I have a 77 cabover 38' bluebird bus I'm living in currently, I have no idea what engine is in it. It only having a worn out emisions tag indicating a 477,534 series engine included with the paperwork that looks like it came off the valve cover and likely one of them, having never seen anything like before or looking like any common Ford engine. Any one know how to tell the difference? if it makes much difference for parts. It being a cabover with inside cowl not that easy to look at.
The engine is on propane and mated to a 3speed auto and it's gutless. The engine? also knocks and I've yet to figure out if it's and engine or air compressor thing despite checking with a stethascope and not getting any worse in the year and a half I've been driving it, I just check the oil a keep going. The post regading these engines tendancies to grenade being worrysome. If it calves anyone know what the easiest replacement engine would be and bolt up to the trans?

 

Budget?

Perhaps you can check with the Bluebird boys and find out what other powertrains were offered. Perhaps there is a Bluebird graveyard or a Bluebird repower program.

Maybe you could get an oilburner with a proper tranny.

Sorry I can't help much with the 534 question.

 

Thanks for the reply, That idea had crossed my mind and the possibility of a switch to a diesel had crossed my mind and looked into when I bought it. Either replacements being a big job. The gas engine hard to find and likely the easiest and quoted half the price. I hope Bluebird will be forthcoming with any helpful info. Anyone got suggestions?

 

It would require a new driveshaft, trans, and custom motor mounts, but you might think about a 460, or even a 5.9 cummins.

 

Thanks, Blue bird never got back to me yet on my inquiry, I was hoping a 460 would be a bolt in and hoping part of the same family of engines, it being one of the easiest engines to find and a Cummins was the recommended by the truck scrap yards as the best option for a diesel swap and possibly able to find one able to use the existing tranny or with an auto though a couple grand extra if needing another trans. I'll be looking around for one in a running truck. It's funny, one allways sees good deals on them when one isn't looking!