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Old 10-01-2020, 07:34 PM   #1
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2007 Chevy 3500 Bluebird Handybus

I’m looking at this Bus and wanna know your guys opinions. It’s 2007 gasoline with about 250,000 miles on it. What do you think of gas chevys from this year? I’ve heard to avoid newer diesel due to emission restrictions, does that apply to gas too? Also it has a check engine light on, is it worth looking into? THANKS!
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Old 10-01-2020, 07:59 PM   #2
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250k on a gasoline motor is really up there.. not that the 5.3 or 6.0 cant do it but its definitely more than I would be comfortable starting out with on a gasoline engine.. esp not knowing what the CEL lamp is for..
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Old 10-01-2020, 08:24 PM   #3
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250k is a lot of miles. The good news is you can drop in a new crate motor for like $3k-5k if and when it blows up, and if cheap enough just do it now before you invest 500 hours and $10k turning it into a motorhome only to find you need a $5k motor replacement after your budget is blown.
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Old 10-01-2020, 08:38 PM   #4
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I’m thinking of maybe taking the chance and just assume it’ll be a not too distant future repair. Part of the appeal is it has a nice start to the conversion and its priced a little above 9k. Problem is it’s a 12 hour drive to it so I wouldn’t want to go see it more than once but I’m trying to see if they’ll take it to a mechanic. If they didn’t get it checked out what would be a fair offer do you think?
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Old 10-01-2020, 10:15 PM   #5
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In my opinion you would be a succor to buy that bus without knowing why the check engine light is on. The millage is certainly high--I wonder how many thousands of hours it sat idling as well. I'd offer 5 grand figuring on a new motor sooner than later--or pass.
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Old 10-01-2020, 10:52 PM   #6
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Here is a short school bus for $2750...probably high miles too, but you can afford to swap in whatever..v10 i'd suggest, but why not a chevy if you want. Heck there was a dodge 8.0L v10 with 105k miles for $1000 on CL this week..

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/for...205924624.html



Maybe another one worth thinking about, it has a 5.7 chevy, so a 6.0 swap easy..$3750. Says all new tires, that is worth $3k right there.

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Old 10-01-2020, 11:41 PM   #7
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That is way way too much for that bus!!!!

I got my 07 Chevy Express 6.6l Duramax 5 window with 135K miles for $5000,

I’m going to have to do the turbo, $2K if I do it myself, so bummer.


But 250K miles on a gas engine is really
Getting up there. Swapping that motor is one of the most challenging things to do, even for an experienced mechanic. I bet that’s a $10K job for a rebuilt motor. Considering all the money you’ll put into your project, wait for the right platform.

That bus should be $3500 tops. Tops!
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Old 10-01-2020, 11:50 PM   #8
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Oh, I see that it’s “done” inside? Hard to tell
How done.

It has a check engine light on?

Run Forrest!
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Old 10-02-2020, 01:36 AM   #9
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From just what is visible, the bathroom wall edge unfinished.

The hard and expensive parts are insulation, tanks and plumbing and batteries and inverters and solar panels and a/c, etc. I recall seeing someone take a shuttle bus, and turn it into a camper with 1 battery, a 300 watt inverter, a sink with two 5 gallon cans under it, and then asking $28,000 and can't help but think is he going to fool someone into thinking that is the same as an RV?
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Old 10-02-2020, 05:13 AM   #10
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Miles are high, but 6.0s have certainly been known to top 250k and beyond. Good used and new replacements are easy enough to find, and if it's a nicely enough done finished conversion, and it runs and drives without real issue and codes do not indicate impending failure, $10k might not be that bad given the conversion factor, at least part of the hard work is already done. It just depends on what is left to finish it and what the CEL light is on for, so I would find this info out and go from there before committing to buying it. If the codes aren't anything serious or cheap fixes, I would offer $5k and see where you wind up.

That being said, I would take any of the GM 6.0/8.1, Ford 5.4 V8/6.8 V10, and 8.0 Dodge V10 gassers before I would take a diesel built after 04-07 and up. I'd love an RE pusher with an 8.3 and an MD3060, but I think the last thing I need is an uncorked diesel's exhaust, due to severe asthma. I am actually considering looking for a propane or dual-fuel gasoline / propane model when I am ready to make a move, for this reason. And propane only because I don't think I'll be traveling much, and propane is much better for a bus that sits.
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