What motor

[TRavo]

Hi All,

I am new to this forum just trying to get some info on what motor I should put into my Bus, yes Bus. I have a 36 foot motor home with a slow and under powered Diesel donk and I would like to do a conversion using a Chev V8 and run it on gas. It already has a allison 543 4 speed auto that I intend to use also. I am a Fitter machinist/ Welder fabricator so I don't think doing the job will be that hard, i just don't have which motor to use. I don't need heaps of power as long as she can get up hills and cruise on the flat the old beddie motor a 500 diesel is about 160hp if that and it can cruise at about 70 all day but that just isn't quick enough and it dies on the hills, i am always slowing people up which I hate.

Any help or comments will be welcome.

Thanks

Travo

[saraco]

Your best bet, would be a mild stroker big block chev around 496ci, with standard height block, or around 540ci with tall deck truck or aftermarket block with oval port heads, to promote low rpm torque for your heavy bus.p.s. The other option would be to fit a more modern turbo diesel,I can attest, my 14 pallet 14 tonne HINO TURBO DIESEL GOES UP HILLS AT 100 KPH.

[desoto30]

X2 454 496 502 540 each are progressively more expensive to build, but I'd think that all will be adequate. As would a late model 6.5L diesel. been hearing some good things Re performance & economy lately, but think don't know for sure that the diesel would be dearer than the petrol options up front. Good luck

[saraco]

Give fuel economy serious consideration, because in a heavy bus, a stroker BB Chev will be in the single digits(mpg).The only way to make it affordable to run, would be to convert to LPG.A turbo diesel will be much better in the economy stakes.

[TRavo]

Thanks for the replys, I would like a late model turbo diesel, but the cost of the up front motor is way more than I want to spend, I thought about a crate 454 or 502 and it will be run on straight gas. We are only talking about doing around 3000-5000 k's max per year with a big trip every 4-5 years say about 20,000. I only get around 2.5 kpl out of the old beddie and have spoken to people with stock big blocks and even well build small blocks that get 3 kpl on gas, so that works out to 1/3 of the running cost. Just for interest sake what is the economy like in your hino 14 tonne truck. The bus in travelling trim is about 10 tonnes loaded with water.

I don't want to spend that much I just want it to be more driveable.

Thanks again

Travo

[saraco]

The fuel consumption is 4.1kpl.

[desoto30]

I would definately recommend a big block over a small block for this application & would be pretty certain that you would have better economy, particularly on gas. The diesel would be king But $$$ up front. Recall a guy with a C20 chev 5th wheel trailer & racecar, loaded, not sure of weight. BUT in tow the BBC got better MPG than the SBC 350 & 454

[FATT GLIDES]

look at the newer 8.2 diesel chevs

[BENT 8]

I would look in the states and call some wrecking yards and buy a front cut of a wrecked truck thats got a 6.5 turbo deisel in it. Forget the bigblock idea it will eat fuel. Even on gas is will eat..........

[hktg383]

I would look in the states and call some wrecking yards and buy a front cut of a wrecked truck thats got a 6.5 turbo deisel in it. Forget the bigblock idea it will eat fuel. Even on gas is will eat..........

X2 or even buy same but in 7.3 turbo diesal f250. they make heaps of torque and easy to power up and cause they available locally can get spares and service parts easy