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04-27-2021, 12:29 PM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 6
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1954 Chevy 4500 Wayne Body Conversion
Cheers everyone!
My wife and I have started on a conversion of an old chevy bus with lots of character. We have big plans for this rig but right now I am still working on getting it running to full strength. It came with a 80s chevy 292 L6 motor and a SM465 attached to it. After much debate, we decided to stay with the gas motor and rebuild the tall boy. The motor is back in and now I'm just figuring out how to get everything back together. I have been stocking up parts for the interior conversion but I am waiting to start on that after I gave the thing running again.
Pics coming soon!
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04-27-2021, 01:10 PM
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#2
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NM USA KD6WJG
Posts: 1,516
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE 40 FEET
Engine: Cummins 8.3
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That’s old! Please send pics. I have had 2 of those 292 6 cyl motors over the years and they will work hard. Check advance adapters they have an overdrive / spliter that goes between the transmission and bell housing. I have one just haven’t installed it yet. Please keep us posted.
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04-27-2021, 03:08 PM
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#3
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 1,349
Year: 1990
Coachwork: Thomas 4 window w/lift
Chassis: G30~Chevy cutaway
Engine: 5.7/350 Chevy Vortec
Rated Cap: Just me and my "stuff"?
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Welcome to the site.
While you won't be breaking any speed records with that 292, it is a reliable "workhorse" engine and should serve you well.
X2 on pics.
Good luck and post them up if you can...
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04-27-2021, 05:32 PM
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#4
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 6
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I plan on finding a nv4500 to link up to the 292 so I can get the overdrive and keep the granny gear. I'm currently trying to figure out how to get power steering put in to it. The current steering is also getting in the way of my exhaust so it would be two birds with one stone if anyone knows of a good donor power steering box to look for.
(first try on an image, everything rotated so looks like I need to adjust some sizing)
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04-27-2021, 06:15 PM
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#5
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Virginia
Posts: 2,431
Year: 1971
Coachwork: Wayne
Chassis: International Loadstar 1600
Engine: 6v-53n detroit
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The NV4500 is not great behind the cummins 5.9 but should do very well behind the 292. Dad had a stepvan with that engine. Really great engine. Sure a sweet looking bus, glad to see it getting restored/rebuilt.
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04-27-2021, 06:34 PM
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#6
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NM USA KD6WJG
Posts: 1,516
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE 40 FEET
Engine: Cummins 8.3
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Send pictures of the steering box and linkage. If I remember it is behind the axle with a drag link going foward. Cool bus. Thanks for restoring it. That needs a 53 series detroit.
__________________
Why can't I get Ivermectin for my horses?
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04-27-2021, 07:35 PM
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#7
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Virginia
Posts: 2,431
Year: 1971
Coachwork: Wayne
Chassis: International Loadstar 1600
Engine: 6v-53n detroit
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Quote:
Originally Posted by s2mikon
Send pictures of the steering box and linkage. If I remember it is behind the axle with a drag link going foward. Cool bus. Thanks for restoring it. That needs a 53 series detroit. 
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I put a 3-53 in my old 47 Dodge years ago. Loved it.
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04-29-2021, 12:44 AM
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#8
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Almost There
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 73
Year: 1972
Coachwork: wayne
Chassis: international
Engine: 345
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Nice bus. I think you would be better off keeping your SM465 and putting an Advance Adapters Ranger gear splitter in it. Get the overdrive one. This way you can split the gears which you will want with the 292. The NV4500 has a big split between 3 and 4.
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04-29-2021, 10:50 AM
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#9
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 6
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Here are some pictures of the steering box. It is the larger of the steering boxes that chevy offered in the early 50s, I think the 100ish bearing one. I still havent taken the box and pitman arm off since we are moving soon and I hope to drive it down the road to the new house.
I will look in to the gear split for the sm465. Are they easy to track down still. I checked a couple sites and I didnt see any still in stock. Is this something I should start looking for used?
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04-29-2021, 10:52 AM
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#10
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 6
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Another photo of the steering box and pitman arm
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04-29-2021, 11:11 AM
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#11
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NM USA KD6WJG
Posts: 1,516
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE 40 FEET
Engine: Cummins 8.3
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Some of the Dodge power wagons had a side mount power steering gear forward of the axle. 1973 – 1991 ?? I have 2 of them.
__________________
Why can't I get Ivermectin for my horses?
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04-29-2021, 12:02 PM
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#12
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Virginia
Posts: 2,431
Year: 1971
Coachwork: Wayne
Chassis: International Loadstar 1600
Engine: 6v-53n detroit
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I have a shorty 6 window bus late 90's with the steering gear forward of the axle. I do not want to part it out but finding one in a junkyard might be a good source. I will get some pictures.
In keeping with the age of the bus a spicer 5831 aux trans will give you overdrive, and a deep crawl ratio as well. They are still around and were used in 1 1/2-2 ton trucks of the period. You would mount it behind the current trans and a short driveshaft would go between them. Just a thought.
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04-29-2021, 12:21 PM
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#13
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 994
Year: 1999
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I have the 2-speed rear axle from my 1972 C50 if interested. Have the front axle too, but the steering gear went to metal recycling.
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05-04-2021, 10:47 AM
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#14
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 64
Year: 1955
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: 6700
Engine: 327
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That's a good looking bus, I'm interested in following the build.
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05-13-2021, 12:32 PM
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#15
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Posts: 6
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