trans in school bus

[gdaddy01]

does anyone know what kind of transmission is in the a 1974 ford school bus with a ft engine and auto trans ,just wondering if it may have a c 6 or something for bigger trucks . it is a shortie bus .

[Mbowling]

I work on modern day school buses now but first worked on uhaul trucks in the mid 70’s.  They had a few F-600’s with an automatic which was a C6. 
 Had to change a few of them and they would not come out without raising the cab or pulling them out with the engine.

[fekbmax]

If it's a short bus it may have a C6 but full size bus normally has an Allison 545 or something similar.  My full size bus has the 545.

[gdaddy01]

thanks guys , it is a short bus , I am thinking of buying it and making a schoolie out of it or a parts hauler to swap meets .

[cjshaker]

If it's a short bus it may have a C6 but full size bus normally has an Allison 545 or something similar.  My full size bus has the 545.

An Allison that bolts up to an FE/FT? I didn't know there was such a thing. I'm not an automatic fan, and I don't know anything about the 545, but that would make for a good puller set-up if it's anything like the typical tank like Allisons.

[RustyCrankshaft]

74 predates the 545 I believe, it's likely a 540 if it's a 4 speed non-lockup unless it was upgraded. Was a common Allison option in medium duty Ford's. We still have a few C series cab overs with 391's and 540's in service on the line crew. In that time frame there were also some 5 and 6 speeds available, but likely wouldn't have been ordered in a school bus but not impossible.

I bought several 94 vintage Ford school buses from a county auction about 10 years ago because they were "heavy" spec with B series Cummins and MT643 Allisons in them. Most school buses in that time frame would have had Ford 6.6's and 545's in them. All depends on who ordered your 74.

[BigBlueIron]

There where certainly Allison options for the FT's. I missed out on the block adapter and flexplate for one several years ago, wanted to pick it up just for fun. I believe it's an SAE #2?

I believe with one of those adapters you should be able to bolt up a modern Allison 1000/2000 with factory parts.. With an aftermarket controller for the trans of course. Aftermarket support for the Allison is better than ever these days, for years Allison swaps where not worth the effort or even possible. And the only ones worth messing with are the 1000/2000 series. The 2000 (medium duty) series can be reworked into a 1000 to include things like a park brake and options for bolting up a transfer case, and all 6 gears. 

[fekbmax]

My bus is a 83. Had a 370 in IIt.i swapped a guy my 370 engi e and the trans adapter for a fe/ft adapter . Bolted right up to my 545 allison. 

[e philpott]

Those old Blue Bird Motor homes with 390's all had Allison's or it least the ones I've seen have

[RustyCrankshaft]

There where certainly Allison options for the FT's. I missed out on the block adapter and flexplate for one several years ago, wanted to pick it up just for fun. I believe it's an SAE #2?

I believe with one of those adapters you should be able to bolt up a modern Allison 1000/2000 with factory parts.. With an aftermarket controller for the trans of course. Aftermarket support for the Allison is better than ever these days, for years Allison swaps where not worth the effort or even possible. And the only ones worth messing with are the 1000/2000 series. The 2000 (medium duty) series can be reworked into a 1000 to include things like a park brake and options for bolting up a transfer case, and all 6 gears.

The 2000 is identical to a 1000 of the same vintage except for a lack of a parking pawl. 2000's came from Allison with options for a transfercases. The 2500 is slightly different however. All 3 of them are over-rated and over priced.

The smaller Allison's could be had with #2 or #3 housings commonly as well as some proprietary versions. They also had adapter rings for some models to allow one case to work with several flywheel housings.