Chevy & GMC Vans

This is from deep within the GM media web site. I have changed and paraphrased it to prevent problems.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Model:
  • Astro passenger, cargo van, rear or all-wheel-drive
    Body style / driveline: cargo, 7-8 passenger van with sliding side doors
    unibody/stub-frame construction, front engine, rear- or all-wheel-drive
    EPA vehicle class: midsize van
    Manufacturing location: Baltimore, Maryland
    
    
    Engine
    
    • Type: 4.3-liter OHV V6 with cast iron block, LU3
      Displacement (cu in / cc): 262 / 4300
      Bore & stroke: (in / mm): 4.00 x 3.48 / 101.6 x 88.39
      Cylinder head material: cast iron
      Valvetrain: overhead valve / two valves per cylinder
      Ignition system: composite distributor, platinum-tipped spark plugs,
      low-resistance spark plug wires
      Fuel delivery: multi point fuel injection (MPI)
      Compression ratio: 9.2:1
      Horsepower (hp / kw @ rpm): 190 / 142 @ 4400
      Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm): 250 / 339 @ 2800
      Recommended fuel: 87 octane
      Maximum engine speed (rpm): 5600
      Emissions system: three-way catalytic converter, positive crankcase
      ventilation, evaporative collection system
      Estimated fuel economy (mpg city / hwy / combined):
      • Passenger: RWD: 15 / 20 / 17; AWD: 15 / 18 / 16
        Cargo: RWD: 17 / 22 / 19; AWD: 15 / 20 / 17
    
    Transmission
    
    • Type: 4L60-E, four-speed electronic automatic with overdrive and torque converter
      Gear ratios: (:1):
      First: 3.06
      Second: 1.63
      Third: 1:00
      Fourth: 0.70
      Reverse: 2.29
      Final drive ratio: 3.42:1 optional; 3.73:1 optional
    
    Chassis/Suspension
    
    • Front:
      • RWD: Independent Short/Long Arm (SLA) with coil springs
        AWD: Independent Short/Long Arm (SLA) with torsion bars
      Rear: rigid axle with variable-rate, gas-charged shock absorbers and steel multileaf springs
      
      Steering type: variable-ratio recirculating ball-type integral power
      • Ratio (overall): 16 / 13:1
        Steering wheel turns, lock-to-lock: RWD: 3.1; AWD: 2.7
        Turning circle, curb-to-curb (ft / m): RWD: 40.5 / 12.3; AWD: 43.8 / 13.4
      Brakes
      • Type: hydraulic power, front disc / rear drum, ventilated front rotors, audible pad-wear sensors, four-wheel ABS
        Rotor diameter x thick, front (in / mm): RWD: 11.86 x 1.04 / 301 x 26; AWD: 11.57 x 1.25 / 294 x 32
        Drum size diameter x width, rear (in / mm): RWD, AWD: 9.5 x 2.0 / 241 x 51
        Swept area (sq in / sq cm): front: 239.6 / 1545.9; rear: 119.4 / 770
      Wheels/Tires
      • Wheel size & type: 15-inch x 6.5-inch steel (aluminum optional on LS and Cargo Vans with YF7 Upfitter Package)
        Tire size & type: P215/75R15 all-season, steel belted radials
    
    Dimensions
    
    Exterior
    • Wheelbase (in / mm): 111.2 / 2825
      Overall length (in / mm): 189.8 / 4821
      Overall width (in / mm): 77.5 / 1969
      Overall height (in / mm): RWD: 74.9 / 1903; AWD: 74.8 / 1900
      Track (in / mm):
      • Front: RWD, AWD: 65.1 / 1654
        Rear: RWD, AWD: 65.1 / 1654
      Min. ground clearance (in / mm): 6.8 / 173
      Ground to top of rear load floor (in / mm): RWD: 25.9 / 658; AWD: 25.8 / 655
      Step-in height (in / mm):
      • RWD cargo: front door: 18.9 / 480; side door: 20.7 / 526
        AWD cargo: front door: 18.8 / 478; side door: 20.6 / 523
        RWD, AWD passenger: front door: 18.6 / 472; side door: 20.2 / 513
      Base curb weight (lbs / kg):
      • RWD cargo: 3923 / 1783; AWD cargo: 4187 / 1903
        RWD passenger: 4302 / 1958; AWD passenger: 4573 / 2079
    Interior
    • Seating capacity, 8 total:
      First Row Second Row Third Row
      2 3 3
      Head room (in / mm): 39.2 / 996 37.9 / 963 38.7 / 983
      Leg room (in / mm): 41.6 / 1057 36.5 / 927 38.5 / 978
      Shoulder room (in / mm): 64.0 / 1626 67.1 / 1704 67.1 / 1704
      Hip room (in / mm): 64.9 / 1649 50.9 / 1293 57.1 / 1450
    Cargo Area
    • Cargo volume (cu ft / liters):
      first row: 170.4 / 4825.2*; second row: 104.4 / 2956.3* third row: 41.3 / 1169.5*
      Width between wheelhousings (in / mm): 51.6 / 1310
      Load floor length (in / mm):
      to console: 126.0 / 3200; to back of front seats: 98.6 / 2504
      to back of middle seats: 61.7 / 1567; to back of rear seats: 28.4 / 722
      Interior height (in / mm):
      47.2 / 1199
      
      *Maximum first-row volume with middle and second seat removed; second-row volume behind second seat; third-row volume behind third seat.
    
