Chevy & GMC Vans

Just picked up a FREE 90' AWD with an aweful noise in the front end and an oil burner engine... of course this means war on the van and a V8 swap soon.....

The front diff is fubared internally and i'm not about to bother fixing it.... my question is to jam a "stock" V8 into this van do I need to modify the oil pan IF i remove the entire front diff?

Basically all i'll leave in the front end is the axle stubs that go through the rotor thus holding the wheels on (lol good idea right).

The transfer case can stay where it is until i get a 2wd 700r4 trans.... as far as i undestand it the transfer case is straight through to the rear wheels with a viscouus clutch controlling the front wheels... correct me if i'm wrong of course.

Thanks Guys,
Gordon

You have it correct. You could always do the correct oil pan and find a junk yard front diff.

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:You have it correct. You could always do the correct oil pan and find a junk yard front diff.

Naw! Why would want to do something clever like that?

LOL you guys always put a smile on my face

Unfortunately we have moved to a small useless city that only has 1 super duper over priced wrecking yard + you need way more HP to have fun with an AWD.

Long story short... the van will be rwd with a V8 by winter hopefully

Gordon wrote:
Unfortunately we have moved to a small useless city that only has 1 super duper over priced wrecking yard

http://car-part.com/

Don't let one local junk yard slow you down. I've used this site a couple of times and most of the dismantlers will ship.

Gordon wrote:the van will be rwd with a V8 by winter hopefully

But it would be so much more fun drifting around corners in AWD!

you supply the engine and we'll go drifting AWD style

Gordon
You can find all the photo's you need showing clearances in the V8 and AWD subframe. Even will give you ideas on you oil pan. Good luck!
http://www.jayjensen.shutterfly.com

Great pics man.... have you by chance got plans for those engine mounts or did you buy them?

I bought them but someone here either has the plans or can make them for cheap. Do a search in the V8 section and you will find the source. The oil pan on the other hand is a different story...

Ok so if i yank the front diff out permanently... can i use a set of rwd engine mounts?

No I don't think so. THe RWD mounts are made of thinner material and are a different pattern as the AWD and RWD sub frames are different. Plus if you put the awd back together you would have to use the AWD mounts.

On the RWD's you can switch the engine mounts sides for the V8 to mount up, any idea if it works on the AWD's?

Are you talking about the motor mount being the item that bolts (3 bolts) to the subframe with a rubber inside? They are interchangable. The motor mount all metal that bolts (3) to the block is not interchangable from side to side.

On the RWD vans you can swap the frame side engine mounts from side to side instead of buying mounts.... not sure if you can do the same on the AWD ones though.