awd astro

ANYTHING TO DO WITH SWAPPING A V8 OR DIESEL INTO THE ASTRO/SAFARI
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titocrx88
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
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awd astro

Post by titocrx88 »

is the chevrolet express engine a big block or small?if is a big block can i swap it in my 1998 awd astro?

LiftedAWDAstro
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Re: awd astro

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Both and yes you can swap it. The tranny and rear axle will need to be changed as well as they won't hold up to BBC power.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

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Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

Cobra
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Re: awd astro

Post by Cobra »

wait what do you mean both
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler

1997 gone
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1Gary
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Re: awd astro

Post by 1Gary »

Might help if you gave us some more details and what you are looking at for a engine.What does the engine tag say on the rad support of the donor van??.You could swap both,but a 5.7 would be easier.
1979 Malibu drag race only car
1999 Sonoma 4.3 5 speed-Rufus
1989 Astro-Ole Yellar cancelled-still selling off parts
1985 Astro-shop van R.I.P. my friend
1994 Astro LT RWD W4.3 rod knock RIP
1982 Winnebago single rear wheel-Chevy 350 Scraped 1/28/13-broken dreams......


Rochester,NY

LiftedAWDAstro
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Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: awd astro

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

I mean the express was available with both a SBC and a BBC as well as diesel.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

rlsllc
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Re: awd astro

Post by rlsllc »

Anything can be done with enough work, but the easiest would be the Vortec 5.7 or 5.0, which were in Express and Savana vans (plus a lot of other GM vehicles fro 1996 on) until 2002, IIRC. Oil pan, mounts, run a couple new wires for the 2 extra injectors and new connector, clearance for the right exhaust manifold, flash the PCM, and it goes in fairly easy.

The 8.1 or newer 4.8, 5.3, and 6.0 would be a hassle, but possible with a lot more fabrication.

I'm working on 5.7 vortec swap on a 1999 AWD now, and a 1989 with a TPI 350, SM465 4-speed trans, and a NP241 T-case with front disconnect.
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