Opinions...

thecarman said:
Nothing that I can think of, if you don't need to air down for off-road, which you would not do in this bus. I had plenty of tire selection for my K30 with 16.5-inch rims, but I wanted to be able to air down when I hit the beach, so I went with H2s (17s).
Granted, I was looking at tires in the 33-35-inch range, so maybe there is less selection of 16.5 tires in the 235/85/16.5 range? A quick search of tire sites on the web would tell...
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Thanks Bro!

A little googling netted me the same info... only differences are the lack of a "safety bead" that appearantly translates into the whole airing down scenario. Outside of that, the only differences seem to be available tire sizes... which shouldn't be an issue on a towrig (IOW, I shouldn't be trying to find a set of 37"s :flipoff2: )
 
Well due the the age and the fact that they're over 8500 GVW there is no emissions test on the inspection. SO, any emissions crap that is power robbing or ineffective can go.
I run two Vortec 350's (work truck and pickup) and have run the older versions way back to the carb days too. While not a power house in today's standards it's still the tried and true 350 truck motor.
I used to (early '80's-2001) routinely be loaded up to 15-18,000 with a one ton, trailer, and equipment and although heavy, it got the job done.
For the price you could part out the motors, tranny's and rear ends and probably break even.
It'll still be a short bus but hey, it's CAVERDAVE!:fuck-you: :beer:
If you can get the price right go for it.
 
That remains to be seen brother! :beer:

Before the picture goodness, here's a couple things I found today on the second look:

- Definitely SBC350 w/ 4barrel carbs ("governor"? appears to be a box that accepts the throttle cable from the cab and then jumps out to the carb... pretty sure it ain't cruise!)
- HydroBoost brakes
- Tranny pans are approx. 3"-4" deep (easily 2" deeper than the TH400 in the Moss)
- Small galv. box in the rear w/ snow chains
- Inside measures 7'7"W x 10'7"L x 6'2"-ish H
- Driver side seats are "doubles" and the pass. side, while they have 2 sets of belts, are only single adult sized
- Lastly, these definitely have FRAMES running the full length (so no unibody)

The only thing that scared me today was all the galv. plumbing parts under the hood... appeared to be valves/etc. to shut off coolant flow to the rear heaters. Both front wands & "stop" arms are gone. The missing red "stop" flashers in the upper corners would be a good location for work lights (at both ends?)? An entirely worthless perk is the strobes are still there and appear to work.

The second pic shows how vandals emptied a bag of "body fluid absorbent powder" from stem to stern, definitely cleanable...

Rest of the pics are here
 

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That larger master cylinder is ~typical of the larger G vans and P chassis. So you may be right. It was hard to tell about the frame in the rear portion from the gas tank pics.. [Even the unibody (aka cutaway) vans have a front frame clip.. If you can see a parting line between the body and the frame your good... ] In all honesty your good either way the cutaway were not 'bad' just somthing to be aware of...

They look good in the pics.. !!

The govenor is easily bypassed with a standard throttle cable.. But be careful what stuff you rip off as some carbs were feedback type carbs that 'need' some stuff hooked up to run right... Else just slap on a regular Quarajet and hit the road !!

I got a new fold up bus seat i didnt sell with the camper you might be interested in :)
 
Some educational photos, so everone else who may be looking at similer vans can see the differences... Here are 2 pics. from my research archives :)
Below - 1997 G-Van (G-vans had frames 96+)
Note: discreet body mount and frame section along transmission area.
97-g30-aa_4.jpg
Below - This one is typical of Early 90s Cutaway Vans.
Note: Frame 'like' stamped construction, but NOT a full frame. The front engine craddle and front suspension sub-frame is attached to the cut away portion..
DVC00018.jpg

Ok one more, below - sales brocure pic..
comm26.jpg



The reason I wanted to make the clear distinction about the chassis, was during my research i liked the 90-95 vans for emissions reasons but then discovered the cut-away design. This made it all but impossible to easily make a ramp truck. The ford vans have a full frame in similer years and is why you will see more wierd creations based off a ford van/bus in those years..
 
I knew I should have taken more pics of the "frame"! It seems like there WAS a clear seperation as you described. I wonder if it was just the '90-'95 that suffered from unibodyitis?

I'll be nearby this week and stop for another peek to insure this ain't a pig in a poke...

Thanks for the info! :beer:

Also, when the VIN was ran thru the decoder, it shows these were made in Canada. Not sure about that plays into the emissions game, but there was little evidence of smog crap on the engine (didn't pull the doghouse) and the exhaust (true duals with no crossover) had NO cats... single pipe of each manifold to cylindrical truck mufflers (staggered for space) run out the drivers side.

DMV (Insp. Greenwood) stated it could not be changed from a "bus" (still = property carrying vehicle just like "truck" or "van"), but could be tagged for any weight making it fine to tow with.

Doubtful I'll go this route, but the only other option is to outfit it as an RV (must have 4 of the following PERMANENTLY mounted: Sleeping Quarters, Self-contained Toilet, Cooking Facility, AC Power Connection/Minimum single recpt., Refrigerator, HVAC, Portable(potable?) Water Supply, or LP Gas Supply) and register as "Housecar"... even though it basically a "cubevan" once the seats are removed. He was unsure IF removing XX seats would change the need for a Class "C" CDL + Passenger endorsement and told me to call NCSHP...

