CL score: Van load of parts

[DirtyLarry]

Man, I feel like I hit the lotto today. I found this 1990 G van on CL for $475. Yeah, it wrecked all to hell but who cares. It has 85,000 miles on it with a nice strong little TBI 5.7L, 700R4, 4 new Uniroyal tires, my favorite GM 4 spoke steering wheel as well as the correct ABS parts to fix my dad’s 1990 G van that has been growing a beard while I have been trying to find an ABS isolator dump valve for it. I figure I will pirate all the goodies off of it then haul the body to the crusher which should bring at least $100.

I am thinking about tossing the TBI 5.7L and 700R4 in my ’72 C20 beater. Not sure what the wife is going to say when she gets home though.



That will buff right out!


Pretty clean for 18 years old and 85,000 miles


My favorite GM steering wheel to boot


Does anybody need any G van parts as I begin to dismantle it?

[PanelDeland]

Looks like a twin to the one parked behind it.

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by PanelDeland

Looks like a twin to the one parked behind it.

Yeah, they are pretty much twins which is one of the reasons I bought it….for the difficult to find ABS isolator dump valve that is a 1990 and 1991 piece only. The vans are the same year, color, spec’s etc. Just different conversion upfitters.

[IvelDesigns]

good score on the engine and tranny. i think you'll be surprised when you haul it to the scrap yard. I'm guessing $200+ for it.

[BarryB]

Hey are both mirrors on it. I might be interested in them. Pm me please, I tend to forget.

[DirtyLarry]

I finally had time to start yanking parts off the G-van this weekend. I can’t believe how quickly and easy this thing came apart. The only surprise was I had to pull the friggen water pump off in order to get the knock sensor and starter wiring harness off as the knock sensor plug would not pass between the timing cover and water pump. At this point, almost everything I want is off and lying in piles around the garage. Now that is it back on trailer I’ll pull off the steering gear, steering column, brake booster, M/C and ABS parts tomorrow afternoon. I wanted to wait until I got it on the trailer before pulling those parts off as I kinda needed it to be able to steer and stop to get it back on the trailer.


The engine had the typical grime for being 18 years old but no oil leaks! The trans was really clean also.


The winch and snatch block made easy work of loading it back on the trailer.

[drivethechevy]

nice score! double wammy parts for 2 projects, im liking your big blue winch off in the background

[Longhorn Man]

uh, pull the wheels... someone is always geekin over rallys.

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

uh, pull the wheels... someone is always geekin over rallys.

Definitely will. The wheels are only held on by 2 lug nuts per wheel so I can pull them off quickly once the crusher grabs it off the trailer. Actually the tires are brand new as well with hairs still on them.

[DirtyLarry]

Oh, yeah….I almost forgot to mention it had a half tank of fuel! I siphoned close to 20 gallons of fuel out of it 5 gallons at a time. Heck that is worth $80 alone. That brings the cost of the van down to $395

I kept the fuel sending unit but tossed the tank in the back of the van. I could probably use the tank some day but don't feel like tripping over it for years until it would ever get used.

[DirtyLarry]

Well, I got $156.65 for the van (3,140 lbs). I was hoping for $200 but was expecting $100 so I guess that isn’t too bad. So after subtracting the scrap credit of $156.65 the van now cost $318.85. Figure it had $80 worth the gas in it brings it down to $238.35. Less the $100 it would have cost for the ABS isolation dump valve for my Dad’s van brings it down to $138.35.

$138.35 isn’t too bad for a relatively low mileage TBI 5.7L, 700R4, 4 new Uniroyal tires and all the other goodies that are now going to clutter up my storage lot behind the garage.

Next step is to start cleaning up the engine and trans to be transplanted into the old ’72 C20 beater this winter.


Got everything I needed out of the inside.

Time for the scrap yard.



Thanks for the parts Mr. Vandura.....Adios



Piles of parts…



New tires


This is the valve that started the whole thing and why I contacted the guy from CL. ABS isolation dump valve/prop valve combo

[Hutch]

DirtyLarry
You made out like a Bandit on that one
One more deal on some of them parts and you will break even

[QKENUF4U]

cool score !! thats my all time favorite steering wheel also.

[Slik69]

Now thats what I call a hard days work!! Mann, I hate you. Good score. What is TBI on the engine. I probably woild have removed the doors and glass too unless they needed to remain intact. I mean, you have one exacly like it. Nice score though.

[DirtyLarry]

The ole G-van 5.7L and 700R4 cleaned up rather nicely. The engine got a new coat of paint, various gaskets, sensors and fresh secondary ignition parts. Prolly drop this contraption into the 1972 beater truck sometime over the Christmas holiday. I still have a few wounds to fix on the ’78 K10 from its last off-road excursion and wrap up the loose ends on the 8.1L conversion before this project really gets going.

[thirdstreettito]

Wow! They cleaned up nicely, now ya gotta paint the exhaust manifolds orange!

[72BlckButy]

Great score!!!!

[rambler]

good deal, and a pretty fast flip... I've got my parts neon still sitting in the yard, where we pushed it after the engine swap.. one good reason for living out in the sticks!! none can complain how many old trucks/cars you got laying around..

