Chevy & GMC Vans

That's cool Rob.Hummmm-wonder if you could still get those parts from GM direct web page??.

Merlin-during Yeyhoo's build I remember a exchange with him I had talking about weather he should have a scatter shield.I was saying I was concerned for his safety.I remember him saying there wasn't one available from Lakewood and that the Astro bellhousing was a one of a kind.One thing was the slave cylinder and I thought he said the mounting of the tranny on the bellhousing was canted towards the driver's side to help with the shifter location.I admit I might be wrong about the second thing. :-k

I seem to be one step ahead of you here. I all ready thought about a scatter shield and have one that may work in my van. I had bought it for the 30 Chevy I just sold and the guy didn’t want it as he is going to go with an auto in that. Sad really sad to do that but it is his now so on with this ride. Making the mount for a slave cylinder shouldn’t be that big of deal and since I am not going to use a stock trans canting it, which I haven’t seen any where before except in some Camaro’s, I won’t worry about. I will decide on the trans after I get the pedal and the rest of the little toys installed or at least close. Thanks for the idea though always welcome ideas.

Rob, does that book also show the brake pedal, with part numbers? I had one guy tell me that he thought the brake pedal in a manual trans van was slighty different than with an automatic. Does any one know for sure? Maybe a slight difference in width or off set? Curious since I was told this yesterday.

Merlin, the book doesn't seem to differentiate between a brake pedal for an automatic and one for a manual. But the part number for the brake pedal is different if the van has anti-lock brakes. I see a pedal part number of 15588211 for an '85-'87 van; no anti-lock brakes. The number for a 1990 van with anti-lock brakes is 15617145, but the description clearly states that this is a "pedal kit", so I don't really know if the pedal is different or not. However, the parts drawing sure makes the pedals look different.
Notice that I didn't include the pedal part number for an '87-'89 van--that's because the manual doesn't list a pedal for those two years. I suspect that means that those year vans didn't come with a brake pedal (har-de-har, what a wit I am. Sorry couldn't resist).

So...I'm going to say that there is no difference between the auto and manual pedal. I suspect that you'll be finding out shortly, though!

I really didn't think there would be a difference but then again you cannot think normal when it comes to what an engineer at Chevy might do. I met a few of them over the years when I was a tech at Chevy dealerships and they do think different than normal people do really different. Some of the things they thought would be a great idea turned out to be a really bad idea and I know some of you understand that in so many ways.

Both boxes just got here. Thank you Rob for the parts and the book. Now comes the hard part actually doing the conversion. Original engine and trans should be out tomorrow, if all goes well and back says it is ok to do it all. Then clean up, painting and on to see what is what for the manual trans to happen.
Rob PM sent!

Merlin...huh, the boxes got there all ready?! All the way from Ohio to California?! Unbelievable, I only just sent them out via the post office Saturday (4-11-09) morning by the cheapest way possible. Holy pharook, would they have arrived before I shipped them had I chosen express delivery? I think I'm hearing the Twilight Zone theme music right now...

Gary, I haven't given up on my desire to create an accessible way to install a manual transmission in an Astro/Safari, the project may currently be on the back burner due to my Olds, but I have the dimensions of the OEM clutch pedal and think that a duplicate could be made, if desired. I'm still looking over Craigslist for a '96 4.3 S10 NV3500 5 speed transmission at the right price. I believe it could be a near perfect choice for an Astro.
Thanks again for sending me the clutch parts.

Dean, weren't you the first one to get these parts? Do you know what year Astro they came off of?

Wow that was fast then.

SafariRob wrote:Dean, weren't you the first one to get these parts? Do you know what year Astro they came off of?

They were out of an 86 Safari 2.5L, 4 speed cargo.

Sorry to take so long to do anything on this but the old back is acting up and now a shoulder. I pulled the old six out. Good-bye to that, it will never be in this van again. I put in a empty small block Chevy V-8 so that I could see what trans will fit and where all the goodies that go with it will go. First problem popped up right off. No place for the pedal to fit. There is no place to mount it like in the early vans. So I will have to make up something for that or find something in a JY. Wonder what the odds are on that? LOL! On to what else will not go. I put the M-22 Four gear I have up and in and bolted it to the scatter shield on the back of the block. Once more problems popped up. The shifter would be behind the seat. Not good. Either another trans is needed or some strange shifter will have to be made and I don’t really like that option. Problem popped up again. This time it is me. While pulling the four gear out it slipped off the jack, chain pulled off I know be careful, any way I hurt my shoulder that has been bugging me for some time. It didn't fall but my stopping it from coming off the jack hurt. So the van is on jacks and sitting waiting for me to stop hurting. In the mean time I am looking at different transmissions. I would love a six speed since the M-22 is not going to fly here. I have a buyer for the M-22, so all is good even though that trans was my first choice. Maybe the T56 Magnum? That one is a six speed looks something like the T56 and might fit since it has the option is there for different positions for the shifter. Getting brochure on that soon I hope. Just thought I would bring all up to date. Getting back to healing. Once I find something that works I will take a few pictures and put up here. So far nothing really is happening so no reason.

Hope you feel better soon. Can't wait to see how this comes together.

You tha one Larry. Can't wait to see pics of all this. Always thought these vans needed a 4,5 or 6 speed. Not everyone has heard a van go through the gears. Got to get a video with sound of this after it's all done. The sound and sight of an Astro powershift.
Take care of that back and shoulder.

Only takes time and I seem to have a lot of that any more. Pictures will be no real problem the video and sound that is. I guess it will be a good reason to buy a camera huh?

Yep,,think it's a great reason to buy a camera. Good luck with the install Larry. =D>

Merlin, glad to see that you dropped in and gave an update. I'm looking forward to seeing some photos, but first priorities first, get that shoulder healed.

I still haven't found the "right" NV3500 transmission yet...but one is out there, I just know it.