Next Bus?

[HB of CJ]

The very last Crown Supercoaches had the 6V92T and the rare 8V92T in the rear end with a "T" drive drive train.  The one I had was an earlier 1974 40 foot 10 wheeler 3 axle (VIN 37317) with the Cummings and RTO910 10 speed.

Mine did quite well off road.  Actually took it on the beach ONCE in Crescent City CA after locking up the 8 drivers.  Got lots of looks from the Jeep persons also driving on the firm beach sand.  I did not stop however and kept rolling.

But ... disclaimer ... mine had the 16K front axle, a small wheel cut and a very big turning circle.  Her nickname was the Queen Mary.  Her real name was the Banana Boat 2.

Two axle 35 footers will do kinda good off road.  Firm ground.  All admidship Crowns do not have that much ground clearance under the engine pan and rear engine gear housing.  The bell housings and trannies, are higher.

If you have a choice, go with a Crown with the Cummings 855 big cam.  The pancake specific parts include the oil pan, oil pump, the big water pump and oil drain holes in the heads.  The Jakes are also different.  Oil drainage.

Also the turbo pulse exhaust manifold and the turbo mounts and turbo oil drain holes are different.  Pancake engine lying 80 degrees on its left side.  Each Crown usually was slightly different from its brothers.

Most if not all other Big Cam/NTC parts will work fine.  My plan before I got ill was to update my 250 into a 475-500 with just pistons, cams, lifters, injectors, timing, pump settings, a balancer, better intake, exhaust and a neat turbo and intercooler.

Crowns are getting hard to find.  Political smog law nightmare in CA where there are still some running as schoolies.  A private purchase from a private party still OK.  Most old Crowns are being crushed.  Very sad.  HB of CJ  (old coot)

[Alan N]

Thanks to all for your input.
Just had to ask. For all I know there could be a bus out there with a 3406b cat and an 18 speed.
But no one likes em cause they go too fast and have too many gears.