Gillig/Cummins info

[Jones'n4chrome]

Hi All,
A guy near me is selling a 1974 Gillig school bus, it has a cummins engine with a 10 speed roadranger. The problem is I don't know how to tell what model the engine is, he knows nothing about it.
Can anyone tell me how to ID the engine? the tag on the dash says engine # 10343178. I did not find a tag on the engine, I don't know where to look. any help would be appreciated thanks.

[Sharkey]

If Mark O comes around, he'll have an answer for you. If the engine turns out to be a NTC-FFC series (AKA "Big Cam"), I have a parts manual in .PDF format for it.

[Mark R. Obtinario]

It all depends upon where the engine is located.

If the engine is in the back it most likely is a 555 V-8. Not such a great choice.

If the engine is located under the floor amidships, the engine is most likely either a small cam 220 or 262 with a turbo or it is a big cam with HP ratings from 250 to over 350 HP, with the most common about 270 HP.

If it is an amidships engine, the engine data plate will be on the side facing downwards. You will need to have a rag and a can of starting fluid or brake/electric motor cleaner to find it and to decipher what it says.

The transistion from small cam to big cam was about the time your Gillig was built so it could be either one. The big cam is worth a whole lot more than the small cam.

E-mail me direct if you have any other questions.

Mark O.
Castle Rock, WA

[Jones'n4chrome]

Thanks for the help guys, that will help allot in my search for a bus.
should the 220 be avoided, or is it just that the others are better?
I would shop around more to start with a good platform for a housebus.
What is a fair average price for a good Gillig or Crown?
thanks again for all the help.

[Mark R. Obtinario]

It is more of a question of good, better, best with the big cam engine being the best choice.

Of course, the best choice will usually result in the highest price.

The 220 is a great engine. The turbo version is even better.

The downside of any Cummins small cam is finding people who know how to work on a small cam. It is sort of the same problem for anyone with a 2-cycle Detroit Diesel. The older engines and older technology have certain quirks that are best learned from someone who has had extensive experience dealing with the quirks.

You can spend a lot of $$$ on technicians who you will have to pay to get on-the-job experience. The older engines do not have a handy computer port to plug in a reader that will tell the technician what is wrong.

Prices for used buses are very subjective. The prices vary substantially.

A few years ago I purchased a really nice 1979 35' Crown that has been a great bus for less than $1K.

Last month I had to pay over $2K for a 1988 37' IHC/Thomas conventional.

I have seen newer Crowns and Gilligs selling for well in excess of $5K.

The only way to determine if the price is a good deal is if the price is something you think is reasonable and it is a price the seller agress is reasonable.

Good luck.

Mark O.
Castle Rock, WA

[Jones'n4chrome]

Thanks Mark, that's very helpful, a good starting point for my search.
I'll let you know how it turns out.