Looking at a 92 Chevy G20 V8

[ascension777]

Hi friends, I'm super excited to get my feet wet with this whole Van dwelling life. right now my budget is low and I'm interested in checking out this 1992 Chevy G20 with a V8 

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/cto/6047939695.html

Does any one have any advice or words of wisdom in regards to the reliability or reputations of this stile van? it's pros and cons?

Love and Gratitude!  

 

[BadSaver]

I might have some information on the engine (V8 5.7L?) - given it has Throttle Body Injection. These engines (1988-1995) are referred to as "Gen 1." The heads are referred to a Swirl Port heads. The electronic fuel injection system (TBI) is relatively simply and the engines are durable.

This is off the top of my head. So, if you find that it has something else, please ignore me. Also, I didn't go into detail, I figure I'd throw out a couple of nomenclatures so you could research it.

http://www.onallcylinders.com/2014/01/26/top-10-engines-time-1-small-block-chevrolet-gen-1-350/

 

[CautionToTheWind]

I'd be looking/inspect the transmission...if nothing has been done to tranny by now. Van has papers to go with it? Finding a non-rust van in MN is quite rare. Appears to be a great deal...after inspection of course.

Here is a review page found: http://repairpal.com/chevrolet/g+series+van+(g20)/car_reviews

A downloadable checklist: http://chrisfixed.com/downloads.php (came from Chris Fix on youtube: )

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Price is right for the year and mileage.   It's hard to be sure from the pictures, but it LOOKS like it has a rear plate, so it could be test driven on the street.  (I personally wouldn't buy  a vehicle privately if I couldn't test drive it) It would all come down to what the mechanic who inspects it for you discovers.

 

[Dgorila1]

Price is right for the year and mileage.   It's hard to be sure from the pictures, but it LOOKS like it has a rear plate, so it could be test driven on the street.  (I personally wouldn't buy  a vehicle privately if I couldn't test drive it)   It would all come down to what the mechanic who inspects it for you discovers.

I agree, price seems about right IF it is in good condition mechanically and there is minimal rust.

 

[ascension777]

I'd be looking/inspect the transmission...if nothing has been done to tranny by now. Van has papers to go with it? Finding a non-rust van in MN is quite rare. Appears to be a great deal...after inspection of course.

Here is a review page found: http://repairpal.com/chevrolet/g+series+van+(g20)/car_reviews

A downloadable checklist: http://chrisfixed.com/downloads.php (came from Chris Fix on youtube: )

wow thank you for all the helpful, informative links

 

[ascension777]

I might have some information on the engine (V8 5.7L?) - given it has Throttle Body Injection. These engines (1988-1995) are referred to as "Gen 1." The heads are referred to a Swirl Port heads. The electronic fuel injection system (TBI) is relatively simply and the engines are durable.

This is off the top of my head. So, if you find that it has something else, please ignore me. Also, I didn't go into detail, I figure I'd throw out a couple of nomenclatures so you could research it.

http://www.onallcylinders.com/2014/01/26/top-10-engines-time-1-small-block-chevrolet-gen-1-350/

wow sounds like a great engine : I will have to check this van out

 

[ascension777]

Price is right for the year and mileage.   It's hard to be sure from the pictures, but it LOOKS like it has a rear plate, so it could be test driven on the street.  (I personally wouldn't buy  a vehicle privately if I couldn't test drive it)   It would all come down to what the mechanic who inspects it for you discovers.

Definitely going to have my mechanic inspect any van before I make a purchase... learned that lesson the hard way with the van I bought for 19hundred about a month ago.. put 500 into it then discovered some critical rust issues underneath and had to sell the van for half what I had into it.

 

[ArtW]

It's got the barn doors, it's a conversion with the seats already out, it's a 3/4 ton (probably the 'light' 3/4, count lugnuts, 5= light 3/4, 8='real' 3/4) V8, probably 5.7, TBI, for 1200 if it's runs good and is truly rust free I would snatch it up

 

[ascension777]

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/csw/cto/6041908533.html

I'm hoping to check this van out later this weekend... probably more like next weekend if it's still available

 

[user 37446]

+1 to comments above. In general, the 350 TBI engine platform is considered to be very solid, with none of the Ford 5.4 modular issues. It gets slightly better gas mileage than the Dodge equivalent 5.9 (360). While all GM engines were improved in both torque and hp in the vortec series (96+), they had their own problems with intakes and heads. In addition, your van year (pre-1996) has the OBD-1 error code system, cruder than the 1996 and up OBD-2 system.

From Wiki:  "while the 1971-96 generation came with the 5 lug - 5" (127 mm) bolt circle.
G20s were fitted with the ball joints from the Chevrolet/GMC 3/4 and 1 ton pickups although using the 1/2 ton pickup's brake rotors.
A light duty version, the G10, was produced alongside the G20 - the early versions used the Chevrolet passenger car wheels (5 lugs - 4.75" (120.7 mm) bolt circle) until 1975 (G10s manufactured prior to the 1976 model year had the smaller bolt pattern, common with the short wheelbase vans), yet can still handle LT tire sizes for better handling and stability. The G20 series sported an SB 262 4.3L engine, not much was changed mechanically in the vehicles since their release, other than carburettor to a throttle body fuel system, and less use of a vacuum system. Currently there are more after market part options available for its V8 counterparts. Not much has been done in the lines of performance options for the small V6 G20 models, but the reliability remains the same throughout all the G-series models."

"The weight of my 1992 G20 van is around 5800 pounds empty. The model is the G20 cargo van with no tool bins or other added weight."



Initial Engine Options:

• G20 Standard: 4.1-liter L6 (125 hp (93 kW) and 235 lb·ft (319 N·m) @2400 rpm)
  
• G20 Option: 5.7-liter V8 (190–210 hp (142–157 kW) @ 5200 rpm, 300 lb·ft (407 N·m) @ 2400 rpm)
  
• G30 Standard: 7.4-liter V8 (230–255 hp (172–190 kW), 385 lb·ft (522 N·m) @5600 rpm)

Initial Transmissions: Three Speed Auto or 4-Spd Manual​

Dimensional Specifications​

• Wheelbase: 110 in (SWB) / 125 in (LWB) / 146 in (EWB)
  
• Length: 178.2 in (SWB) / 202.2 in (LWB) / 223.2 in (EWB)
  
• Width: 79.5 in
  
• Height: 79.4 in (SWB) / 79.2 or 81.9 in (LWB) / 79.8 in (EWB)