87 MCI Computer flash

[Sebulba]

Seb, the mid 90s DL3 used the DDEC 4 on the Series 60 four stroke, mounted on the engine. It seems to be the favorite engine controller for simplicity and the least invasive of bus systems. A transmission controller came with the B500 automatic, but again more of a standalone solution as I understand it. So for the minimum of intrusive electronics you get what more or less amounts to the best engine and best transmission for the least money. Plus they are falling out of revenue service and there are good deals on very serviceable buses. That situation can be expected to change eventually as the bigger commercial companies and govt agencies get rid of them. You can probably buy one now for a price very close to what an older 2 stroke bus will sell for. Worth looking at.

Jim

Yes, I'm with you on that thinking.  I have my eye on a '97 dl3.

Exploring and learning as much as I can.

Seb

[luvrbus]

Yes, I'm with you on that thinking.  I have my eye on a '97 dl3.

Exploring and learning as much as I can.

Seb

You want a DL-3 with the 12.7 series 60 not the 11.1 and the B500 Allison not the 700 series Allison 

[Sebulba]

You want a DL-3 with the 12.7 series 60 not the 11.1 and the B500 Allison not the 700 series Allison

Yes, thank you for that input.  I figured that out already. 

It's kind of funny because I am always thinking out loud around my beautiful wife and one day I was telling her about a bus I found and she asks "what engine?" and I say "a series 60" and she says, "but is it the 12.7 or the 11.1?"  She actually does listen to me!

Anyway, I appreciate all of your input on this project.

Seb

[belfert]

I guess I thought the 2 strokes didn't have a computer, and I liked that idea because it's simple.  But if it has a computer well, that's not really so simple.

It was only the youngest two stroke Detroits that have a computer.  My quick Google search says 1985 or 1986 for the first DDEC engines.

Personally, I will only own a bus with electronics and a four stroke.  I have yet to have an electronics issue that shut me down.  I had to have some computer parameters adjusted, but it never shut me down.  The only thing electronic that doesn't work is the ability to set the idle speed with the cruise.  The cruise itself works. 

I know some like to be able to fix and rebuild their two stroke engines themselves, but I don't have the tools or expertise to do serious engine repairs or an engine rebuild.  Heavy duty diesel vehicles have been fully electronic since the mid 90s.  The biggest issues with electronics have mostly been since the 2007 engines came out with a lot of sensor failures for all the emissions controls.

[luvrbus]

The first electronic Detroit was in 1985 the 149 series ,then the 6L-71 and the 92 series,the series 60 came April of 1987