Bluebird Newbie - 1980 FC33 "Large Marge"

[tqwrench]

A bit of that low end grunt was courtesy of those city bus gears - 5.29 or thereabouts? They were certainly double nickel buses (55 MPH). The way my bus is setup, it looks like it wants to cruise at 62 MPH on the flats, maybe a bit more if I push it. It wasn't until we got the 300 HP arrangement in FC's were they a 70 MPH cruiser. What did they run? 4.33 gears? I'm in 4.88's.



I wouldn't challenge an NA arrangement to a pull from a dead stop though. Rip my guts out!!!

[WT91]

Yeah the data plate shows 5.29 gears and the engine is definitely an NA. It didn't have any trouble driving home power wise, just slowed down at the slightest hint of an incline.

I will say that my GPS speedometer (cable speedo in bus is on my list to fix) did show me cruising regularly at 62~mph. Since the tach also doesn't work and any faster than 62 the bus would "freewheel". It would go up to 63-65mph and you could feel the trans disengage until it slowed down to 60~ at which point it would start actually driving again.

The trans IS coming out for a rebuild, so who knows how it'll behave when it's fresh and actually has the modulator cable attached. I also have fixing the tach and speedo high on the priority list as I don't want to over-rev the engine if some sketchy previous owner "fixes" have allowed the engine to rev higher than the governed limits. I find new hackjobs every time I look around this bus.

[Mike Hohnstein]

300 hp uses 5.29 w/.82 od on the ZF = 73 mph @ 2500

[WT91]

I'm going to strangle whoever thought that this was a good idea. I have a swing out radiator and whatever this smaller hose that runs up to the radiator is for must have burst or gotten cut at some point. So instead of fixing it correctly they just took the two scab ends of the hose put a brass 90° fitting on and about six hose clamps all of different sizes. So now the radiator is trapped because the pictured 90*'d hose hits the alternator tensioner.

[Randy Dupree]

go inside and take the hose apart,

[WT91]

Originally Posted by Randy Dupree

go inside and take the hose apart,

I know, I'm just expressing my annoyance at not just doing it correctly the first time.

[mose]

Originally Posted by WT91

I know, I'm just expressing my annoyance at not just doing it correctly the first time.

If I posted every time I found something like that, Randy would need to buy more storage for the WOG site!

I've found added wiring for radio/etc. that had multiple in-line fuses with wires starting in the lower front panel, running up the dash, around all the ducting, then back out to the lower front panel, spliced a few times, then back up to the dash!

[Randy Dupree]

Originally Posted by WT91

I know, I'm just expressing my annoyance at not just doing it correctly the first time.

I have never found a good way to run that hose,it will kink and it needs to be about 6 feet long so the rad will swing.
If you figure out a good way to do it,please post it.

[tqwrench]

Originally Posted by Randy Dupree

I have never found a good way to run that hose,it will kink and it needs to be about 6 feet long so the rad will swing.
If you figure out a good way to do it,please post it.

Funny you mention that, I was out shopping the old one around for replacements. Parker quoted me $16.32/foot for replacement of the Gates green stripe wire reinforced setup that was on my coach. It was like you said, but not kinked due to that wire reinforcement. It looped back on top of the engine, then out to the rad. I think the only one who ever pulled it off with a 90 was MH and he used a quick disconnect like what's found on hydraulic systems.

[Randy Dupree]

Originally Posted by tqwrench

Funny you mention that, I was out shopping the old one around for replacements. Parker quoted me $16.32/foot for replacement of the Gates green stripe wire reinforced setup that was on my coach. It was like you said, but not kinked due to that wire reinforcement. It looped back on top of the engine, then out to the rad. I think the only one who ever pulled it off with a 90 was MH and he used a quick disconnect like what's found on hydraulic systems.

Yep,that wire type hose is big bucks,thats what i have used in the past.
Mike H quit using the dry break connectors long ago,i think.