[DirtyLarry]

Well, the TBI 5.7L/700R4 swapperoo project into the crusty ole 1972 Beater C20 has come along much quicker than planned. After I got the van’s engine and trans all cleaned up I posted the C20’s old engine and trans on CL for $500 OBO not thinking it would sell very quickly. A few days later a guy called and wanted to see the engine that night. Subsequently a few hours later he came over and drove the truck around the block and handed me $400 for the engine and trans, which was fine by me…. so I pulled the engine and trans out that weekend (10/24) and cleaned them up for him. The funny thing is I only paid $300 for the entire truck at an estate sale back in 2002.

With the cash from selling the old engine I splurged for a Howell TBI harness. Very nice high quality harness! Wrong TPS and VSS end connectors though.

This past weekend, I got the new TBI engine and trans all buckled down into the C20 and just about ready to fire but waiting on a fuel pump, throttle cable and a few other odds and ends. As I was poking around with the test light to find a power source for the ECM I found the power to the fuse box was constantly swinging on and off which I thought was a poor ground with the test light only to later find the ignition switch terminals and end connectors had been burnt to a crisp at some point in its life. No wonder sometimes the starter didn’t want to engauge for the past 6 years I have owned it. So, I am also waiting on a new D1406A ignition switch, key and tumbler and PT555 end connector. All of which are still available from GM. Also rewired the coil power wire for full 12 volt power as well as converted it from an external regulator to internal thanks to the great and helpfull info found on the FAQ section! Once I get it fired up it needs to take a ride on the trailer to my buddy’s place to get the exhaust reworked to match the newer style exhaust manifolds.

So far I have about $500 into this project including the purchase of the donor G-Van, Howell harness, fluids, paint, Lokar shift linkage, A/C delete bracket and the cost to have the driveshaft shortened, which it also needed new U-joints and carrier bearing. The shaft rework was the most expensive part aside from the Howell harness. Now that this old dog has a more modern powertrain I might have to paint it someday now. I kinda like it the way it is though…..all ragged and patina’d out as people sure stay out of my way when I drive it.


Old C20 Engine


Old engine and trans out and cleaned up waiting for a ride to their new home


Had to change the engine mount towers as the new engines exhaust manifolds interfered with the original towers.


TBI stabbing…

[Slik69]

I cannot wait to hear the news once it's fired. Hurry up. I was going to go this route as well, but opted to build the much debated high nickel block. I went this route because many told me the later blocks don't hold heat worth a dam. TBI block still an option though. You know what they say about opinions..

[69Rob]

question how did you get your manifolds to work with teh mounts? you said you changed them but with what?

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by 69Rob

question how did you get your manifolds to work with teh mounts? you said you changed them but with what?

I end up using ’73-’87 engine mount towers. They actually came off of a ’76 C10 I stumbled across at the bone yard that was missing the engine and front clip so it made easy work of pirating the towers. The actual engine mounts were in bad shape so I used the G-van engine mounts on the ’76 towers.

There was a nice write up in the FAQ that someone directed me to which was a great help with knowing where to elongate the engine mount bolt holes in the towers…..which I still didn’t drill in the right spot the first two times. I had that damn engine in and out of there 3 times before I got it right!

[DirtyLarry]

Not much new to add other than it started right up on the first try to my surprise. I figured I would have at least a few fuel or oil leaks to deal with or a misfire....something. Actually, I do have a leak. It seems I broke the solder at the heater hose connection at the radiator as it is whizzing coolant all over once it builds pressure. Over all, this was too easy of a swap compared to my last 8.1L project. So far, this old pig seems to run great on its short inaugural test drive that I took it on with loud and obnoxious uncorked exhaust. At least it hit all 4 gears and the converter locked and unlocked. I was a bit nervous but figured what the heck and took chances of pissing off the neighbors by taking it for a spin around the block anyway. It currently sounds much meaner than it really is.

My dad had a shop when I was growing up and a buddy of his has our old exhaust pipe bender and lift so we are planning to rework the exhaust next weekend sometime.

It turned out to be a pretty engine in an ugly truck. I used pretty much everything from the G-van as possible to keep the cost of this project to a minimum…… Radiator hoses, air cleaner, dipsticks, trans cooler lines, fuel lines, etc …all are from the donor van (I added a late model 8.1L gear reduction starter that I had laying around though...it sounds like a 2006 big block medium duty truck when it starts ). I would have used the G-van oil fill tube too if it would have cleared the hood.

The funny thing is I only needed an ABS isolation dump valve for my dad's van and wound up in this project as well...

I bought a Walbro frame mount electric fuel pump from board member, Rust Buster, which I am totally surprised how quiet it is! Heck, the Summit Racing house brand frame mount pump on my ’78 with an 8.1L screams like crazy and works like crap (soon to be replaced with an in-tank pump). This Walbro seems pretty good so far.

I'll grab a video once the exhaust is done.

New used Walbro pump. Never mind those other fuel lines. The truck originally had two fuel tanks.


In process….


Old whore with new lipstick

[nicolas72gmc]

What a great deal you scored. I am gonna do an engine swap pretty soon and am a little nervous about it. You make it look easy.

[tkeduk8r]

Great article... Ive ben watching this closely and just found out yesterday I inherited the districts old 89 GMC van!!! its not at large dispacemtn (305) its got a few more miles (145K) and the tires arent as nice, but I got the same wheel and everything is pretty much unmolested... Is there any way you can throw a list together of everthing you pulled off the donor as far as engine /harness goes???? I dont know what Ill use it in yet, BUT when gas skyrockets again, I think that would be a one piece roller 305 and Im thinking 21-22 MPG out of it could be a possibility.... no what to put it in????
--Mike