NCSHP Motor Carrier Enforcement (Trooper Todd) stated that regardless of seat count, it would still be an "XX passenger bus" (since that's what it was originally built for) and would be at an officers discretion as to whether a typical Class "C" DL would be ticket-able or fine since the would only be seats for XX (any number UNDER 16 passengers ;) ). He did say that in situations where used for towing, regardless of whether it was registered as a bus/truck/van... the typical wighted tag, under GVWR (10k#)/GCWR (26,001#)/GAWR(3900#F/7200#R), etc. would still suffice...

They both agreed the bottom line would what's printed on the VA title... both chassis VINs equate to:

CANADA
GM
TRUCK
9001-10,000 GVWR
FULL SIZE VAN
1 TON NOMINAL
HI-CUBE & CUTAWAY VAN
5.7L V8 4BBL

1986
ORION, MI or SCARBOROUGH, ON

So there is hope! :flipoff2:
 
Build in Canada *usually* meant fewer emissions controls back then, but not always - it could be built in Canada for sale in US.

Also, heavier rated vehicles (like 1-tons or over a certain GVWR) sometimes had fewer emissions controls. I'm not sure when this stopped, but it was true at least in the late 70's.
 
in the light duty car/truck world (light duty=class 1-3) anything over 8500# = Heavy Duty emissions. Thats why

FWIW: my Jeep 1991 parts jeep was titled that.. Canada, other than a few small parts being from what i considered a newer jeep everything was exactly the same.. So odd ball stuff is made the and shipped to the US..

I forgot who did the bus conversion ? That could also play into the title. They buy the chassis unfinished shells and do what ever they want to finish them off...

The "it is what it is" is what i got when I had checked into just tagging the Uhaul as a truck.. They said no matter what i did it would still be a class5 international box truck, Or i could make it an RV and slap a car tag on it :D
 
yager said:
I forgot who did the bus conversion ? That could also play into the title. They buy the chassis unfinished shells and do what ever they want to finish them off...

The "it is what it is" is what i got when I had checked into just tagging the Uhaul as a truck.. They said no matter what i did it would still be a class5 international box truck, Or i could make it an RV and slap a car tag on it :D
Click to expand...

These were converted by Bluebird Canada (same folks that do the larger buses & Wonder Lodges... just not the US factions of the company). So, your thinking the title might still say something "trucky" instead of "bus"?

Even though it isn't what I "wanted to hear from DMV", at least they're consistant! :shaking:
 
No i meant if it really was titled as a 'bus' its will always be a 'bus' (unless you switch it to an RV) My bro's 'bus' was still titled as a 1ton G30 van. Basically it just had the roof extended and squared off and a pile of lights put on it..
 
Also i was looking on ebay to find you a pick of somthig you should look for instead and found this auction with the same pic you posted before ? was it just as a reference or one they sent to you ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1996...67QQihZ013QQcategoryZ6728QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


The reason i ask is IF it came out of NY i would NOT buy it, they have zero rust tolerance up there on buses and while you can get a good bargan you still have to deal with rust...


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1995...41QQihZ013QQcategoryZ6728QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Anyway this one (same seller) is exactly what y brother had.. Same 350/4L80 engine/(OD)tranny 14b axle etc.. just a tad smaller and 'still a G30' (note rust along bottom of door) Point is ive seen these locally.. Seriously id find a regular G30 and renovate the inside :)
 
That's what I meant... if it happens to say "Chevrolet Van" on the title (still a slim chance), it would simple to register it similarly to your brothers...

OTOH, for about $50... it could be registered in TN/GA for basically anything I want and then registered here! :D
 
i know your not probably paying a whole lot but i think it might be better to start off with something that might have more stuff to start with.. The 93-95s had the 4L80s (OD-TH400) which will save you gas $$ and make around town use easier..

some more to look at as comparrisonhttp://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1993-CHEVROLET-G30-16-PASSENGER-SCHOOL-BUS-DIESEL_W0QQitemZ300062435431QQihZ020QQcategoryZ6728QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Also spring time is when the market gets flooded with Buses, Many have reach the rust limit, while others reach mileage/age limits and they dump em on the market..
 
yager said:
Also i was looking on ebay to find you a pick of somthig you should look for instead and found this auction with the same pic you posted before ? was it just as a reference or one they sent to you ?
Click to expand...

No, that is just the picture I used initially to illustrate the type bus I was looking at. "My" buses are from Montgomery Cty. (Christiansburg) VA.... and both parked locally (where I took the pics).

I follow you on the rustbelt deal... Plus, I wouldn't buy anything off fleabay without seeing it in person!
 
yager said:
i know your not probably paying a whole lot but i think it might be better to start off with something that might have more stuff to start with.. The 93-95s had the 4L80s (OD-TH400) which will save you gas $$ and make around town use easier..
Click to expand...

Correct... I believe both will go for well under what any of the newer ebay buses are going for. While the non-OD mileage will suck, I'm pretty confident in the TH400 (over the OD tranny) & think the overall cost difference vs. mileage (fuel cost) will offset.

Another thing I've been pondering... the mileage decrease in wind resistance of the towed load. I know Sheldon says he gets 1mpg better with the windshields folded... because the Jeeps sit higher than the truck cab & having to break the wind also? Seems the bus would break the wind and flow over my Jeep a bit better? :confused:
 
Caver Dave said:
I know Sheldon says he gets 1mpg better with the windshields folded... because the Jeeps sit higher than the truck cab & having to break the wind also? Seems the bus would break the wind and flow over my Jeep a bit better? :confused:
Click to expand...
Your Jeep in the wind ain't gonna be holding you back a bit, it'll be that flat-faced bus front end pushing all of the air!
Just forget about the mileage and relish the fact of a CHEAP A$$ tow rig!
 
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