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Tatum
Top Member
United States
606 Posts |
 Posted - 01/15/2011 : 3:12:30 PM
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Oh yes, please tell me which pickup trucks and vans had AT545s in them?
None of them did! |
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bus724
Top Member
USA
1609 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2011 : 4:32:24 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Tatum
Oh yes, please tell me which pickup trucks and vans had AT545s in them?
None of them did!
Let me rephrase. The AT-545 provides sufficient power for a vehicle the size of a pickup or van, and IMO would be better suited to that type of application. |
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Tatum
Top Member
United States
606 Posts |
Posted - 01/15/2011 : 10:04:49 PM
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I ride in a 2002 AmTran International with an AT545, and the way it shifts is anything but rough!
If the AT545 is rough, then the MD3060 must be extremely painful... |
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08 Thomas EF
Top Member
533 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2011 : 05:14:34 AM
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GM pickups use the Allison 1000 now; before that, I would assume an AT-545, unless they only started using Allisons in those trucks since after the 545 was dropped. My neighbor has an '02 Sierra 2500HD with a Duramax and Allison of some sort (their logo is on the hood). I think that the 1000, 2000, etc. came out for the '02 model year, but I'm not sure.
Here's proof of Allisons in GM pickups:
http://www.allisontransmission.com/service/faq/index.jsp?CategoryID=11 |
Edited by - 08 Thomas EF on 01/16/2011 05:27:17 AM |
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Tatum
Top Member
United States
606 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2011 : 11:49:01 AM
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Of course there are Allison transmission in those Chevy and GMC trucks, but they're not AT545s! The AT545 is a medium class transmission built for class 6 and 7 trucks,
Here's an audio of my 2002 AmTran with an AT545. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs9bsploGbw (Watch in HD for the best quality.)
Does it sound like it shifts hard? |
Edited by - Tatum on 01/16/2011 11:51:33 AM |
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bus724
Top Member
USA
1609 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2011 : 2:14:38 PM
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| Who said the AT-545 shifts rough or hard? It's actually one of the smoothest transmissions I've driven. My complaint is that it doesn't give you enough power, and wastes fuel economy on the highway by not locking up. |
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08 Thomas EF
Top Member
533 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2011 : 3:12:31 PM
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I don't remember anyone mentioning shifting quality, either. I did say that they work very nicely in TCs with ISBs, and in the '96 Thomas/International T444E activity bus that the high school has. I do find that they're roughER in the AmTran FEs, but still acceptable.
From the looks of it, the Allison 542 is the 1000's predecessor for the GM trucks. I've read that the 542 was very close to the 545, with the differences being gear ratios and oil pan size. So perhaps I wasn't too far off in thinking that 545s were used in light applications.  However, I can't find evidence of a 545 being used in a pickup from the factory.
http://www.dieselpowermag.com/tech/chevy/1003dp_allison_1000_transmission/index.html
http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/allison-at542-vs-at545-t93680.html |
Edited by - 08 Thomas EF on 01/16/2011 3:14:19 PM |
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Tatum
Top Member
United States
606 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2011 : 4:43:08 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by bluebirdvision
^ They are hard shifting transmissions, that were meant to be cheap enough for districts that wanted an automatic transmission, but didn't want the cost. (cheap I guess is a word that could have sum'd this up.....)
I guess you're right, Phill, but still, it's not the transmission that gives the bus the strength to climb up a hill; it's the rear end gear ratio. |
Edited by - Tatum on 01/16/2011 4:44:32 PM |
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bus724
Top Member
USA
1609 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2011 : 5:37:04 PM
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| There are a lot of factors, the rear end gear ratio is part of it, as are the ratios of the individual gears in the transmission. Generally, more gears give you better performance, as it's possible to keep the engine closest to its peak torque at different speeds. The biggest problem with the AT545 is the non-locking torque converter, which allows for some "slip" between the engine and drive wheels (all automatics do this when stopped, otherwise they'd stall out). This slip results in a loss of power. |
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tjankowski18
Active Member
37 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2011 : 5:59:24 PM
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We have 06 All American FE
07 All American FE
08 All American FE
09 All American FE
11 All American FE
10 All American RE
06 All American RE
03 TC2000 FE
01 TC1000 FE
99 Mini Bird |
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08 Thomas EF
Top Member
533 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2011 : 8:04:21 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by bus724This slip results in a loss of power.
