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Fastback
Top Member
1500 Posts |
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bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2014 : 1:03:08 PM
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That's cool. Maybe that will be a good bus. |
Bryan |
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bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2014 : 05:38:47 AM
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I wonder if they are making it out of a diesel engine? |
Bryan |
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Fastback
Top Member
1500 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2014 : 06:35:42 AM
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The engine appears to me to be based on the big block GM V8. 8.8 liter, isn't that roughly 528 cubic inches? |
Why yes, the ORIGinal CHARGER is a Fastback |
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bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2014 : 07:37:26 AM
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531 is what I figured but either way it's big. I bet it won't lack for power. lol I wonder what the fuel mileage will be? |
Bryan |
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Fastback
Top Member
1500 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2014 : 08:54:40 AM
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Torque comparisons of propane buses;
IC 8.8 liter V8 565 ft ibs @ 1500 rpm! Thomas 8.0 liter V8 495 ft lbs @ 3100 rpm Bluebird 6.8 liter V10 457 ft lbs @ they ain't braggin about it rpm |
Why yes, the ORIGinal CHARGER is a Fastback |
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bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2014 : 09:58:47 AM
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quote: Originally posted by Fastback
Torque comparisons of propane buses;
IC 8.8 liter V8 565 ft ibs @ 1500 rpm! Thomas 8.0 liter V8 495 ft lbs @ 3100 rpm Bluebird 6.8 liter V10 457 ft lbs @ they ain't braggin about it rpm
Yeah, that V10 winds up pretty tight. lol Sounds like a NASCAR race. lol Man, I hope that thing gets decent fuel mileage. I really don't like hearing the high RPMs, it makes me nervous. I like hearing the slow lumber of a strong engine. lol I long for the days that we had a simple diesel. Baring any major news on the global worming front I'd say we're stuck with DEF or propane in our world. I still have a problem with the IC body but I guess I could live with it. |
Bryan |
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JoeHEB1
Advanced Member
498 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2014 : 12:07:48 PM
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I have a meeting coming up with my transportation director and a Blue Bird salesman about LPG buses, he assured us that it wasn't a sales pitch but strong facts (yeah right). What kinds of problems do LPG buses have and what questions should I grill him with? I know our shop is not equipped to work on LPG equipment, hopefully the cost to equip the shop will deter my boss from buying LPG buses. I have a few questions of my own but I would like some more fire power. |
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Fastback
Top Member
1500 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2014 : 1:03:19 PM
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Since we are talking 4 to 5 mpg on fuel, the biggest holdback for me is the range on a tank of fuel, Bluebird does now offer a 90 or so gallon tank as an option but it is expensive as you have to get a heavier rear axle to go with the big tank. My other concern is filling a tank on a bus backed out of a 65 degree bus garage when its -10 outside. Back in the 80s when we ran propane, we had very slow to no filling when the bus tank temp was +65 and the bulk tank was -10. |
Why yes, the ORIGinal CHARGER is a Fastback |
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Crown
Senior Member
89 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2014 : 5:43:45 PM
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quote: Originally posted by JoeHEB1
I have a meeting coming up... ...but would like some more fire power.
We have many dozens of propane school buses and are taking delivery of dozens more right now. I really can't offer much in the way of negatives yet. Our shop is equipped for CNG but not for propane. Since NG goes up and LP goes down the HC sensors along the ceiling would never smell a thing. That being said, and the fact that we are about 65% CNG/LP, we still avoid leaving anything but the 'old fuels' in the shop overnight. |
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bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2014 : 09:20:46 AM
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Fuel fill rate is a big one for me. The New BB fills a lot faster than the old one I have. Fuel mileage isn't that big of a deal when the price is less than half of diesel. All the info I have on shop safety says your shop should be set up the same as if you are working on a gasoline engine. I DO NOT work on the fuel system inside unless the doors are open and I have a fan moving air. If you get a chance sometime take a look at the fuel combustion window. I was really surprised when I saw a side by side comparison of diesel, gasoline, & propane. Propane appears to be less likely to ignite than gasoline when you are looking at the air fuel ratio. In other words, the window when the air fuel mix is not too rich or too lean to ignite is smaller than gasoline. |
Bryan |
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bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2014 : 07:53:37 AM
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OK, I was looking to find the information I saw a few years ago about the flammability range on Diesel, gas, and propane. I could have just erased the above and pretended I never said any of this but that's not my nature. I want everyone to get all the facts on what I talk about. So this doesn't look bad but it's not as good as I was leading everyone to believe. Here's what I found on lower and upper limits on each fuel. Listed is percentage of fuel to air, lower and upper. So anything lower is too lean and anything higher is too rich to burn. Propane- 2.1 - 10.1, Diesel- .6 - 7.5, Gasoline- 1.4 - 7.6. Here's the link- http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/explosive-concentration-limits-d_423.html |
Bryan |
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