Chevy & GMC Vans

curious... so let's call it a hypothetical..

my 97 awd runs amazing the drivers rocker is getting scabby and noticed the rad support is in really rough shape as well as the ac doesn't work. only has 190,000km on it

i came across a 99 2wd slt that is mint but the motor is pooched = very cheap

what would i be up against in having my motor/drive train/sub frame etc etc all swapped under the 99. would everything including wiring harness and other items all need to be changed along with computer and all that jazz?

thanks

I've done it, but took my damn sweet time.
It was pretty straightfwd and no big surprises, just a lot of work breaking rusty bolts loose.

Mine was a 95 awd to an 87 2wd body. so I have no idea about the computers, but you might just use the intake manifold/fuel system from the 2WD van if they are different between the years.
If your luck to get a 2wd van withthe same rear axle gearing as your awd van, it will save you from swapping the back end.

thanks for the tip on the rear end. didn't even think about that one.

i'll see how it all plays out. ultimately, i'd like the body as rust free as possible, a near impossible feat hear in rustario (ontario)

i cry every time i see an underbody pic of a van from a salt free area that is years older than mine

You know Rob-taking a rust free body to use VS fixing what you have,my two cents is your money ahead even with what it would take to change everything over with a rust free body.

dunno gary... i waited to long debating about the 99 .. could have got it for ~ $800 .. it's gone

the rockers I can fix... the rear bumper i can change.. my biggest issue is the rad support .. for the amount of effort/labor/skill involved in removing mine, removing one and still be useable from a donor van and then installing in mine...

the van is undercoated/rustproofed like crazy.. so the entire upper 1/2 of the support is mint. it's the bottom 1/2 that looks like swiss cheese.

i'll keep debating... maybe it'll fix itself ... LOL

It should be illegal to salt etc our roads. We somehow got on with our lives before "they" started that. Not only is it devaluing our property and sometimes rusting it to where it's unsafe to drive, the runoff kills whatever it comes into contact with.

I agree, Stan. That was a really bad idea. Colorado uses cinders. It works good and doesn't harm the enviro. Crash...that sounds like a bolt in swap. Everything should be plug and play.As "doyou" mentioned the axle ratios have to be the same. Good luck.

this hypothetical awd into 2wd scenario is dead gary. now that i've got that 96 awd mentioned in the other thread.
re: road salt.... as Stan mentioned, it should be illegal. you'd think with all the tightening environmental restrictions for everything under the sun and political correctness gone overboard that this crap hasn't come up and been outlawed

*steps off soap box*

You can't outlaw all the salt...if there was snow on the roads, how are the weenies gonna get through with their Priuses?