DT466 vs 5.9 cummins

[Crawlerhauler]

So i have a 97 5.9 cummin with the 545 no lock up convertor. It's roughly 90% converted on the inside and it does 55 at 2500 RPMs. Does not like hills

Now I have a chance to get a 92 DT466 unknown tranny at this time. But a buddy test drove it and says it can do 75 at 2100 RPMs an does descent in the hills. Now I can get the bus for a great price. It is a 19 hour drive to go get it. And I would have to start over on the in side. That doesn't bother me. Honestly I think redoing the inside would be way easier than trying to swap trannies and rear gears to get to 65. I more trying to figure out the cost and is the DT466 worth leaving my 5.9 cummins.

 

[Booyah45828]

Without mentioning the price or knowing the trans, it's a wash as to which would be better.

 

[Crawlerhauler]

Without mentioning the price or knowing the trans, it's a wash as to which would be better.

I can get the bus for 500 bucks and if I really figure out a way to get the other one home I technically can get two of them for 500 bucks

 

[Booyah45828]

Two buses for 500 sounds like a profitable venture. I'd get them regardless of the transmission.

 

[ewo1]

I can get the bus for 500 bucks and if I really figure out a way to get the other one home I technically can get two of them for 500 bucks

2 busses for $500 bucks! No brainer!
19 hour drive...ouch!

I would find out what trannies they have, and more info on the bodies.
If they both run then yeah, get a driver, put a tow bar on your car and go out there and get the busses, towing your car home with a bus!

after all your fuel costs you could easily re-coup all that money by selling/parting out the second bus then you would be into it for free!

 

[Booyah45828]

Yeah I'd use a chain or build a tow bar between the two and haul the non-runner to the nearest scrap yard. Boom, free school bus. Probably not legal or wise, but exporters do it all the time.

On 2nd thought, 19 hours from conroe tx would likely put you in the rust belt. Now I know how you're getting 2 buses for 500 bucks. Still worth it for someone close by. But 19 hours is a lot of time to waste and value at nothing.

 

[cadillackid]

in 1992 ive never seen a DT466 automatic with anything but an MT643, MT653, or MT-40 all of which had lockup converters.. I dont remember seeing a DT466 with a 545 until 94 when a low-spec MW pump was fitted to the low torque models and allowed for the 545..



if its really a DT360 and not a 466 (alot of people mix them up) then the likiliehood of a 545 is high as most were sold with either manuals or 545s (though DT360 was available with a MT643/MT653 it was not sold often..

 

[Crawlerhauler]

in 1992 ive never seen a DT466 automatic with anything but an MT643, MT653, or MT-40 all of which had lockup converters.. I dont remember seeing a DT466 with a 545 until 94 when a low-spec MW pump was fitted to the low torque models and allowed for the 545..



if its really a DT360 and not a 466 (alot of people mix them up) then the likiliehood of a 545 is high as most were sold with either manuals or 545s (though DT360 was available with a MT643/MT653 it was not sold often..

Thank you sir this is exactly what I was looking for. I am waiting on the vin an will try to decode it. An let y’all know what I end up doing

 

[Ronnie-SKO]

in 1992 ive never seen a DT466 automatic with anything but an MT643, MT653, or MT-40 all of which had lockup converters.. I dont remember seeing a DT466 with a 545 until 94 when a low-spec MW pump was fitted to the low torque models and allowed for the 545..



if its really a DT360 and not a 466 (alot of people mix them up) then the likiliehood of a 545 is high as most were sold with either manuals or 545s (though DT360 was available with a MT643/MT653 it was not sold often..

I did not think a MT-40 could handle a DT466? It has gone through my mind to put it behind a 6V-53, 210 hp in my new shorty.

 

[s2mikon]

The 40 in mt-40 or mt-41 was net input torque of 400 foot pounds. The mt-40 was for gasoline engines (3800 rpm) and the mt-41 was for diesel. (3000 rpm). They also made a mt-30/31 same thing 300 ft lbs.

 

[s2mikon]

And they had a hell of a good retarder built in. But they were rough shifting.