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1959 Dodge 700 School Bus Hemi

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by CountyGirl, Apr 20, 2011.

  1. CountyGirl
    Joined: Apr 20, 2011
    Posts: 8

    CountyGirl
    Member

    Hello all i have bought a 1959 dodge 700 school bus the engine says M354-1249 in the valley and we are trying to figure out what it is. we are all chevy ppl and have no idea haha:D We are going to s**** the bus and were not sure what to do with the motor and ******
     
  2. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 18,516

    Squablow
    Member

    It's a Power Giant hemi, 354 cubic inches and based on the Chrysler Firepower design. Worth some money, pull it out before you s**** the bus and sell it.
     
  3. Hey, save the bus seats too. How about the gauges and steering wheel? Got an old school bus bench seat in the shop. Tube frame with plywood base and back. Probably made for grade schoolers - its kinda small but still a good seat.
     
  4. CountyGirl
    Joined: Apr 20, 2011
    Posts: 8

    CountyGirl
    Member

    it was turned into a motor home so the seats are gone but there are the gauges and wheel
     
  5. BadassBadger
    Joined: Oct 24, 2010
    Posts: 460

    BadassBadger
    Member
    from wisconsin

    how about instead SAVE THE BUS!!! not many left (i've never seen one) and defiantly gonna be a head turner! turn it into a tow rig!
     
  6. CountyGirl
    Joined: Apr 20, 2011
    Posts: 8

    CountyGirl
    Member

    haha not our style we would sell the whole thing or parts tho if anyone needs anything. we are not s****ing the motor tho haha i posted pics of it
     
  7. ratrodder34
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 2,219

    ratrodder34
    Member
    from Irvine,ky.

    YES.........pull the motor and s**** it......thats about $800-$900 sitting there...unless you want to live in it...lol
     
  8. Demon Seed
    Joined: Feb 2, 2009
    Posts: 106

    Demon Seed
    Member
    from BF-AZ

    The "M" designation indicates it is a 1959 engine..... BUT it doesn't necessarily mean its a 354 hemi. It could just as easily be a 354 Poly. You can tell the difference just by looking at the engine. If the spark plug holes are in the middle of the valve covers its a hemi and if not its a poly.
     
  9. k9racer
    Joined: Jan 20, 2003
    Posts: 3,091

    k9racer
    Member

    you could recop part of your funds. Old busses make good cheap storage places try to sell it whole minus the parts you need..If not save the grill bumper hood and front fenders.. the stearing box is also a good peice because its hard to find a good one..the emergency brake lever can be adapted to any hot rod.. The transmission is a sellable item if you dont save the trans save the shift lever.. Good Luck Bobby..
     
  10. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 18,516

    Squablow
    Member

    The bus looks pretty rough from your pictures, but save the engine, probably will want to save the bellhousing, flywheel, starter, and related parts as well since it's a stick. I doubt anyone will want the transmission though. Gauge cluster looks cool, I'd grab that, and the mechanism that closes the door looks like it might be br***? Could probably find a use for that too.

    I don't think anyone will be sad to see the rest of that one get s****ped though. If it was in better shape or a cooler design I might think differently, but that just looks like a haggered out old bus to me.
     
  11. rrbrucea
    Joined: Mar 2, 2010
    Posts: 646

    rrbrucea
    Member


    Where are these photos you speak of? :)
     
  12. Von Rigg Fink
    Joined: Jun 11, 2007
    Posts: 13,401

    Von Rigg Fink
    Member
    from Garage

    [​IMG]

    pictures are in the HAMB photo albums
     
  13. rrbrucea
    Joined: Mar 2, 2010
    Posts: 646

    rrbrucea
    Member

    Ah, thank you! Yep, keep the hemi, the wheel, and the gauge cluster. Let the rest become 32 Toyotas (as much as it pains me to say that)...
     
