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Being in the market for a crown i notice there are lots of variations. what are your favorite yrs and engines ? good mpg is a major consideration for me RON
Your choices in Crowns is sort of limited since the vast majority of their production were 35' Supercoaches. Of the Supercoach production run, I would say 80+% left the factory with DD 6-71's and 5-speeds.
In stock form a 35' Crown with a 6-71 and 5-speed will travel all day long at 60 MPH and get 7-8 MPG. If you can find a Cummins equipped bus it will be able to do about 5-7 MPH faster for the same amount of fuel. If you can find turbo versions of either engine you will be able to do a further 5-7 MPH for the same fuel.
My 1979 35' DD 6-71T with 5-speed will do 63 MPH without any problems. My 1969 40' Cummins 262 with 6-speed Allison will do 73 without any problems. Both get about 7.5 MPG.
The DD's are easier to find parts and pieces than the Cummins. Finding people who really know how to work on 2-cycle DD's and small cam Cummins is getting difficult wherever you go.
Crowns built after the mid-1970's had the larger 300/335/350 Cummins. It is probably the rarest but the best choice. Lots of go and a lot more reliable than the 220/262.
Prices reflect what is under the hood. Good older 6-71 or 220 powered Supercoaches can be found for $1000-3500. Newer 6-71 or 300 powered Supercoaches can be found for $5000-10,000+.
What do you want? Turbos started in '82. DAS - dual air system brakes - started about '75. Cummins are quicker, DDs more reliable. Decide what you want, determine when they started making them and go from there.
Dual air brakes on Crowns became standard in 1977, btw.
You could probably find a Crown with a turbo'd Cummins in it easier than you would one with a turbo'd Detroit Diesel since the turbo'd Detroits weren't offered until later on like kd5kfl mentioned. I'm more of a Detroit Diesel person myself, though.
The Crown Coach Junkies group would definitely be a good place to ask any Crown-related question(s) that you may have. :)
Thought I'd let you know that the two coaches in oregon have sold. My friend and I each bought one and are getting ready to convert. There is a 57' Tandem for sale here in Eugene, It had a tree fall on it during a big storm we had a couple of months back but I have looked at the damage and it's not too bad. I doubt they want very much for it. email me if you want directions to it.
email Ron
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