    Capacities
    
    • GVWR, standard (lbs / kg):
      • RWD cargo: 5600 / 2540; AWD cargo: 5850 / 2654
        RWD passenger: 5950 / 2699; AWD passenger: 6100 / 2767
      Payload, base (lbs / kg):
      • RWD cargo: 1677 / 762.3; AWD cargo: 1663 / 755.9
        RWD passenger: 1648 / 749.1; AWD passenger: 1527 / 694.1
      Trailer towing maximum, with 3.73 axle ratio (lbs / kg):
      • RWD cargo: 5800 / 2631; AWD cargo: 5600 / 2540
        RWD passenger: 5400 / 2449; AWD passenger: 5200 / 2359
      Max tongue weight (lbs / kg): 200 / 90.9 with weight-carrying hitch; 10-15 percent of trailer weight with weight-distributing hitch and sway control
      Fuel tank (gal / liters): 27 / 102.2
      Engine oil with filter (qts / liters): 4.5 / 4.3
      Cooling system (qts / liters): 13.5 / 12.8, 16.5 / 15.6 with rear heater

This is not the first time I have looked at OEM Label spec's on the vehicle or as presented above. Two things have always puzzled me in what the manufacture says it does or can handle.

1) In reference to the following for quick reference although slightly different from my 96 AWD Passenger Van.

"Capacities


GVWR, standard (lbs / kg):

RWD cargo: 5600 / 2540; AWD cargo: 5850 / 2654
RWD passenger: 5950 / 2699; AWD passenger: 6100 / 2767

Payload, base (lbs / kg):

RWD cargo: 1677 / 762.3; AWD cargo: 1663 / 755.9
RWD passenger: 1648 / 749.1; AWD passenger: 1527 / 694.1 "

Here we have load capacity of 1527lbs (mine is about 1300 on the sticker) and as an 8 seater means 190lbs per person and you're fully loaded. What about lugage & towing weight plus pulling an 5200LBS. If you add this all up it nearly doubles the 6100 and my max rating. We all know we can tow several thousand pound trailers with standard equipment and take people and the close on our backs as well. So in the real world 1+2+3=not 6. In my 96 8 people of 175lbs max's out the load. There have been a number of towing discussions lately and this addes to the concept/understanding. I have Caravan rated for 1000lb trailering and yet I towed 2000-3000lbs old Starcraft with he VAN loaded, 4 passengers, roof carrier ~20 cu ft across most of the country. Yeah I pushed it. But what of these number. The are don't relate to the scenio I presented and if you followed them you would not do what most of us do do!

2) Horsepower (hp / kw @ rpm): 190 / 142 @ 4400

Do you all have 190HP with the W engines as is mine? Well I submit the answer to this spec is NO. Why? Well how many of you cuised down the highway, pulled your trailer, climbed a steep hill using these 190HP. I say none and why. Well you would have had to rev that sucker up to 4400RPM and we all know the engine is between 600RPM & 3000 at highest when you ask it for more whatever. In fact most high speed driving is still under 2000RPM and even when downshifting is usually below 3000. How many HP do you have a the lower end. Well they don't tell us and if you wanted the 190HP you would scare yourself at the sound of the engine screaming at 4400RPM or higher. You would not do it and be scared as hell in blowing the tranny to boot. Will it survive runing in this end of the powe curve through the warranty period. I doubt it entirely.

So why don't we get the info presented which reflect HP in starting off E.G. 1500RPM when the tranny is getting enough torque converter pressure to start pulling and when we're crusing at at 50-65mph we're under 1800RPM. What is the HP to climb and pull the load up them hills etc say 2000RPM?

So you get my point. Heh Waterboy and you hauling 2500lbs of water inside that sucker. Well you overloaded her to the spring snaping point according to GM.

Let see what some of the Great minds out the make of this. I did not create the spec but is this just another OEM cop out. You exceeded the load rating and your warranty is void! Syndrome.

I agree on the towing stuff, I never quite got it, to the best of my knoledge, that wouldbe without changing the driving charactersitics drastically...

as for the horsepower it is not all that important.... it is the torque that gets you moving in the low end, and according to this you have 250 Ft/Lbs @ 2800RPM, so when you down shift that is what you get... horsepower doesnt really meen anything for a daily driver, torque is what gets you moving the horsepower keeps you going threw the high RPM range

BINGO Someone.

HP is a function of torque. For towing/hauling torque is king... look at the diesels in the big rigs. I could easily accelerate up the very steep northern pass of the big horns in 2nd with 1200+lbs. in the astro and 3500lbs on the hitch. Bring on more torque? why not.

Nascar is sustained high speed driving and when you build a nascar engine you pay close attention to the horsepower curve it produces.

Drag racing is all about acceleration. When you build a drag engine you care about one thing and one thing only, Torque! and the traction to put it to the ground of course.

The rated load capacities are the capacities that GM says won't reduce the life of the vehicle, which is designed for about a 7 year life expectancy in the case of GM trucks. GM's load specs are based on many factors other than do you have enough power. vehicle load and tongue weight specs are greatly affected by the tiny rear end, chassis construction, and spring load ratings. Trailer and GCVWR are greatly affected by trans and driveline strength (including engine strength and power), chassis strength, aux trans cooling, engine cooling, gear ratio, and BRAKES!

The Astro:
softly sprung rear for better "ride"
small diameter non floating rear diff w/small bearings
relatively weak brakes
rear chassis is unibody
no Aux trans cooler
anemic radiator IMO

These are the primary problems with the Astro's design in my opinion and if you look at my mods list you can see they are all things I have addressed or am addressing except the rear end which is heavy enough for what I expect of it (with the 3.73's) and simply keep the fluid fresh and synth and keep the takeoffs smooth.