Found a Detroit in A Chevy CC Today

[david85]

I remember a moderator on the FTE IDI diesel forum saying the secret to driving a detroit 2 stroke was to slam the door on your fingers once before climbing into the cab. You had to drive them like you hated them, or they wouldn't move at all. Funny thing is, he probably would have done it too .

Something about a powerband 300-400 RPM wide. I would never own one, but I have to admit, they do sound nice.

I saw a vintage bus (camper converted) that seemed to be 60s vintage a few weeks ago on the highway. It was in great shape with shiny paint on the front, but the rear was all covered in black soot and you could see a brown/black haze following behind it as it struggled to hold 60 MPH up a shallow hill. That was the first time I ever heard a detroit 2 stroke in real life (I was passing at 70 in my truck with all the windows rolled up) Just think, that was only one bus.....

 

[vegas39]

My first Scout boat had a single 2-valve 6-71 main engine. If I recall correctly, the boat was originally powered by an inline-8 Caterpillar, but a ferry boat company had bought the boat from the BOP and pulled the Kitty-Cat out to use in one of their other boats. So, my Scout unit got the boat (sometime between 1965 and 1970, so long before my time) without an engine, and supposedly found this engine in a WWII-era landing craft. The injectors were so fouled up that she was only running on 3 cylinders for the first couple of years They were too cheap to install throttle controls in the wheelhouse, so they had an EOT and an engineer down there at all times. You can see the throttle handle and gearshift lever in the picture. THOSE were some fun times

This boat also had a (also 2-valve) 2-71 genset. We didn't have a tach on the generator, but she HAD to have been turning over 2500 RPM...we cruised at 1750 RPM on the main engine and the genset STILL drowned out the main I have no idea why it was set up to run so fast; I've been around other 2-71 gensets that run at a much lower RPM and are MUCH quieter.


I spent heaven knows how much time riding in them as a kid; I always thought they were cool because of the sound, the body shape, and the manual transmission. I was reading up about them, and apparently Crown buses aren't very common east of the Rockies, and they're built like tanks! I've always wondered what it's like to drive one :angel someday, when I have time, disposable income, and space...

Someone in Fresno has one for sale on ebay, buy it now $2200.00. If my wife would let me, I'd be on that like flies on crap! General Electric bought Crown in the later 80's and ran them into the ground. Too bad but the biggest problem was that they were built well and expensive. The last one my district bought before crown shutdown in 1992 was $160,000. Thomas and Bluebird could be had for much less but you didnt get the quality or longevity.

 

[The Warden]

Someone in Fresno has one for sale on ebay, buy it now $2200.00. If my wife would let me, I'd be on that like flies on crap! General Electric bought Crown in the later 80's and ran them into the ground. Too bad but the biggest problem was that they were built well and expensive. The last one my district bought before crown shutdown in 1992 was $160,000. Thomas and Bluebird could be had for much less but you didnt get the quality or longevity.

I hear that! I actually saw that Fresno auction...I would have jumped on it except I don't have the money or a place to store it. Hopefully, by the time I have that sort of money to spare, they're not already rare and expensive...

 

[icanfixall]

I listened to the utube clips......... These motors seem to be screaming high rpm. Just how high do they rev up to...

 

[vegas39]

I listened to the utube clips......... These motors seem to be screaming high rpm. Just how high do they rev up to...

They dont rev that high, but because they are 2-stroke, they sound like they are screaming. We didnt run the 671's in our crowns any higher than 2,000 RPM.

 

[ameristar1]

The Detroits are governed most of the time at 2100-2600, but the difference is that it's making power every stroke instead of every other like the 4 strokers. That's why they sound like they are about to explode all the time. A Detroit that has been built and tuned properly is not as bad as the stories say. I got into trucking because of a 8v-92TA powered KW K100 doublewide with an Allison. Sitting on top of that thing going up a grade with a tank on the back was pure heaven.

 

[Agnem]

Or more simply put, a 2 cycle turning at 1000 RPM, will sound like a 4 stroke turning at 2000 RPM.