Another Bubble Popped

[Iceni John]

There was a protracted and sometimes very "energetic" discussion about this exact subject a while ago, and the general consensus of opinion was that pickup truck engines only belong in pickups, regardless of how much power and torque they produce.   They have no place in large heavy vehicles like ours, especially if they're driven more than very occasionally.

John

[Scott & Heather]

It does make sense. I was just thinking the newest ram dualie was rated for 30k which is insane. It may be able to pull it but can it stop it!? It just seems to be hit or miss with the reliability of our bus engines. But it seems if you manage to keep them cool and give em fresh oil when they are due, they should keep on ticking...until they stop lol


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[Oonrahnjay]

It does make sense. I was just thinking the newest ram dualie was rated for 30k which is insane. It may be able to pull it but can it stop it!? It just seems to be hit or miss with the reliability of our bus engines. But it seems if you manage to keep them cool and give em fresh oil when they are due, they should keep on ticking...until they stop lol 

     IMO (which doens't really count for much), the best way to assure expensive noises and a lack of reliability is to try to use an undersized, underspec'ed engine in a big, heavy vehicle.

[luvrbus]

It is funny we would haul 20,000 lbs and be 30,000 lbs gross with Chevy 1 tons with 454 gasoline engines pulling a tandem dual axle gooseneck 24 ft trailers back in the 80's

[mc6er]

If a Powerstroke identical to the one in my truck falls from the sky, I will volunteer to try it in my bus.

[bobofthenorth]

If a Powerstroke identical to the one in my truck falls from the sky, I will volunteer to try it in my bus.

We ran a 7.3 Powersmoke for a few years in a fertilizer delivery truck that grossed around 28,000.  It performed more than adequately.  I have owned a succession of 7.3s and now a 6.0 which I realize is generally known as a mobile grenade.  It has however got a scary amount of power - I can't compare it directly to any of my 7.3s because I don't pull the same loads but the 6.0 is better although it definitely slurps more fuel.  If the 6.7 is really as much better than my 6.0 as I think it is, then I don't see why it wouldn't make an acceptable transplant. 

[greg158]

This turned into another very interesting thread. Talk of EGR's, DPF's, small cummins pulling big loads (lol) and powerstrokes in buses!! Always gets my attention...  The Duramax is not a candidate either, and i love that engine!! It's my daily driver and i use one for work, pulling a T770 bobcat around on a fifth wheel gooseneck. Gross weight is somewhere between 24 and 26k depending on how much fuel I'm carrying. It's a 09 GMC dually with EGR and diesel fired DPF. Luckily this one doesn't require DEF fluid. We have since got rid of our fleet of fords except for our 01 7.3   Half a million kms. and it still works every day!!  Severely underpowered though. My choice through experience for an alternative to a two stroke in your 35 ft. bus would be either an L10 Cummins or a 3306 CAT. You can stick your foot into these engines until the devil tells you stop and they just keep pullin'. If you require more power for a bigger bus then an M11 cummins, 370 Hp or a C12 Cat. Pre-emission of course! I have run a lot of miles in all of these I have mentioned including the northern ice roads. With proper maintenance and care these engines go a long way!! And so do the two stroke Detroits if they are driven properly and maintained. Can't stress that enough. Educating yourself about diesels before you decide to jump in the seat and drive your dream down the road will save you a ridiculous amount of money. I know through reading the different threads on here, there are several individuals who have spent their lives putting miles behind them in one form or another and can tell right away through the sound of their engine or the color of exhaust that there may be a problem, even before a light comes on, on the dash... And there are some that can't even find the governor or compressor on their 871 (poke poke jab jab) Lol. Yes its a learning curve for us all. OUCH on that $18,000 engine job. I really hope it doesn't happen again to that guy.
Greg

[luvrbus]

He is ok but it is going to be over 25k now, but he is not complaining to much they showed him a bill for almost 50gs on a rebuild on DD13 in a Setra

[muldoonman]

50 Big Ones's. Think I would just hire a wrecker to pull me around. Home James.

[luvrbus]

Seems like a 60 series is cheaper to rebuild than a 8v71 or 8v92 at a DD dealer and his bus is worth the rebuild price