Chevrolet G20 Starcraft Conversion Van, 1994

[5ohmustang]

Shakermaker said:

Yup, guaranteed an F250 super duty or equivalent yes. I think because I targeted a truck rental company rather than a car rental company but for $50 Canadian it was too good to hold out on. About £30 at current rate. Just need to arrange insurance etc.

New wheels are looking good. I saw a very similar van to yours on Sunday over here, same colouring but probably only a short wheelbase.

Thanks, I like the retro period wheels.

Being a rental you may or may not get the 6.7 Power Stroke with 445bhp and 925lb FTS. The smaller engine is the petrol 6.2 with 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque.

Eitherway it's a superduty and should be an experience to remember. Have you driven in the States before.

[Shakermaker]

5ohmustang said:

Shakermaker said:

Yup, guaranteed an F250 super duty or equivalent yes. I think because I targeted a truck rental company rather than a car rental company but for $50 Canadian it was too good to hold out on. About £30 at current rate. Just need to arrange insurance etc.

New wheels are looking good. I saw a very similar van to yours on Sunday over here, same colouring but probably only a short wheelbase.

Thanks, I like the retro period wheels.

Being a rental you may or may not get the 6.7 Power Stroke with 445bhp and 925lb FTS. The smaller engine is the petrol 6.2 with 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque.

Eitherway it's a superduty and should be an experience to remember. Have you driven in the States before.

No, I haven't. Its only a couple of days hire, in Canada rather than the states, but I'm looking forward to it, even if it is the "lowly" 6.3 model, that is still 10x the power of my little van, and more than twice the power of my daily!

[5ohmustang]

Shakermaker said:

No, I haven't. Its only a couple of days hire, in Canada rather than the states, but I'm looking forward to it, even if it is the "lowly" 6.3 model, that is still 10x the power of my little van, and more than twice the power of my daily!

It's the same 6.2 that's in the Raptor but slightly detuned with different cams and ecu map for durability.

Raptor's are pretty common in these parts.




What I never see are RAM Runners. There are plenty of modified Rams but not a Mopar kit.

Edited by 5ohmustang on Thursday 23 March 03:49

[5ohmustang]

On the road again. Currently listening to The Eagles - Hotel California

https://youtu.be/2NlWgYM4sKE

El Camino.





The Dodge RAM Van.



A Toyota Tundra in the stunning Khaki.

Toyota Awesomeness
http://www.speedhunters.com/2017/03/into-the-wild-...

Then it dawned on me. Tilt the bed into the sofa position and press the slide button to move it back. I drove the mower back up and lifted the back up and rotated the mower. It just fits in. This will be the last time I have to move big stuff in it, so this weekend I will be adding all the gear for van living.






Not much is known about this G van, judging from the front axle my guess it's a Pathfinder.







This Astro is for sale in upstate NY for around $16k

Edited by 5ohmustang on Saturday 25th March 04:58

[J4CKO]

Well that was a fun half hours reading, cheers !

These have always intrigued me, they look so right in the US, not sure about them in the UK but would give it a go, I love the American attitude to comfort and convenience and these kind of embody that spirit, super plush with TV's and stuff, not exactly tasteful but I like that, I would love to see its history, can imagine it parked up at Six Flags or somewhere, full of excited kids, Cheetos and Mountain Dew everywhere.

Anyway, it reminded me of this,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrBZeWjGjl8

You have a theme tune, ok, the music isnt very appropriate, but the title is !

[5ohmustang]

J4CKO said:

Well that was a fun half hours reading, cheers !

These have always intrigued me, they look so right in the US, not sure about them in the UK but would give it a go, I love the American attitude to comfort and convenience and these kind of embody that spirit, super plush with TV's and stuff, not exactly tasteful but I like that, I would love to see its history, can imagine it parked up at Six Flags or somewhere, full of excited kids, Cheetos and Mountain Dew everywhere.

Anyway, it reminded me of this,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrBZeWjGjl8

You have a theme tune, ok, the music isnt very appropriate, but the title is !

Hello J4CKO, I agree. They do look right here, to most people it's just another van, which is why they sell for so little. If I could afford the petrol in the UK I would get one over the European equivalent. Having said that, the fuel economy of the Euro diesel vans are a better trade off. I love how the American day vans have a cheesy, cosy feel. The Euro vans seem very clinical and cold to me anyway. Look up a Winnebago Lesharo. I have wanted one for a while, it's a Renault Traffic van from the 80s but was Americanized at Winnebago. It's hard to find a good one as most owners neglected them as parts from Europe are hard to obtain.

