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NICE!! Ive got a 76 G30 shorty that i use to have the Edelbrock performer RPM package on. It too will get an LS after the Nova Gets its GTO interior and the twins, and after my Zombie Apocalypse Suburban gets its turbo LS.
About the headers, Im betting just about any headers will work! i used the same headers that i had on my Nova and had on my 86 Monte SS on the van with no issues.
So after wanting one for years, I found myself a decent 1980 Chevy shorty van as well. Now i'm tring t
o find threads on completed swaps because i've got a lq4 6.0 sitting here looking for a home since I sold my S10. The LS seems like a not so easy drop in from what i've been finding.
Has anyone looked into using a 93-97 LT1? There's tons out there, and they're a lot more similar to a gen1 as far as motor mount location and exh ports. I'm starting to look into this option now since i've got a line on a lt1/4l60 from a buick wagon. It's the iron head version, but not a big deal in this machine.
I've been following the roadkill guys and they talk about the mounts etc in the one episode. The main thing id like to see is what manifolds/headers will fit the narrower pre diesel option van doghouses best. I've read that gen 1 sbc 70-81 Camaro headers fit the vans, so I wonder how gen2 Camaro Ls swap headers would work. I've got an lq4 as an option or have a line on a good deal on a 2012 5.3/6l80
I used the china made stainless ones on ebay (shorty style exit by bellhousing) and they fit my squarebody chevy truck with ton of room. same set on my 76 skylark as well both 5.3 power. $195 on ebay and actually made good. I think they probably clear in van.
Yeah.. my 79' being the smaller engine bay and the added steel that I have on the inside of the frame rails.. I am most interested in mounts and engine placement.
But it is on the back burner for now.. but I will be hunting for any engine/trans and swap parts and storing them for when I am ready to do the swap. Also adapters for my NP205 transfer case to any later trans.
Just eyeballing the van, the frame side motor mounts are super tall. If a guy could run A/F body frame mounts, they're only a couple inches high and would give a lot more header clearance at the doghouse seam from the pics i've seen with the ls installed. It would probably be tighter at the oil pan, but there's a ton of pan options and the holley ls pan worked in my chevelle great. Being lower should help with getting the drive angle set up because it won't all be so close to the floor.
This is a 1978 chevy G30 dualley trans van class B RV.
I’m wanting a smallish RV w/ modern engine and trans. That can easily tow 3500LB
22” boat,
Could this be a easy transplant.
?1.will the 1978 G30 have the exact same amount of engine room as the G10?
?2.can the dually rearend be easily swapped into a modern 2006 express
2500 ?
?3. I think the newer express vans are narrower and taller are the width and height measurements close enounth between the 1978 and a 2006
To transplant the camper section onto the 2006?
?4.is the camper shell basicalley bolted to the van frame simiaril to a trucks bed? Then glued and revitoed to the vans cab?
Edit: I was concidering a chevy2500 class b RV however I have been told the taller vans
Are bad in the wind and also get blown around when semie trucks pass.
Thanks
been using 99 Astro van as a weekend tow vehical it's a decent van however there is zero leftfoot room plus it's a little weak to tow my 2500LB boat I'm wearing out the trans.
I like the 2002 express last of the slider doors.
1.I'm curious will a LS1/2 fit easily into a 2002 express 2500 it already has a vortec V8.
2. can the vortec motor mounts be used for a LS1 swap? if not are there mount already made available?
3.is there eounght room for headers?
4.what type size rear end doe's the 2002 express 2500 come w/?
5.is this era van know for the paint to peal off the hood and roof like the newer express's?
Thanks
Swap info on that Van would be nice to review... Just planning on my Van Swap.. but that is #2 in the list. Got to finish the Camaro Engine Refresh 1st..
The G10 through G30 should be the same as far as frame and engine room.
GM paint is known for bad job (peal and fad) through out the 80's and 90's... and my 03 Tahoe hood is getting some bad spots also.. so.. 2k's too ?
