50 series detroit

[artglass]

Any one put a 50 series Detroit in in place of a 8v 71

[bevans6]

I was at one of Kyle4501's non-rally's and there were at least three MCI's with S50's.  Everyone bragged on them for power, cool running, and magic fingers in the bedroom when idling...

Brian

[artglass]

do you happen to have any names of people who were there, I have a mci 8 which I pull a tenthousand pound trailer with, need some more torque

[bevans6]

Nope, sorry, they were with Southern Bus Nuts I think, but now that you are out in the open everyone is going to tell you that you can't pull a 10K trailer with an MCI...   

Brian

[Geoff]

I've pulled my 20' trailer several times between SF Bay area and Prescott AZ and it was usually over 10k and many mountains.  I had to use radiator sprayers on the hils but power was not a problem with my 350HP 6V92TA.  I wouldn't trade my reliable MUI 6V92TA for a Series 50 if you paid for it.

--Geoff

[luvrbus]

The guy on the east coast is Jack Campbell (Blue Goose) he has installed a few over the years in MCI's

[Scott & Heather]

I've pulled my 20' trailer several times between SF Bay area and Prescott AZ and it was usually over 10k and many mountains.  I had to use radiator sprayers on the hils but power was not a problem with my 350HP 6V92TA.  I wouldn't trade my reliable MUI 6V92TA for a Series 50 if you paid for it.

--Geoff

Hey Geoff,

How is your 6v92 set up? Which injectors are you using? I'd love to see 350 HP out of my turbo 92 series. What's your weight?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Clumsy fingers may contribute to mistakes.

[TomC]

Years ago Grayhound converted several MC-9's from 6V-92TA to Series 50's. The Series 50 was so much more efficient, they could take out one of the radiators and convert it into the air to air intercooler. Most of the buses went from 5-6mpg to 9-10mpg. The only two things unique to the Series 50 is that you should run soft engine mounts to counter the rough idle of only a 4 cylinder. Also, in the crankcase, there is a twin counter rotating balancing shaft assembly.  They need to be changed every 300,000 miles-other then that, they are great motorhome engines. Except of course, they are electronically controlled.

I'll stick to my Caterpillar 3406B 400hp with 1325lb/ft torque that is mechanically injected. Reliable, and starts on the second compression hit. Good Luck, TomC

[niles500]

I have a perfectly serviceable mill currently - but Brian has me interested in a possible swap with one of those 'magical fingers' machines - tell me more

[CrabbyMilton]

It's been done many times. There are many MCI's that have had their 8V-71's or 6V-92's replaced with the S50 and I would imagine that there are some PREVOST's that have had that done too. The engine is short enough to fit but one of the cons is that it's a 4 cylinder and there is no way around the fact that they have a rough sound. So if you can live with that part, they have a pretty good record.

[bevans6]

I have a perfectly serviceable mill currently - but Brian has me interested in a possible swap with one of those 'magical fingers' machines - tell me more

If you don't spend a fair bit of time and effort getting the engine mounts right, they are supposedly rough enough at idle to make the whole bus into a vibrating bed machine...  They are about the same size as an 8V71, the valve cover is about the same height as the top of the air intake on the blower.  I thought long and hard about putting one in my 5C.  It would have fit, with a calculated 1/4" to spare in height clearance, but I didn't think through the transmission issues fully.  I costed the swap at between $15K and $20K, and that is more than my bus is worth.

Brian

[luvrbus]

The 60 series will vibrate one to sleep at idle the ones that do that change spend a lot of time and money on marine motor mounts trying to smooth it out

[blue_goose]

Well here I go again, lets see what this brings out.
I have put in 3 series 50, two for myself, one for my son and helped with 3 others.  None of us would go back to a two cycle engine.  All but one of these were put in MCI's the other was in a model 05 Eagle.  MCI built a lot of model 12 with the series 50 from new.  They were built for Grayhound and came with world transmission.  All of the ones that I have seen were set at 5 speeds with 4.10 rears.  Everyone that I know with the series 50 are getting somewhere in the high eights on fuel.
The ones that I did for myself replaced 8V92's, for my son it was a 6V92 others were 8V71.
If you need names let me know, I know seven people with them.
Jack

[Ericbsc]

Jack is the guy !! When my 60 idles I have to focus really hard to see in the mirrors as they are a blur from the vibration!!LOL I think I am idling at 650-700 rpms. Idle up 50 rpms and it is complete silence. I have been studing an xl I had here because you didn't even know it was running with the same setup. It would bother me more if I didn't ride a Harley Davidson FL!! Does the same thing

[luvrbus]

That is way to beat the rough idle on a series 60 Eric up the idle rpm from 600 rpm,Art you are going to get all kinds of answers here decide for yourself

Price wise the 50 series and B400 is the way to go you can buy the complete bus with everything you need for the swap for 2 to 3 grand

We removed a 50 series and B400 from a Eagle the guy never liked it he did not want a 60 series the CAT C-13 was the only engine for him that is what he has now and is happy as he could be it's all about preference  

The 50 series are the easiest to install in a older MCI just like the Cummins M-11 is the easiest install in a Eagle I am sure you are in the 7 to 8 mpg with the 8V71 if not you should be weigh the $$$$ is it worth it good I am not a fan of the 50 or 60 series good engines  but the have their share of problems like any other  

I prefer the Cat 3406 over any there has never been a engine  made any more reliable than a 425 hp -3406 CAT nor will there ever be one the 425 hp CAT will work along side the best the 550 hp series 60 included IMO