My other ride

The Master · November 06, 2007, 11:36:28 AM

Hi everyone. I just had my van converted to 4wd. I've been wanting this for about 10 years. It's just a cargo van but set up real good for working out of. I was lucky enough to come by a 1977 GMC van that had been converted by Pathfinder. Total rust bucket. Had a shop swap over the drive train. 350 TBI, 4l80e, 241c. Not sure about the axles. The tires are Nitto 285/75/16's. Just got it back a couple days ago. Here's a picture. Let me know what you think.

psych0matt · November 06, 2007, 12:24:08 PM

my response out loud was

"That is effing... sweet!"

R Dubya · November 06, 2007, 05:00:52 PM

I agree, that van is now awesome.

:laugh:

The Master · November 06, 2007, 05:42:39 PM

Thanks for the comments guys. This has been long in the making. Still got a bunch of stuff I have to get done. Going in next week for exhaust (they hacked it to get the 4x4 in) and the brakes are squealing. Loud driving down the road. :icon_frown:
I want on-board air!!!!!! :icon_twisted:

TGPilot · November 06, 2007, 06:44:13 PM

Dave with the 4x4 Love Machine. I suppose you have a water bed in the back and all the tools of the trade towards the front?? ;) :laugh:

I have always liked the 4x4 GM vans. I would love an extended van 4x4 so I could make a weekend mountain warrior for my family. For now I have a 1991 GMC Jimmy 4x4 that runs sweet. ;)

GutlessSupreme · November 07, 2007, 04:48:19 PM

hey, a semi-local :laugh:

that thing's a beast :icon_twisted: careful driving that top heavy thing in the winter.

The Master · November 07, 2007, 06:31:11 PM

Gutless, hi. I think I've seen that you also post on MassClubGP? I never head to RI except to go the civic center. Haven't been there since they put one right in town about 6 years ago though. I'm looking forward to winter this year! :icon_biggrin: Anyone who's ever driven a van knows how bad they suck in the snow. This has got to be a 1000% improvement. (As long as I still drive cautiously). ;) I'm sure I'll see you around sometime in the future. Looking forward to seeing your STE. That's quite a project.
TGPilot, hey. No water bed, all tools. Sorry. These Chevy /GMC vans DO have the classic shape. How many years do we cover? 77 to 96? That's a long run. Worked out of these vehicles for 20 years now. Hardly ever Fords. They've got the nose. Never liked the extended either. Changes the look too much. Shorty's don't look too bad. I don't have any experience working out of one though.
I'm glad you repied to my post Ken. Do you tune the 350 TBI? That's probably a spring project for me. Cam, intake,heads, chip.
Thanks for the nice comments guys. I'll post more pics maybe next week if anyone is interested.

TGPilot · November 08, 2007, 11:18:21 AM

Quote from: The Master on November 07, 2007, 06:31:11 PM
I'm glad you repied to my post Ken. Do you tune the 350 TBI? That's probably a spring project for me. Cam, intake,heads, chip.
Thanks for the nice comments guys. I'll post more pics maybe next week if anyone is interested.

Actually I have been playing with my 1991 TBI 350 lately. When I got it the #1 cylinder was dead with severe oil fowling of the plug within a couple hundred miles. Found the ring gap to be .085" in the main bore and where the piston changed direction at the top and bottom it had a concave ring wear that was .120". I found a low mileage vortec 350 long block for $300 (guy wanted $500 but I could not hear it run) that I used. I pulled the TBI heads and intake, had them cleaned up and new seals/guides etc...dropped them on the vortec bottom end and wah lah...strong runner. :icon_mrgreen: My engine builder found a buyer for the heads at $300 in the shape they were coming off the motor.

So sometime over the winter I will get aquianted with the TBI tuning and it honestly looks pretty damned simple man! ;)

flybynite · November 08, 2007, 11:46:46 AM

Since you guys are playing with TBI, Check out www.dynamicefi.com The EBL stuff is wayyyy cool. :rocking:

It can be used with MPFI as well and with 2 bar support :twitch:

The Master · November 08, 2007, 07:20:28 PM

Quote from: TGPilot on November 08, 2007, 11:18:21 AM

Actually I have been playing with my 1991 TBI 350 lately. When I got it the #1 cylinder was dead with severe oil fowling of the plug within a couple hundred miles. Found the ring gap to be .085" in the main bore and where the piston changed direction at the top and bottom it had a concave ring wear that was .120". I found a low mileage vortec 350 long block for $300 (guy wanted $500 but I could not hear it run) that I used. I pulled the TBI heads and intake, had them cleaned up and new seals/guides etc...dropped them on the vortec bottom end and wah lah...strong runner. :icon_mrgreen: My engine builder found a buyer for the heads at $300 in the shape they were coming off the motor.

So sometime over the winter I will get aquianted with the TBI tuning and it honestly looks pretty damned simple man! ;)

[/quote]

TGPilot. Am I reading that right? You had a vortec motor and put the TBI intake and heads on it? Usually it's done the other way around.
From what I've gathered the TBI is pretty easy.
flybynite. Thanks for the info. Looks like a great system. So with that you can get 4 injectors?

flybynite · November 09, 2007, 06:49:14 AM

Yes, 4 injectors are better than 2 :drool: