Crate motor?

[roadrunnertex]

Say Bus folks!
Every now and then I will see the term crate motor used for the engine in a bus.
I am from the old school and this ia a new play on words to me.
Does this term mean a new factory engine?
Or does it mean something else like it's a maginal engine almost need of major repair?
Thanks
jlv

[tekebird]

Crate motor refers to a new factor engine 0 hours from new.  Not rebuilt, not overhauled, not transplanted.

[gus]

I often see mention of 6-71 crate motors but thought production of this engine was stopped years ago. I always assumed this meant factory o/h with new parts?

So, does this mean new 6-71s are available?

[gg04]

You can still buy factory new 6L71's...In either marine or ta ddec configuration....most of the crate motors out there are remans though...Sand S or one of the other reliabilt remanufacturers..nearly all of the transit company crate engines and trans we have bought have been remans (Reliabilt) and mostly S&S..gg04

[RJ]

S and S or one of the other reliabilt remanufacturers.

Stewart & Stephenson?

[gg04]

Sorry yep lStewart and Stephenson..gg04

[Stan]

Just curious. Do all these posts refer to the V block or the inline or both?

[lostagain]

I have heard that DD just got a long term contract with the US military to supply 71 series engines. Because it is such a good, reliable, easy to maintain and rebuild in the field. Any body heard of such a thing? I know that DD dealers can get me a "crate", (new) 4-71T, because I asked. ($10 000.00).

[gg04]

Serial no. in my bus 06A0474864-10602B0L-2046.....casting no.0278... tag.DD new manfu. certified to meet emmision standards (then stamped by hand) 1992  date of manufacture.2/2001..Not sure of the casting date of these blocks...i do not know if they are new or just new old stock....mine came out of a 92 metro from Phoenix . All of the motors they had for replacements were remans...old blocks and head castings with all other parts new....Any marine dealer will sell you either new or reliabilt..your choice.right or left hand...Do not know date of manufacture..The only new old part I have not been able to find is a aluminum block...have found four used ones but not one has been useable...Keep hearing of them but have found none avaliable yet...gg04

[tekebird]

as of last year DD is no longer making new 2 strokes

That is not to say that

1. they don't have them in stock
2. they are around through other channels


DD has not produced Highway 71's for years, however there is little difference between the highway and industrila/marine applications from most perspectives.

the Crate, brand new, not rebuilt 6-71 That was installed in my 4104 was an industrial model.  My DD guy, hassinger diesel Service of Middleburg, PA ( father son operation that specializes in DD only) did the modifications thatw ere necessary and swaped all the GM COach bolt on  items.

I have seen numerous 6-71 6v71, 8v71 engines in both normal and turbo versions in governement auctions, all of which were brand new with    documentation, still on the pallets from DD......although they were almost all painted Grey or OD.

People are so quick to want to repower to a newer motor......not thinking that what they have presently is just tired and worn out.

my 04 now can keep up with just about any newer coach making 400+ HP on all but a few eastern grades.  On a head to head trip against my dad's 4108 (8v71/v730) it has no issues at all keeping up

yes she is a bit slow oout of the hole, but who cares.

the "slow" DD 2 strokes are much lower in maint cost as they are stone age smple.....no computers, modules or expensive equipment needed to maintain let alone find out what is wrong with it.

and they all can be tuned to make more HP.........I have a buddy with a 46 foot cheasapeake bay crab boat who has a 6-71 T which makes 400+ horse

the limitting factor is really the transmissions V config.

for anyone who is interested in a new crate motor drop me a note

[tekebird]

note on Military versions of 71's.

Last I read anything tDD was stopping manufacture as equipment powered by 71's were being decomissioned.......thus why military spares are being auctioned off.

New marine and industrial versions are no lnger being produced either but they are available.

[gus]

Stan,

I'm not sure anyone answered your question;

If has no V after the number of cyl (471, 671) it is a straight engine.

The Vs go like this; 6V71, 8V71, 6V92, 8V92 and etc.

These are all bus engines but some others go all the way up to 16 cyl!!.

There are a bunch of other letters for Turbo, Aftercooled and etc.

[Jeremy]

If it's any help as a comparison, Rover stopped making their V8 engine a few years ago when the current (BMW powered) Range Rover came out. But you can still buy new 'Rover V8s' because there are now other companies manufacturing them - presumably the foundaries actually casting the blocks have bought the manufacturing rights or are paying a licence to Rover for each one they make.

Obviously it's unusual for other comapnies to take over the manufacture of an 'obsolete' engine - in the case of the Rover V8 it was worth doing because there is very strong demand for the engine from sports car builders and the aftermarket generally. It could be that a similar thing has happened with your Detroit engines and industrial users.

Jeremy

[Stan]

gusc: Thanks for your reply. I understand the number system of DD engines but all the comments up to the point of my first post only referred to inline engines. Since that post there has been a multitude of WAGs, not facts. There have been statements that DD stopped making 71 series all the way from 1999 to 2005. 

Many people post incorrect information when somebody asks about a problem. The usual sugestion is to read all the posts and pick out the answer you think is correct. That may work for the person with experience, but is no help to a newbie. Which answer to you pick here?

Does anybody on the board have any proof to show if and when DD stopped making  71 series engines in some particular configuration? Are military, marine, industrial, transportation versions still being made in either inline or V style?

[keithshotrodshop]

I have no idea as to whether or not they are being built, however I do post one question. Every marine and industrial application motor I have seen has the blower on the pass side of the motor. Are bus blocks the only ones with a drivers side blower?