2 strokers

The inline 6-71 was a great bus engine. But there were some earlier versions that weren't so good. They tried to build a special model that Greyhound ordered that had 2 4-71's tied together into one early slushglide type trans. The engines screamed, and drank fuel at astounding rates, but the bus barely moved!

However, on the brighter side, they never found any rust or corrosion in the rear chassis of the buses, because the Detroit's slung oil everywhere and kept the buses in service much longer than they would have lasted with any other engine installed.

 

The two things to do when driving an old screaming Detroit: First add oil, don’t check it just add it, second open the door then slam the door on your hand because you have to drive those engines like your pissed off. I definitely agree with Brickman I worked at a place where they had this odd ball Ford roll off. It was made for the Brazilian market but I guess Fords deal fell through so they ended up in the U.S. The thing was totally gutless it revved like a 4 cylinder, it was made for the 55mph days but at 65 the engine turns like around 2500. It is a really fast shifting truck and then to drive a CH 613 with a Mack engine really screws you up. Especially to drive both in the same day and they both had 8LL’s.

 

The Scenicruiser. GM model PD4501. Greyhound ordered 1001 of those coaches between 1954 and 1956. 22 buses didn't survive the dual 4-71 setup and between 1961-62 the remaining 979 buses were sent to the Marmon-Herrington Corp. and repowered with 8V71NA engines and 4 speed Spicer manual transmissions.

The Scenicruisers were retired from the fleet in the early 1970's. Asking price then was $16k (today you can buy an MCI MC12 off the Greyhound fleet for roughly $16k!). A mere handful survive today and are still roadworthy.

 

All I need to know about those old 2 strokers I learned by watching Maximum Overdrive. The sound of that Goblin truck revving up thru those straights is unlike anything else around. Good stuff to say the least.

 

They still use allot of them in the army allso in the 88 tank recovery vehicles over here and allot of the other heavy tanks still use the detroit and you can tell when they are in the area the ground shakes and the trees move but they will get the jogb done in the 88 it will move the world when you wiund it up.