http://www.doityourselfrv.com/converted ... om-bus-rv/

I finally bought my bus!Elliot wrote:![]()
For maximum hill climbing power (Wadsworth to Gerlach!), look for the International DT466 and the Cummins 8.3 (C-series). These engines are also famously durable. The Cummins 5.9 (B-series), same engine as in Dodge pickup-trucks, is also good, and very common. These engines are inline six cylinders -- just like in 18-wheelers.
Practically all diesels have a turbo charger, and many have an intercooler (charge cooler, after-cooler). There is no reason to consider any diesel without a turbo, and the intercooler helps too.
A word about the Screamin’ Demon. Detroit Diesel (GM) used to build two-stroke diesel engines. They are called “Screamin’ Demon” for a reason -- think two-stroke motorcycle. On rare occasions you may find one in a large school bus. As these engines are kind’a obsolete, major repairs may be expensive.
Turning up the power sounds like a great idea but...unfortunatly my transmision is only rated for 180hp.Captain Goddammit wrote:
You're not going to cruise at 70 even on flat land regardless of how much you turn up the power, because of the gearing.
It should tow a 10,000 pound trailer with no problem. It's hard to tell in the pic, but it doesn't appear to have those five-spoke "suicide" wheels on it either. And finding a stick shift in anything but a very old one is really rare. If I were bus shopping and came across that one at a decent deal, I'd have bought it. (Depending on how bad the rust is!)
Actually I take the grade % back, after researching the steepest road in the world, 35%, I have concluded that it was closer to 30%!ManitoBURN wrote:A quick note on South American busses,
Look at the attached picture....
something isn't right is it?
Some one questioned how they still manage to fine manual transmision busses, they don't.
They find automatic busses and swap in a manual afterwords.
It's lots of work but an auto would fail on it's first trip.
I'm actually in Guatamala right now, I thought I was impossible some of the stuff they do.
Yesterday the bus I was in was going up a 15% grade?!
First gear (out of 5), screaming on the govoner, and just barely making walking speed. All the while rolling coal like some white trash kid In his truck.
Don't even get me started on some of the "racing slicks" I have seen on trucks here.....
Oh... nuttin much.JayBobBoy wrote:... ...can't wait to see what you have in mind for her....
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That will be Awesome.Elliot wrote:Oh... nuttin much.JayBobBoy wrote:... ...can't wait to see what you have in mind for her....
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Just that something followed Millicent home one day recently.
Yes, that's the Albatross portion of the project.
A 1955 Grumman Albatross.