| Author | Message | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior) (64.229.208.247)
Rating: N/A |
Hello all. Just for fun.... I had the opportunity to deadhead a Greyhound MC12 from Buffalo to Toronto one evening last week. (MC12 looks like an MC9, with a cleaner roof cap, square headlights and 102 style tailights.) Build date: January 1998 Engine: Detroit Series 50 (four cylinders) Transmission: Allison B400 5 speed auto Fuel tanks: Main 144, aux in first compartment 35 Purred all the way home at 70 mph with a lovely low rumble coming from the rear. Somewhat unnerving not hearing 2100+ rpm! Acceleration was just a nice bit more than an 8V71 or 6V92 and HT740. Pulling power over the two skyways was also nicely improved. Don't know what the power rating dialed in was. Plate on dashboard: Safe Operating Range 1000 miles. In the hands of a busnut and converted, that should easily be a 1200 mile fuel supply. Same drivetrain is in tons of transit fleets near you, at their half life, and headed for the auction in a few short years. Series 50 are good for 315 HP at the top. In transit use, often found dialed back to 275 HP. Dream now, save for later!!! happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Johnny (63.159.128.148) Rating: N/A |
The 50 is a 4-cylinder, right? Too bad they didn't come in coaches with manual transmissions...did they? | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks) (66.167.95.195)
Rating: N/A |
This is good info. I stopped paying much attention to models after getting my 9, and didn't realize that the 12 was a later model than the 96's and 102's. Kinda 'new coke', oops, 'classic coke'?!  Cutting one's teeth on a 9 then migrating to a 12 might be a smooth approach. I've certainly learned that after the seats are removed and nuthin inside, with an 8v71 you can certainly hear that 2100rpm screaming like a banshee. Thanks for the info! | ||
| Peter Broadribb (Madbrit) (67.136.121.168)
Rating: N/A |
Chuck, It's when you are whooping down the freeway with the empty coach and one of the inspection covers at the back pops up, then you think you have that Banshee in the coach with you. Frightened the begeebers outa me, until I realized what had happened........ LOL. Peter. | ||
| John Rigby (65.112.227.94)
Rating: N/A |
Buswarrior I am told the hounds are govererned to 73 mph. Was yours ?? Thanks John | ||
| Tony (64.215.196.165) Rating: N/A |
Hey John My MCI-7 will do 82 but that Is 2 fast for something that big, my 1985 Eagle 10 will do 80 But that Is with a Cummins Engine | ||
| BrianMCI96A3 (65.40.153.194) Rating: N/A |
Peter, you got a chuckle out of me with the banshee frightening the begeebers outta you! Nothing like a sudden ROARING noise to scare the begeebers out of a fella! Brian | ||
| BrianMCI96A3 (65.40.153.194) Rating: N/A |
Actually, my 8V91 seemed pretty muted when I drove 250 miles home without seats in her, sure FROZE my butt off though. It was November and we weren't able to leave till after dark, me with nary a clue as to the operation and where-abouts of any of the drivers heat controls. ALSO, the fresh air vent was wide open, I had no idea where that control was either, and the drivers light had gone bye bye with the overhead parcel racks, not to mention my flashlight was in the bus following me. Of course the place where the stick shift had been was now a gaping hole with ice cold air streaming through it, and I had nothing to plug it with until the first pit stop... You can imagine I really didn't have much problem staying alert, even while driving all night long! Brian | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior) (64.229.210.156)
Rating: N/A |
Hello. Series 50 is a turbo charged, intercooled, 4 cylinder. No reason it couldn't be bolted up to a suitable manual transmission. Series 50 has been around for a few years now, at least half a dozen, IIRC. Largely replaces the two strokes (6V92T and siblings) in transit use. Shares parts with it's big brother, the Series 60, found in most new coaches, and many trucks. The Greyhound indicated 70 mph on the speedo, against the governor, which is what we usually see with the pool coaches that we get up from New York City. MC12's were built with no options, specifically for Greyhound. It was possible for others to buy them, but few did, since the wider passenger seats on the 102" coaches were attracting everyone else away from the stripped 96" wide MC12. Once the MC12's hit the converted coach market, I fear that they will be thoroughly worn out, as they have been carrying Greyhound through tough times, and, so it seems, will be carrying them a whole bunch further yet. happy coaching! buswarrior |