new crown owner

[BJ]

I am a new owner of a 1959 single axle crown cummings 262 I could use a lot of help....mrnowinc@yahoo.com

[TomCat]

I am a new owner of a 1959 single axle crown cummings 262 I could use a lot of help....mrnowinc@yahoo.com

I guess you could look in the yellow pages under "Psychiatrist". If it's too late for that, ask a particular question...and I'm sure someone will jump in with some input.
When you do ask a question, give as much info as possible...even if it seem irrelevant...every little bit helps with a diagnosis.

Jay
87 SaftLiner

[Lee Bradley]

I used to drive a 57 KW with a 262 and a 5 and a 4 but I have recovered. If you have any bus questions ask away. 

[HB of CJ]

Hello BJ;

As from one fellow Crown Super Coach owner to another, welcome to the demented arena of coach ownership and congradulations on your perfect choice in the choice of buses.

I think I know whose Crown you purchased, but I could be wrong also.  Your Crown will give you 50 miles per gallon, go 200 miles per hour and NEVER need work as it is self-repairing at no $cost$ to you. 

CROWNS FOREVER
HB of CJ (VIN 37317)
'74 Crown 10-wheeler

[Green-Hornet]

We are going to require lots of pictures, of course
Lotsa luck and welcome aboard.

[Dallas]

I never drove a 262 but I have had my share of bumbling 220's, smoking 250's, Shi**y 270's and a bunch of shiny 290's.

Put a stinger in the governor, and crank that sucker as hard as she'll go. If it blows up you'll know you needed to swap out to a 400 anyway. If you don't have flame from the exhaust, you ain't runnin' it hard enough.

Glad to have you on the board, ask lot's of questions, post lot's of pictures and join us in the chat room every night about 7PM CST.

[Green-Hornet]

Put a stinger in the governor, and crank that sucker as hard as she'll go. If it blows up you'll know you needed to swap out to a 400 anyway. If you don't have flame from the exhaust, you ain't runnin' it hard enough.

WOW....now THAT is what I want to see pics of!

[Dreamscape]

Good Luck with your endeavor.

I am sure it will bring lots of smiles and grunts along the way. 

Paul

[superpickle]

Theres ALLLLLLWAyysss a Smart Donkey, Aint there.. 
I have High regard for Crown's  They have a Great reputation...
YES, PICS please 

Paul...

Hello BJ;

As from one fellow Crown Super Coach owner to another, welcome to the demented arena of coach ownership and congradulations on your perfect choice in the choice of buses.

I think I know whose Crown you purchased, but I could be wrong also.  Your Crown will give you 50 miles per gallon, go 200 miles per hour and NEVER need work as it is self-repairing at no $cost$ to you. 

CROWNS FOREVER
HB of CJ (VIN 37317)
'74 Crown 10-wheeler

[TomC]

Crowns are great.  I would have used one, except I wanted 102 wide, and didn't want to deal with a roof raise (I'm 6'3").  With the mid engine and no frame behind the rear axle, you can modify it to be 2 stories in the back, or with a car ramp with living over.  The 262 is a decent engine-make sure you have a pyrometer-remember that over 1200 degrees costs money.  The Crowns are so good that Los Angeles Unified School District still has a few hundred running actively on a daily schedule, even though the last ones were made in the early 1990's.  Fun to hear the mostly 6-71's in them.  A big cam NTC400 makes for a great change over when that 262 finally gives up.  Good Luck, TomC

[superpickle]

Crowns are great.  I would have used one, except I wanted 102 wide, and didn't want to deal with a roof raise (I'm 6'3").  With the mid engine and no frame behind the rear axle, you can modify it to be 2 stories in the back, or with a car ramp with living over.  The 262 is a decent engine-make sure you have a pyrometer-remember that over 1200 degrees costs money.  The Crowns are so good that Los Angeles Unified School District still has a few hundred running actively on a daily schedule, even though the last ones were made in the early 1990's.  Fun to hear the mostly 6-71's in them.  A big cam NTC400 makes for a great change over when that 262 finally gives up.  Good Luck, TomC

Couldnt ya just get 3 inches taken out of each leg 

and WHERE are the PICS.. is this another one of the Phantom buses 

[RJ]

OK, Pickle -

Just to keep you salivating. . . here's a couple of Crown pics.  The two-axle is a 35-foot model, the three-axle a forty-footer.  BJ the newbie's is like the former. . .

[belfert]

Crowns are great.  I would have used one, except I wanted 102 wide, and didn't want to deal with a roof raise (I'm 6'3").  With the mid engine and no frame behind the rear axle, you can modify it to be 2 stories in the back, or with a car ramp with living over.  The 262 is a decent engine-make sure you have a pyrometer-remember that over 1200 degrees costs money.  The Crowns are so good that Los Angeles Unified School District still has a few hundred running actively on a daily schedule, even though the last ones were made in the early 1990's.  Fun to hear the mostly 6-71's in them.  A big cam NTC400 makes for a great change over when that 262 finally gives up.  Good Luck, TomC

How is Los Angeles able to keep using such old buses with California emissions rules?  I keep reading articles that schools in California are being required to either replace old school buses or retrofit them with particulate filters to meet stricter emissions.  (Sure hope this doesn't happen to our buses.)

Here in Minnesota most school buses seem to succumb to rust before the drivetrain is worn out.

[tekebird]

most schoolies in CA are School owned = Govt owned.

and the Govt is exempt from emissions

[TomC]

Obviously in Los Angeles we don't have to contend with salt on the road (thankfully).  That's why those old Crowns keep going, and why I have a '63 Ford Falcon as my hot rod with no rust.  The Crowns are being phased out mainly because of seat belt rules.  The bus are still the safest on the road.  The highly crowned roof is actually made to be a roll over cage.  It was determined that the buses are too old and would not be cost effective to repower with modern engines-besides what engines are currently being made that are lay down?  None.  Although Cummins said any of their engines can be done.  Their KTA engine is made as a horizontal for use as a twin engine under self propelled train cars.  750hp with 2300lb/ft torque would certainly get the job done.  Good Luck, TomC