| Author | Message | ||
| Johnny (63.159.124.13)
Rating: N/A |
I know the movie used old MCI transits (a few of the gauge shots clearly show the MCI logo). However, my friend says they're late-50's buses. I know they used old buses (they used 14 & destroyed 6 of them), but THAT old?!?! Also, if it helps, the speedo only went to 70MPH, the floor had 2 acess panels, & they had 4 round headlights. | ||
| FAST FRED (65.58.185.127) Rating: N/A |
You might have seen a MCI logo on somthing but the busses were all GM transits. Most transits are NOT geared to run 70 , athough the 4104 ad 4106 of that era do it easily. They blew it with the "gas" leak , most of the transits used diesels , just like today. Fun low buck moovie . FAST FRED | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (66.190.119.82)
Rating: N/A |
The only way my 4104 would easily run 70 mph was down hill with a tail wind. LOL Richard | ||
| Tom Connolly (64.58.193.134)
Rating: N/A |
Richard, My 4104 ran 78 mph at governor speed with the 12's on the rear, since changing to the 11R x 22.5 I lost 6 mph Tom | ||
| Johnny (63.159.193.78)
Rating: N/A |
Well, it might've been diesel--undyed diesel, that is. Gas is clear, this looked almost amber-colored. IIRC, the "gas" gauge (said "fuel", with an LED warning light under 1/4 tank) said "MCI" on it. Were they 4104's? Also, how old were they? The transit I drove (1980 GMC-Grumman, 6-71/Alison) topped out (governed) under 60. Bleh. Of course, the shot 370 in my school bus topped out at ~55 due to a complete lack of any compression--it wouldn't run into the governor (3600RPM) in 5th--and wouldn't even do so in 4th unless on perfectly flat ground. The 370 is out, the 460 is going in--probably this week. 70-75MPH shouldn't be a problem with ~300-325HP.  | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A |
Johnny - The buses used in "Speed" were what are commonly known in the industry as "New Look" or "Fishbowl" models, which GM built between 1958/9 and 1977 or so. Officially TDH5300 series (Transit Diesel Hydraulic [automatic] 53 seated passenger) units. The 1980 transit you drove was either a GM RTS or a Grumman Flxible, there were no such things as a GM-Grumman. Grumman did use the GM Detroit Diesel Allison powertrain however, and that's probably where you got the moniker. If, in fact, the buses used in "Speed" actually had fuel gauges (pretty rare in transits of that vintage), it could have had an "MCI" logo on the face of the dial - when you order replacement gauges from MCI Parts, that's what you get. Or it was simply Hollywood's "artistic license". . . And the reason that bus ran out of steam at 60 mph was for the simple fact that most transit companies do not operate extensive freeway schedules, their coaches drive a block and stop, drive a block and stop. Consequently, they order their equipment for low-speed, stop 'n go conditions, not continuous high-speed running. It's all in the rear axle ratio. . . Not uncommon for the folk in the school bus industry to do the same, and for the same reasons. . . HTH, RJ PD4106-2784 Fresno CA | ||
| Johnny (63.159.193.78)
Rating: N/A |
The one I drove had several "Grumman" badges, & the steering wheel's hub said "GMC". Wrong wheel from a junkyard, maybe? It was a 40'er, with toggle switches for the (air-operated) doors, air wipers (weird), & an air-suspension driver's seat/ The e-brake was the type where you have to pump the service brake to release it. The "shell" was, IIRC, fiberglass. | ||
| Johnny (63.159.193.78)
Rating: N/A |
Oh, yeah--I think the trans was messed up: it would try for high gear, but if the throttle was down (usual in something this heavy) would rapidly shift up & down until you manually locked out high gear. | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.224.197.10)
Rating: N/A |
I liked "Speed 2" when the cruise ship rammed the dock. He he he. | ||
| Jerry (205.188.193.32)
Rating: N/A |
I remember this movie being on a few years ago with some friends around -- I had already been talking & dreaming the advantages of buses for years at that point and, FINALLY, I think they were beginning to understand -- "artistic licence" aside. I'l love to see a "How'd they do that" on that movie. Loved the loss of "gas" with the sound of diesel in the background -- remind me of some airplane movie. lol | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior) (64.229.209.158)
Rating: N/A |
