Chevy & GMC Vans

replaced my idler arms, powersteering pump (thank you previous safari!!), belt, greased everything with a nipple (haha. nipple..), fixed passenger door handle PITA btw.

Installed an aux tranny cooler and in-line magnefine filter.

3 weeks ago the transmission started slipping, I did a pan drop & filter service, adding Valvoline fully synth Dex VI and 1 bottle of Lubeguard Red, the slipping stopped for 2 weeks and shifting was feeling better overall & smoother but then happened a couple of times again

When i did the service the magnet inside the pan was completed lost in ferrous fines and the fluid was rather dark so today I decided to fit the Tru-Cool 4544 stacked plate cooler along with a second bottle of Lubeguard Red, topped off with more Valvoline fully synthetic Dex VI as my best shot at fixing it!

havent run it yet, fingers crossed.

Sweet Install.

Prior to radiator or after?

Thanks, Jim

Picked up supplies to change engine oil, 2 quarts of Auto-Trak II for the transfer case and oil for the front diff. Camping season starts next week!

some pics of my van as it sits:


the new parts (going back to junkyard tomorrow for grille, composite (halogen) headlights, and new bumper since I found out mine are unusable)

thegreenmachine wrote:replaced my idler arms, powersteering pump (thank you previous safari!!), belt, greased everything with a nipple (haha. nipple..), fixed passenger door handle PITA btw.

isnt it great to have a parts van?
Did a bit of rock crawling in my van after work just for fun.

When i did the service the magnet inside the pan was completed lost in ferrous fines and the fluid was rather dark so today I decided to fit the Tru-Cool 4544 stacked plate cooler along with a second bottle of Lubeguard Red, topped off with more Valvoline fully synthetic Dex VI as my best shot at fixing it!

Nice cooler install. I like to put them in sideways to purge out the air more effectively, though.

thanks chaps...Jim, take a closer look at the 2nd pic "043.jpg"...you will see that i have run the lines coming out of the rad and then back into that top rad return line, hence im using both original plus new cooling together. I was advised to put the magnefine before the aux cooler to keep the cooler itself clean.

im happy with the install, it went well, enjoyed making my first photo contribution to the forum...

wkastro....thanks for the comment, may i ask, what is the logic behind what you said?

wkastro....thanks for the comment, may i ask, what is the logic behind what you said?

It is easier for the air to be bled from the top of the bubble.

I dropped it off at the body shop! Estimated time to repair: 2-3 weeks.

picked up the rest of the parts yesterday -grille, halogen composite lights and a clean bumper. then today I found a 2000 conversion van with a blown motor on craigslist for $700. I called the guy and found out I know him and drive by the van every week. Its a hi top conversion with 4 captains chairs, full length running boards, alot of striping, and overall its a really clean van (except one of the running boards broke over the rear wheels.) its 2 tone white enamel with gold painted striping. he said it dropped a cylinder. so I'm gonna see if my motor (1997) is compatible with a 2000 computer and have it dropped in. if not, I'll have to swap the computer along with it.
anyone need van parts? my old one and all the parts I bought to fix it (2 fenders, composite lights with entire light harness, grille, hood, bumper, and core support) are going to be sold. I'm taking my stereo system and the silverado seats, but anything else will be sold or scrapped. If anyones interested, my van is a '97 with about 145k miles on it. options include rear AC and factory tinted windows. it will have no engine or transmission. I will sell it as parts or whole. it has a clean MO title.

I found a 2000 conversion van with a blown motor on craigslist for $700

Good find, Kev - are you going to have to change your ASV user name to Astro Kev?

wkastro wrote:

I found a 2000 conversion van with a blown motor on craigslist for $700

Good find, Kev - are you going to have to change your ASV user name to Astro Kev?

nope- its a safari conversion van, so I'll be keeping my name as Safari Kev. even if it was an astro, I'd safari-ize it. I know its all in my head, but I always thought safaris were nicer than astros. Anyways I'll post pics tomorrow after I drive the new van home. he said it runs, but only sorta (since it has a dropped cylinder). good thing I don't live very far from him. it'll be on the road by friday so my dad can take it cross country next week (taking it on a trip to chi-town). I'm having the swap done professionally since I dont have a garage or a lift or the time/stamina to do it myself (still have really bad headaches and body aches from the accident). Its odd how everythiing sorta worked out (granted I'll be flat broke and have to deal with a parts van, but its not like its the end of the world or anything). finding a nice conversion van the day after my birthday kinda makes up for me totaling the '97 van 2 days before my birthday. kinda.

greased every nipple, tried to rehang some rattly exhaust sections, cleaned up and re-routed the trailer plug wiring, installed an old chev truck transfer case floor shifter so now I can work the transfer case gears. I installed a jeep cj front drive shaft a few weeks ago. took it for a drive and checked out low range

dropped my old van off at the shop (last time it'll ever move under its own power). it actually drives perfectly straight, just I have to turn left very slow. picked up my new van- its a 2000 safari conversion done by explorer conversions. It is the sweetest van EVER!. it has everything I was gonna put in my van- comfy seats, a fold down bed (power to boot), and fancy lights in the ceiling. plus it has a TV and VCR and tinted windows, blinds, and an alarm system. guy agreed to selling it for $600 because he knows me. He said someone came by and offered him alot more than he was asking, but he didn't like the guy so he sold it to me instead. he said the engine blew 6 months but he didnt sell it until this week.
its got a 4 cylinder 4.3. exhaust reeks of gas and engine dies at idle. its very loud out the tailpipe and sounds like a lawn mower. if you floor it it does about 40mph. guy had to drive halfway back from a road trip to southern MO with a blown motor.
old van getting prepped for engine swap


and the new van. it is the most awesome looking conversion van ever (IMO of course)