Thoughts on a bus to buy

[Magden5]

So what are your thoughts on a 2007 Ford E450 Cutaway

6.0L V8- 32V Turbo Diesel Engine?

It looks good but I have seen some thoughts on busses from 2004 on that aren't so positive. Thanks!

[Brad_SwiftFur]

That 6.0 engine has a poor reputation, unless it's "bulletproofed", after which they get a good reputation. It's not a cheap fix.

[Johnny Mullet]

The 6.0L replaced the beloved 7.3L to meet emission standards. These engines are notorious for being very unreliable and expensive to repair. Labor charges would be even worse in a van chassis. Avoid it and keep looking.

[cadillackid]

im going to put another perspective out there.. while the 6.0 could be more problematic than the 7.3, by 2007 many of its issues had been worked out... 06 and 07 were probably the 2 best years for that engine...

[Magden5]

Originally Posted by Brad_SwiftFur

That 6.0 engine has a poor reputation, unless it's "bulletproofed", after which they get a good reputation. It's not a cheap fix.

Thank you! Yeah, I ws just googling that and the cost. Ugh

[Magden5]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mullet

The 6.0L replaced the beloved 7.3L to meet emission standards. These engines are notorious for being very unreliable and expensive to repair. Labor charges would be even worse in a van chassis. Avoid it and keep looking.

Thank you! I think I have gotten sucked into the fact that it's a shorty: check and its already insulated: Check .
I want to do everything else except the insulation. �� But thank you for that advice

[Magden5]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

im going to put another perspective out there.. while the 6.0 could be more problematic than the 7.3, by 2007 many of its issues had been worked out... 06 and 07 were probably the 2 best years for that engine...

Oooohhh, that sounds promising!
Thanks!

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by Magden5

Thank you! Yeah, I ws just googling that and the cost. Ugh

One of the mods of /r/Skoolies on reddit spent something like 12 grand bulletproofing his 6.0 (might have been even more). It's bullet proof now but now is 12 grand later.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by Magden5

Thank you! I think I have gotten sucked into the fact that it's a shorty: check and its already insulated: Check .
I want to do everything else except the insulation. �� But thank you for that advice

The built-in factory insulation in a bus is essentially worthless.

[cadillackid]

12k to bulletproof ? Heck I can rebuild the whole darn engine with the right parts for a small fraction of that!

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

12k to bulletproof ? Heck I can rebuild the whole darn engine with the right parts for a small fraction of that!

Hmm, I thought maybe I had misremembered exactly what he posted: he said his EGR replacement was 6 grand and his head gasket went (because of the EGR) which cost him 14 grand. The bulletproofing he talks about was I guess something else entirely.

For me, a 20 grand bill would be the reason to drive my bus into the river. Although actually I have a better plan: my work spot for my bus is right next to a bus services company and they have a lot with hundreds of school buses on it. If I ever give up on my skoolie, I would just drive it into the back of their lot and leave the hood up.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

Hmm, I thought maybe I had misremembered exactly what he posted: he said his EGR replacement was 6 grand and his head gasket went (because of the EGR) which cost him 14 grand. The bulletproofing he talks about was I guess something else entirely.

For me, a 20 grand bill would be the reason to drive my bus into the river. Although actually I have a better plan: my work spot for my bus is right next to a bus services company and they have a lot with hundreds of school buses on it. If I ever give up on my skoolie, I would just drive it into the back of their lot and leave the hood up.

If YOU can't fix the 6.0 yourself you will be eaten alive when someone else has to.
The techs at the local Navistar shop STRONGLY warn against the 6.0.

[cadillackid]

Independent ford shops won’t eat you alive but 14k for a head gasket is a raping even at a dealer.. navistar charges list price for a brand new engine at 25k... remains exist for less than this guy paid for a head gasket.. lolol
Navistar techs here say treat a vt365 nice and drive I t forever.. but bulletproof the ford version..as it had additional weaknesses the navistar version didn’t. Ie higher output and higher rpm led to head bolt failures.
Any running 6.0 on both versions replace and update your egr and oil coolers.. never ever overheat one . And don’t run a tuner on one, esp a stock one.
The 04/05 model years were the worst offenders by far.

[PNW_Steve]

$12k???

I suspect that he may have done more than the "bulletproof kits". Maybe some hot rod parts as well?

If you are mechanically inclined you can buy the aftermarket oil cooler and EGR delete for $122-$1500.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

$12k???

I suspect that he may have done more than the "bulletproof kits". Maybe some hot rod parts as well?

If you are mechanically inclined you can buy the aftermarket oil cooler and EGR delete for $122-$1500.

I was wrong about the 12K, it was way more. He posted that his EGR replacement was 6 grand and his blown head gasket was 14 grand. I guess actually none of that has anything to do with "bulletproofing", but are still damn good reasons to avoid this engine (and body style that makes it hard to access). For me, 20 grand is "I'm done with skoolies forever" money.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

$12k???

I suspect that he may have done more than the "bulletproof kits". Maybe some hot rod parts as well?

If you are mechanically inclined you can buy the aftermarket oil cooler and EGR delete for $122-$1500.

Don't forget the head studs and gaskets on a Powerstroke.
and this is all on a van, the worst possible platform to work on.

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Don't forget the head studs and gaskets on a Powerstroke.
and this is all on a van, the worst possible platform to work on.

As best as I understand it, in a stock 6.0 the head gaskets and studs are not a big issue. It becomes an issue when you start adding horsepower.

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

As best as I understand it, in a stock 6.0 the head gaskets and studs are not a big issue. It becomes an issue when you start adding horsepower.

in 04/05. some stock engines had head stud issues.. by late 05 into 06/07. that issue on stock engines was resolved.. the EGR cooler clogging and oil cooler tubes had somewhat poor design all along.. and the big issue came about if the oil cooler became clogged.. you could spike your oil T on long hill pulls and reach the "meltdown" temp of 260. where the plastic oil filter housing / standpipe parts melted and destroyed the engine..



as endinges age oil temp becomes more of a concern as blow-by increases.. esp under heavy load..



tuning and any lapse in proper oil or coolant maintenance cuased lots of issues...



I understand people being skiddish however i guess i look at things differently... if I incur an engine issue i take out my tools and fix it.. i suppose I need to take it from the persoective of someone who would have to take it to a shop and potentially get raped... like it sounds already happened...

[WIbluebird]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Don't forget the head studs and gaskets on a Powerstroke.
and this is all on a van, the worst possible platform to work on.

Eh, believe it or not the vans actually are easier than the trucks to work on when it comes to certain areas. Backside of the engine block in vans are really easy to get at with the front seats and the doghouse removed. So stuff like turbo, up pipes, manifolds etc are actually easier on the vans.

[Sleddgracer]

Originally Posted by WIbluebird

Eh, believe it or not the vans actually are easier than the trucks to work on when it comes to certain areas. Backside of the engine block in vans are really easy to get at with the front seats and the doghouse removed. So stuff like turbo, up pipes, manifolds etc are actually easier on the vans.

I have a 24' motorhome on a cutaway van body that needs the 350 cui motor R&R - the only two estimates I got were $2000 and $3000 for labour only - no one else even wanted to bid on it - the guy that quoted $2000 disappeared and the $3000 guy was kind of reluctant to do it even for that price - I'm using the motor home as a spare bedroom now - I know that's in Canadian $'s, but it's still a lot of money for labour