Hey Y'all!

[Michelle (GMC Gypsy)]

My name is Michelle and I'm just getting started in the process of becoming a van dweller. I just bought a beat-up 1989 GMC Vandura high top conversion van that needs a complete over-haul. I've been thinking about living in a van for a long time but thought it was a unique idea. I had no idea that there is a full-blown sub-culture of van dwellers out there! Y'all will see me asking a bunch of questions on other threads in the coming months as I tear down and rebuild my van, I'm sure.

I was an over-the-road truck driver for 10 years so I already know that I can live comfortably in a small space. Being able to go down all the roads I had to by-pass in a truck will be awesome. I can't wait to find the quiet my soul is screaming for. The countdown has begun....

 

[highdesertranger]

hi and welcome. I think you have a good plan, you seem to know that if you get an older vehicle you must go though the whole thing. afterwards you should have a very reliable vehicle. good luck and ask away. highdesertranger

 

[cyndi]

Michelle! Welcome to the CRVL forums! I'm excited for you! I never drove a big truck. But, I traveled a lot of interstates and hated not being able to see beyond them. Now I have to have a really good reason to get on an interstate.

Of course we must have pictures of your van!

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[Michelle (GMC Gypsy)]

Michelle! Welcome to the CRVL forums!  I'm excited for you! I never drove a big truck. But, I traveled a lot of interstates and hated not being able to see beyond them. Now I have to have a really good reason to get on an interstate.

Of course we must have pictures of your van!

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started.   We look forward to hearing more from you.

Can't seem to figure out how to add pictures. Tried and got told the file is too big.

 

[Michelle (GMC Gypsy)]

6703[/ATTACH] cynd pid='190362' dateline='1459231051']
To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started.   We look forward to hearing more from you.

Oops, ok, read the tips, trying again. This is the way I bought it. Some of this stuff is re-usable, most isn't.  :dodgy:

 

[Theadyn]

Hi and Welcome!!

 

[ilovemyvan]

Hello and welcome Michelle.

Your van looks really good. I can't see any rust. What a find! Can't wait to see what you'll do with it.

I really enjoy driving our van. The view is so much better than with a car for road trip. I can only imagine how much better the view must have been driving a big truck.

I'm glad you found CRVL, it's a pretty neat place to hang around.

Nicole

 

[nobodyG17]

Hello and welcome.

Great looking project you have there!  Keep us updated on your progress.

 

[rvpopeye]

Welcome aboard Michelle!
I had to travel for my old job too.We had this thing called "the itinerary" which had us on the big roads on a timeline................Boooorrrrrriiiiinnnnngggggggg!
Getting to take all those small roads IS awesome !
You're gonna love it , I do !

 

[Michelle (GMC Gypsy)]

Hello and welcome Michelle.

Your van looks really good. I can't see any rust. What a find! 

Nicole

I live in Albuquerque, NM. I came here for the dry climate; no humidity, not a lot of rain, good for the lungs and good for preventing rust. Unfortunately it's bad for creating dry rot. Have already ordered 40 feet of weatherstripping to replace every inch of it on the van. What there is of it still there is completely dry rotted. So is the spare tire. :exclamation:

 

[eDJ_]

Are you looking to overhaul the motor too ?   Do you favor gasoline or diesel ?

 

[Yogidog]

Welcome, very cool van! I lived near silver city nm a few years ago loved it! Do u have a thread going in modifications? Makes it easier to keep stuff in one place, people.to help and see the progress have fun!

 

[Michelle (GMC Gypsy)]

Are you looking to overhaul the motor too ?   Do you favor gasoline or diesel ?

The engine is going to need some work, I'm sure. How much, we'll see. It's gas powered and since I don't think I could afford to replace the engine with a diesel I'll be going with gas. Besides, until just recently gas has been way cheaper than diesel.

 

[cognitive dissonance]

Welcome, Michelle!

If your engine needs major work and you don't have the bucks for a diesel conversion, then it's great that you have a GM van.  You can swap in a newer low-mileage LS1 engine for about the same cost as rebuilding the one you have. 

The LS engines make far more power and get much better gas mileage than you will ever get out of your old engine, no matter what you do to modify it.  (This is the combo that's getting over 20 mpg highway in the new Chevy/GMC pickup trucks!)

I have good friends here in the Denver area who build hotrods for people. They use the higher performance LS7 engines as the base for everything they do, so several times a year they have a good running takeout LS1 engine. They just sold a nice one for $900 a few weeks ago. The transmission, wiring harness and computer would add several hundred, but that is still a really good deal considering the performance, reliability and fuel economy that you'd get from the swap.

If I was doing this particular swap, I would buy one complete with the 4L80e automatic transmission, the wiring harness and the ECM (the computer that runs all that) still attached.  It will all bolt right in, and adapting the wiring would be pretty straightforward since it's all GM.

Whichever way you go, good luck!

 

[Michelle (GMC Gypsy)]

Welcome, Michelle!

If I was doing this particular swap, I would buy one complete with the 4L80e automatic transmission, the wiring harness and the ECM (the computer that runs all that) still attached.  It will all bolt right in, and adapting the wiring would be pretty straightforward since it's all GM.

Whichever way you go, good luck!

I haven't looked it up to be sure but I think my van is old enough ('89) to not have all that computer stuff... and I like that! Seems to me that all that computer stuff tends to be the first thing to go bad and is always high-dollar to fix.

I found a garage right around the corner from me, here in Albuquerque, that is woman owned and has great reviews and that is where I'm gonna head when I get my car sold (maybe today!). I trust a woman to not screw me over more so than a man. Everyone's heard stories of garages screwing over women assuming they don't know anything about mechanics. 

 

[cognitive dissonance]

It's your choice, and I certainly understand your perspective on electronics. I'm not the biggest fan of electronics either. 

However, the GM LS electronics are very reliable. Everyone I know who has swapped an LS into something has eventually commented on the reduction in necessary tinkering and the increased reliability.