| Author | Message | ||
| David & Lorna Schinske (Davidschinske) (64.24.236.32)
Rating: N/A |
We want to replace the 4 sp manual transmission in our '72 Eagle 05 with a Roadranger 9 or 10 speed. Can anyone tell us what model #(s) will fit with the least amount of "adapting"? We have located a truck salvage outfit near Atlanta and David will be working near there for a couple of months. Lorna | ||
| Paul Tillmann (24.105.194.162)
Rating: N/A |
I think this question has been asked before on this board: Why would you want to shift 6 or 7 times to get to 35 mph? Just curious. | ||
| David & Lorna Schinske (Davidschinske) (64.24.236.80)
Rating: N/A |
We live in the mountains. You do not have to hit every gear. It's what we have decided on. I have asked this before but since we are now at the point of buying I would like a little better model #'s. I've searched and the model #s don't seem to match up or have a few extra #s tacked on. Lorna | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A |
Paul, I hear your same question over and over and over..."Why would you want to shift 6 or 7 times to get to 35 mph" and honestly I wonder about the folks who ask it, no offence intended however your train of thinking is silly.... Having 9, 10, or even 20 speeds does NOT mean you HAVE to use every one of them. Well maybe if you have a 75,000 pound coach or a loaded concrete truck and are accelerating up a hill. I hope I never see this question again, because anyone in their right mind wouldn't want to shift all those times to get to 35, and doesn't have to!!!! Another way to look at it is that if you used to have a 4 speed, those four gear ratios are still availiable and happily included within your new 9 speed's 9 ratios. And the 9 speed now gives you 5 additional ratios to choose from if you so desire. Clear now? The fact that you have these ratios availiable and (hopefully) a brain and two hands means you can choose which gear you shift into at will. I have a 9 speed in my coach. I start from a dead stop in #2, then skip to 4, then into high range to 7, and finally to 9 in most cases. I rarely use the inbetween gears when accelerating BUT when I'm going up a grade, any grade, it's wonderful to have the choice of any of those gears availiable, so I can optimize my speed & engine RPM with the grade. Lorna, FYI there is a roadranger version with the suffix "RTX" availiable with a built-in .72 overdrive, and the "X" means the shifting pattern doesn't get all weird. Just in case you don't like your rear-end ratio, it's a neat way to get some extra MPH without a lot of extra $ and hassle. This P/N is, of course, for a standard truck type tranny, like 11609RTX, 12609RTX, 13609RTX etc. I don't know if these will fit in your bus at all... I have one in my Crown (a 12609RTX) but Crown is a standard truck chassis construction underneath... Cheers Gary | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.164.175.132)
Rating: N/A |
With the RTO-910, I can keep my pancake Cummins at ANY rpm required climbing whatever hill. No lugging, overspeeding, no wrong gear for the situation, no hassle. Sure I skip gears most of the time getting rolling. However, when climbing that long steep grade, it is very nice to be able to KEEP the mill at 2000 rpm. Strong head winds got you down? No problemo. Just downshift one hole. I actually have a choice of 3 gears rolling at 55 mph with my present pump settings. Yep! Very coool indeed! Those pesky 3% endless Western grades got your Detroit 4 speed stuck "between gears"? Starting to lug a little? You need a RTO 910 to solve your problems. Zoom zoom zoom, you blast up and over. Gary and I will probably dissagree on this subject. His overdrive 9 speed is nearly PERFECT for his particular application/rear end. My RTO 910 IS PERFECT. CROWNS FOREVER!!! He he he.  | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A |
Naw henry, I totally agree with you!!! It's all in the ratios... Gary | ||
| Lee Brady (Leeb11) (63.183.168.76)
Rating: |
Lorna I just installed a RTF 910 fuller 10 speed. I have the stock 3:73 rear end in my 01. I have no problem with it,I dont have to use all the lower gears to get it going and once youve learned the rpm range it shifts at you dont need to use the clutch to up shift or down shift. The overdrive tranny is ok but with the 8v71 when you come to a slight grade or dip in the road youll lose you rpms and have to down shift it. I can cruise at 75mph if i want to and have no problem maintaning speed(thats fast enough). As long as you find the bell housing to fit the engine just about any 10 speed will fit,however you may need a fly wheel,dual disk clutch pack and pressure plate and the drive line may need to be altered.A 10 speed direct trans for me is the way to go an overdrive would be a waste to me for the fact that it would be in 9th gear all the time on the rolling highways.I replaced a 6 speed for this 10 speed and it was the best thing i could have done to the drive train. Call a Big truck dealer and talk to the service rep or someone with transmission background and explaine to them what you want to do,tell them rear end gearing you have and the engine model. They should be able to help you. Oh yea youll need a single shift rod installed and the stick shift box for the front. Hope that helps some, just my opinion Lee 66 01 | ||
| jmaxwell (66.42.92.21) Rating: N/A |
Lorna: Certainly no problem with more gears; like they say, 'the more the merrier'. However, you might consider the newer auto shift versions as long as your going for more gears. The only clutching is in and out of 1st. I know a couple of people with them and they love them. A lot of them available at truck salvage outfits; not real cheap but not as pricey as Allison and more tranny to boot. | ||
| Paul Tillmann (24.105.194.162)
Rating: N/A |
Gary and Henry, No offense taken. I read the post and quickly typed a response without really thinking about it. You are absolutly right. It's kind of funny too because I installed a Gear Vendor splitter (overdrive unit) in my 1993 Dodge Cummins pickup some years ago to have eight speeds instead of five. Made pulling my 10,000 pound RV ands 12,000 pound flatbed trailer much easier on my truck. I always had the right gear for whatever situation I was in. I do wonder though if it is worth the expense. These buses (GM's and MCI's anyway) have been designed with the four speed for years with umpteen million miles of service on them. I know with my MCI MC-5C third and fourth are fairly close, ratio wise, and I don't need to hunt back and fourth hardly at all. (Where I would like an extra gear is between second and third.) I'm either in third doing 50 up a hill or fourth going 55 or higher. It just hasn't been much of an issue with me. Not that it wouldn't be nice to have 10 speeds; I just wonder if is worth the expense and hassle to install one for the few thousand miles per year many of us put on our buses, but, I guess that is one's personal choice. Now, if I were running 2500 miles per week..... Paul 1978 MCI MC-5C 1974 GMC T6H-5308A | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A |
Hi Paul, Well for me, it's a hand's-down YES. IT cost me around $4k for the parts and a few week's worth of work to stuff it in, not to mention the modifications I had to make to the flywheel and shifter which were "severe"... and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I'll probably put 20k on in a year, but having the overdrive so I can go over 55mph (my rig came to me with an ***UGH***5:29*** rear end), so it was either a new rear, an overdrive tranny, or both. We're not talking about a commercial venture here, we're talking about a "pleasure vehicle" (hmmmm ) The cost doesn't matter to me if I only drive 1,000 miles in the thing per year- I ain't rich, but ya know, I spent all that time and money on doing the conversion in the first place because I LIKE IT and it gives me pleasure. I can't imagine going all that far and leaving the 4 speed in to swear at every time I hit a grade!! Nope, it's worth it. definitely worth it Cheers Gary | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A |
Lorna, here's a heck of a deal on a fully rebuilt 9 speed roadranger with overdrive http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2410472504&category=33733 I paid over $5 grand for someting just about the same but not as heavy as this unit is... Sorry about once again violating the "ebay rule" but this is a VERY good deal for someone... Cheers Gary |
