Chevrolet G20 Starcraft Conversion Van, 1994

Chevrolet G20 Starcraft Conversion Van, 1994

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5ohmustang

Original Poster:

2,755 posts

114 months

Friday 18th November 2016
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Winter is coming and the temperature has dropped. Early mornings are becoming too cold for two wheels so I have been needing a winter beater vehicle.

The mustang is tucked away on a battery tender for the winter. I need a vehicle capable of moving and towing large equipment. Also something is very comfortable long distance, suitable for road trips, boondocking and camping in.

So I wanted something different, with multipurpose. I didn't want to splash out $50k on a loaded GMC Sierra and watch it depreciate as soon as it left the lot.

With a beater vehicle I did not want to spend more than $3k. I wanted something with classic Americana and parts must be common and cheap.

A friend at work picked himself an early 90s Dodge B250 Conversion Van converted by Mark3. I really liked the old skool American retroness, burgundy supercomfortable captains chairs, lashings of beechwood and a triple layout bed, high top roof, V8 and rwd, all for $1200.

Chevrolet, Dodge and Ford all have conversions available throughout the years from various companies on their vans.

All have their pros and cons but personally I wanted a GMC/Chevrolet G20/Vandura.

In my opinion they look the best of classic Americana. They were built from 1976-1995 and not much changed over the years. Abs, an airbag, that's pretty much it. They last a very long time, parts are very common and cheap, while GM trucks of the same era are practically the same platform and use the same car components. Even GM still produces parts.

The A team van was a short wheel base, cargo Vandura. The same van. Conversion vans are so cheap anyway I may aswell opt for one of those instead of getting a regular passenger/cargo van and adventurizing it.

I found one on craigslist that looked pretty nice. It was a 1994 Chevrolet G20 GT with a Starcraft Conversion.

Here are the Craigslist pics.

Roof rails, ladder, American Racing wheels, running boards and ground effects.



The later G20s had abs and ibs, which is an integrated belt system.



Electric mirrors and A pillar opening glass.





High top roof, front spoiler with integrated fogs.



V8 350 with a 4 bolt main. 4l80E transmission, 4 speed overdrive, RWD.



Triple electric foldout, slideable bed, full leather interior, Fold out table with drinks holders.

Surround sound, it has 2 stereo systems , front and rear, coat rack, storage space, in roof and rear doors.




Limo lighting.



Ashtrays and a host of 12v sockets everywhere. The middle seats are easy to remove and are also captains chairs.









Tv, VCR, antennas for radio, tv and Carphone.



Factory high end Ac delco radio cassette with equalizer! Every chair has padded armrests on both sides. Wood accents everywhere. Drivers seat is fully electric.



Electric windows and locks.





Column shifter. Hell yeah.





Hidden compartment with 12v that slides down for radar detector.



Since I can remember I loved the watching the A-Team. This was going to be so cool.



With dreams of rock and roll I went in search of the Chevy Van.

https://youtu.be/RiEIToOWr64

"I gave a girl a ride in my wagon,
she crawled in and took control.
She was tired, and her mind was dragging.
And I said get some sleep,
we'll get on down that road.

Like a picture, she was laying there,
moonlight dancing off her hair.
She woke up and took me by the hand.
She's gonna love me in my Chevy Van,
and that's alright with me.

Ya, her young face, was like that of an angel.
And her long leg's were tan and brown.
You better keep your eyes on that road, boy.
You better slow this vehicle down.

Cause like a picture, she was laying there,
moonlight dancing off her hair.
She woke up and took me by the hand.
She's gonna love me in my Chevy Van,
and that's alright with me.

Ya, I put her out in a town that was so small,
you could throw a rock from end to end.
A dirt road mainstreet,
She walked off in her barefeet.
And it's a shame I won't be passing that way again.

Cause like a picture, she was laying there,
moonlight dancing off her hair.
She woke up and took me by the hand.
We made love me in my Chevy Van,
and that's alright with me."





Edited by 5ohmustang on Saturday 11th March 14:17

Jimmy Recard

17,540 posts

178 months

Friday 18th November 2016
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Looks like a bit of fun


I've been thinking recently about doing a cheap, homemade sleeper conversion on a Grand Voyager, just for a bit of fun

Max5476

978 posts

113 months

Friday 18th November 2016
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I like the look of that. American SWB vans are definitely my secret motoring love, would quite like to import one into the UK.

Veeayt

3,139 posts

204 months

Friday 18th November 2016
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Is it obligatory to wear a cowboy hat while driving those?

5ohmustang

Original Poster:

2,755 posts

114 months

Friday 18th November 2016
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I think I've seen grand Voyager with pop up roofs.

There's an a team van replica on UK eBay,however it's incorrect in that it's a passenger van with Windows as opposed to a cargo panel van. Also the western wheels-turbines on it are too narrow.

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/GMC-DAYVAN-REPLICA-A-TEAM-...

It would be way cheaper to import one, they are dirt cheap in the U.S. as vans are not that popular anymore.

No cowboy hats are required, that's the previous owners btw. However moustaches and bruit aftershave is mandatory.

Janluke

2,552 posts

157 months

Friday 18th November 2016
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Looks great I'm in

5ohmustang

Original Poster:

2,755 posts

114 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2016
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We went to look at the van in a mountain valley in middle Tennessee. The owner had hit a kerb and smashed the lower front spoiler plus destroying the wheel.

I knocked $500 of the price. Overall it is ok.

The initial issues it has:

Broken front spoiler
Missing one of the wheels
Heater air does not come of windshield demisting
Couple of rust spots
Brake booster and master cylinder is leaking

We took it for a test drive and surprising the V8 has plenty of torque, in a straight line it is brisk.