Yes I can see it at six flags with fat kids in the bag, twinky in hand, nagging at their parents "are we there yet" watching an episode of The dukes of hazzard or the A team.

Dayvan cowboy hahaha you should not let the people in the news forum see that. The music sounds like old Primal Scream.

The glory days.








The Lesharo, remember these Renault's the Ambulance service used.



In France you could get 4x4 versions, I think Renault ran them in the Dakar.

[J4CKO]

5ohmustang said:

J4CKO said:

Well that was a fun half hours reading, cheers !

These have always intrigued me, they look so right in the US, not sure about them in the UK but would give it a go, I love the American attitude to comfort and convenience and these kind of embody that spirit, super plush with TV's and stuff, not exactly tasteful but I like that, I would love to see its history, can imagine it parked up at Six Flags or somewhere, full of excited kids, Cheetos and Mountain Dew everywhere.

Anyway, it reminded me of this,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrBZeWjGjl8

You have a theme tune, ok, the music isnt very appropriate, but the title is !

Hello J4CKO, I agree. They do look right here, to most people it's just another van, which is why they sell for so little. If I could afford the petrol in the UK I would get one over the European equivalent. Having said that, the fuel economy of the Euro diesel vans are a better trade off. I love how the American day vans have a cheesy, cosy feel. The Euro vans seem very clinical and cold to me anyway. Look up a Winnebago Lesharo. I have wanted one for a while, it's a Renault Traffic van from the 80s but was Americanized at Winnebago. It's hard to find a good one as most owners neglected them as parts from Europe are hard to obtain.

Yes I can see it at six flags with fat kids in the bag, twinky in hand, nagging at their parents "are we there yet" watching an episode of The dukes of hazzard or the A team.

Dayvan cowboy hahaha you should not let the people in the news forum see that. The music sounds like old Primal Scream.

The glory days.








The Lesharo, remember these Renault's the Ambulance service used.



In France you could get 4x4 versions, I think Renault ran them in the Dakar.

Nearest I got to driving one was a Dodge Ram Mini Bus when I worked on a Summer Camp in Rhode Island in 1991, my first drive of a V8, expected G force, got er, gradual linear movement...

I love 80s Americana, I know he isnt popular now but do you remember Entertainment USA with Jonathan King, never thought I would go as a kid, we lived near Manchester Airport and used to see the planes taking off, the BA 747's that we knew were off to the states, must have been over 15 times or more now, could do with another trip, it does get under your skin, went to Boston and Atlanta last year, none planned this year

[5ohmustang]

J4CKO said:

Nearest I got to driving one was a Dodge Ram Mini Bus when I worked on a Summer Camp in Rhode Island in 1991, my first drive of a V8, expected G force, got er, gradual linear movement...

I love 80s Americana, I know he isnt popular now but do you remember Entertainment USA with Jonathan King, never thought I would go as a kid, we lived near Manchester Airport and used to see the planes taking off, the BA 747's that we knew were off to the states, must have been over 15 times or more now, could do with another trip, it does get under your skin, went to Boston and Atlanta last year, none planned this year

They're not fast unless they have been tuned. All the smog suffocating gubbins detuned the 70s and 80s v8s.

1980s Americana is my wife and myself's favorite era, she was lucky enough to live through it.

Entertainment USA. https://youtu.be/nc63u0be98I

That's like the worst possible intro ever. I definitely remember him and think I remember that program.

I hardly ever watch TV anymore and try to avoid it. However one of the free channels we pick up from Georgia public television is pretty much non stop British programs, keeping up appearances, are you being served, as time goes by, period drams are the stereotypical stuff. No only fools and horses, no steptoe and son and no auf wiedersehen pet.

You used to live near that road end at the end of the runway where the planes would be right over your head at the fence line? There was a row of terraces houses that most were unoccupied, maybe demolished now.

I used to have insomnia growing up, I remember many nights I would stay up looking West across the horizon, wondering what it would be like. It seemed a whole lot more incomprehensible then. It's only when I go back to England (which is very rare due to the overseas packet I have to do in order to leave the continental USA) to realize how different everything is. I guess if you travel frequently you do not see it quite as much.

[spreadsheet monkey]

5ohmustang said:

I guess I downplayed how I bought the van. So the guy who we got it off was in his 70s, maybe 60s, a heavy smoker and drinker. He had a dark suntan, long grey hair in a pony tail, almost reminded me of a burnt out Hulk Hogan...

Great story!

Love this thread and all of the great scenery/junkyard/vanlife photos.

[5ohmustang]

spreadsheet monkey said:

Great story!

