Possible new wheels

[Theadyn]

Well, ya'll may or may not know I'm looking for new wheels.  Funds are extremely tight, but still have my heart set on a van.  I've been looking between full size and minivan, keeping an eye out for a good deal.  It so happens, I had one in backyard, it's sitting down the road at a used car lot.  They have her at the back of the lot, how rude.  Well anyways, it's a 1993 Chevy G20 shorty, 154k-ish miles, V6, hightop conversion. 

I stopped to look at her last week, the guy sure didn't know a whole lot or really try to sell her at all, I had to ask to see inside, ask to turn on motor, keep asking questions..  guess his other customers looking at the higher dollar crap were more important than the cheaper stuff I was looking at.  I do know it started okay, I couldn't hear anything ridiculous in the motor in my untrained ears, the AC isn't blowing cold but it's there (I know how to recharge if nothing else), the electric locks didn't work, the interior is in really good shape for the age, the tires are decent, and the price is wayyyy good, asking price $999.

So, yeah, known issues are it's running rough when they got her in on trade in, fuel pump going out, they talked little old man into other wheels.  So changed fuel pump, it still running rough, they said needs plugs and wires.  My dad is going to test drive it tomorrow for me.  Yes, without me cause #1 I've got jury duty   #2 maybe they will treat him a little different, haha.  If this thing passes a compression test and gets the go ahead from dad, I might have me a new ride.
Wish me luck!!

(Oh, I've already been calling it Red Sexy...   quick pic I took below)
[img=320x192]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-or5Cy3QC3co/WLLz7JeAwMI/AAAAAAAACMY/1UaqxWKYDa82jjkv7byoX08J76vI2y0wgCLcB/s320/20170223_155857.jpg[/img]

 

[Canine]

Well you know what you want, your budget etc. As long as your dad can make sure the head gasket isn't gone, the trans shifts without slipping and there's no major rust, offer 750$ and get it home. I haven't seen a mid top shorty for years (GM), there were a few Dodges.
What engine? Could even have a 6. No matter, for that price its just a project. Have some fun with it. Good luck

 

[Gunny]

Best of luck to you.. Can't hardly go wrong at that price.

Rob

 

[highdesertranger]

got my fingers crossed for you Pam. highdesertranger

 

[rvwandering]

got my fingers crossed for you Pam.  highdesertranger

   We do too! Hope it passes your dad's inspection.

 

[TMG51]

Van Halen II?

 

[rvpopeye]

Got it bad , got it bad , got it bad.............hot for red van !
I'm red with envy Lady T!
Hope it passes the dad test.

 

[cyndi]

YAY!!! I know a new van will make you happy!!! Keep us posted!!!

 

[Ballenxj]

Well anyways, it's a 1993 Chevy G20 shorty, 154k-ish miles, V6, hightop conversion.

If it's a V6 it will more than likely be the 4.3 which I think is a good engine, and will have about 200 horsepower.
Good luck.

 

[AbuelaLoca]

Oh how exciting!! Hope it's everything you want!!

 

[Txjaybird]

 Got my eyes and fingers crossed for you!  Good Luck!!!!!

Jewellann

 

[Headache]

If it's a V6 it will more than likely be the 4.3 which I think is a good engine, and will have about 200 horsepower.
Good luck.

Sorry to be the naysayer in this thread but the 4.3 is best used as a boat anchor.  Their main issue is the frequently leaking intake gaskets which means tearing half the engine apart to fix it.  Unless you want to pay about $800-$1200 every 4 years I'd step away if it's a 4.3.  It's an expensive and well documented aggravation.  Ask me how I know.

 

[jimindenver]

Good luck

 

[Canine]

Here's what I know:

Lots of Astros out there with the 4.3, that motor is a 350 with 2 cylinders lopped off. It's a well regarded engine.

It's true that GM got a bit of a black eye over the coolant leaking issue, but consumers got worse. I had 2 Buicks, a 1997 and a 2001 that both had the 3.8 and both had the coolant eating up the intake gasket. One was "caught" in time for a $700 fix (way back in like 2003) and the other was in 2005 and it cost $1100.

Quote from "Chevrolet Intake Manifold Gasket Failure" article at "Chevroletproblems.com"

"Dex-Cool's Effect on the Intake Manifold Gasket
Dex-Cool is a type of coolant that many Chevrolet owners claim is corrosive and eats up critical engine parts like the heater core, radiator and water pump.

