5spd surprise

[Jeff Miller]

Trust Mike on this one. The MT-643 is the FC transmission until '87,
the torque-converter does indeed feel like a shift, should be around
40mph at full throttle. The 654 was used, on the 6V2TA Detroit in the
PT, not on the FC. The transmission that would fit your coach in a 5-
speed would be the MT-653, which is the MT-643 with a creeper first
added, dump-truck tranny. I'm not aware of that transmission ever
being installed in an FC nor do I know why you'd need a creeper gear.

10mpg is seller's math. You should get around 8, less if you push it
hard. I've owned all configurations of diesel FC, never had one that
averaged better than 8.5 nor worse than 7.5mpg. If you have the
original 5.29:1 gearing you're pretty far out of the BSFE curve
already at 60, running 50-55 gently might give you 9mpg. The NA has
to work pretty hard to push an '82 FC35 down the highway, worst
power/weight ratio FC made and geared for 55mph. On the other hand,
8mpg isn't bad compared to the earlier gas models that weighed
10,000lbs less.

Pull the sending unit for the fuel tank, replace it while you're at
it, they go bad, then calibrate it for the tank. Sounds like yours
was replaced without calibration. The '82 FC35 side-bath should hold
265gallons.

- Jeff Miller
in Holland, MI


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"
wrote:
>
> It's possible I'm feeling convertor lock up, but I doubt it. There
> are 4 clear upshifts after 1st and 4 clear downshifts from top gear.
> Does a lock up convertor unlock under load on a hill, giving the
> appearance of a downshift? The amount of rpm difference is more
than
> I would associate with a lock up. There is paperwork in the owner's
> manual indicating it it an MT 654CR transmission, which is a 5
spd. I
> haven't crawled underneath to confirm yet. Where is the model
number
> on the transmission?
>
> Kerry
> 82 FC 35
> Denver
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hohnstein"
> <MHOHNSTEIN@> wrote:
> >
> > You are feeling the converter lock, it's not a gear change. You
> have a 643, 4 speed with lock up, you will get about 7/8 mpg and
> that's the way it is. Don't believe the gages, they are indicators
> and not to be taken literally.
> > Let mine get down to indicated quarter tank once and it took 145
> gallons, 150 tank, rear bath floor plan.
> > MH
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: davidkerryedwards
> > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2006 11:21 PM
> > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] 5spd surprise
> >
> >
> > Took my Bird for it's first cruise from Denver to Amarillo to
visit
> > Palo Duro Canyon and Alibates Flint Quarries. After first
thinking I
> > was just losing my mind and not paying close enough attention to
> > shifting patterns as we climbed hills, I carefully counted the
shifts.
> > It has a 5 spd transmission and not a 4 spd. What a pleaant
> > surprise. The Allison 5 spd has a lockup torque convertor
which means
> > the previous owners insistence that it got a steady 10mpg is
> > believable. This means that not only does it have a new motor,
it has
> > a new transmission. Discovering this made up for the fact that
> > Amarillo had record low temperatures and snow during our visit.
> > Fuel gauge is reading way past full. Is this typical? It
seems to be
> > working, just that full is past full, and even past the little
button
> > below the 'F'. If it does this, does 'E' still mean empty or
is empty
> > now 1/2?
> >
> > Kerry
> > 82 FC 35
> > Denver
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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