  14. stude_trucks
    Joined: Sep 13, 2007
    Posts: 4,752

    stude_trucks
    Member

    Yes, it's a hemi and if in good shape, a good save. If those exhaust manifolds are the truck 4-bolt ones, as they should be, and aren't cracked, those are worth some money too. Don't toss those either and be careful getting the pipes off them, maybe just cut the pipe 6"-7" down from them and leave a stub on. Valve covers too. Don't ding those all up with those chains and getting it out of there. Exhaust manifolds and valve covers are both worth a few hundred a pair by themselves if in good shape.
     
  15. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 26,715

    Deuces

    I thought 1958 was the last year of the early style HEMI.....
     
  16. TR Waters
    Joined: Nov 18, 2006
    Posts: 1,439

    TR Waters
    Member
    from Vermont

    1959 in truck applications
     
  17. George
    Joined: Jan 1, 2005
    Posts: 7,988

    George
    Member

    A few have been reported in large '60 trucks.
     
  18. CountyGirl
    Joined: Apr 20, 2011
    Posts: 8

    CountyGirl
    Member

    Does anyone know what any of this stuff is worth? and thank you for all of your help
     
  19. George
    Joined: Jan 1, 2005
    Posts: 7,988

    George
    Member

    Before the recession the truck 354 probably 1200-1500, hard to say on the other stuff. As was said if it has the 4 bolt ex mans they could go for 3-400 alone.
     
  20. sololobo
    Joined: Aug 23, 2006
    Posts: 8,425

    sololobo
    Member

    Yikes, the bus is trashed, I am sure you know to take off any little pieces of coolness. The motor is friggin awesome, as Von says careful with the ol hunk, the parts are rare and worth a few buckaroos. Cool post Thanx ~sololobo~
     
  21. CountyGirl
    Joined: Apr 20, 2011
    Posts: 8

    CountyGirl
    Member

    yes they are 4 bolt mans. i am glad we didnt take the 200 bucks the first guy that looked at us offered us!
     
  22. yardgoat
    Joined: Nov 22, 2009
    Posts: 724

    yardgoat
    Member

    Id like to see a pic of front end grill and head light rings,would also like the emblems...........................thanks..........YG
     
  23. CountyGirl
    Joined: Apr 20, 2011
    Posts: 8

    CountyGirl
    Member

    i am posting more pictures in my album of the engine out and the other parts please make any offers because it is going to the s**** yard early next week thank you all
     
  24. CountyGirl
    Joined: Apr 20, 2011
    Posts: 8

    CountyGirl
    Member

  25. 55 dude
    Joined: Jun 19, 2006
    Posts: 9,357

    55 dude
    Member

    thanks for posting the pic's carolyn!
     
  26. yardgoat
    Joined: Nov 22, 2009
    Posts: 724

    yardgoat
    Member

    Yes thanks.......pm sent.......................YG
     
  27. Countrygirl, you might want to pop out a few good windows also. You can get a few bucks for them as " poor boy surface plates ". A surface plate can be used to lap in a mating surface of a engine part. A real surface plate like I have in the shop is fairly expensive, and the shipping is even more. The old bus windows were fairly strong, very flat, and perfect for home shop use. You put a piece of emery paper on the gl***, and with light valve grinding compound you would work the part in a fiqure 8 motion until perfectly flat. They work excellent. TR
     
  28. 55chevr
    Joined: Jul 12, 2008
    Posts: 985

    55chevr
    Member

    The roof corners are good for speedster tails.
     
  29. willowbilly3
    Joined: Jun 18, 2004
    Posts: 4,356

    willowbilly3
    Member Emeritus
    from Sturgis

    How is the front sheet metal. Do the headlight rims look like these? It's a 59 and I think I need one.
    [​IMG]
     
  30. stillrunners
    Joined: Aug 27, 2009
    Posts: 10,590

    stillrunners
    Member
    from dallas

    whooooweee....a tach in the dash......
     

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