Chevrolet G20 Starcraft Conversion Van, 1994

[supercommuter]

I love these!

[gregs656]

I love these too. No idea why. Maybe it's the cup holder to seat ratio.

The retrimmed interior makes a huge difference.

[Janluke]

Me too. I have no use for one but every time i visit this thread I check Ebay right after :-)

[CoolCurly]

Janluke said:

Me too. I have no use for one but every time i visit this thread I check Ebay right after :-)

^^^^ THIS ^^^^ (and include the USA Ebay in that)

[5ohmustang]

Rumbleofthunder It's an been years since I've watched Alan Partridge so I don't remember who Tex is, YouTube is not bringing up any hits.

Shaker maker, I bet it would be a lot cheaper than a hotel plus you're not stuck in one place.

I want to drive route 66 in it's entirety soon. The roof rails were loose and the old gaskets were perished. I used clear RTV and rescrewed the rails down. I don't want to put a roof basket on there in case the roof is overloaded and cracks. Walmart sell waterproof roof bags that cinch to the rails. I'll probably keep cloths up there to keep it light.

This g20 does not have the tow package so at some point I'll get a class IV trailer hitch and get a basket for travelling.



I also want a motorcycle carrier. It looks kind of dodgy having a 500lb bike suspended 2ft away from the actual hitch, especially on bumpy roads.



OpulentBob. It is a pleasure to drive as long as you're not in a hurry. Initially off the line it's slow, once the momentum is going it picks up fast, lots of midrange. It's just that brief moment moving from stationary. I've had it beyond 85 and into the black.

The 4 speed auto transmission with overdrive does what it needs to do to get the job done. The shifts are smooth and it is kind of nice not having to change gears. I believe the gearbox is a 4l80e which is the same as many other gm trucks. It should be the same as a gift (old military Chevy blazer/c10 truck and the humvee). Which more than likely does not have a drain plug. It's a messy job as you have to navigate the transmission pan with old fluid around the exhaust missile and not spill it.

Brakes are ok, discs front, drums rear with abs. At slow speeds I could hear a metallic whine. I believe it was the left brake drum, rubbing on the shoes that were out of adjustment.

I don't like working on drums but once you get the general concept it's not too bad. There is a adjustment cog on the bottom that either expands or contracts the brake shoes.

Took a drill with a wire brush attachment and cleaned off the surface rust on the drums.





The suspension though is very soft, comfy, however around corners you better hang on. I hope it's just down to being old worn out shocks and springs. All the ball joints are blown, I am piecing all the steering components at the moment.

Being a 350 it has a lot of cheap tuning potential but this is an adventure van, not a race van. So anything I can do to improve mpg and reliability the better.

Thanks Jimmy.

LeighW that safari is seriously cool. Apparently the Astro/safari has a cult following in Japan. They're usually the cleanest.

That high top roof has overhead popout sunroofs, really nice.

I was originally looking for an astro/safari and I may still get one. They're very common and dirt cheap. However I want an AWD version. You would not think but in the snow they are unstoppable. In the south there harder to find but they're out there.

When I lived in Colorado they were everywhere. As well as VW Canyons and Westfalias. 90% of U.S. Westfalias are in Colorado.

I did want a Westfalia but it is much easier to find parts for ford, dodge and Chevy vans. Also American vans are much more luxurious. The Astro/safari to get is not just the awd but a conversion too, rather than the regular passenger van. I found one for sale recently for $3300 but mine has more interior space.







F1nn want some candy?

There are tons of conversion vans on US eBay. Typically listed as under the van model e150, e250, e350, g10, g20, g30, b250, b350. I reckon the cheapest way to get one is a Japanese import.

I've found craigslist is usually cheaper than eBay. I use www.searchtempest.com to search over multiple craigslist locations.

[Shakermaker]

Tex was a friend of Michael from the Petrol station. He loved American things like monster trucks, and used the plural term 'convoy' to describe a single vehicle.

He liked monster trucks too.

It's in one episode, where Alan wants to watch all the James Bond moves over the bank holiday weekend.

[5ohmustang]

Now this is a van.

E350 dually, with a Quigley 4wd conversion, with the 7.3 power stroke international engine

http://m.ebay.com/itm/1998-Ford-E-Series-Van-/3519...
Did they ever make 4wd transit vans?

I remember dually transit vans back in the 80s.

European vans are replacing the U.S. vans nowadays, however they seem to be much more expensive.

[Shakermaker]

5ohmustang said:

Now this is a van.

E350 dually, with a Quigley 4wd conversion, with the 7.3 power stroke international engine

http://m.ebay.com/itm/1998-Ford-E-Series-Van-/3519...
Did they ever make 4wd transit vans?

I remember dually transit vans back in the 80s.

European vans are replacing the U.S. vans nowadays, however they seem to be much more expensive.