Which is why newer transmissions with torque lockers are better -- and, like Shane's older buses, manuals. An automatic with the torque locked produces the same efficiency as having a manual transmission (theoretically). I have an '04 Passat with the Tiptronic transmission, and 3/4 through second gear, the torque converter locks, so the wheel speed is directly proportional to the engine RPM. If I'm in manual shift with that (or am just using a fully manual transmission), flooring the accelerator will only increase the RPMs as the ground speed increases. Whereas, with an AT-545, the RPMs would increase proportionally with the accelerator but disproportionately to the ground speed increasing; engine revs more than speed increases. The torque locking, from my observations, make the engines sound like they're straining more, maybe because you're pumping more fuel in without the RPMs increasing to compensate. So I wonder if engines without a torque locker (with a 545) would be healthier in the long run if the engine is free to rev up with less load, instead of having a heavy load at low RPMs.
That's just me stating the obvious. Please excuse me.  |
Edited by - 08 Thomas EF on 01/17/2011 07:05:23 AM |
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Dadeschools9234
New Member
USA
2 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2011 : 06:09:07 AM
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Miami-Dade, Florida:
Most of the fleet: 2007 Blue Bird (BB) Vision, BB, pushers, with Cat. C7,
: 2006 BB/Ford Micro Birds with Ford 6.0 liter
: 2005 BB pushers, 2003 BB with cat.
: 2001 Thomas with cat. 3126 |
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ralph55
Active Member
USA
21 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2011 : 3:36:03 PM
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58,59- 1990 carpenter int.
60,61- 1991 thomas international
62,63-1992 blue bird international
67,68,70-1995 wayne international
71,72- 1995 wayne ford
73,74-1996 crown by carpenter ford
76- 1997 crown by carpenter international special needs
77-1997 crown by carpenter international
78,79,81-1998 blue bird international
80-1998 bluebird international shorty
82-2000 carpenter classic freightliner
75,83,84,85-2000 blue bird t/c 2000
91-2008 blue bird vision special needs
92-2009 blue bird vision special needs
20,21,22,23-2001 blue bird t/c 2000
24,25,26,27-2002 blue bird t/c 2000
28,29,30,31-2003 blue bird t/c 2000
32-2008 blue bird vision
33-2009 blue bird vision
34,35-1999 amtran international
all buses have air brakes. 58 and 67 are retired. 23,28,34,35,61,73,75,76,81,and 84 are spares. 75,83,84,and 85 have luggage bays. 20-33, 67-76, 78-85 and 91 and 92 have white rooks. 20-33,80, 82-85 and 91 and 92 have air conditioning. 20-23,32,33, 77, and 82 are 71 capacity buses. 24-31, 75, 83-85 are 77 capacity buses. the rest except 76,80,91,and 92 are 66 capacity buses. |
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CUSD80
New Member
1 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2011 : 8:40:48 PM
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| My district has two loactions. One is downtown chandler. 112 different buses (Thomas Saf-t-liners,IC, and Bluebird) all serve the downtown area and the western chandler area. 154 different buses (Thomas, IC, Bluebird) all service the east chandler, gilbert, and part of Queen Creek areas. Mostly have IC's now. I would say they fall in the order of IC, Bluebird, and then Thomas. |
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ralph55
Active Member
USA
21 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2011 : 12:27:16 PM
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they have just sold 67,70, and 71. don't know where, though.