When it got to the corners, it handled just as you would expect, wallowing and rolling. I'd bet the shocks and struts are the original ones. The transmission shifts very smooth

So I bought the van for $2500.

Registered it, put on a license plate on it and road tax, total was $70. Next year it should be around $30 for tax.

Insurance is $10 a month.

Petrol is 1.77 a gallon and has a 33 gallon tank.

It is very comfortable to drive. We stopped at Taco Bell and ate in the back. No more eating inside. The tv and VCR work and uses the middle speakers. The stereo operates front and rear speakers but front speakers are blown.

More info to come.






300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2016
quotequote all
Veeayt said:
Is it obligatory to wear a cowboy hat while driving those?
Yeah just like you have to wear a flat cap to drive any British car too, as everyone in the UK wears them rolleyes

FFS.

RC1807

12,482 posts

167 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2016
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Big old beast for $2.5k!

OverSteery

3,586 posts

230 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2016
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I owned one these for a year or so in the UK
I give you the Tiara Presidential...



When the sister in law's marriage failed we used to take her kids on holiday. 6 and luggage and there was still room to walk about inside.
I was particularly proud of having cup holders with a rocker switch to either be heated or chilled. the mirrored ceiling and mood lights were a giggle.

We all loved it but
- 12 mpg wasn't that funny
- I had to use a coach parking bay in Padstow as there was no way it would fit in the usual ones.
Not really ideal in the UK...

Anybody who says 7 series/ranger rovers/S class etc are the more comfortable way to travel hasn't tried one of these. although its best not to rush or sea-sickness is likely.


5ohmustang

Original Poster:

2,755 posts

114 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2016
quotequote all
Wow that looks in mint condition. How much do they go for in the UK?

The best I have got is 15.5 US mpg so around 19 UK mpg. That was with uneven tires, no tune up and I didn't realize square D was overdrive. Regular D is 3 speed and locks out the 4th overdrive gear.

The front door interior panels need to be rebuilt, it's more time consuming than difficult.

I've been getting a wind rushing noise on the lower left A pillar when the window is up on the highway. Part of the door seal has dry rot so I bought 2 new door seals for $40.

However they are a pain in the ass to remove cleanly without leaving stuck on old rubber. While doing this, I noticed a random lever near the parking brake. It opens and closes a flap under the dash. I think that was where the wind noise was coming. What it is there for I do not know.

It's easy to remove the middle captains chairs, however they're pretty heavy. The rear seats/electric bed works. We added a mattress topper and went camping. It was seriously comfortable.

However there's a parasitic drain somewhere. It has this thing called a Battery Buddy that acts as a circuit breaker when the battery gets too low. It has a reset button that you need to press to turn the circuit back on (located under the bonnet) while someone else cranks the key. It saved the battery a few times but something is draining the battery eitherway.

I did have the battery checked and it was showing bad so that was replaced.

I believe the problem lies with the original but aftermarket alarm system. That's my next task.

Here are the new wheels. I mounted one of the back ones on the front to see how wide it would look. It may clear but i'll settle for 15x8.











Edited by 5ohmustang on Wednesday 23 November 17:27

Lugy

830 posts

182 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2016
quotequote all
cool

These are a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine, a mate bought a '97 though with the lesser V6 engine, he's been away a couple of times with it and seems to enjoy all the same. I found it quite humorous when he said he was varnishing his interior one day laugh.

5ohmustang

Original Poster:

2,755 posts

114 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2016
quotequote all
Lugy said:
cool

These are a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine, a mate bought a '97 though with the lesser V6 engine, he's been away a couple of times with it and seems to enjoy all the same. I found it quite humorous when he said he was varnishing his interior one day laugh.
The vans after 95 were completely redesigned. The Chevrolet express and GMC savanna. The long wheel base models are big and had an AWD option from the factory.
On these older vans like the g20/vandura the main companies that did 4wd van conversions were Pathfinder and Quigley. Quigley still exist today and make some really cool vans.

Here's a Pathfinder.



The g20 is the medium duty van. The g10 was the light duty and g30 was the heavy duty version.

Engine options were the 4.3 v6 vortec, 5.0 v8, 5.7 v8, 6.2 v8 diesel and the 454 big block.

Here is a GMC Savanna RoadTrek class B with a Quigley conversion.



4wd vans in the states are rare and usually fetch a premium unless it's a fixer upper.

RumbleOfThunder

3,546 posts

202 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
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5ohmustang, you are Tex from Alan Partridge.

Shakermaker

11,317 posts

99 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
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Echoing what others have said, these are something of a guilty desire I would have. Love it for the money - its probably/definitely cheaper than a rental and hotels to buy one of these next time I come to the USA and want to go anywhere at all.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
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How does it drive? It must be heavier than a mofo, but with a fat engine. I like it, I'd like one, but far too big and impractical for our roads. Love that the speedo tops out at 85.

Jimmy Recard

17,540 posts

178 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
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I think it's cool

LeighW

4,362 posts

187 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
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I always liked these, but because they're just too damn big for our roads, I bought a GMC Safari - which despite being the size of a Transit are called Mini vans in the US.

Mine:


The wood was pretty shabby when I bought it, with varnish peeling off etc, so I retrimmed/painted it to modernise it a bit. I sold it for a profit after a few years of fun, so can't complain!





Pretty quick for a heavy lump as well!

http://vidmg.photobucket.com/albums/v151/TractionM...

CoolCurly

210 posts

210 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
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shhhhhhhh dont tell any one but Im seriously LOVING this thread....... :-)


f1nn

2,692 posts

191 months

Thursday 24th November 2016
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There is a rapey coolness about American vans.