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The oldies are the goodies in my opinion as far as sheer ruggedness. The 617 is completely mechanical, once its started, that sucker will run out of fuel before it dies. I once removed a battery from a running parts car to start another car. Left it running. Btw just read you entire thread...

Thanks! The adapter came from a company called 4x4labs.com. its spendy, but you get a custom flywheel, adapter plate for GM transmissions, and a pilot bearing spacer. I had a number of issues since my application was weird, but its a plug and play kit essentially. I did manage to find an...

Thanks! I think it makes much more sense as well. I followed your build with interest! a good source of inspiration

this is a cool idea, I wonder if it works with the regular doors, or only the 3 door version? definitely a clever idea. I wonder if these pop tops are still available for the older vans

Thanks! here are a number of videos of the engine swap in operation- 4cyl diesel early run- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-58YU9QyN8 drive around town (this is a long boring vid just to warn) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALuo4-5oheY here is a vid of a test start with the bigger motor...

Ha! I knew some of the ASV community was over here! good to see you guys

torque is about 250 Nm @ 2400 rpm from what ive read on the net. The 4.3 TBI was 235 lb·ft (319 N·m) @ 2400 rpm according to wikipedia

Thanks! Highest MPG ever was 29ish mpg with the 4cyl diesel and the original 3.2 something diff. Admittedly, the van was very very close to undrivable with that diff. Switched to a 4.52 I think, and MPG was about 25-27ish. With the bigger motor at twice the HP im going back to the original...

Thanks! definitely extremely cramped. We are playing with options, like maybe getting a single axle small camper trailer and making it sleeping only, then installing a bench seat in the astro, and making the back section cooking supplies and storage. Right now its castles in the sky discussion...

I was toying with the idea of balooning out the body and cutting off the stock current sides and rear after the cab side. Definitely agree, the shorty will be a squeeze for my wife and I if we want to fit some other amenities in. I was hoping to rig up some cooking type stuff

diesel drivetrain test fit on the astro subframe. I realized I was about to have a huge height clearance issue, so notched the spare subframe I had sourced. (ultimately this was a waste of time and found a different, better option) original and notched subframe- That notch idea was barking...

Hi new member, just spent the last 4 hours becoming convinced by this great forum that I need to build a camper out of my extra van that I was planning to sell. :) Looking for any all advice and opinions on how to fit the van out. New to the camping world, but would love to start taking some...