Step Van Project..
Step Van Project..
Long story short I travel around to bike rallies selling my leather goods that I manufacture and was getting tired of living in a 14 ft Homesteader trailer with 2 Harley's and all of my stuff.While the F150 would tow ok it did not offer a lot of comfort for sleeping,storage,etc.
So in an attempt to find the right tow vehicle for the trailer,and to have some space for creature comforts, I settled on a 1994 Utilimaster Step Van.All aluminum
First off it is a 1994 Chevy P30 step van,over all length is 20 foot.This will fit in my garage.Dimensions behind the drivers seat 11'6" long,6'3" wide,and about 6' in height.
The power plant runs but has seen better days it is a 350 chevy with a 3 speed automatic tranny with dual tires on the rear.With low compression on the motor,and wanting a automatic transmission with overdrive and maybe a mild cam upgrade for towing I have started looking in to all of this,and if it is possible to switch the tranny set up around,with out changing out computers and all.The u joints squeak,and the shocks dive bad,the brakes pull to the side,and lets not forget to mention t
he ball joints..So if you need to contact me you can probably find me under the truck..
So if any one has any great ideas for floor plans,where to find parts,our any been there done that all ready stories..Please let me know..
Thanks for all of your help
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[/IMG]
So in an attempt to find the right tow vehicle for the trailer,and to have some space for creature comforts, I settled on a 1994 Utilimaster Step Van.All aluminum
First off it is a 1994 Chevy P30 step van,over all length is 20 foot.This will fit in my garage.Dimensions behind the drivers seat 11'6" long,6'3" wide,and about 6' in height.
The power plant runs but has seen better days it is a 350 chevy with a 3 speed automatic tranny with dual tires on the rear.With low compression on the motor,and wanting a automatic transmission with overdrive and maybe a mild cam upgrade for towing I have started looking in to all of this,and if it is possible to switch the tranny set up around,with out changing out computers and all.The u joints squeak,and the shocks dive bad,the brakes pull to the side,and lets not forget to mention t
he ball joints..So if you need to contact me you can probably find me under the truck..
So if any one has any great ideas for floor plans,where to find parts,our any been there done that all ready stories..Please let me know..
Thanks for all of your help
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: slocomb al
captain
i think comp cams makes good cams to help with low end torque,
the 700r4 would probably be a good transmission i think along with a trans cooler
what ever you do mark that driveshaft so you can put it back in the way it come out lol lol
good luck with your project.
i think comp cams makes good cams to help with low end torque,
the 700r4 would probably be a good transmission i think along with a trans cooler
what ever you do mark that driveshaft so you can put it back in the way it come out lol lol
good luck with your project.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 1
From: West of 47 IL
Itch what you have should get you 8-10 mpg pulling your trailer
doing a trans swap would be the way to go with a ECM / TCM and some one that knows how to. Van can't have whole lot of option so doing this should be easy good luck
doing a trans swap would be the way to go with a ECM / TCM and some one that knows how to. Van can't have whole lot of option so doing this should be easy good luck
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth, Texas
If you switch trannys from the 350 to a 700r4 you will have to get the drive shaft shortened about 3 inches. I am about to do the same to my 70 GMC truck so I have been doing a lot of research. You can find a rebuilt engine and tranny combo for under a grand on Craigslist if you are patient. Right now I have a 350 with th350 in my truck and get around 12 mpg.
I cant remember off hand which year chevy changed the number for the tranny to a 2 something but the only difference is the that the 700r4 is not computer controlled.
Other than that the only thing you may have to do is flip the crossmember around to fit to the tranny.
I cant remember off hand which year chevy changed the number for the tranny to a 2 something but the only difference is the that the 700r4 is not computer controlled.
Other than that the only thing you may have to do is flip the crossmember around to fit to the tranny.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,478
Likes: 184
From: Mount Airy, MD
Can't go wrong with an aluminum body it will never rot out. The 350 chevy motor is probably the most available motor ever made. Parts are easy to find and plentiful. You might want to look into a crate motor to just drop in. Since you'll be towing I would definitely go with a trans cooler.
Have fun.
Have fun.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,615
Likes: 9
From: Escondido, CA
I did the trans swap on an 84 El Camino and need to warn you that it is not as strong a trans as the 3 speed. For what your driving I think the 700R4 is going to be the biggest mistake you could regret. Stay with the 3 speed. I went through four of the 700R4 trannies in about 100,000 miles. No one could build one strong enough for the three hundred horses the new 350 was making. Pushing that van around you're going to need strength and the overdrive is not strong enough. It won't help with the mileage as much as you would want either. Try contacting gear vendors in El Cajon, CA and look into an under/overdrive set up instead. Just friendly advice from personal experience. Get a Super Chevy or Hot Rod magazine and you'll find lots of engine builders that will make some excellent recommendations for a power plant. I used Performance Chevy in Phoenix, AZ for my camino and was extremely pleased with what they said would work well for the street. I do customizing on vans and motor homes so if you need any advice on building the interior let me know. Happy wrenching.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,289
Likes: 23
From: Phoenix, AZ/Canton, OH
With a 350 I think your going to find it a little weak to be running an overdrive trans. With pushing that box truck pulling a trailer. Unless your going down hill or with a tail wind that O/D isn't going to be used much. I would go with the Turbo 400 trans strong as hell should last a long time.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 827
Likes: 1
From: Covington, Ga.
Echoing most everyone else here... Do the research on a tranny swap before you spend the bucks.
You need a bullet-proof unit to haul that gear reliably.
A 350 motor will make all the horsepower you'll need to haul the truck, but you might be pushing it if you drag a trailer full of gear and bikes as well...If this is the dream, stop now and get a diesel.
For tranny info...Look up TCI Transmissions HERE
or Jasper Engine/Transmissions HERE
for drop in units.
.
You need a bullet-proof unit to haul that gear reliably.
A 350 motor will make all the horsepower you'll need to haul the truck, but you might be pushing it if you drag a trailer full of gear and bikes as well...If this is the dream, stop now and get a diesel.
For tranny info...Look up TCI Transmissions HERE
or Jasper Engine/Transmissions HERE
for drop in units.
.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 403
Likes: 1
From: Connecticut
Just a personal experience note. Back in 1987, I bought a 1986 camaro. The stock powerplant was the 305 engine with a 700r4 trans. Wanting more power, I replaced the 305 with a built 327 engine. I blew out the transmission on the first test drive after the engine replacement. After repairing the 700r4 and blowing it out a second time, I replaced it with the 350 transmission and never had another problem. The 700r4 couldn't handle the added power. In changing the transmission, I had to find a longer driveshaft and modify the crossmember. Unless the 700r4 has changed, I would stay away from it.