Love this thread and all of the great scenery/junkyard/vanlife photos.

Your welcome sir. I appreciate the positive comments. It's not really a van build thread as such but more of a van life thread.

I'm busy at the moment but I have some "breaking news" for this thread.

[5ohmustang]

https://youtu.be/DjoSI4qkWJ0
Zac Brown Band - Free

"So we live in our old van
Travel all across this land
Me and you."

I was in two mind about posting this as this subforum is geared more towards car build threads as opposed to van dwelling tales. I think and by judging some of the feedback, people are interested in the adventures of 5oh.

So here is the next chapter. First off I do not like giving out personal information on here, but I will explain what I can, hopefully without being too evasive.

As some of you know I like to talk about log cabins, living in the mountains and all that good stuff. Yes, while I own a very nice large log cabin/home in the mountains, I am not there most of the time.

I also live in a rented home in surburbia, a good distance away. My wife and I have spoilt ourselves living in the sticks and really do not like living in the rented home in the "mainstream.". I realize how smug that sounds but I'm not going to lie about it.

The rent we pay on this detached house is paying someone else's mortgage, I am paying electricity, water, sewage and trash in a second house . It takes 5 hours to cut the grass at least on an electric mower, it takes me 45 min on my gas (petrol) powered riding power. This is why there are pictures of the mower in the van.

Due to the nature of my job, my schedule is very unpredictable, I come home late, sometimes get 3 or 4 day weekends, go to the gym after work, by the time I come home I am knackered. Really all I do in this 2nd house is eat, poop and sleep. Any free time I do get, we are not there.

If I took the rented home out of the equation, I would be saving big. BIG.

You know where this is going.

So the plan was to move out of the rented house. Which now I have moved the household goods myself every weekend, in the van.

It is all done and the keys are about to be turned in.

I am going to avoid driving the van back and forth when I go home, yes petrol is cheap here but at around 22uk mpg for long distances every weekend it will build up. I would still be saving a lot, but I will only drive the van if the weather is going to be cold or storming.

We are currently in storm season and the last 4 trips home I have done, the weather has been insane. Literally driving 20mph on the interstate because you can only see 30 ft ahead.

My daily driver, the Honda Pcx scooter is home. I rode it home on a multiple hour ride taking the back roads.

Very shortly I will bring my Vstrom and use that for trips home. Just need to order some decent rain pant and boot covers.

I am now part time van living. It has been fun so far, also consider that this is not permanent by any means, purely I am trying to save as much money as I can.

As Dave Ramsey says "live like no one else now, so you can live like no one else later."

Most of the gear loaded in the van now was stuff I already owned. So in a very short space of time the van will owe me nothing.

Now I could buy a travel trailer to hitch to the back, the van will tow 6000lbs, however then I lose the stealth camping capability. This way I can park anywhere and sleep. The van is hidden in plain sight, just another crusty old van.

[anonymous-user]

I love Day Vans and yours looks great. As others have posted already they look terribly naff in the UK but so right in the US.

[J4CKO]

5ohmustang said:

J4CKO said:

Nearest I got to driving one was a Dodge Ram Mini Bus when I worked on a Summer Camp in Rhode Island in 1991, my first drive of a V8, expected G force, got er, gradual linear movement...

I love 80s Americana, I know he isnt popular now but do you remember Entertainment USA with Jonathan King, never thought I would go as a kid, we lived near Manchester Airport and used to see the planes taking off, the BA 747's that we knew were off to the states, must have been over 15 times or more now, could do with another trip, it does get under your skin, went to Boston and Atlanta last year, none planned this year

They're not fast unless they have been tuned. All the smog suffocating gubbins detuned the 70s and 80s v8s.

1980s Americana is my wife and myself's favorite era, she was lucky enough to live through it.

Entertainment USA. https://youtu.be/nc63u0be98I

That's like the worst possible intro ever. I definitely remember him and think I remember that program.

I hardly ever watch TV anymore and try to avoid it. However one of the free channels we pick up from Georgia public television is pretty much non stop British programs, keeping up appearances, are you being served, as time goes by, period drams are the stereotypical stuff. No only fools and horses, no steptoe and son and no auf wiedersehen pet.

You used to live near that road end at the end of the runway where the planes would be right over your head at the fence line? There was a row of terraces houses that most were unoccupied, maybe demolished now.

I used to have insomnia growing up, I remember many nights I would stay up looking West across the horizon, wondering what it would be like. It seemed a whole lot more incomprehensible then. It's only when I go back to England (which is very rare due to the overseas packet I have to do in order to leave the continental USA) to realize how different everything is. I guess if you travel frequently you do not see it quite as much.

