Repair-It

As I grew up camping with my parents in a 1978 VW Campmobile, I have always loved the idea of a vehicle that was comfortable to sleep in and relax in. That baby had a stove, two double beds, a fridge, propane stove, and a hammock that fit over the front seats to sleep a fifth person. The front seat could rotate and there was a table that mounted in the 'living space' so you could eat dinner as a family.

Result: bedroom, living room, kitchen, and dining room all in one. and you could drive it..

Unfortunately, this was a vehicle that performed best when parked, as anyone who has been behind one on a long NW CT hill would decry.

Fortunately, American manufacturers had an answer: conversion vans. These are comfortable, the rear seats fold into a large bed, and usually had a TV mounted in the front with a large stereo. A truck platform and a V8 meant that these are much better road vehicles as well.

Result: a driving living room and bedroom. But you could eat in it and it can fit through a drive through, so I guess it meets the other needs as well. I have always wanted a Van, and I think it would be worth figuring out what's the best to search for.

So which Van is best? Early 90's throttle body V8 with a Nintendo? Or a later Vortec engined one? Discuss.

How much of a price gap is there between an L05 and L31 van? Also avoid the 305. There's no real benefit and you give up HP and torque.

Of course, body condition is a pretty big driver. Miles aren't as much of a concern. TBI is simpler but I'm not sure there's a huge reliability difference between the two. The later TBI vans got the 4L60-E and a more modern PCM (93-95). All Vortec vans had that setup (96-02). 96 also was a major redesign (since the late 70s or something). 96 also introduced the 6.5 turbo diesel which is interesting, but probably not worth messing with. At this point the care and feeding of the 6.5TD isn't worth the benefits it provides. Being significantly more modern (plus engine modernization, though still conventional dist and funky fuel injection, as opposed to the LT1 with conventional injection and funky dist, sigh), the resale of the 96+ may be impacted. In that case, a TBI L05 van should handle the job fine. The 92 my father in law bought definitely didn't run right, and these are fairly heavy vehicles, so some TLC may be required regardless of what is purchased.

I have heard of intake gaskets on the L05 truck engines being problematic. Otherwise regular negligence (failed sensors, no tuneups, whatever else people do to their vehicles). Clogged EGR ports is a thing also.

With the L31, there's the injection spider thingy which has a known (if several hundred dollar) solution but you'll never deal with it again. I don't know these very well so I don't know if intake gaskets were still an issue (possibly), and I assume EGR clogging is also possible.

The 03 of course gets you a 5.3L but that is probably way out of the price range.

Remember that the vans came in 1/2, 3/4 and 1-ton GVWR categories, and most conversion vans seem to be the 3/4 ton (G20 or 2500). There were a few axle ratios available but you get what you get.

Don't forget to look for both Chevrolet and GMC.

Saabkyle does a 2002 Chevy Express conversion van. A ridiculously clean one (the leaf springs are still black). This is the last year of the Vortec 5700 (aka L31). It's a 1500 also. Maybe the GVWR of the 96+ 1/2 ton was enough to do a conversion on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNsFEx1jDb8

And here is a 94 Chevy G20 conversion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1O00P5-HHrs
Or a 94 GMC G2500: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAaNXS_TzA4

You'll notice the GMC is in considerably nicer shape. Also, you may catch that the speedo moves when he revs it, just like LT1s. I guess that was a thing in that generation GM PCM (not the same PCM of course, but probably similar).

It also has the required NES.

The 1-tons got optional big blocks. And for 2001-2002, the 454 was replaced with the Vortec 8100 (496). Must be interesting to see (or not see) an 8100 and 4L80-E crammed in there (I assume the Allison 1000 doesn't fit). That'll do some burnouts and move anything effortlessly. 340 hp and 455 lb-ft.

They also get terrible mpg. However, some perspective:

just purchased a new to me 2001, 2500 hd, 8.1 liter 4x4, 77K on the odo, replacing my 2005 cummins 3500 that i bought new, it was and this is no joke draining my wallet with repairs and I never missed a service on it. I will probably never own another newer diesel and regardless of what this chevy drinks in fuel it will never cost me more than my diesel did in the end in repairs $15K in just the last two months. my diesel cost me 30 cents for every miles i ever drove it just to own it, and that does not include fuel or oil changes.

at today prices for diesel in my area the 8.1 liter is costing me 10% more in fuel costs when adjusted for pricing differences vs fuel mileage. i will give that up all day long for fewer maintenance issues.

i am getting 12-13 pretty consistently running the colorado mountains. 4.1s, crew cab, long bed, 4x4, 33s, 3 inch skyjacker, CAI, mods all done with the money i got out of selling my diesel. i am a 5 mile an hour over guy mostly.

The very next post:

I just bought a 2003 2500HD with the 8.1l about 2 months ago. It has 78k on the clock and the dealer we bought it from did all the service and put new tires on it. I replaced the junk GM shocks, and I run the tires at about 60psi and it has new spark plugs and all in there. I have been watching my gas mileage very closely. Around town I am getting about 12mpg. Towing my boat of about 5500lbs I get around 9-10mpg. We just got back from a trip to NC from Central FL and on the way up we were averaging about 13mpg, but we had a wicked head wind and the gusts had to have been over 30-40mph. On the way home we averaged 15mpg plus. I didn't think that was terrible for what this thing can tow.

Honestly, I didnt care about the mileage, as its a spare vehicle that was only supposed to run to the hardware store and tow the boat to the river, but I am pleasantly surprised with these results. Next time we go to NC we will be taking the Saab and using half the fuel.

03 Silverado 2500HD Extended Cab 8.1L, 95 Jeep Wrangler(lifted locked), 01 Saab 9-3 Viggen convertible, 13 Jeep Patriot(company car)

I'm getting slightly off topic here...

Confusingly, 96 may have been a split year for the vans. That makes me wonder if a 96 old body style G-van had the L05 or L31...

I downloaded the 1996 van vehicle guide from GM.

http://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-heri ... -kits.html

The 96 G-van (old body style - the new body style was renamed Express) was carry-over only for 8500 lb+ GVWR (G30 or 1-ton only) and was not available in CA due to emissions compliance. It did in fact use the L05.

According to this they all got the 4L80-E, including the TBI 4.3 V6, which is weird.

Here is such a beast as an RV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5de330BrTA

Using half the fuel, but spending half of the time broken down on the side of the road. The Saab, that is.

Of course this is the ultimate GM RV (the only one they actually made). It was FWD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDmzc48QST0

These are pretty collectible now.

Can't get to Youtube, but I know about that RV. Very sweet, but not as practical as a Van.

If I had unlimited funds and space, though....

My parents appear to be looking at later model Vans, such as those made in the early 2000's. Seems like decent examples can be had in the sub $5000 range. They are modern and have leather.. Muuuch nicer than the TBI vans that I was looking for, which are in the ~$2000 range and tend to have rust and velour interiors.

There appear to be a lot more Dodge and Ford conversion vans than GM versions. What's the deal with those? Sacrilege, or grudging acceptance? The dodge vans actually seem a little nicer looking than the Chevy's.