Several class action lawsuits have been filed, both in the U.S. & Canada. However even statewide class action lawsuits have been running into trouble. State courts in Michigan and California already have rejected class action status for Dex-Cool lawsuits.

Replacing the intake manifold gasket usually costs between $700 - $1,000, mostly labor. GM has updated the material used in the intake manifold gasket so that it doesn’t react with the Dex-Cool coolant as fast as the original gasket material. Currently there is no recall for the intake gasket, because it is not a safety issue (at least according to the NHTSA[1])." End of quote


Once the non-GM intake gaskets were installed, and the coolant was changed regularly (instead of that long life 100,000 mile crap), the problem went away.

Now what are the odds that this motor has never had the gasket changed? Probably low. Easy way to tell, open the rad cap and look. If its all black and sludgy, stop, dont pass go or collect $200.
If its regular green looking, then you have 1 of 2 possibilities:
1 - Either its been done sometime in the past and is fine or
2 - It was barely caught and the bearings suffered damage, no way to tell without a tear down.

If you like the van, and if you dont mind the lack of power compared to a 305 or a 350, and if you dont mind rolling the dice after you look inside the radiator, then go ahead. It's a $800-900 van for crying out loud... :huh:

 

[Ballenxj]

Here's what I know:

Lots of Astros out there with the 4.3, that motor is a 350 with 2 cylinders lopped off.  It's a well regarded engine.

That is correct. The 4.3 liter V6 is a short version of a 350 V8, and has been a very good engine for (most) people. If you have this problem and get it fixed, or has been fixed already, you will have a great engine that has even been Hot Rodded by enthusiasts in the past. Now to sound dyslexic here, the 3.4 Chevy is the engine most noted for having that problem.
Here's the deal, any time you buy a used vehicle, you run the risk of buying somebody elses problem. Any time you buy a new vehicle, you run the chance of getting a lemon, but at least you have a warranty to help there.
My Safari van had a 4.3 and I loved it.

 

[bullfrog]

Just a side note the head gaskets have to be installed with the work "UP" visible unlike the old V8 as they will block off a steam port. If you do install one backwards they will have overheat problems but a hole can be punched with a long punch with head still on from above.

 

[ArtW]

And i will echo; do not use dex cool in a GM or any product, it's not a good formulation
Gotten more than one junk yard motor with Jellied Dex cool in the coolant passages back when i fixed txies for a living
First thing we did when the boss bought a new (to him) Chevy for Taxi service was drain the cooling system and put good ol green anti freeze in there, and then run the things for 100k+ per year till they 'timed out'

 

[Headache]

Now to sound dyslexic here, the 3.4 Chevy is the engine most noted for having that problem.

If that were true then my 91 Chevy Corsica with the 4.3 wouldn't have had the gaskets changed out every 4 years.  Neither would my 91 Chevy van with a 4.3.  Neither would my friends pickup trucks.  Mine also never leaked coolant, they leaked oil.  It was a common problem for the 4.3 in the 90's so no, it wasn't just the 3.4.  Look it up. 

Just FYI not every intake gasket issue was Dexcool related.

It was also common for some Ford and Chrysler products.  The most common denominator?  A multi-ported aluminum intake bolted to a cast iron block.

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/2010/07/closing-the-gap-on-intake-manifold-gaskets/

Engines that have had high intake gasket failure rates include 1990 to 2005 Buick, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile and Pontiac 3.1L, 3.4L, 3.8L and 4.3L V6 engines, and 1996 to 2002 Chevy 5.4L and 5.7L V8 engines. These applications alone represent a potential replacement market of more than 10 million vehicles.

Don't think avoiding Dexcool will avoid problems.  It was just a contributor.  I never used it in any vehicle and aside from this Ford I own right now I bleed Bowtie.

 

[Txjaybird]

I know very little about the smaller GM engines. 283, 350, 427, and 454 are all the sizes I've had in vehicles, with the 454 being the worst in my experiance.  I think I had the one that was built with borderline rejected parts   :s

The 1998 Safari I recently acquired from my Mom has the 4.3 with just over 100,000 miles.  I've checked with my family and so far there have been no major issues with it. It's been in the family since it was new.  It has always been well maintained.  If we could find the ghost in the wiring I would be a happy camper  

I hope you find you a van....I had given up looking, thinking I'd need a tricycle with a kiddie cart for Queenie so we could hit the road!  The trike would need a motor on it too

Jewellann

 

[highdesertranger]

how can an intake gasket leak oil? there are no oil passages in an intake manifold. highdesertranger