24 valve 5.9 cummins school bus

which engine?

  • 24 valve cummins (unknown stanadyne injection pump)

    Votes: 5 62.5%
  • CAT 3216 W 5SPD, blown clutch

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • CAT 3216 W Allison OD

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Navistar T444E auto

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • T444E manual

    Votes: 3 37.5%

  • Total voters
    8

krazyistkarl

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Hi ya'll, I've been lurking this forum for some time now, learning up on 7.3 navistars and CAT 3216's for busses, and some alternative fuel threads, namely WMO/W80/W85.

Previous diesel experience was on my 1996 Mitsubishi Delica 4M40T engine, bosch VE pump that I turned up using the same techniques as a 12v 6BT Cummins. I'm now hooked on diesels.

I unfortunately hit black ice and rolled it in BC mountains last winter(if you google these little beasts you'll see why...)




Anyway, I've got some questions that need answers before the auction this Saturday, yikes!



So, I've been wanting a bus to make into a camper/ toy hauler. I was looking at 7.3 for some time, but the clean units have all sold. Next up I heard of three 5.9 Cummins busses coming up at a local auction, I assumed they'd be 12valves. I have my heart set on processing onboard, and running w85 through it.


Today I walked through the yard and checked out these busses, they're actually 24 valves flat front busses with an allison OD transmission (not sure which trans however and the mechanic didn't know off the top of his head) one with a wheelchair door halfway down, perfect for my floor plan! but a mechanic (was definitely not the head mechanic) says they've got Standadyne injection pumps.

I've searched online and can't seem to find much information on them, certainly not any information on burning W85 in em.


could anyone shed some light on this beast, and whether or not I should get a CAT 3216 bus instead? There is one with an OD allison transmission, and another with a 5spd but a blown clutch.



thanks in advance! can't wait to hear your valuable input!
 

AcIdBuRn02ZTS

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Are you set on a fullsize bus? You can get the IDI powered 1 ton buses (actually know someone who has one forsale right now) and they love to drink the waste oil... lol
 

krazyistkarl

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Yeah I'm fairly set on a full size. I was originally looking for a 36 passenger, but I think that will be a little on the small side.
I'm planning on making a mobile home, and I need a "shed" off the back to safely store camping gear, work tools, mountain bikes and skis. That will take up 6 feet of the floor plan alone.

This monster flat nose is 12 rows of windows, but being a flat nose it's shorter than the 10 row conventional's, and should have a better turning radius.
The extra 6 windows will allow me to still have the same floor plan for the 36 passenger, but have a larger shed to begin with.
Eventually the plan is to chop the back, move the end cap up, and flat bed it to haul my 4x4 on.
 

Ironman03R

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Im not a big fan of CAT engines when, not if they break they, are expensive. I drive a c13 ACERT and its a no power ****. With medium and heavy trucks try and avoid antyhing with emmisions on it.
Your Powerstroke choices might not have enough power once you have your rig loaded down. There are upgrades like the pickups but since it is a "Bus" there might not be many options for the tuners.
The allison trans should be an MD 3060, it is a 5 or 6 speed OD but all busses the 6th gear is locked out.
So I guess that leaves the Cummins and your biggest issue might be getting a tuner to increse power since it is in a bus, and it will be the one eveyone bids on since it has that engine.
So all that being said your best bet will probibly be the t444 auto, but only if it has an allison MD3060 which it should since its in a medium duty. Then try find a tuner to up the power/economy from it. Remember that bus probibly weighs in around 18K as it sits now.
 

Isaac Ristow

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I bought a 99 blue bird 78 passenger flat front FE with a 24v isb cummins. I bought it to fix up and resell it did not run. They have a vp44 electronic injection pump that is known for taking a hot ****** dump allot sooner than a IDI db2 ever would and they will not like free fuels at all. You can upgrade the lift pump that's supossed to help allot with injection pump life... My bus was throwing codes I worked on it for 4 days finally narrowed it down to the injection power supply not getting hot so I ran a new relay and a new power wire now it runs. They are good motors but the electronic injection system is a joke. I have a 2004 CE200 international 40 footer for my camper rv bus that has a t444e (7.3 powerstroke) and a Allison 2000 5 speed over drive. I've owned and driven many school buses (I flip them for cash on the side) and the 7.3 t444e/allison 2000 has been the smoothest strongest power plant I've come across and everybody can wrench on a 7.3 and come up with parts in a reasonable time frame

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