Allison Transmission

[Kenny]

Thinking about replacing the manual 4 speed with an Allison automatic on my 41 Flxible. Bus is about 15,000 lbs with a Ford 360 and will need a shorty transmission.
Any recommendations on non-electronic Allison transmission models? Kenny   

[Ed Hackenbruch]

   If you go over to Barthmobile.com you might find some info.  Barth made a lot of different models, gas and diesel, with different trannys.  A lot of them are Chevy powered, but i know that there are some Ford powered ones too.

[Kenny]

Thanks Ed, I'll check out their website! Ken

Sent from my DROIDX

[luvrbus]

A Allison 545 would be my choice but you may be stuck with a C-6 Ford transmission unless that 360 is really a 361 industrial engine with a SAE 3 bell housing   

good luck

[Kenny]

Nope, not a 361 but a 360 FE engine. Is there such an adapter for the FE engine to an allison 540, 545? Ken

[HB of CJ]

You may not be happy with the 540 type Allision as they do not have a lock up clutch.  We did drive a shuttle bus years ago with an Industrial 413 Dodge on propane hooked up to the very old MT60 series 6 speed with overdrive.  If memory serves, that very old tranny did have a lock up clutch.  A very big and heavy tranny.

You might also consider a somewhat newer Ford automatic overdrive with the lockup clutch out of an older Ford pickup truck.  I am not familiar with all the Ford models.  We drove Flexies years ago.  16000 pounds makes it a light Bus Conversion. A very cool Bus.  HB of CJ

[luvrbus]

The 1545 Allison has a lockup same size as 545 easy to find was a popular transmission for school buses

[rgrauto]

Kenny I bet you can buy a used school bus with a 5.9 Cummins turbo and auto. trans for what a Allison trans will cost you .  With diesel you will have better fuel economy, better parts availability and the bus rear axle if you need it.  Just my thoughts, HTH , Glen

[luvrbus]

Yep he can buy a school with a good setup for less than 2 grand I have no idea how he would make it work the old industrial gas engines such as Ford and Dodge had a sae 3 bell housing and different crankshafts to accept the Allison 

I am sure somebody has figured it out though

[robertglines1]

Is length  a problem? I bought a aged out 655 with allison  fresh rebuild   for 2 grand schoolie.  They only run certain # of years here but rebuild might only be 1 yr old.  Neighbor built bus out of it to travel in..   is length a problem (engine/trans)?  He got 10mpg .

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Kenny, i just threw a quick little post about what you want to do, over on the Barth site just to see what kind of a response it will get.....its in the tech section.

[TomC]

The Ford C-6, even though just a 3spd, will work very well.  Very strong, dependable transmission.  The problem is finding one-they're in big demand for the monster truck crowd.  I wouldn't use the AT545-no lockup clutch.  If you could use the SAE#3 flywheel, the Allison 1000 series is about the same size as the AT545, but has 6spds and lockup clutch.  Personally-with your relatively light weight bus, I'd just use the C-6.  Good Luck, TomC

[Kenny]

Thanks everyone for the input. Looks like the easiest way to an automatic with the 360 gaser is using the Ford C6 tranny as TomC mentions. Did some looking and there actually not hard to find. Just need to determine if it will fit (length wise) or I will need to move the motor back a bit. Good enough for now until I fine a diesel to repower with. Thanks everone. Kenny

[Ed Brenner]

The C6 did come with a short shaft tail section if space is at a premium. Easy to rebuild trans and tough just like
it baby brother C4.
Thanks Ed

[TomC]

Just to show you how tough the C-6 is, I saw a big foot monster truck running a 490cube big block Ford with 6-71 blower on alcohol putting out around 1800hp.  As I was walking under the truck, I saw it had a C-6.  I asked what they had to do to make the transmission live.  They use a high stall converter, installed a hardened input shaft, a shift kit, cooler, and that's it-pretty tough!  Good Luck, TomC