epfatboy

iTrader: (3)

Hope this is the right place to ask this question.

Got my eye on a 2004 Chevy School bus which is really a 3500 express van. It's a yellow short bus and before I pull the trigger I wanted to know if there is anything different about a school bus that I'd need to be concerned or know about. It has a 6.0 in it and I'm guessing the 4l80e. Engine has 188k and they are asking $1900.

If this is the wrong place let me know and I'll delete/move, thanks for any help. Also sorry for the noob question, been reading as much as o can but have not come across a doner vehicle section.

G Atsma

The engine is an LQ4, and if it was well-maintained, should be in fairly good shape. The tranny, I would not know. Can you drive it? That will tell volumes about the whole deal.

epfatboy

iTrader: (3)

Yeah, it's local to me and I'll probably get down there tomorrow. I'll be able to yard drive it and ID the tranny.

Was wondering if a bus has anything special good or bad I need to consider.

This is my first LS conversion so I want to make sure I don't add to the degree of difficulty.

G Atsma

You might as well think of it as an Express van with a bus body conversion, which it is. The tranny should have some heavy duty parts in it for this sort of duty. Don't be afraid to get on it a bit. Any weaknesses will show under a heavy foot. Look at throttle response, ANY hesitation, blue smoke from the tailpipe or ????, and check shift crispness. Shifts should be firm but not jerky OR sloppy.

epfatboy

iTrader: (3)

Cool, thanks for the info . I'll make sure to get after it when cold and after some heat to see what happens.

epfatboy

iTrader: (3)

So checked it out today.
It is a DBC.

Had a hard time finding idle after a high to low rpm transition, I think that was due to a totally dead battery.

Oil pressure was good. All fluids looked clean and smelled good.

Going to be a treat getting it out of there, need to come out the front and not much space to lift it under the cowl.

No funny noises at high rpm and was smooth. Did throw it in gear due to the low idle issue which caused it to stall. Going to do a complete rebuild of the tranny anyway so not a big deal

Heading back with a fresh battery to see if it runs better. I walked out of there at $1500. I plan to throw out $1000 and see if he takes it. Probably get $200-$300 back from scraping it when I'm done.

One interesting problem is getting it home. 8ft wide by 20ft long.... I have a 12k trailer but only 7ft wide! Need to find a deck over or see if it will drive 20min home

LLLosingit

iTrader: (4)

The idle issue could be a dirty throttle body, I have fixed a few with idle issue by simply opening the throttle body by hand and spraying carb cleaner on a rag and wiping the throttle blade and inside the throttle body. I just did this to a 2003 Silverado 5.3 with DBW. It would struggle to find a smooth idle and idle was around 500rpm. So low that it wanted to die before the idle would settle at 500rpm. Cleaned it and it now idle a little over 600 warm and smooth's out right away.

epfatboy

iTrader: (3)

I read that was a possibility too and will check that out if battery does not fix issue.

Because it is DBC does it have the same sensors that would impact idle?

epfatboy

iTrader: (3)

Just re-read my notes.

Violent was low, noting in reserve tank and not visible in radiator when I opened it up before startup. After I started it coolant was visible in radiator and was coming into radiator from the overflow tube.

Is that a normal LS thing?

No white smoke or stumbling at high rpm but it also didn't reach full temp either.

epfatboy

iTrader: (3)

Coolent not violent

Dragonmedic67

Yes, that's normal behavior for low coolant. If you have no plans for the body just Sawzall the front rad support.

hitmix300

iTrader: (2)

so your telling me your buying a 6.0 & 4l80 trans for 1900? they can be found for cheaper on car-part.com man