F650 gutless

VanBoy · Jun 26, 2009

With all this talk about Cummins 5.9L engines, I'm actually thinking of picking up an engine..... actually, an entire donor rig.

There is this school bus, early 1990's w/ a 5.9L and an Allison tranny up for sale/auction. I think it's a 5.9, not the 8.3. Sticker they posted a pic on says 6BTA-230..... one bus has like 115,000 and the other 40,000 :dunno

miles. I'm hoping they are the 12V and that they are a 5.9L...

spg · Jun 29, 2009

Medium duty trucks have a lot more weight and frontal area than pickups so the motors don't seem as powerful as they do in pickups. Better off with a manual transmission than the Allison 540/545 transmission that is used a lot in the school bus applications. They do not have a lockup torque converter and are only 1 to 1, no Overdrive. The Torque Converters are not very effecient with the extra weight and load in a medium duty truck. They use them in school busses and delivery/rental trucks so they don't have to worry about people driving with a clutch.

VanBoy · Jun 30, 2009

spg said:
Medium duty trucks have a lot more weight and frontal area than pickups so the motors don't seem as powerful as they do in pickups. Better off with a manual transmission than the Allison 540/545 transmission that is used a lot in the school bus applications. They do not have a lockup torque converter and are only 1 to 1, no Overdrive. The Torque Converters are not very effecient with the extra weight and load in a medium duty truck. They use them in school busses and delivery/rental trucks so they don't have to worry about people driving with a clutch.

Sticker posted says it's an MT643 tranny. I suppose an 6BT under 1600.00 would be good.... granted, I'd have to pull the engine and get rid of the body. Hard to store a bus...

BigRigTech · Jun 30, 2009

I saw one local for $1500 yesterday, 97 Ford school bus with a 5.9...Allison as well....If I only had the dough.

tractorman86 · Jul 1, 2009

yea it is a standard. we dont want a hot rod out of it but at least usable power.

MMeier · Jul 13, 2009

VanBoy said:
Sticker posted says it's an MT643 tranny. I suppose an 6BT under 1600.00 would be good.... granted, I'd have to pull the engine and get rid of the body. Hard to store a bus...

You use the bus to store more "stuff".. you know , keep it outta the weather and such. Ummm.... where is the location of said buses??? :sly

VanBoy · Jul 14, 2009

MMeier said:
You use the bus to store more "stuff".. you know , keep it outta the weather and such. Ummm.... where is the location of said buses???

Washington State..... already sold. Less then $1800.00

Dieselcrawler · Sep 23, 2010

we have a f650 dump truck with a kitty under the bonnet. it is also a guttless pig. turns on a dime though.

JSinAlaska · Mar 13, 2011

I had an '07 F650 flatbed tow truck, and it had PLENTY of power, even hauling two cars, one on deck and one behind. I'd get it looked at, because mine ran like a dream. The place I run now, has mostly GM Duratrash, they ride like crap, run like crap and the cabs suck. The F650 Pro loader with airbags and the cummins was a cadillac compared to the GM 4500/6500's.

F650 gutless

VanBoy

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spg

Big Red

VanBoy

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BigRigTech

Diesel junky

tractorman86

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MMeier

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VanBoy

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Dieselcrawler

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JSinAlaska

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