important to know for sure. I would walk away from it if it was a 545, not if it were a 2000.

jofred99 · 10-27-2019, 03:22 PM

Thanks all! I just needed some confirmation before pulling the trigger.

EastCoastCB · 10-27-2019, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jofred99

I think that I've found the bus of my dreams, but have a question about the Bluebird site.

The bus owner (Missouri school district) is giving me information that the bus has an AT545 installed, but Bluebird shows a series 2000 tranny installed from the factory. As far as I can tell, it has not been replaced and the verbiage that I get from the shop foreman is 'I think that it has an AT545'.

Thus raises the question about Bluebird's accuracy. What is the experience that you've seen?

I'd listen to BB before a seller.

jofred99 · 11-08-2019, 05:54 PM

I picked up my bus today. Knowing what the BB site showed about the tranny, I had to ask the shop guys...

Me "Any of you guys know what model Allison is in the bus?"

Shop Guy #1 "I believe that it has a 545 installed"

Shop Guy #2 "Well Shop Guy #1 worked on the bus, so it must be a 545"

Not to discredit these guys, all were really nice folks.

Bottom line, BB site shows it's a series 2000 tranny, it shifts 5 times, I'll trust the BB site.

brokedown · 11-08-2019, 06:15 PM

Congrats on a bus with a transmission that doesn't suck!

jofred99 · 11-09-2019, 05:58 AM

Also, the data plate in the bus has the transmission serial number on it, which matches the BB site. And matches Allison's database.

2000 it is!

WIbluebird · 11-09-2019, 06:51 AM

Pretty much every bus after 2003 has an Allison 2000, the 545 was out of production by the end of the 2002 MY.

As time goes on the AT545 will go the way of the 8.2 Detroit and the other obsolete powertrain components of the school bus industry.

musigenesis · 11-09-2019, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jofred99

I picked up my bus today. Knowing what the BB site showed about the tranny, I had to ask the shop guys...

Me "Any of you guys know what model Allison is in the bus?"

Shop Guy #1 "I believe that it has a 545 installed"

Shop Guy #2 "Well Shop Guy #1 worked on the bus, so it must be a 545"

Not to discredit these guys, all were really nice folks.

Bottom line, BB site shows it's a series 2000 tranny, it shifts 5 times, I'll trust the BB site.

When I had my bus in the shop having a new starter installed, I called them to ask if they could figure out what kind of transmission I had (I knew it was an Allison 2000-series but I wanted more specifics). She asked the mechanic and then called me back to tell me it was "an Allison". I explained that they're basically all Allisons so she checked again and said the mechanics told her it was "a 7000-series". I apparently have a transmission from the future (or maybe just a smudged "2").

PNW_Steve · 11-10-2019, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musigenesis

When I had my bus in the shop having a new starter installed, I called them to ask if they could figure out what kind of transmission I had (I knew it was an Allison 2000-series but I wanted more specifics). She asked the mechanic and then called me back to tell me it was "an Allison". I explained that they're basically all Allisons so she checked again and said the mechanics told her it was "a 7000-series". I apparently have a transmission from the future (or maybe just a smudged "2").

All you need now is a flux capacitor

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