R.I.P. 1994 LT

1Gary · Post by **1Gary** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:10 pm

The engine has a knock in it and the oil pressure is way off.A trooper to the end.It still runs and it is parked in front of the shop.Tried a oil change and filter and no go.What's next is hard to say.Drove the RV home and sure not going to be going very far with that gas hog.Sure does suck the timing of this............... ](*,)

doyoulikeithere · Post by **doyoulikeithere** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 5:45 pm

Aw, Thats Too Bad Gary.
Is that the same van you were starting major rust repairs on? If so, maybe this is a good thing.
I see older vans all the time with little or no rust for a few hundred bucks.
Just last week, I was tempted by a lowered 89 cargo with NO glass for 450 bux, but when I called it was already gone!
Point is, theres lottsa vans out there for cheep for those with time to watch and grab!
Best of luck to ya whatever you decide to do.

1Gary · Post by **1Gary** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:19 pm

Nope-it was my daily driver.

1Gary · Post by **1Gary** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:23 am

So now that I have gone threw my head swimming over this,question is what am I going to do??.I do have over the last three months tons of money invested in this rusty van.I do regret having the intake done.I can't provide it,but if there was sludge in w lifter valley and the guy doing the intake allowed that to get into the oil,even with the oil change,it could have created this situation.It never ran right after that.So I talked to my machine shop and he told me a rebuild would be about a grand. ](*,) I haven't looked hard at a good used engine yet.I have surfed Ebay and Craigslist and really didn't find a replacement van in my price range.I really don't want a AWD van for a number of reasons.

CaptSquid · Post by **CaptSquid** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:39 am

OK, so how much does a remaned (?) engine cost? I'd say go for either one if the body is sound.

1Gary · Post by **1Gary** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:55 pm

Mike see where I said it is rusty??.

LiftedAWDAstro · Post by **LiftedAWDAstro** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:05 pm

As much as I hate to say it, might be time to part it out or scrap it. For what you will put into the engine, you can buy a small beater car that is cheaper on gas giving more cash for the build. PM sent.

1Gary · Post by **1Gary** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:55 pm

PM asnwered

1Gary · Post by **1Gary** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 6:59 am

As I think more about this I need to consider what I am loosing by not having this van.It is the only tow vehicle that I have to move the trailers around so I can work on them or have work done to them.That is the 12' dual axle trailer and the vendor trailer.The 12' trailer is one those they don't build anymore and is very heavy/heavy duty.It is intended to go behind the RV which doesn't have a hitch right now.To use the RV to just move the trailer in and out of the shop would be a real PITA.

As I think back over the last few months working on the LT the memory of the number of times I have had to take off the air filter box/top fan shroud just to get to the front of the engine and the fact that for the last couple of months I have ridden around without the counsel on the dog house and not put back the passenger seat because I was not sure if I would need to get back into a tight engine compartment,rings true how much I dread working on these vans.I have been in mechanics long time so I do know how to think threw things like that.It is just the design that to work on them it kind of is what it is.Might be just some burn-out having to do what I have towards the end of this van.Don't get me wrong,this van has been very good to me and it has been the last 6 months that it seemed to become a money pit.

Years ago I made the move to Astro's from Aerostar's which is tons worse for the engine compartment and are known for bad heads/head gaskets.I had two and both ended up with the same problem.But before that I had a 4.3 1992 S10 ext cab pick-up which was really good to me as well.Also had a 5 speed 1989 S10 pick-up reg cab that was also very good to me.That was a 2.8 V6 which I wasn't very thrilled with,but gave great gas mileage.Trailers aside,I still have sheets of medal and supplies I need to transport to the shop too.

So what am I saying??. Well because of the amount of money into the van in the last few months rust or not,makes it hard to walk away from.So I haven't stopped looking into a good used engine for it at a good price.Yuk I would have to put it in.........