Hello Johnny. To add a few more details to RJ's post: GM continued to build the "New Look" up her in Canada at the London Ontario works until 1983 or so. Then they converted to building GM "Classics" and the plant and tooling was sold off to MCI when GM gave up. Nova bus out of Quebec ended up with it and built them up until a couple years ago. Too much messing around to get a lift into the design, I suspect. I concur with RJ's fuel gauge idea. MCI's the place to get one of you want one, and it fits the hole properly. I had originally heard that they prepared 10 identical coaches and had written some off. There are no access panels in the floors of any "New Look" bus I have ever been on. Those I think were artistic licence, since there's nothing under there to access. And Sandra Bullock loves buses. She might even be lurking around here under another name. She has been known to surf the bus sites and chat groups. Counts a few Greyhound drivers amongst her close personal friends. They have to watch her like a hawk on the movie lots, she drives off in anything with wheels on the bottom! Hope this adds to your fun! happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A |
Johnny - Grumman Flxible bought lots of parts from GM in addition to the engine/transmission, steering columns among them. Most had the GMC logo painted over with a Flx decal on top of the paint, but many drivers would idly pick at the paint while waiting for a signal light to change, slowly revealing the REAL logo! By "pump the service brake to release it", I think what you mean is that you had to apply a full service brake application after pushing in the emergency brake knob, right? That's how you release DD3 brakes, not unusual at all. The "shell" is an aluminum/foam/aluminum sandwich, with fiberglass front and rear caps. Not something the body shop prefers to work on! Have to have a special jig to hold the body together when you remove the engine cradle, for example. . . The forty footers ride nice, for a transit. But Flx never built them for the driver, so he's cramped in this little space that's designed for someone who's only five foot six. Could be part of the reason you're not fond of pushers??? HTH, RJ PD4106-2784 Fresno CA | ||
| Johnny (63.159.196.63)
Rating: N/A |
Jerry: I think it actually WAS diesel--gas is clear, this wasn't. RJ: That's it--that threw me for a minute. Why didn't they use regular spring brakes? The one I drove had plenty of room for me (6'1", 235lbs), but the ride & driving position made me queasy--especially the constant rocking that I've noticed in EVERY air-suspended bus I've ever ridden on. The GMC logo was stamped into the horn button--leters about an inch high, that looked like they were once highlited by paint (a few flecks remaining). | ||
| califbob (216.244.8.26) Rating: N/A |
RJ how about e mailing me. I'm in Fremont, like to ask you a question re my 04. www.duntrkin@escapees.com Thanks Bob | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A |
Bob - Tried to follow up on your request, but it bounced back. Click on my name above, and then you can send me a note direct. RJ PD4106-2784 Fresno CA | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A |
Bob - I should have clarified that last message by saying to click on my name on the BNO bulletin board message page, not on this blurb if you have it sent to you directly via email. . . RJ | ||
| Busasaurus (24.69.255.205)
Rating: N/A |
We still have several New Look (Fishbowls) running here in the lower mainland (Vancouver), and I saw some in Santa Monica last summer. Speaking of the later model fishbowls, BC Transit is still running a few of the "hillclimbers" that were bought to run up to Simon Fraser University. I don't know the year built, but I think might have been among the last "new looks" off the line. They're powered with 6v92 turbos. Would that put them in the 4106 sportscar er.. sportsbus category? Bryan Larrabee Vancouver BC | ||
| FAST FRED (65.59.73.191) Rating: N/A |
With the usual gearset found in Transit coaches , you might put them in the Dragster file! FAST FRED | ||
| Johnny (63.159.126.161)
Rating: N/A |
I sometimes wish I could drive a transit.......... | ||
| Jim Viefhaus (198.81.26.174) Rating: |
My wife & I have a '63 4106 without a speedo & we were going through New Mexico & came flying up behind a group of cars that were doing the speed limit, 65, so we must have been doing 80+! Oops! | ||
| FAST FRED (65.59.77.169) Rating: N/A |
IF you were doing 80 on a gps , you might want to plug the numbers into this computer, http://home1.gte.net/res07rfl/ and find out the RPM you were turning. 2100 is the MAX recomended for a NEW engine , 1600 was the designed cruise RPM when built in 1964 1950 is the highest RPM for good fuel milage. FAST is FUN , but can be expensive ,, as in BOOM! FAST FRED | ||
| Don KS/TX (63.15.244.221)
Rating: N/A |
Maybe he has a VS2 Allison in that 4106 Fred, cruise at 80 can be called "lugging" rpm by some that way. |
