One of our 2005 IC CEs are just as good as our 2021s, Dont know how, but we got a good VT365 when we replaced the engine in it. The number is 05-6, and as the driver says it can whip around turns just as good as our 2021s and will HAUL. She says that you can get to 60 MPH in no time. Can't say much about the other VTs though, they're junk. 05-9 is shot (fuel in coolant lines), 05-2 is constantly in the shop, and 05-1MB's status is unknown.
This is just a 3 valve Triton with a 6 speed. The difference is your truck isnt 12,000 lbs empty. We got a bunch due to the propane subsidy. We had to pull out onto the highway and floor them. Speed limit was 55. We never made it. Just contributed to the horrible fuel mileage. District didnt care until propane started costing them more than $0.68 a gallon (subsidy went away and propane now costs $4.28 a gallon).
I hate these buses. They ride like shit and are built cheap. I had a 2012 Vision at one terminal I worked at, that bus was a piece of shit. I like the 2009 IC I drive now much more than that piece of shit 2012 Blue Bird. Only reason I have that is because they tried to give me a 2010 Blue Bird and I told them no way in hell was I driving that thing, and I'll take the oldest International you got. So they gave me the oldest one they had.
U-Haul probably gets lower rated engines so they last longer, program in a lower redline, and less HP electronically. Thus more sluggish so that there is less wear on the transmission. The bus company springs for the heavy duty transmission (not the Ford transmission that will not last as long, cost as much). and can let that transmission handle the full 350 HP rating that the engine can put out.
Ford 6.8 V10 engine is great for buses and delivery trucks and moving trucks with 6.8 V10 engine also UPS vans has fleet with 6.8 V10 engine even U-Haul truck has fleet of F650 /E450 with 6.8 V10 , Ford motor company has 6.8 V10 engines for F-250-550 Super Duty trucks
The 7.3L is being installed now, and has a higher 350 HP rating, can be rated up to 400 HP in certain vehicles, but the bus is normally de-rated a bit. This saves the transmission and saves fuel too. How fast or sluggish the bus is depends on the driver, and if they want to save fuel or time. The red line RPM can be reprogrammed to save fuel, take it easy on the transmission.
I don't think they will last like the diesels. I drive one and the transmissions are sluggish. The RPM's get really high and stay there longer than I think necessary. I drive up a place called Three Mile Hill. 3000 RPM's at 35 mph. Going down the hill in 2nd gear at 25 mph and at 3000 rpms. They have no exhaust brake and will take off down a hill like a skate board. You have to be very careful or they can get away from you. I think in the long run the engine will beat itself to death and fail.
Every vehicle I've ever driven that had a Ford Modular engine behaves this way when towing a load. And with the weight of that bus it's pretty much always "towing" so the trans is going to act accordingly. Don't worry, it's normal for that engine, and they are overbuilt to handle sitting at any RPM that's below the rev limiter, for extended durations. Those V10s are used in everything from ambulances to construction/law enforcement. They are overhead cam so they lack the off-the-line low end grunt that pushrod engines have, so you have to wind them way the hell up in order to make useful power. That downhill behavior is definitely an issue though, and I feel you should bring it up with someone higher up or possible a fleet manager. It sounds like they have your vehicle in permanent tow/haul mode (most v10 U-haul trucks are like this, as well) which would explain why the RPMs linger for a few seconds (it'll stay in gear a little longer to prevent back and forth gear hunting). You may not have an exhaust brake, but the trans can be tweaked to allow better engine braking. It should downshift if you tap the brakes (if it's actually in Tow mode), but it should be tweaked need to allow it to downshift earlier for more aggressive engine braking. You'd have to deal with even higher RPMS downhill, but it won't hurt anything at all.
the transmission isn’t designed for school bus applications unlike the allison pts, which the competing ic ce uses even on their propane and gas options…hell, the diesel visions also use allison
School buses in general are underpowered. Here in Novi, Michigan I believe our Visions have the 6.7L Cummins engines, and make only 240 horsepower (IIRC). They should have put in a 7L engine IMO.
@@electric7487 actually most newer Diesel engines are less powerful in general but the older engines like the Maxxforce DT and the older Cummins have more torque and accelerate faster
no. Which of the three? One is the standard Ford intake plenum, the other is the air compressor spinning and the third is the driveline and is common among all Blue Birds (diesel just drowns it out).
