Questions on drivetrain

[Eric]

Well I think I've found one.... However I must turn to the dark side ....with a skoolie  not what I want to do but for dry camping in the boonies I dont think it could be beat....


Anyhow 91 Cummings bluebird what type of auto Trans should I expect?? Owner doesn't know it's local so I'm going to see it Tuesday it's a 5.9 any ideas on hp and torque specs ?? And again the Trans ??

The collective wisdom here far exceeds the skoolie forum IMHO so I seek your knowledge

[Seayfam]

Chances are that it has the Allison auto in it. The 5.9 Cummins is a very good motor. If it is the stock 91 engine, it will be a 12 valve with the P7100 mechanical injection pump. (My Favorite pump) It will probably be set stock at 190hp. The nice thing about the 12v 5.9 is.... You can add lots of HP for vary little money and not loose any reliability. You can even add about 50+ HP for free with a little adjustment to the P7100 injection pump.

Good luck

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Xparent Green Tapatalk

[Iceni John]

If it's a TC2000 with the 5.9 Cummins it probably has the AT545 transmission.   The TCs were built down to a price, like the Thomas MVPs, so the least expensive drivetrains were put in them;  the All Americans, like the Thomas Saf-T-Liners (or WestCoast-ER if you can find one) were generally better speced, usually using MT64x transmissions and larger engines such as Cummins 8.3.   I've heard, but I don't know if it's true, that BB AAs had galvanized body panels, while the TCs don't  -  this probably doesn't matter if you're buying a bus from a dry climate.   The 5.9 6BT series engines that BB used are often 190 HP, OK for flat ground but they run out of oomph going up long western grades or at high altitude.   Because the AT545s don't have lockup you may not get quite as good fuel mileage as from an MT transmission that locks in 3rd and 4th.

Try to get a bus with underfloor storage lockers.   Even the TC's sometimes had them, but they're usually not as large as AA bins.   Also, try to get service records (some school districts give them away with the bus when they sell it, but some throw them away?!).

Is the bus you're seeing a pusher or a FE?   Most TC's are FE, but there are some pusher TC2000s out there (the local school district here has them), and a pusher will give you lots more usable underfloor space than a FE because there is no driveshaft running the length of the bus.   Check engine access in the doghouse if it's a FE  -  can you easily(ish) reach everything that may need access?

John

[Eric]

It's a front engine unit but it does have underfloor storage from the factory... 2 bays on each side.. Bus came from Texas andim buying it from the guy who purchased it down there last year...

Thanks for all the info thus far!

[gus]

The 5.9 Cummins is probably the best small diesel engine ever made and very versatile with so many HP choices.

Drive trains from school buses are very popular conversions for old gas engine buses like Flxibles which had straight drives.

[belfert]

Some large fleet operators (Schools, transit, whatever) have a policy of not offering service records when they sell their buses.  I guess they feel there could be some liability if they provide service records.  I suppose a lawyer if the bus got in an accident with the new owner could look at the service records and sue the former owner if they had done a repair to the brakes or something like that shortly before selling the bus.

[luvrbus]

A BlueBird FC with a 5.9 buy plenty of ear plugs those puppies are loud as the school bus drivers tell me "tough as nail noisy as hell" lol

[Eric]

Sounds like some acoustic insulation is in order lol


Oh and btw if I buy a skoolie I'm still a busnut right?

[Iceni John]

Oh and btw if I buy a skoolie I'm still a busnut right?

Of course!   Remember, you'll be able to go where other buses fear to tread.

John

[HB of CJ]

This may be a double post....if sooss....opps.  How about finding about a 1970 or so Ford F600 6 window shorty schoolie?  If memory serves (always suspect!) a 8V92TI will drop right in and you can also hang whatever kind of Allision or Roadranger you want.  450 road hp pulling about 16000 pounds curb weight.  Burnout time!  Works for me.  HB of CJ (old coot)

[Eric]

Haha sounds fun to me! Oh and btw its an All American

[TomC]

If it is a Cummins with the inline mechanical fuel injection pump-a very reliable engine.  If you have the Allison AT545-don't expect much performance above 45mph since (as stated before) it does not have a torque converter lockup and is a 4spd with direct gear 4th.  If it were me, I'd keep everything except the transmission.  I'd find a 2000 series transmission (small brother to the B500).  With its' 5th and 6th gear over drive, and lockup clutch starting in 2nd gear, it is a vastly superior transmission to the AT545 (that's why it was created).  The AT545, while a reliable enough transmission and gives good performance up to 45mph (it was designed for in city use), it will be frustrating to try to make any kind of freeway speeds.  Good Luck, TomC