Swap info on that Van would be nice to review... Just planning on my Van Swap.. but that is #2 in the list. Got to finish the Camaro Engine Refresh 1st..
The G10 through G30 should be the same as far as frame and engine room.
GM paint is known for bad job (peal and fad) through out the 80's and 90's... and my 03 Tahoe hood is getting some bad spots also.. so.. 2k's too ?
BC
From what I can tell ...the key to the fitment in early G Series is to get the motor mounted as low and forward as you can . IE Dog house opening to exhaust & transmission to floor clearance. Also low right hand mount AC compressor is close.
here's my 02 5.7 vortec 250hp weight 7100LBs tow capisity 6800LBs
my boats not heavey including trailer,gear ect total load under 3K LBs boat is very tall.
it's a very nice comfortable weekender however I think the van needs a 400hp LY6 w/4L80E
how hard like wiring,motor mounts be for LY6 swap?
thanks
I would NOT go that route. The 6.0L/4L80E vans I have driven are pretty gutless even tuned. They lack torque down low and the LY6 is even worse with its massive rectangular LS3/L92 head ports.
I have done the 4L80E swap in a 1997 G1500 Express. I had to fabricate the crossmember by modifying the stock one. The 8-lug vans that came with the 80E from 1996-2002 shared the same frame as the 5/6 lug vans. However the crossmember mounting point for the factory 4L80E crossmember is shifted to the rear and it is welded. You can upgrade to the G2500 6-lug 9.5" 14-bolt easy enough. I had the 6 lug axles welded up and redrilled 5x5 to match the OEM wheels. Reused the 10-bolt backing plates and drums. The 7300 lbs GVW van had the same braking system as the 7100 lbs GVW. I upgraded mine to a 1-ton hydroboost setup. On the Express van it was an all bolt-in with no modifications needed to any component.
I kept my 350 and added a few performance parts to her. I used Doug Thorley Tri-Y headers for an Express cutaway based bus. The engine crossmember needs to be heated and a small dimple pounded into it for them to clear. Then added a 2.5" exhaust from the headers to high flow cats into a massive dual in/single out Walker Dynomax bus muffler. I added a GM L31 marine intake. I also put in the GM 395' 300 HP marine cam with 1.6:1 rockers. My stock van put down 180 hp and 250 tq through the 65E and 10-bolt that was in it. With mechanical problems (weak valvesprings and an ignition misfire) that stranged it at 5,000 rpm it put down 230 HP/303TQ through a 4L85E in 2nd gear, converter locked and 9.5 14-bolt. I changed the valve springs and upgraded the ignition to the EFI Connection 24x coil near plug setup. Pulled much harder after that above 4,500 rpm. I then swapped in 4.56 gears in place of the 3.73s. Then got a wild hair and put a Lunati Barebones version of the LT4 Hotcam in it. Made 290hp/330tq at the tires. The 350 is actually out of the van again to address something I messed up with that cam swap. I did not preload the LS7 lifters enough and had springs that were too weak. I floated some valves at 5,800+ rpm and damaged the roller lifters and scored up a couple of cam lobes. I am putting the GM SPO 357 HP 350 crate engine cam in it as soon as I get it along with LS6 springs on comp 787 retainers. It is a little smaller cam than the hotcam and will bring the power peaks down 200-300 rpm.
If I were doing it all over again, build a nice 6" rod 383 with D shaped 18cc reliefs, EQ Sledgehammer copy 185cc vortecs built from bare castings, 2.02/1.60s, marine intake, skip the 24x setup, use the SPO 350 357 Hp cam, keep the headers, would have kept the exhaust 3" out of the headers into the dual 3" in, single 4" out muffler like mine, keep the 85E with a stock 4.3 B82 converter but put the TCI 2.96 first gear planetary set and run 4.10s out back.
I have not run the SPO 350 cam yet, but spec wise it is right between the GM Marine cam and the GM/Lunati Hotcam. It was designed by GM to drop in an otherwise stock L31 and run with the stock lifters, rockers, springs, and retainers.
12-12-2013, 09:52 AM
