Newb needs help IDing 1992 Astro motor

[x92560]

Hello everybody this is my first post on the forum. I hope I got it in the right place.

So my buddy has an Astro and he's always selling me on how awesome they are. Well long story short I decided to sell my old Ford F-150 and get an Astro. I am looking to get a long body Astro with AWD and a 190 or 200 HP V6 motor.

I am gonna go look at one in my area tomorrow. It is a 1992 Chevy Astro AWD EXT. I believe since it is a 1992 with a long body and AWD that this van should have a 190 or 200 HP motor though I am not sure if my research is correct. Many websites with Astro specs only say that 1992 Astros have a 4.3L without IDing HP. I would like to find a method or two to positively ID what motor and HP an Astro van has via VIN, Block ID, Model ect.

Here is a link to the Astro I am gonna go check out.

http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/cto/3673037212.html

I searched this forum for answers to my questions but didn't find a definite answer. I did find this thread that talked about the 8th VIN digit IDs a van's motor.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8380&hilit=identify+engine

It mostly focuses on the Z motor.

Can someone tell specifically how to ID a 150, 190, or 200 HP motor? Which digit/s does an Astro VIN number need in the 8th digit to be a 190 or 200 HP motor? I am mostly concerned with pre 2000 1st and 2nd Generation Astros.

OR

Can anyone verify that a 1992 Chevy Astro EXT with AWD did come standed with 190 or 200 HP motors?

This is the only site I found that said it did.

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Spec_ ... imid=10374

Thanks for the help.

[x92560]

I did find this VIN decoder.

http://www.astrosafari.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1875

Now I am working on trying to ID the engines it mentions.

[x92560]

Ok now I found the wikipedia on these motors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Mo ... ne#L35_CPI

According to wikipedia the 200HP L35 CPI was standard in all 1992 to 1994 Chevy Astros that had AWD.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Mo ... ne#L35_CPI

[x92560]

Ok so if all that I have read so far is correct and I have this figured out then...

If the 8th VIN digit is

B = High performance 4.3L L35 CPI???

W = If in a 1992-94 Astro = 4.3L L35 CPI = 200 HP

Z = 4.3L 170 HP TBI

Also if Wikipedia is correct then all 1992 to 1994 AWD Astros have the 200HP L35 CPI standard.

Can anyone confirm or correct all this?

Thanks for the help.

When I see the van tomorrow I will get the VIN and post it here for review.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

You got it...go by the Z or W in the VIN. BTW...that is a nice looking van. Nice and clean! Up here in the North East it would be rotted right out!

[x92560]

Thanks for reassuring me on my findings. I will be checking the van out today. I hope its as sweet as the pictures show.

[astrozam]

I had a 95 W motor, pretty sure it was back to 190hp in that yr

[x92560]

Well I checked the van out today. Its in pretty nice shape. The story on it is, a little old church lady bought it new and drove it for about 80,000 miles. The current owner bought it in 2007 and drove it another 30,000. Its got 109,000 miles now. Its had synthetic oil its whole life too. Usually Mobil 1 Syn. The van is the EXT with AWD. It has the tow package and it does appear to have the 190 or 200 HP motor. The VIN has a "W" as the eight digit indicating a L35 CPI.

The motor had the forward facing air filter and intake that matches the L35CPI. The current owner says the motor has the balanced cam shaft too which would indicate that it is the high output L35.

I am gonna make an offer on it since it appears to be the 190-200 HP L35 CPI motor.

[x92560]

I had a 95 W motor, pretty sure it was back to 190hp in that yr

That is what wikipedia currently states. It says, "In 1992 ... An optional 4.3L (RPO L35) with central port injection and a balance shaft was phased in." In the wiki side bar it also notes the First Generation vans had either the 98, 165, or 200 HP motors, while the Second Generation vans had the 190HP motor.

[x92560]

Thanks again with helping ID the motor. U GUYz

[doyoulikeithere]

Aside from the Vin Z vs W.
Of course, I am only referring to PRE 96 Gen 1 vans only.
The surefire-est way to visually ID the difference is to notice the style of fuel system that the Z & W of the VIN refers to, under the hood.
The VIN Z uses a TBI injection system that looks a lot like it might just have a old fashioned carburetor and an old fashioned round air cleaner on the top center of the engine.
The VIN W used a CPI manifold that sorta has a bunch of curled up tubes, Its really tall, and has an air intake & filter box way up front by the rad.
They are a lot easier to see in these pix from S10s. Lots of folks have taken to modifying the VIN W CPI manifold for mutiport fuel injection.

[x92560]

Lots of folks have taken to modifying the VIN W CPI manifold for mutiport fuel injection.

That custom MFI is a sweet setup.

What do the MFI mods add to the motor? I assume they increase HP. Do they add MPG?

[x92560]

Here is more on the 4.3L High Output motor from KBB for a 1993

http://www.kbb.com/chevrolet/astro-pass ... psellpath=

If the 8th VIN digit of a 1992-1994 Chevy Astro is a

W = 200 HP High Output 4.3L L35 CPI

Z = 170 HP 4.3L LU2 TBI

There probably isn't a "B" in the VIN for a 1992 or ever. The only VIN code options at the local auto parts store and online I have seen for a 1992 are "W" and "Z."

The High Output 200HP CPI was phased in to Astro production in 1992 and was produced thru 1994. "W" in the 8th digit of the VIN number during those years would indicate the 200HP 4.3L L35 CPI motor. In 1995 the "W" 4.3L CPI was retuned and produced 190HP. In 1996-2002 the motor was a 190HP L35 SCPI. These 1996 and forwards 8th VIN digits are probably "X".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet ... ne#L35_CPI

[x92560]

I ended up snagging the Astro. It is in sweet overall condition but is not currently running. Its probably the fuel pump is the current diagnosis. It came with 25 years of maintenance notes & receipts all the way back to the first oil change at 3000 miles. Should be an interesting read. I got the battery charging now. Tomorrow I am gonna do some tinkering.

[x92560]

Well I have had the time to diagnose the reason the Astro I bought wasn't running. It turned out the fuel pump worked fine. There was no spark however. I used a website that described how to troubleshoot the Astro's ignition system. After a bit of fooling around I discovered the Ignition Control Module was bad. I picked one up for $45 with a lifetime warranty at Advance AutoParts. I put the module in and Vrooom! The Astro roared to life.

The Astro runs and drives awesome now. I even ran it through emissions testing and it passed with flying colors. I then replaced the original OEM windshield wipers with a new set for $20. My total investment in the Astro was $1565. Not bad for an excellent condition High Output AWD Astro with 108,500 original miles I figure.

Below is the website I used to diagnose the ignition. It was a big help.

http://easyautodiagnostics.com/gm_icm_d ... dule_1.php

I also found more references to High Output L35 motors in the owners manual that came with the Astro. When I have a chance I will get them scanned post them up.