Chevy & GMC Vans

Tonight driving Rufus Got me thinking how much I enjoy a stick shift.That I will miss that with Ole Yellar.

I don't remember,but has anyone swapped a T56 into a early RWD Astro??. All I know about them is they are pricy even out of a junk yard and you can get them with a .50 6th gear which I think would be pretty cool for my use. That and I am guessing shifter location in a Astro might be a issue.

In a brief search I found this.

viewtopic.php?f=70&t=5891&p=62236&hilit=T56#p62236

But nothing so far where the swap was posted as complete.

Good luck. This will add 2 or 3 years to the build...might wanna stick with a 700R4 to get the van on the road and then start building a T56 swap.

The 700R4 slated to go behind the built high torque 383 and live isn't cheap either.

I don't understand the length of time your speaking of.Please explain that.

For those new members not knowing what Ole Yellar is,here is a ref link to one of the threads:

viewtopic.php?f=70&t=7332&p=74121&hilit ... ect#p74121

1Gary wrote:The 700R4 slated to go behind the built high torque 383 and live isn't cheap either.

I don't understand the length of time your speaking of.Please explain that.

Buts its cheaper than buildin a stick!

Times a tickin O'le timer...do I dare ask who or what is Rufus?

Rufus is a 1999 Sonoma 5 speed 4.3 RWD that replaced the 94LT.

What I mean by the time of 2 - 3 years is that you have been working on the engine for what 3 or 4 years now and you built engines all your life. Might want to KISS this and make it work with is known to work. By the time you get this van ready to drive, you'll be in your 70's! Might wanna get it going...time is ticking! We can't have more traffic here if members only talk about building something.

Brief search on Ebay and car-part.com has trannies running from $2,500 to $1,500.Certainly not forgetting the other parts involved in a stick-shift conversion.The lower price of $1,500 I would have invested into a 700R4.I have a 700R4 needing a rebuild set aside that is a truck V8 one with the better clutches.Needs a sun gear and then I don't know what else until it gets opened up.A total update to handle 500lbs of torque slightly off idle would be needed and for that I would buy TCI auto parts which aren't cheap.

Sure seems a shame to invest the $1,500 into a 700R4 to just take it out a short time later for the T56.Hummm.

That $1,500 in the 700R4 does not include the T/C'er or any trans cooler or fan either.

It all depends on how soon you wanna drive this thing. If it going to be a project for the next 10 years, keep changing what you are doing. If you are wanting to drive it KISS!

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:What I mean by the time of 2 - 3 years is that you have been working on the engine for what 3 or 4 years now and you built engines all your life. Might want to KISS this and make it work with is known to work. By the time you get this van ready to drive, you'll be in your 70's! Might wanna get it going...time is ticking! We can't have more traffic here if members only talk about building something.

But,but,but,it's not only me.Rebel,Mark,So Calli V8,Me,and a whole host of others are still working their projects.

I have a secret.Shuuuu,don't tell anyone.I'm making a big move towards getting the bottom end balanced so a short block can be put together.

Those guys are much younger than you and are in better health.

Well I was hoping I could get you to come down for a working day visit when I am ready to drop out the sub frame.Of course I would provide the pizza and drinks of your choice.Sure could be on hell of pictures to post on here too.That marks the true beginning of this project that both of us could celebrate.

1Gary wrote:But,but,but,it's not only me.Rebel,Mark,So Calli V8,Me,and a whole host of others are still working their projects.

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:Those guys are much younger than you and are in better health.

1Gary wrote:Well I was hoping I could get you to come down for a working day visit when I am ready to drop out the sub frame.<>That marks the true beginning of this project that both of us could celebrate.

So, Gary, I thought you wanted to just drive it not race it.....
Why dontcha just go get a 5 speed out of a 3/4 ton chevy truck that had a SBC of the sameish year as your engine/van.
Bolt them together, and cut a hole in the floor where-ever the shifter wants to poke thru.
Bend the lever to a place where you can use it. Move on.....
I know i've said this to ya before, but , it isnt and doesnt have to be rocket science.
I,ve seen pictures of all the progress made so far on some of those peoples vans.
Rebel put his corvette rear end in so long ago, it was on the original site.
Same thing goes for So-caliV8's V8 , and now you hardly ever see him on here anymore.
Probably has more kids, grandkids or a different project now or some other "life" going on.
Could ya ask your son or son in law or grandson to come help you build it ?

doyoulikeithere wrote:

1Gary wrote:But,but,but,it's not only me.Rebel,Mark,So Calli V8,Me,and a whole host of others are still working their projects.

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:Those guys are much younger than you and are in better health.

1Gary wrote:Well I was hoping I could get you to come down for a working day visit when I am ready to drop out the sub frame.<>That marks the true beginning of this project that both of us could celebrate.

So, Gary, I thought you wanted to just drive it not race it.....
Why dontcha just go get a 5 speed out of a 3/4 ton chevy truck that had a SBC of the sameish year as your engine/van.
Bolt them together, and cut a hole in the floor where-ever the shifter wants to poke thru.
Bend the lever to a place where you can use it. Move on.....
I know i've said this to ya before, but , it isnt and doesnt have to be rocket science.
I,ve seen pictures of all the progress made so far on some of those peoples vans.
Rebel put his corvette rear end in so long ago, it was on the original site.
Same thing goes for So-caliV8's V8 , and now you hardly ever see him on here anymore.
Probably has more kids, grandkids or a different project now or some other "life" going on.
Could ya ask your son or son in law or grandson to come help you build it ?

I have waiting for you to post to this thread. I think your one person who understands what I mean about liking a stick shift. The thing that I would question about your suggestion about a 3/4 ton 5 speed is wouldn't first gear be a creeper gear to a 2 gear that would be a steep jump up. What would the 5th gear be??. Honestly I am concerned about after all the planning in the 383,I sure don't want to see go to waste.

Your input is important to me.I trust what you say.