2001 Chevy Express Short Bus Fully Converted

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by Chelsey Morin
Published: July 19, 2023 (2 months ago)

$16,000

Bus Specifications:

5.7 L V8 Chevy Vortec engine
The mileage is currently at 154,000 miles.
New tires were put on her in November 2022. They have gone 30,000 miles (by the end of our trip). They have a 40k warranty for tread and defects. Also, the tires are multi-ply load-rated tires.
All the spark plugs were replaced in November 2022. They have 20k miles on them, but they still look great!
The fuel injectors were the first gen vortec spider injectors and were a well known issue with this engine. We had them replaced early in July of this year (2023), so they are brand new. The coil packs were also ready to be replaced, so they are new, as well. Before they were replaced, we had a check engine light, but no lights were on after!
The lower ball joints were bad in the front, so both lower tie rods were replaced early in July 2023.
Her oil has been changed about every 3,000-4,000 miles since we bought her in January 2022 (we do have receipts if you’d like to see those!).
Her brake pads are good.
Her A/C works great! It still has the side skirt unit that was tied into the front system. The refrigerant was topped off in August 2023, but there is a small refrigerant leak. We just have to top it off every once in a while.
Her heat works very well and gets very hot.
2 seats in the front! Driver’s seat and passenger’s seat.The drivers seat had to be re-installed with grade 8 bolts due to the condition of the original bolts, but the seat is structurally sound. The passenger seat is installed with grade 8 bolts with place steel underneath to better reinforce the seat. Both were inspected by a certified shop and were deemed safe.
30-gallon gas tank (but you can only use about 22 gallons of it)
Rear shocks are in good shape! Front shocks are in good shape overall but will eventually need repairs. We’ll give you the report our mechanic gave us. 🙂
The Hydroboost pump was replaced along with the relevant hoses in November 2022.
Most of the oil hoses were replaced in November 2022.
Throttle body was replaced in November 2022.
Fuel line was replaced at some point (we don’t know when)
Fuel pump and tank were replaced when the bus was converted from CNG to unleaded (we aren’t sure when)
She gets about 11 mpg with the current build configuration and weight.
Alternator is working well for now, but we expect a replacement will be needed in the future. We are not sure if it is the original, or if it has been replaced.
Car battery was replaced in the summer of 2022.
Upgraded head unit, Atoto s8, that also connects to a back-up rearview camera and a vehicle diagnostic scanner.
The intake manifold gasket, as well as all other relevant gaskets, were replaced August 19th, 2023. Coolant was flushed during the process.
There is a slow power steering pump leak. The mechanic recommended just topping it off every 6 months, as the leak is not fast enough to warrant the replacement cost.
There is a slow leak in the AC system on the passenger side near a Tee junction running to the side skirt. Half a can of refrigerant from the autopart store seems to handle it every 3 months. You can get it repaired, but the last mechanic we went to suggested just topping it off.

RV Specifications/What’s Included:

