Installing series 50 in 102A3

[hargreaves]

Bill, did you do your own conversion? 9 plus fuel milage sounds interesting.   Gerry

[Timkar]

Is that BC Transit getting rid of them? Do you have contact info?
Tried to send you a PM but it bounced.
My email is in profile
Thanks...Tim

[luvrbus]

Sounds like Bill has the same Silverleaf as Ed I checked the fuel chart on that setting for series 50 time to plug the Pro Link in on that one it be interesting to know what kind of torque Bill has in cruise

good luck

[hargreaves]

Timkar , your e mail is hidden, yes Coast Mtn bus is selling them. e mail me at big-ger@shaw.ca

[Bill B /bus]

I don't about a difference in torque when in Cruise Control as it isn't hooked up yet. Maybe next week as I'm fabricating a new panel for various switches and indications. This way all the speed controls, except the throttle and brake will be on the left side in a great location. Stone Bennet shifter and gear indication, retarder and indication, cruise controls, Jake switch and S(hutdown) E(ngine)L and CEL. Using all different switch handles and switch actuation operation ie up/down - left/right along with indicating LED's of various colors to prevent improper switch operation.

Bill

[TomC]

While the Series 50 is a great engine (even with a bit of vibration at idle and contending with rebuilding the balance shafts every 300,000 miles), it is an odd ball engine that is out of production with parts getting scarcer.  While the 2 stroke engines are getting less and less easy to find someone to work on them MTU has full factory backing on parts.  And MTU is still making the 8V-71TA, 8V-92TA and 6V-53TA for military vehicles (just like Cummins is still making the VTA903).

I currently have a Caterpillar 3406B in my truck.  If it ever comes to the point where I can't run that engine because of smog (currently RV's are exempt from smog laws in Calif), I'll have a Cummins ISL at RV spec installed at 425hp and 1250lb/ft torque.  I'll probably keep the HT740 since I have 3.55 gears that give me 1830rpm at 65mph-and that's what Cummins wants the ISL geared at.  Good Luck, TomC

[blue_goose]

I have been off line for a few days, but I do need to answer some questions.  If the balance shaft needs to be rebuilt every 300,000 miles don't worry about that, I have only put 200,000 on my bus in 21 years.
I now have 21,000 on the series 50 and would not go back to the 8v92.  My 8v92 wasn't a DD so I had no cruse control never more than 5 MPG and always had oil leaks.
I now have a MCI with a DD series 8v92 and will more than likely change it to a 50 or 60.

If there are more of those buses with the 50 and B400 I would like to buy a couple of them.
Jack

[luvrbus]

Jack, thought you bought a model 15 Country Coach Eagle ? I can take a DDEC 8v92 and out preform a series 50 with power and fuel mileage any day of week lol with no oil leaks

good luck

[blue_goose]

The Eagle is a long story, tell you later.
I know you are correct on the power, but I will let you know on the MPG.  The last DD 8v92 That I drove only got 6.5 at the best.   The MCI only has 133,000 on the shell and I don't think it got 6 coming home.  That was only 1200 miles, let you know later.
Jack

[Timkar]

Like to hear Jacks story about the Eagle. It may be like the Newell I was bidding on with no reserve. less than 24 hrs to go and the seller pulled the listing and still has it on his lot for sale. Guess he was using Ebay as cheap advertising....
Sorry for going off topic.....

[TomC]

If I were keeping my bus ( and not doing the truck conversion) I would change out my 8V-71TATAAC engine with Allison V730 to a T drive.  The interesting thing about my AMGeneral 10240B transit is that it is based on the D800 Flyer out of Canada.  The Canadian version has a T drive, but was switched to a V drive by AMGeneral since nearly all transits had V drives in the 70's in the US.  I know that Santa Monica Bus lines still has some MCI Classics running (a direct cousin of the AMGeneral 10240B) that have Series 50's running with B400 transmissions in a T drive.  What I was going to do was to buy one of the buses and convert mine over to the T drive by simply removing my engine cradle and installing the newer engine cradle.  Involve changing to electonic engine and transmission controls, and changing the pumpkin on the differential from the V drive to T drive.  I'm certain that my mileage would have gone from 4.5-6 to 7-9mpg.  But not anymore since the truck is being built.  Am anticipating getting 7-9mpg with the truck.  Good Luck, TomC

[hargreaves]

Anyone interested in purchasing one of these buses' "e"mail me at big-ger@shaw.ca and I will forward you the contact at Coast Mountain Bus.  Cheers Gerry