Chevy & GMC Vans

I saw this response over on another site.
Quite...
GM tested several V8 Astros over the years including one RS with an LT1
Quote...

I asked for more info.

Anything more on this?

I'm pretty sure that if it happened, we would have heard of it by now, or seen pictures. The press is pretty thorogh at digging up all the dirt on concept packages, including a LT1 equipped 2005 Impala. Seems like a menial thing, but GM engineers were all over the car with a wet shirt, talking to the builder and prying specs about the swap. Just like the V8 Solstice conversions. They even built a transmission for FWD with a SBC bolt pattern just for testing purposes.

zook94 wrote:I'm pretty sure that if it happened, we would have heard of it by now, or seen pictures. The press is pretty thorogh at digging up all the dirt on concept packages, including a LT1 equipped 2005 Impala. Seems like a menial thing, but GM engineers were all over the car with a wet shirt, talking to the builder and prying specs about the swap. Just like the V8 Solstice conversions. They even built a transmission for FWD with a SBC bolt pattern just for testing purposes.

I'm having troubles determining it from your post.... you do know the 5.3L V-8 has been available in the Impalla now for a couple of years, right?

(In fact, I wouldn't mind having one...)

mdmead wrote:

zook94 wrote:I'm pretty sure that if it happened, we would have heard of it by now, or seen pictures. The press is pretty thorogh at digging up all the dirt on concept packages, including a LT1 equipped 2005 Impala. Seems like a menial thing, but GM engineers were all over the car with a wet shirt, talking to the builder and prying specs about the swap. Just like the V8 Solstice conversions. They even built a transmission for FWD with a SBC bolt pattern just for testing purposes.

I'm having troubles determining it from your post.... you do know the 5.3L V-8 has been available in the Impalla now for a couple of years, right?

(In fact, I wouldn't mind having one...)

Yep, I am aware of that, but in the early days, when Fiero guys were looking to stuff more power under the hoods, they came up with conventional V8 bellhousing adapters. From that concept, some bored fool put a 6.0 into an Impala, and hit the car show circuit with it. It was then drooled and slobbered all over by GM designers, and cars like the new GTO and the 5.3 Impala were the result. The point was, that there are not any anomalies in the automotive world that aren't at least rumored heavily, and in all my years I have never heard of a factory built V8 Astro. Anyone else?

They did make a few for test purposes ( one of the members on A.S who worked for GM already confirmed this) but they were never offered for sale to the public,now whether they went to the crusher or an exec got ahold of one who knows,but you could not order one from the factory.

GM stopped crushing their test bed vehicles in the late 80's. Their test platform vehicles which were built for reliability/feasibility were beat to crap at the GM proving grounds here in Michigan. A local salvage yard had contract to buy all of the scrap components when they were done with them. His yard is predominantly filled with front halves of GM vehicles, with oddball drivetrains, and some that were just plain worn out. GM goes to the trouble of buying back vehicles that they assembled 10 years ago, and runs the crap out of them at the proving grounds all over again, to see how they fair.

My point is, that when GM is done with vehicles that they don't want publicized, they take a huge band saw and cut the vehicle apart, leaving the drivetrain intact, but removing the VIN and all frame markings. I have bought a few of these myself whole, for drop in cradle engine/transmission transplants.

I'm not saying they didn't build one, but ONE confirmation is a slim chance. I also frequent the Fiero boards, and when they rumor about the factory V8 equipped GT, factory power steering, and a 1989 model prototype, there are pictures, and multiple individuals who have actually eyeballed the questionable assemblies. I would think that for as long as people have been stuffing V8's into Astro vans, at least one picture of confirmation would exist.

Again, I am not saying it is not true. My first experience with a V8 Astro was in 1985, when I assisted in transplanting a 350 from a brand new totalled Silverado pickup with 400 miles into his replacement vehicle. A brand new '85 conversion by Debut coach with fancy captains chairs, and an electric rear bench/bed, and a tall roof.