http://palmsprings.craigslist.org/rvs/1723421358.html (http://palmsprings.craigslist.org/rvs/1723421358.html)
I don't think a V730 could handle 450hp. What's the spec?
Checking online, it seems to be that the 730 is rated for less than 300hp. Although it is not uncommon for someone selling a bus not really to know what they have, this guy has two buses for sale. The other one is a 66' MC5a with a Spicer. It would seem he should know the difference between an 8V71N and an 8V92T. Is there anyway to up the hp rating on an Allison?
Anyway, I just thought that that kind of horsepower on that light a bus would be quite a performance package.
The V730 has a low horsepower rating because the main usage of the V730 was for transit buses. Since the main transmission is basically a HT740 without 1st gear, it can handle the horsepower. But-the weak spot of any V730 is the angle input gears and especially the quill shaft-a remarkably small splined shaft that connects the engine torque to the transmission. Good Luck, TomC
Lots of people install things that maybe shouldn't go together, and live happily ever after... I think that there are two sides to the torque limits (usually a trans is torque limited, not HP limited) and that relates to the resistance from the weight of the vehicle. You might get away with over-torquing a transmission that is in a quite light vehicle, compared to a vehicle at 80K gross weight. And you always have your right foot as a torque limiting device... If you own it, and know that flooring the throttle on starts may cost you a lot of money, you might not do that so often...
I bet there's lots of people with 8V92's and fire-truck spec 8V71T's with Allison 640's behind them that have been happy for years...
Brian
The sad thing is that that engine in a vehicle that light should have a couple of overdrive gears to give it terrific milage.
If it actually has a 92 in it, let's hope he seriously upgraded the cooling system, especially as he is in Palm Springs!
John