If not for that,a S10 RWD pick-up is a strong possibility as a shop truck/daily driver.It would be a refreshing change to work in those engine compartments.

I want to be very,very.clear that the Florida 1989 at some point to be a high top conversion Ole Yellar project which I have 7yrs and three vans and building a 383 for is still on.Short of death,I am not/never walking away from that.Also given the "minimum" rust repair,that van will not be driven in the snow.Not even a possibility.It is parked in the shop to be built.

HPbyStan · Post by **HPbyStan** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:23 am

Gary, if it's time to replace the engine anyway, why not a small block from the same year pickup. Your exhaust system will even bolt up. Put the V8 chip in your puter, new conversion motor mounts and you're good to go in about the same amount of time and work.

1Gary · Post by **1Gary** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:53 am

Stan I do have a second set of conversion mounts and thought about that.It's the electronics being a E tranny and a CPI that is what is keeping me from that.I got a quote for a 80,000 mile 94 Astro engine for $450 which is a W engine like I got.It needs a spider injector and the one on mine is ok.But that is just with only one call,so I haven't made up my mind yet.

blacknome · Post by **blacknome** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:08 am

I like the S10 / Sonoma. Parts are cheap and plentiful plus they are easy to work on. I don't think they are a whole lot better on fuel but they do get a couple more MPG than the van would. However around here they are just as hard ( and harder ) to find in good shape than a van would be.

However that would still be my personal #2 choice for replacement. Due to my needs for clean dry secure storage required for occasional deliveries + having 2 kids and 2 dogs another Astro / Safari would be my #1 choice for replacement. But it would have to be a 2002+ so I could re-use the winter/summer tires I have from my current 2003 van.

Depending on your bank account and your needs for a van maybe it's time to upsize to a Savanna. One of the couriers I use regularly had an Astro since new in 1996 and squeezed 720+ thousand kms on the orig motor, 1 trans swap and rear ( RIP astro as he was t-boned 6 months ago and the van written off with little damage ). He replaced it with a 3 year old Savanna, 5.3v8 for $7k and is claiming near the same MPG ( down to 15mpg from 17mpg all city driving with varying loads ) with more space and power.

All that being said I hate rust repairs and body work. So for me putting money into a rusty van would not be ideal ( because if I need to sell it nobody will give me $$ for a rusty van even with a new motor, trans, tires ect... ). Plus the fact that removing the rust will eventually eat it's way thru my time, money and most patch repairs. So ultimately a replacement motor would need to be secured and installed for less than $1000 knowing it would only serve as a temporary fix for up to a year until a replacment vehicle is found.

Using a pros vs cons list what is there of $ value/pros on the current van that would want you want to keep it and possibly swap over or save for another van ? Tires, brakes, transmission ect if good on the current van can be used as spare/replacement parts on a replacement van. If there isn't much value left in the current van then it's a great time to walk away and find a replacement that will fit your needs. It would be nice to squeeze a few more MPG's because we all know with certainty ( and the new CAFE requirements in the next 10 years ) that the price of gas is going nowhere but up and anything we can do to save some $$ at the pumps would be great!

When the time come to replace my van I will be looking hard at a Sprinter or Savanna

Good luck

1Gary · Post by **1Gary** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:40 pm

I know a full size van like you talked about isn't in the running.I do think to get a good used engine in could be done for under a grand if I do the swap.I am thinking like it was with this van to find a S10 timing is everything.When I got this van I paid only $800 for it needing a trans build and only $800 for the trans rebuilt installed.Then went about making it my own over the yrs I have had it.Gezzz that has got to be 6 yrs ago aleast.So it is early on and it will take time for this story to unfold.

sandfly · Post by **sandfly** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:04 am

mine is for sale gary cheap, pm me

astrozam · Post by **astrozam** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:02 am

There comes a time Gary when you have to cut your losses and start over with another vehicle, we all eventually have to make that call.

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R.I.P. 1994 LT

R.I.P. 1994 LT

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