Note: All electrical work was professionally installed and wired by Phoenix Skool Busses LLC in Texas (aside from the outside porch light, the outer LED lights/bars, and the rocker switch in the front of the bus above the dash)
Rocker switches are wired into the vehicle power, so they will only work if the car is on, but they are super bright and great for rough wilderness roads when you need more light!
(4) 210 watt solar panels (840 total watts), wired in series.
MultiPlus 12/3000/120-50 120V, purchased from Battle Born.
Victron SmartSolar Charge Controller (150V 70A Tr), with additional display.
Victron BMV-712 Battery Monitor (both the shunt and display, as well as bluetooth)
Victron Energy Interface MK3-USB (VE.Bus to USB). All you need is the software to link the Multiplus to your computer.
Victron Energy 200/200 amp Digital Multi Control panel GX
Victron Energy Lynx Distributor
(2) 206 Amp Hour 12v LiPO4 batteries from SOK. They are still under warranty until July 2024. Wired in Parallel.
Exhaust port in the front near the door for a diesel heater. The diesel heater was removed once spring sprung, and the wiring was re-used, but a new one could be wired in pretty easily, as there are empty spaces in the fuse box in the back. We just recommend getting one size larger for the heater than they suggest, as diesel heaters require a bit of voltage on startup. We actually have some leftover wire from the original project that we can throw in if you want!
3 regular, home 15-amp outlets by the bed/kitchen area.
1 20 amp outlet near the countertop for the cooktop.
10 USB charge ports in the back by the bed.
12-volt cigarette plug in the front on the dashboard.
1800 watt induction cooktop
700 watt microwave
One USB plug in the front on the dashboard that connects to the head unit
Garmin RV 780 GPS Navigator with Traffic
Phone car mount on the dash
Carbon monoxide alarm
8,000 BTU, 700-watt A/C unit in the back of the bus that can run off the solar panels at solar peak hours. We just swapped it out from a 5k btu unit on July 20th, 2023, and while the look is far from my best work, it should be sturdy enough to last several years without issue! It cools the bus down great! We’ve been in high 90-degree weather, and it’s never had a problem.
RV fan in the front for air movement
Vent fan with bug screen in the middle of the bus
4 side windows on the passenger side that come with 2 bug screens!
2 standard-sized cabinets. The one on the driver side has a drawer, and the one on the passenger side has a little compartment where you can place your sponges, dish brushes, etc.
Little trash can
Little 4-drawer set included for storage
2 large pull-out drawers included inside the driver side cabinet for storage!
Two 36” wide x 12” tall upper cabinets on the driver side for storage
Queen-sized bed frame and mattress. The mattress does have bleach stains on it, and we bought it in 2018. Bed frame is overbuilt with 2×6’s as the framing elements, so it should be able to handle whatever you need to put on it. We both sleep on this bed, and it doesn’t even budge under the weight.
15-gallon fresh water tank under the bed, gravity filling only. It could take a larger tank, but would require moving a handful of components. We can try to throw in some extra pex if you’d like to upgrade the tank.
5-gallon gray water tank under the sink. We’ll replace it with one brand new so you have a fresh one.
Ruvati 15 x 15 inch Workstation Drop-in Top Mount Bar Prep RV Sink 16 Gauge Stainless Steel – RVH8215, with spray nozzle. It’s a great cutting board when you just need to chop a veggie or two real quick. For a full dinner with a lot of prep work, I’d suggest using a popper sized cutting board.
It did have a cassette toilet, but we’ll dispose of the one we are using, as it’s not the best. We can negotiate a bit on price if you’d like so you can buy another one. I can also send some links on what I would buy if you need some ideas.
Laminate floor tiles
Black auto mats in the front
Black floor mats on the two steps of the stairs where you walk in
Under-bed storage/garage with a swinging gate door.
Alpicool LGCF55 Portable Refrigerator 12 Volt Car Freezer 58 Quart Mini Fridge Freezer(-4℉~68℉) for Truck, RV, Vehicle, Travel, Outdoor -12/24V DC. Uses a small amount of voltage, and stays almost dead on the set temperature. It is a top loading fridge, but we love it.
Solar screens for the front window, two side windows in the front, and the emergency door in the back
Curtains and curtain rod for the 4 side windows and the main entrance doors
Trailer hitch on the back with a cargo bag and bungee cords/tie-downs to secure it in place
Battery-operated, magnetic, red trailer hitch light
HiBoost RV Cell Phone Booster Kit 4G 5G LTE Signal Boost for All U.S.
4 LED bars and lights on the outside of the bus in the front, back, and sides for extra light and visibility.
Memory foam seat cushion and black and gray chair cover for the driver’s seat
Frizzlife Under Sink Water Filter System SK99-NEW, Direct Connect, NSF/ANSI 53&42 Certified to Remove Lead, Chlorine, Odor & Bad Taste- 0.5 Micron, Quick Change, USA Tech Support
Shore Power Cables:
- One 30 amp cord (20 feet long) that has a twist lock on one side and a standard pedestal connector on the other side. We also have a 50 amp adaptor.
- One 30 amp cord that has a twist lock on both sides (20 feet long).
- 15 amp extension cord (20 feet)
Water filling hose and filter
2 portable camping chairs. One of them has had better days, but they are included if you’d like.
Precitrade Shurflo 2088-554-144 Fresh Water Pump, 12 Volts, 3.5 Gallons Per Minute, 45 Psi. Simple pump to work on, so if you need to perform maintenance it’s a breeze.
Small bench on the driver side running from the wall to the wheel well. This was built to protect the gas tank area, which required major structural repairs at the mechanic to ensure the gas tank would be connected correctly. The bench is inconvenient, but unfortunately necessary.
Comes with snow cords/chains for the rear tires. We used them this last winter, and they worked great!
Comes with a telescoping ladder to get onto the roof. It doesn’t take up too much space, and fits in the garage area. We bought it from harbor freight.

Some Perks:

The SOK batteries are great quality and should last several years without issues. They have built-in heaters if the batteries get too cold, which is not something included with many LIPO4 batteries!
The other electrical components are higher quality than needed, and have great build quality and warranties. Victron support is fantastic when you need help.
The use of bluetooth for most of the components makes it possible to manage several of the components with your phone. You still need to check the water tank manually, as it does not have sensors. However, if you’d like to add sensors I can send you some links on what I would use.
Without the hitch mount on the back, the bus is only 19 feet long and can fit in a standard parking spot! This has been SUPER helpful while traveling!
It has a co-pilot chair, which is not common with skoolies.
The windows on the drivers side were left on to keep the skoolie look, but the added insulation and sealing provides more insulation during the winters and summers.
The queen size bed offers plenty of room for sleeping and can comfortably sleep two.
While it does not have a bench, we found it pretty easy to eat and work from the bed. A few well-placed pillows make the window wall very comfortable.
We have some tools that we only bought for the bus that we won’t need, and are more than happy to throw into the deal.

Her Quirks & Issues:

There is a small refrigerant leak, but we’ve been able to just top off the refrigerant, and the A/C still runs super cold.
The power steering pump has a TINY leak. Our mechanic told us to keep an eye on it, and he wasn’t worried about it. But it will eventually need to be replaced.
Putting gas in her is a little awkward, because you have to do it at the right angle. We’d love to take you to the gas station and show you so you get the hang of it! 🙂
When the gas gauge says it’s half full, it’s actually empty. So just keep that in mind while you drive! We just track our mileage per fill-up, and we’re good. 🙂
She does have a few leaks in the roof at the front and middle. I’m sure if you took her to a boat mechanic who works with fiberglass, he could patch these up no problem! Or, you could also put a tarp over her during heavy rains to help.