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6.6 Duramax Complete Pull-Out Value?

USSkoval

USSkoval

Thornbirds look cool... Yeah, I said it
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So to start off, I'm working on buying a couple Chevy Express ambulance vans that are being cycled out of a fleet. They supposedly run and drive well, but they have upwards of 500k on them. My buddy that's getting me the deals says they are the Duramax/4L80e combo and he thinks they are 2010-ish. I had assumed they had a 6 speed auto then, but I could very well be wrong.

But anyway, I'm trying to figure out what my best course of action will be. Whether to part out or sell as a whole. My hunch says the running engines may be similar in value to the van as a whole. I know they have a bunch of miles, but it's enough that it's likely that the engine and trans have both been replaced. Parting them out would benefit me because I'd retain a bunch of goodies for my two vans. But if they are worth more whole to folks that need a powerful and economical service van, maybe I'd be wise to just flip them?
 
Van life peps would know. Been my experience with those folks that are "thrifty" to nice.
 
USSkoval said:
So to start off, I'm working on buying a couple Chevy Express ambulance vans that are being cycled out of a fleet. They supposedly run and drive well, but they have upwards of 500k on them. My buddy that's getting me the deals says they are the Duramax/4L80e combo and he thinks they are 2010-ish. I had assumed they had a 6 speed auto then, but I could very well be wrong.

But anyway, I'm trying to figure out what my best course of action will be. Whether to part out or sell as a whole. My hunch says the running engines may be similar in value to the van as a whole. I know they have a bunch of miles, but it's enough that it's likely that the engine and trans have both been replaced. Parting them out would benefit me because I'd retain a bunch of goodies for my two vans. But if they are worth more whole to folks that need a powerful and economical service van, maybe I'd be wise to just flip them?
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It depends on the condition and price.
Like @Wes Harden said some people might want them for van life.
My buddy did that for 15 years.
Post some pictures if you can with condition and I can give you an idea
 
imiceman44 said:
It depends on the condition and price.
Like @Wes Harden said some people might want them for van life.
My buddy did that for 15 years.
Post some pictures if you can with condition and I can give you an idea
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I will when I get them. Hopefully I can get two. It looks like there's a chance that my buddy can only snag me just one of them.

I know that prices will vary widely, not even considering the condition. I just don't have a clue on what that market may be.
 
I went and looked at the batch of them. I'm not sure which two I'll be getting my hands on, but they are all in decent condition. They are all 2012's with VIN code L for the engine. I'm still unsure of the transmission, I didn't bother to look under. But car-part.com seems to suggest they are a 6L variant. They have the disc brake, 10.5 rears. They all have power windows and locks, cloth seats with arm rests and they even have the upgraded radio with CD player and aux port.

A couple are missing some marker lights and a couple have a seat unbolted, they must be the non-runners. I've got dibs on runners.

Engine prices on car-part.com are anywhere from 3k to 5k. I'm not sure how that compares to the private market, to those doing engine swaps.
 
I think in 2010 they switched to the 6L90E. 2006-2009 was 4L85E. That 10.5” 14 bolt in those is the most desirable one there is. 4” axle tubes, disc brakes and 8 on 6.5”.
 
Drove 3 of them home today. Two for me, one is for a friend. I won't bother with the details, but long story short... all three currently run/shift/drive fantastic, but one has a a DEF system fault and will start limp mode in about 60 more miles. The lights and sirens work too, lol.

20250707_192454.jpg20250707_192525.jpg20250707_192703.jpg20250707_202935.jpg

I'm sure some of those rpo codes are going to be oddballs when I look them up. For instance, the front seatbelts are red. And it they have what looks to be factory-installed aux battery/trays installed on the left frame rail, under the floor.
 
USSkoval said:
Drove 3 of them home today. Two for me, one is for a friend. I won't bother with the details, but long story short... all three currently run/shift/drive fantastic, but one has a a DEF system fault and will start limp mode in about 60 more miles. The lights and sirens work too, lol.

View attachment 507943View attachment 507944View attachment 507945View attachment 507946

I'm sure some of those rpo codes are going to be oddballs when I look them up. For instance, the front seatbelts are red. And it they have what looks to be factory-installed aux battery/trays installed on the left frame rail, under the floor.
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The vans get that second battery there because it's the only space left.
Both mine had it, the 79 and the 97
 
Best I can tell, the van with the DEF system fault just has a bad exhaust temp sensor.

20250710_221841.jpg20250710_221925.jpg20250710_222504.jpg20250710_223022.jpg
 
I would definitely keep one intact, for those days you're running late and could really use emergency right-of-way. :D
 
jake 03 said:
You would be correct. That's an easy fix
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Maybe, if I could find the damn thing, lol. I've found sensors 1, 3 and 4 as verified by unplugging and seeing the temp reading go to 1832*. I thought that maybe the temp sensor at the inlet of the EGR cooler might be "sensor #2" (it was just a thought... doesn't make much sense in my mind) but when I disconnected it and jumpered the harness, the high temp reading remained. So either that ain't it, or there's a break in the harness somewhere.
 
If you can unplug the sensor, measure the resistance in both directions from there. Are they a K-thermocouple or something like that? Probably each pin relative to gnd should show some resistance if it's connected to the ECM. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Electronics and wiring I know, but I've never worked on D-max temp sensors.
 
Blue85 said:
If you can unplug the sensor, measure the resistance in both directions from there. Are they a K-thermocouple or something like that? Probably each pin relative to gnd should show some resistance if it's connected to the ECM. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Electronics and wiring I know, but I've never worked on D-max temp sensors.
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That's the thing, I'm doubtful that the temp sensor in the EGR cooler inlet is actually the sensor im looking for. It is mounted pre-turbo. Sensor #1 is at the outlet of the turbo.
 
Well this just got interesting. This morning I was driving the other van to work (waiting on a egt sensor for the def fault van) and a heat shield was bouncing off of the drive shaft. I pulled over to take care of that, it was then that I discovered that this van has been DPF deleted. There's no catalyst, no DPF, no egt sensors or anything... just a straight pipe and a big muffler. No engine light on or anything. Friggin' awesome! Does this mean that the DEF system is inactive too?
 
USSkoval said:
Well this just got interesting. This morning I was driving the other van to work (waiting on a egt sensor for the def fault van) and a heat shield was bouncing off of the drive shaft. I pulled over to take care of that, it was then that I discovered that this van has been DPF deleted. There's no catalyst, no DPF, no egt sensors or anything... just a straight pipe and a big muffler. No engine light on or anything. Friggin' awesome! Does this mean that the DEF system is inactive too?
Click to expand...
Yes.
DEF doesn't work without the DPF
 
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