Motors

[richardkillmon]

I'm a newbee looking for the right bus to buy for conversion and need an answer to motor size.

I want an autotransmission and a bus that will climb hills above 45 miles per hour. My experts say to buy a bus of either 8 cylinders or over 400 horsepower. Is this correct?

[TomC]

The older buses will most likely have the Detroit 8V-71N rated at 280hp.  You can turbo this engine (like I did) for 375hp-450hp.  The newer ones will come with the Detroit 6V-92TA (up to 350hp) and the 8V-92TA (up to 500hp).  Then there are some that were converted to 4 stroke engines like the Cummins ISL, ISM, M11, N14; Detroit Series 60, Caterpillar 3406, C12, C15.  If you want 45 mph on the hills you need over 400hp with 500hp better.  I climb the Grape Vine (6% for 5 miles) at 40mph with my car behind and am plenty pleased with that.  Good Luck, TomC

[boogiethecat]

Heywaitaminute... i do the grapevine at 35-40 with a measley cummins 220.... not towing anything granted but the bus weighs 30k...

[NJT 5573]

8 cylinders is no quarantee of that kind of speed in the mountains, but a good 8V92 will get you there. Think at least 400HP and look for 500HP if you need that kind of speed. Cat, Cummins, and Detroit all have engines that are incredible if you have the money.

[Gary '79 5C]

Not only what size engine, but first, what size bus do you think you need? I run very successfully a 6V92 turbo w/ N65 injectors in a MCI 5C. The 35 footer is quite comfortable for two and a dog. But I am sure that I can travel with four as comfortably, with some patience.
Where are you priimarly likely to travel? Back and forth of the Rockies, or in the flatlands?? I would buy a engine bigger than you might thinkyou might need, but I would think about the coach. I really donot know how I would get around driving all the places I do with a 45' bus.

Good Luck with your decisions.

[busguy01]

Some how many confuse horsepower to climbing ability -- what you should be thinking is TORQUE! That is what gives you the climb. $ stroke engines generally develop much more torque than 2 stroke engines.
Just my way - your mileage may vary
JimH

[Connel]

My DDECIV 500hp Ser 60 develops 1,650 ft lbs of torque at 1,250 rpm with a WTEC III HD 4060PR but have not run any hills with it yet.

[RJ]

Rkillmon -

At a recent bus rally, Bob Sheaves, who's one of the original eight designers of the S-60 engine, did some quick calculations and came up with the fact that if you want to drive your 50,000 lb Prevost up and over the Eisenhower Tunnel in the Rockies at 55 - 60 mph, you'd have to have a turbocharged 16V149 Detroit.

That's an engine commonly used in railroad yard switchers.  Think you could stuff one of those in the tail?  And where would you get a transmission to handle the torque it puts out?

Now, reality check time:

Remember the kid's story about the Tortoise and the Hare?  If you think you can drive a coach like a hare, you're going to be terribly disappointed.  If you take the attitude that you're driving a tortoise, you'll enjoy your coach a whole lot more.  So simply sit back and enjoy the journey - that's what it's all about anyway!

FWIW & HTH. . .