truck detriot/cummins value to us?

[demodriver]

Im going to a auction tomorrow where there is two semi trucks. One with a cummins of some sort and the other is a detriot of some sort.  Both are suppost to run but the trucks are junk. The one with the cummins in it does have a nice set of steers on it mounted on a set of alluminim wheels.

Is there any value in either of these engines for bus use? I know the truck detriots are suppost to be alot different then the bus ones but didnt know if there was still a value to them.

If the cummins is a big cam I can get $600 for it to the core buyer in any condition as long as its complete.

regardless of the engine value I am going to try to buy them for scrap along with a bunch of other cars, trucks.

Eric

[TedsBUSted]

Demo - To me it seems that when looking for an older engine today, the right engine  at the right price, and at the right time, is always available. It's hardly worth speculating on future long-shots, unless they practically fall in your lap.

Of course buying "cheap insurance" in the same model engine as  you're using, that sometimes makes good sense.

Ted

[TomC]

The main difference between a truck engine and bus engine is the oil pan.  On a truck engine, they have a deep oil pan that holds 11 gallons (including the oil filter) of oil and is a deep set pan typically straddling the front axle. On a bus, since the engine is typically mounted lower in the vehicle, the bus engine uses a flat pan that maybe holds 8 gallons instead.  Basically-besides setting up the proper engine mounts, changing the oil pan would be the most major change converting from a truck to bus engine.  Good Luck, TomC

[TedsBUSted]

Of course it depends on the specific applications, but changes can get a LOT more involved than just oil pan and mounts. For example, GM dressed for reverse rotation "sidewinder" bus application, vs common typical truck engine. It can be such a deep tear-down for changeover, that it seems a waste of labor not to go a little further and rebuild.

Ted

[rv_safetyman]

Eric, if you can buy the trucks for less than scrap value, that is a no brainer.  However, buying them at a higher value for some expectation of selling the parts for profit or use on your bus is risky. 

For example, the wheels are most likely hub piloted and can't be used on your bus.  If the trucks are judged "junk" because of being worn out, then the engines are probably only core value.  If the trucks are "junk" because of damage due to a wreck, then you might have a chance at getting a usable engine but it is a gamble.

In terms of the engines being used in a bus, likely they are 4-stroke and they can be used in a bus, albeit with a lot or labor and dollars.  If they are electronic engines (likely) then you can put a ProLink on them and look for mileage and active/stored fault codes.

If you have scrapped cars/trucks, then you know the rather large amount of work involved.  If not, make sure you factor your labor into the evaluation of making a profit.

Let us know what you do on these auctions.

Jim

[harpold700 3]

You may have to take flywheel housing off and remove the cam gears and mount an accesory drive for power steering. This would be your biggest concern, most every thing else is re & re ,Thermostat housings, manifolds,etc.   Been there. 

[demodriver]

I don't want the engines for spares or need them. But if it's something that could help someone out then I wouldn't junk them.

[TomC]

Since the V-drives use left handed engines, any 2 stroke worked since the 2 strokers are relatively easy to reverse rotate.  Allison then made a reverser gear at the bell housing to mount a normal engine.  Some of the engines that were used were the Cummins L10/M11/ISM, Cummins ISC/ISL-both Diesel and Natural Gas, Detroit Series 50.  Have seen Detroit Series 50 with reverser in a GM 3701 silver sides-was a real crunch job-but it did fit.  Would imagine that bus is a real hot rod to drive!  Good Luck, TomC

[demodriver]

Well neither sold. They want $2k for one $5k for the other. Neither are worth more then scrap.