Tell me about CHEVY VANS.

[Lankytim]

Hi all.

 

A pal of mine has a 1995ish Chevy dayvan. I Don't really like yank motors but this is the nuts. Low mileage, no rust, V8 with autobox

and it's full of big sloppy brown seats, plus it runs on gas!

 

 

Obv I can't buy it, but I'm really intrigued. What are they like to live with? Are they as shite as I expect them to be?

[vulgalour]

Bad on fuel, but that's counteracted by the LPG.  I have heard they have some odd electrical issues often related to charging and suffer from sill and bum rot.  Quite often they're badly treated and festooned with 'american lifestyle' accessory shite.  If you can get one that hasn't been dicked around with and has been cared for I'm told they're a great little machine and it sounds like what you've found could be just that.

 

I have no first hand knowledge of these things, they're not my bag, but hey I'm passing on what I've been told by those that have enjoyed and hated them.

[Lankytim]

It's got a shitty American flag bolted to the grille, but fortunately thats where the line dancing type modding ends.

[Ghosty]

Don't some of those have full-height windows in one side for some reason? Always thought that was stupid.

[Alan_Green]

G20 or Astro? G20 presumably if V8 (although putting the V8 in an Astro is a popular conversion called a Nasty Astro). Astro dash modules have a rep for failing. But more vans should be autos.

 

You used to be able to buy Chevy vans cheaply in the Netherlands and they were all already on LPG. But MPG is still too low for the UK. You need some other reason for owning them. Didn't Terry McCann explain to Arthur that they were shagging wagons?

[Ghosty]

 

You used to be able to buy Chevy vans cheaply in the Netherlands and they were all already on LPG

 

Still can if the recent Garbage Run was anything to go by. That said, some of them were absolutely banjaxed.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I think some UK Ambulance services used GMC vans in the 90's, converted to RHD.

I rented a V10 Ford Econoline in Florida a few years ago and it was hilairious, black lines off every set of lights, I used to miss turnings on purpose just to do a U-turn,smoke billowing out behind it , like a chip pan fire in a council flat.

It had enough seats that my 4 kids had a row each,worked out it didn't actually break into double figures mpg wise. But this was when a dollar was worth 50p and petrol was about $1.50 a gallon.

 

In this country it's the law to have a wolf mural and matching wolf fleeces.

[warren t claim]

This thread needs rebel vanners content.

[cort1977]

Newcastle had Chevy truck chassis Ambulances for a while in the 90s.

 

I would say that they are a pretty well proven design, they haven't changed much for 30 years and are hardly complex so shouldn't give much trouble mechanically.   Factory paint is terrible on the GM vans, it literally flakes off the bonnet but a day van would be sprayed as part of the conversion.

 

Pretty reliable, easy to fix, cheap parts, if you can get past the thirst and image they're great.   I would love one but wife is less keen even though we have a minivan which is nearly as big.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

'Rebel Vanners' LOL

[DVee8]

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/local/all-news/dangerous-ambulances-to-be-taken-off-roads-1-1078499

 

Dangerous ambulances to be taken off roads

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2561811.stm

[Taff]

I believe the correct term for them is 'Gayvan'

[Jim Bell]

I think they'd be ideal for anyone looking to sue someone after the brakes and steering fail, forcing you to bail into a tree. Then when one picks you up as an ambulance, two wheels fall off. 2 sues for the price of one dayvan.

[mercrocker]

Rented a 318cu. Dodge Tradesman in Canada once. I knew it would drive shite but I only had a 300 mile trip on a straight road to contend with - must be OK in a straight line? Wrong. It was so shagged I had to keep 45 degrees of helm on it to stop it running off into the gravel. Hilarious axle tramp, full on V8 soundtrack and blue vinyl bordello dash trim made me want to take it home, though. I occasionally consider chopping in the T25 for a small Yank dayvan like an Astro. I am afraid it would have to have a rebel flag on it too....

[andy18s]

I see 1 most days near Eccleshall so must be a great daily runner (maybe)

Can't be any worse to run than a v8 Disco surely??

[garbaldy]

There is one of these sitting in the scrap yard outside Jedburgh, think he said he wanted £500 or so for it.

[twosmoke300]

I did some work on a Chevy v6 Starcraft last month . Nearly bought it instead of a landrover as it was awd but tow weight was crap . It had an interior upgrade by Brougham or someone and was full of wood and leather . Electric rock n roll bed too ! Quite nice in a shite way

[inconsistant]

 

You can tell it's American, instead of a cup holder it's got a burger fries and a coke holder.

[cort16]

It's what all PT Cruiser owners dream of owning. 

[Jim Bell]

Far beyond what is possible for me, but ideally..............

 

 

 

 

Not a day van, but it's cool all day.

[2MB]

I used to really, really want a day van more than anything else when I was about 8. Twenty years later my tasted have matured to a mid seventies Dodge panel van with a Cummins straight six. One day....

[danthecapriman]

I love the yank vans. I drove an 84 Ford E series panel van once and it was brilliant fun! I'd gladly have any of the old big yank vans tbh. Brilliant engines, easy for parts and way better to look at than anything European or Asian van wise. Most are autos too and not shitty manual peasant transmissions too.

[Pillock]

 

 

I think some UK Ambulance services used GMC vans in the 90's, converted to RHD.

Indeed, Norfolk Ambulance Service used some. There was a thing in the EDP where they were too wide to fit down some Norfolk lanes.

 

In this country it's the law to have a wolf mural and matching wolf fleeces.

Round here, known as a Coalville Coat.

[eddyramrod]

Predictably, I'd love one.  I can't afford to live with one at the moment, and they seem to command a bit of scene tax too, but, er, tell me more about that one in the scrapyard?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

These are bob on for driving to line dancing lessons at huge expense

[anonymous user]

Or for carrying the body home to bury under your floorboards.

[sheffcortinacentre]

not to bad on fuel with lpg & od auto better mpg than 4x4's, can be wolowy on bends which gives very comfy ride rest of time, main rot areas are scuttle/bulkhead/screen area.

 

bits plentiful & cheap.

 

usa transit, buy it.

[Tayne]

I believe the correct term for them is 'Gayvan'

No, that's not the correct term for any van.

[fred]

Want one just for the 'Captains seat' oh yes

[fred]

Although a Bedford CF painted matt black with a 'A team' stripe applied would cook my cookies