It's 100% possible, I built mine from scratch. But one thing you pay for with that $2500 kit is the elimination of trial and error, that **** can really drive you crazy some days....
G30 box van build
- Thread starter DesertDiver4
- Start date
It's 100% possible, I built mine from scratch. But one thing you pay for with that $2500 kit is the elimination of trial and error, that **** can really drive you crazy some days....
DesertDiver4
New member
So I am at a bit of a crossroads with this van, it has been a dream of mine for a long time to build this, but now that I am looking at it seriously, the amount of time and money to do it is a lot higher than I was figuring on. At this point at a minimum for what I want out of it, I need either a transmission swap or a gearvendors overdrive type unit. I would also need a locker minimum, and would prefer 4wd. On the other hand I could buy a mid 90s 12v Cummins 2500 and put a camper on it and have everything I'm going for for less money and time. I don't know what I'm going to do, but right now I'm leaning towards the pickup and camper option, which does kinda suck cause I like the van a lot.
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Sorry to hear you might go a different route . I'm not sure you fab skills level but swapping the rear diff to something with 355s or 373 would help . I'm betting you have 410s
You have a 14 bolt in there . It's not a super difficult to get some thing from a newer van or even truck . Cut purchase off and re attach where they need to be . Conect brake lines ebrake cables will be the tricky part and you can custom order cables in any configuration.
You have a 14 bolt in there . It's not a super difficult to get some thing from a newer van or even truck . Cut purchase off and re attach where they need to be . Conect brake lines ebrake cables will be the tricky part and you can custom order cables in any configuration.
DesertDiver4
New member
Yeah I thought about the regear, but this is such a huge beast that I think it's going to be too slow with the 3.55 and 3.73 I'm still going to be pretty limited on cruising speed if I want to get good mileage, I think it really needs overdrive.
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This thing is awesome! I hope you don't paint it. Those wheels look perfect on there also, tires are about an inch shorter than 235/85/16. Maybe 235/85 up front and 255/85 or 285/75 in the rear would help out your low gearing. Looks like a semi floating 14 bolt in there?
DesertDiver4
New member
If I do keep it, I'm definitely not painting it, still trying to figure out if I want to invest the time and money in this, and still maybe not have what I really want in the end, over buying something that doesn't require so much work.
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Darkrider
Adventurer
Honestly for a first expo vehicle its not a bad start. Hell if i was in your shoes i would probably look at picking up a TH700R4 and regearing to 3:73. That along with a set of 265/75R16s will bring the Detroit a lot closer to its sweet spot power band wise. One option with this especially would be running 265/75R16s in the rear for a wider contact patch at the drive end while running 235/85R16s front for easier steering at the front end. The tires are minimal difference in diameter. One thing you could watch for if going the regearing route would be to watch for a donor that has a G80 limited slip in it. That basic set up will get you into a LOT of places depending on tire choice.
DesertDiver4
New member
Also It's a 14 bolt, not sure if it's Simi or full floater, some of the sites I looked at said full floater.
Why go with a th700r4? I have read about issues with that transmission but the 4l80e sounds pretty bulletproof. I imagine it would get me a lot of places with that setup, and I'm starting to think about keeping it agian, after doing more research on the Cummins, sounds like it's a great engine but the truck and tyranny have a lot of issues.
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Why go with a th700r4? I have read about issues with that transmission but the 4l80e sounds pretty bulletproof. I imagine it would get me a lot of places with that setup, and I'm starting to think about keeping it agian, after doing more research on the Cummins, sounds like it's a great engine but the truck and tyranny have a lot of issues.
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Darkrider
Adventurer
From the looks of the pic with the 16s you have the Semi Floater. A Full floater will have a hub sticking out through the center of the wheel. As for the TH700R4 vs 4L80E is simply the E part of things...you would need a stand alone transmission computer to run a 4L80E so that adds some further expense to the build. At minumum you are looking at anywhere from $600-1000 for said computer. A mildly built Th700R4 especially a later model one will be fine behind a 6.2. Now if you were going Cummins...yea then i could see needing a beefier transmission along with various other beefing up through out the vehicle to handle it. a Th700R4 would be fine behind a 4BT mind you due to its similar power to the 6.2. But....for the cost of a Gear Vendors unit...you could easily go the 4L80E route as long as you are comfortable with electronics to do the wiring for the Stand Alone computer. TCI does make a controller that seems user friendly.
DesertDiver4
New member
With the Cummins, I was only thinking with switching to a ram 2500 4x4 with a camper instead of this build, because it would be less work. I wouldn't bother trying to put a Cummins in this truck. If the th700r4 would hold up I would probably go that route, would I still need to shorten the driveshaft if I went that route?
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DesertDiver4
New member
If I did decide to go the 4l80e route I was looking at the manual control on summit racing for $232 but the reviews were mixed, or reprogramming a stock ecm, I found some instructions on that on another site, either way looks like a bit of work to get it working correctly
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Darkrider
Adventurer
More then likely yes you will need a modified driveshaft especially if you were to combine it with a swap to a FF with different gears. But...the OD on the TH700 would bring your revs down a bit..maybe enough you may not need to touch the gearing.
I may know of the instructions you are talking about...i once looked at that route when i was considering converting my K1500 with the 6.5 to the mechanical pump. However...if they are the instructions i am thinking of...those were for a newer GM vehicle that already had an ECM for the 6.5 powered vans as GM used a separate ECM and TCM for the vans with that motor.
DesertDiver4
New member
This is the instructions I was talking about
http://mattw.dyndns.org/4L80E/
If I went with the th700r4 would it still be ok for some mild towing? I have a 18' boat that weighs around 1500 lbs that I plan to tow
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http://mattw.dyndns.org/4L80E/
If I went with the th700r4 would it still be ok for some mild towing? I have a 18' boat that weighs around 1500 lbs that I plan to tow
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Darkrider
Adventurer
Ahh ok that is a different set of instructions. And provided you do a mild rebuild on the trans first it should be fine. TCI sells rebuild kits for somewhat reasonable prices (under $200 usually) One of their kits or similar combined with a towing/rv shift kit which once again is not all that much to buy the kit. This would give you a transmission that would last you a long time. There are parts out there for the TH700R4 that will allow that trans to live behind far more powerful engines so building it up to do what you want to do will not be difficult. To be honest...no matter what transmission you go with (700 or 4L80) you are going to be far better off at least doing a mild overhaul before it goes into the van. That way it will last a lot longer and allow you to focus on the rest of the build.