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ThomasIC
Senior Member
USA
120 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2011 : 3:12:07 PM
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My District
Mostly IC CE300's(Year's, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
1 Mid Bus Lift(2000)
US Bus Mini Buses's
1 Crown By Carpenter International 3800
IC CE200(Lift Bus Just came back from 5 Weeks out of service for new shocks and ect, 04 Bus)
IC CE(Lift Bus 2011)
1 Wayne Mini Bus
24 Chevy School Van's
Amtran International 3800's
4 2011 Starcraft Mini Buses
International CE'S
Pennsbury School District:
IC FE'S
Thomas EF'S
Bluebird All American FE'S
Bluebird Vision's(Only Lift's)
Bluebird Mini Bus
Collins Mini Bus
Chevy School Van's
1 Thomas Vista(Lift Bus)
2 Thomas C-2(Lift Bus)
Transtech Mini Bus
Amtran Genesis FE's
International FE
Amtran FE's
Will Update once i can remeber Again.
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COMMING SOON GOLDEN TRANSPORTATION. Link: http://www.goldentransportationrp.smfnew.com/index.php?action=forum
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bigredmachine
Senior Member
USA
134 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2011 : 8:50:26 PM
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| The district that I grew up in, and currently live in, has an entire bluebird fleet with exception to the few special needs buses they own. Their older buses are TCs while from about 05-present all buses are All Americans. I think a very few Thomas EFs are on regular routes. The garage still has some of their older Amtran Genesis' parked though. |
Formerly BlueBirdMan |
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floridabuses108
New Member
4 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2011 : 12:07:47 AM
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Current fleet of the Wakulla County School District in Crawfordville, FL (South of Tallahassee, FL):
(2) #66-67 - 1993 Thomas/Intern. 3800 65Pass
(4) #75-76, 78-79 - 1994 Thomas/Intern. 3800 65Pass
(14) #80-93 - 1997 Thomas/Intern. 3800 T444E 65Pass
(7) #94-100 - 1998 Crown/Intern. 3800 T444E 65Pass
(23) #104-105 - 1999 Thomas/Inter. 3800 T466E 65Pass
(1) #106 - 1999 Thomas/Inter. 3800 T466E 36 + 4 Pass
(2) #107-108 - 1999 Thomas Saf-T-Liner EF CAT 3126, 84pass
(2) #109-111 - 2001 Thomas FS-65 CAT 3126 65pass (Bus #110 burnt down in 2003)
(1) #112-113 - 2001 Thomas Saf-T-Liner EF CAT 3126, 84pass (bus #113 was in head-on collision in 2005, taken out of service)
(1) #114 - 2001 Blue Bird/IHC T466E 36+4pass
(5) #115-119 - 2001 International Convent. DT466E 65paSS
(1) #120 - 2003 BB/Inter. DT466E, 36 + 4pass
(2) #121-122 - 2002 IC CE DT466, 65pass
(1) #123 - 2003 BB AllAmer FE 84pass CAT Engine
(5) #124-126, 128-129 - 2011 IC CE MaxxForce DT, 78pass
(1) #127 - 2011 IC CE MaxxForce DT 65pass
(3) #01-03 - 2005 IC CE DT466, 59pass
(2) #04-05 - 2005 IC FE300, 84pass
(5) #6-10 - 2007 IC CE300 DT466, 65pass
(4) #11-14 - 2007 BB Vision, CAT C7, 65pass
(1) #15 - 2007 IC FE300, 84pass
All buses are Florida Spec'D. Buses 114-129, 01-15 have power door. Buses: 106, 114, 120, 123-129, 11-15 have A/C. There is 68 in current fleet but only 46 used in Regular Route service. Buses 81 - 82, 85, 97, and 107 are broken down (for over a year now), bus 90 always breaks down atleast ONCE a week (taken out of service). Buses 66-67, 75-86 used as spares along with 108, 114. |
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Njschoolbus2017
New Member
5 Posts |
Posted - 06/15/2017 : 11:28:12 AM
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| My fleets are on google docs |
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Topic |
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What Kind of Buses do your district have?