You could get a 4x4 'County' conversion for the Transit. Definitely cool, but hard to find.

[5ohmustang]

Shakermaker said:

Tex was a friend of Michael from the Petrol station. He loved American things like monster trucks, and used the plural term 'convoy' to describe a single vehicle.

He liked monster trucks too.

It's in one episode, where Alan wants to watch all the James Bond moves over the bank holiday weekend.

Haha yes I'm that guy.

[5ohmustang]

This is very cool.

[5ohmustang]

There's a few conversion vans on UK eBay with lpg conversions.

I found this astro awd conversion with the DIGITAL DASH! The digital dash was a rare option on the 2nd generation astro/Safari vans.


http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chevrolet-Astro-GMC-Van-4-...
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/FRESH-IMPORT-2000-W-REG-CH...

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHEVROLET-ASTRO-GMC-SAFARI...
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHEVROLET-ASTRO-DAY-VAN-ON...

[anonymous-user]

Do any come with a small kitchen conversion, or is that going too far for a "day van"? Somewhere to boil a kettle or prepare a (basic) meal would mean this is a good, left field alternative to something like a VW camper, IMO. Broadly similar running costs, I expect, and I would guess more reliability to boot.

[LeighW]

OpulentBob said:

Do any come with a small kitchen conversion, or is that going too far for a "day van"? Somewhere to boil a kettle or prepare a (basic) meal would mean this is a good, left field alternative to something like a VW camper, IMO. Broadly similar running costs, I expect, and I would guess more reliability to boot.

Mine had a removable sink unit, but I bought an awning and used that for camping. I also fitted a mains hook up. The running costs weren't too bad, the main expense was fuel as it only managed about 21-22mpg on a run, and less around town. In the end I sold mine and bought a T5 as I was bored of faffing around putting up and taking down the awning every time we wanted to move on. The T5 manages high thirties to the gallon, which when we're doing a 1400 mile tour around the Highlands makes a difference. That said, the T5 owes be about £12k, and the Safari cost a whole lot less. The Safari was really comfy to drive as well, think your favourite armchair with cruise control!

[5ohmustang]

OpulentBob said:

Do any come with a small kitchen conversion, or is that going too far for a "day van"? Somewhere to boil a kettle or prepare a (basic) meal would mean this is a good, left field alternative to something like a VW camper, IMO. Broadly similar running costs, I expect, and I would guess more reliability to boot.

Yes you correct. As a conversion van they were not supposed to have camper equipment. It has been done by owners by times though. Plus you could always tow a small pull behind travel trailer/camper.



The same vans were sold as camper vans however and fall under the label "class B camper van."

[5ohmustang]

LeighW said:

Mine had a removable sink unit, but I bought an awning and used that for camping. I also fitted a mains hook up. The running costs weren't too bad, the main expense was fuel as it only managed about 21-22mpg on a run, and less around town. In the end I sold mine and bought a T5 as I was bored of faffing around putting up and taking down the awning every time we wanted to move on. The T5 manages high thirties to the gallon, which when we're doing a 1400 mile tour around the Highlands makes a difference. That said, the T5 owes be about £12k, and the Safari cost a whole lot less. The Safari was really comfy to drive as well, think your favourite armchair with cruise control!

That is bloody nice. Where did you mount the awning to. I want one but I am a bit worried about drilling into the high top roof.

[Morningside]

5ohmustang said:

...

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.

I am loving it and would love one myself. But 1990s? With all that wood it looks more 1970s in there. All it needs to finish it off is a disco ball.

[Morningside]

5ohmustang said:

...

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.

I am loving it and would love one myself. But 1990s? With all that wood it looks more 1970s in there.

All it needs to finish it off is a disco ball and an eight track player!

[5ohmustang]

LeighW said:

Mine had a removable sink unit, but I bought an awning and used that for camping. I also fitted a mains hook up. The running costs weren't too bad, the main expense was fuel as it only managed about 21-22mpg on a run, and less around town. In the end I sold mine and bought a T5 as I was bored of faffing around putting up and taking down the awning every time we wanted to move on. The T5 manages high thirties to the gallon, which when we're doing a 1400 mile tour around the Highlands makes a difference. That said, the T5 owes be about £12k, and the Safari cost a whole lot less. The Safari was really comfy to drive as well, think your favourite armchair with cruise control!

That is bloody nice. Where did you mount the awning to. I want one but I am a bit worried about drilling into the high top roof.

[5ohmustang]

Morningside said:

I am loving it and would love one myself. But 1990s? With all that wood it looks more 1970s in there.

All it needs to finish it off is a disco ball and an eight track player!

1970s was shag carpet and tolken murals. It is very 1980s and that's why I like it. The express and savanna vans have more modern interiors. However I am stuck in the 1980's my wife will tell you that too.

[5ohmustang]

1970s style before factory conversions were mainstream.