Mating a Cat to the Allison HT755

[waterlodge]

I looked at the Mack E9's but they're a 90 degree V and very wide.
The 34xx series is a 60 degree V so even though the cylinders are bigger it's about the same width as the 92, I think we got 37"
The height is also about the same. The 8V92 is actually kind of tall because it has the airbox, aftercooler, supercharger and turbo all stacked on top of each other.
The big difference is the length. The 8V92 came in around 44" and the 3412 at 60" so that's an extra 16"
I can get it down to about 56" if I take the huge fan drive pulley off.
I plan to cut a corner out of the bedroom that gives me an extra 22" at the top end.
I'll also make a hatch there so you can reach the back of the engine. Currently it is almost impossible to reach the alternator, air compressor and hydraulic pump on the back of the engine. Ask Bus Grease Monkey about changing out the compressor coolant hoses on a Wanderlodge.

The 3412s in loaders are wider because the turbo's are on the side.
This one has the turbo's above the bellhousing. It looks like this one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG6Rr-J_UEM

If I read their dyno screen it says 1170 HP at 1800 rpm that's incredible. I'm not shooting that high, we're going for 850-900, we're building to an existing cat OEM configuration that has that rating. They have higher ones too >1000 but it will be too much to try and build a transmission and cooling system.

From everything I read online it's the PC engines that are more thirsty but the DI engines work well. I have a Freightliner semi with a 3406B and it's been a good engine.
I have a few 3306PC engines, one in a 235 excavator and a 14E grader. They use a lot of fuel but I don't have a comparison.
Anyway it's an RV , not a daily driver.
Yes I was thinking of taking videos as I go and make a montage.
As said for now I'm still pathfinding and figuring things out.

[luvrbus]

The common setting on the 3412 was from 550 hp to 650 hp ,I had 988 loader on lease it had a 15 cy bucket with a C-18 engine .The 8v92 is a good engine if done right but you cannot keep throwing liners and pistons at one and call it rebuilt that is just a band aid   

[waterlodge]

I prefer to stay reasonable.

This forum is about bus conversions is it not?

I've walked through the car shows. Rows and rows of model A's and model T's.
"kustom" with a small block chevy, aluminum intake, chrome one wire alternator, headers, cherry bombs. Extra points for a skull shifter.
All the stuff you see at Jeg's and Summit Racing all day long.

What's the point of customizing if you're doing all the same things everyone else does?
Of course there are a lot of benefits to doing the same things other people are doing , such as being able to get answers on forums, cheaper parts, etc. But if that is your preference it seems better to just keep things stock.

That, and, well, I grew up in Europe. We would go on vacation with a bicycle and a tent. So I guess from my perspective if you go on vacation in a 35,000# bus, "reasonable" is already long out of the picture 

[waterlodge]

The common setting on the 3412 was from 550 hp to 650 hp

Correct. mine is at 575.

They did have 1000+ HP available from Cat. Look at this quad turbo monster

https://www.powergenenterprises.com/item-e4636-caterpillar-3412-diesel-1250hp-2100rpm-industrial-engines-2-available.html

""Rated at: 1250HP @ 2100RPM - Rebuilt by local CAT Dealer ""

That looks like a 3412B or C. It has the mechanical injection pump but I see some electronics on top , it may be the cat "PEEC" system, it's a mechanical injection pump with electronic governor.


But, you know, I prefer to stay reasonable. I'm going for only 900HP 

[6805eagleguy]

I'm glad to see someone with push.  Make sure to take lots of pics, also it seems like you might need a radiator on both sides? Just my thought

[waterlodge]

Thanks! 
Yes I'm planning to have a radiator on both sides. One will be a typical radiator setup. The other one will be in the feed line for the aftercooler which runs up the side of the engine. That way the aftercooler gets the coolest water available. Put a thermostat electric fan on it so you don't over-cool the engine in cold weather.

Although this engine does have two thermostats and two radiator exits (but only one return) so you could make a dual radiator setup that way. But the second radiator will be smaller so I'm not sure if you would have trouble with the flow rate.

It'll be slow going but I'll take videos and pictures as I go. I have a million projects , this is just one of them

[6805eagleguy]

What year is your bb? I took apart a 2000 , seemed very solid, probably one of the better buses to support a huge engine

[waterlodge]

What year is your bb? I took apart a 2000 , seemed very solid, probably one of the better buses to support a huge engine

1993 Bluebird Wanderlodge.
This thing was well kept, it's almost 30 years old and the paint and interior are still very fresh looking.
Drives (or, drove) like a dream. It feels like you're floating 5' above the road surface.

Yes they are crazy heavy duty. In the back it has a double (stacked) frame that's probably about 2x8" tall .
A lot heavier duty than the old MCI buses where the engine's basically hanging from the roof.

I like these 90's ones better than the >2000 ones when they started doing slide-outs which IMO are too prone to leaks and mechanical issues.

[luvrbus]

Gm buses hang from the roof the MCI is part of the body, I own a 45ft Country Coach Magna on the Dynamax Chassis that has more beef than the Blue Bird.I was shopping for a Blue Bird 450LXI and decided the Magna had more to offer I still like the Blue Birds,the Vogues have the double frame too   

[azdieselman]

Adelman's has some military 903's. Both new and reman.

www.adelmans.com

[luvrbus]

Adelman's has some military 903's. Both new and reman.

www.adelmans.com

There you go those make good boat anchors 

[6805eagleguy]

There you go those make good boat anchors 

yes cummins are quite handy for holding boats

[luvrbus]

yes cummins are quite handy for holding boats

Not all Cummins are the v8/903 has been around a long time and I never understood why it was a dog ,a few buses had the left turning Cummins 903 and were dogs too

[azdieselman]

I was thinking that military build is probably the 600hp. That should be enough for most folks.

The 903 is the only V series Cummins I trust.

[TomC]

Find a wrecked truck with the DD16 600hp and DT12 automated 12spd. You'll have 600hp and 2050lb/ft of torque. The DD16 produces maximum torque at 975rpm! Gear for cruising at 1200rpm and you'll get towards 12mpg. Good luck,TomC