Not that close, though the houses on Shadowmoss road are still there, amazingly.

Where are you based in GA ? have been a fairly regular visitor to Georgia, specifically the Tucker/Decatur area, was there in Sept last, my local is a marvellous place called the Blue Ribbon Grill, like the shop in Mr Benn it has been the start of many adventures, like the Clermont club

Not sure I will get chance again, cuts and all our company management has been moved by and large from Atlanta, had some great times,

[5ohmustang]

J4CKO said:

Not that close, though the houses on Shadowmoss road are still there, amazingly.

Where are you based in GA ? have been a fairly regular visitor to Georgia, specifically the Tucker/Decatur area, was there in Sept last, my local is a marvellous place called the Blue Ribbon Grill, like the shop in Mr Benn it has been the start of many adventures, like the Clermont club

Not sure I will get chance again, cuts and all our company management has been moved by and large from Atlanta, had some great times,

I do not live in GA. My home is in East TN. I like North GA as it is still part of the Appalachian mountain range, Helen GA is nice where they host Southern Worthersee for VW's. But Atlanta I really try to avoid. The driving behavior there is very bad, worse than D.C.

The only big city I occasionally go to is Nashville, and that's because I like the live free music and history. I've never seen drunk people wasted in the streets or fighting, I'm not saying it doesn't happen but it must be rare.

[J4CKO]

5ohmustang said:

J4CKO said:

Not that close, though the houses on Shadowmoss road are still there, amazingly.

Where are you based in GA ? have been a fairly regular visitor to Georgia, specifically the Tucker/Decatur area, was there in Sept last, my local is a marvellous place called the Blue Ribbon Grill, like the shop in Mr Benn it has been the start of many adventures, like the Clermont club

Not sure I will get chance again, cuts and all our company management has been moved by and large from Atlanta, had some great times,

I do not live in GA. My home is in East TN. I like North GA as it is still part of the Appalachian mountain range, Helen GA is nice where they host Southern Worthersee for VW's. But Atlanta I really try to avoid. The driving behavior there is very bad, worse than D.C.

The only big city I occasionally go to is Nashville, and that's because I like the live free music and history. I've never seen drunk people wasted in the streets or fighting, I'm not saying it doesn't happen but it must be rare.

Yeah, nearly got splattered on a crossing in Tucker, a guy slouched drinking a massive soda went straight through the light, Australian Guy moved there with work in the company I work for, a keen cyclist, was rewarded with a broken spine first time out.


A lot of absolutely stheaps on the roads as well, 80s/90s sheds with sun bleached rust and bodywork hanging off.

[5ohmustang]

J4CKO said:

Yeah, nearly got splattered on a crossing in Tucker, a guy slouched drinking a massive soda went straight through the light, Australian Guy moved there with work in the company I work for, a keen cyclist, was rewarded with a broken spine first time out.


A lot of absolutely stheaps on the roads as well, 80s/90s sheds with sun bleached rust and bodywork hanging off.

I can believe it, a lot of those classic sheds were destroyed in the cash for clunkers program. A kid was driving behind me the other day in a civic with extreme negative camber and no bonnet.

[5ohmustang]

Check this out, a Ford Econoline, with a Quattro drive train, a volvo turbo, el Camino, Camry 4x4, dub edition, Honda Conversion van.

This is what happens when you hit rock bottom and go insane after living in a van.





It's true Jimmy Saville drove this on his 1984 American tour.






While this really is a total piece of crap, bare in mind this is a mid 80s van. I see a lot of these, actually in good condition. When was the last time you saw an 80s transit on the road, never mind in good nick.

[5ohmustang]

Spotted this 4l80 transmission from a Humvee. It's the one up from mine and installed in the G30 1 ton van and GM full size trucks.

Probably the most mass produced, heavy duty transmission in the United States.



The output shaft is stout, much thicker than a 4l60e.


A key component for the 4wd conversion, along with the transfer case, however the drive shafts need to be custom made.

If adventure vans interest you, check out this thread on expedition portal.

http://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/17756-Pi...

[IanUAE]

This is our Astro van which the drivers uses to sleep in at the Dubai 24hr race and various team members use for drives around the UAE.

[5ohmustang]

IanUAE said:

This is our Astro van which the drivers uses to sleep in at the Dubai 24hr race and various team members use for drives around the UAE.

Does the AC work?

Can you check if there is a secondary AC unit in the rear of the van?

I am going to have to replace the heater core at least.