Look what I've gotten myself into! AWD Express van!

[Logan80]

So I've been reading quite a bit over the last few months about vans for adventuring and camping. I really wanted to convert a big bad diesel van into true 4x4 but convinced myself that I probably shouldn't because the cost would be pretty extreme and the need just isn't there for me and what I want to do with it. I plan on mostly on-road, some forest roads or very light off roading. So I decided that an AWD Express/Savana would be the best bet for me. They are a LOT harder to find in decent shape, as a cargo body, than I expected!

Yesterday I got lucky. I found a 2003 Express 2500 AWD with 132k miles on it on my local Craigslist. I talked to the guy on the phone and it all seemed to check out. We met this morning before work and I managed to score myself a pretty darn good deal compared to what I've seen around within a few states of me. It's got NO dents or damage besides some flaking paint, the interior is in extremely good condition with no rips or tears at all, and at only 132k miles it runs like a dream! I talked the guy down a bit and got it for $6,800 which is quite a steal here in the PNW for a van like this. I'm excited to get it all cleaned up and start my very slow build process and turn it into a budget adventure van!

 

[boardrider247]

Sweet! Looks like a great canvas to work with.
If you wouldn't mind could you post your rpo codes?
There has been some discussion of what separates the 2500 from 1500 AWD vans and knowing the codes for a 2500 may help.

 

[Logan80]

No problem at all.

 

[Logan80]

AK5 : RESTRAINT SYSTEM, FRT SEAT, INFLATABLE, DRIVER
AR7 : SEAT, FRT BKT, STANDARD
A12 : WINDOW, RR, STA BACK DR
A13 : WINDOW, SIDE DR, STA, RR
B38 : FLOOR COVERING, FULL-LENGTH BLACK VINYL
C6A : GVW RATING, 7300 LBS
C60 : HVAC SYSTEM, AIR CONDITIONER FRT MAN CONTROLS
DE2 : MIRROR O/S, LH & RH, DIRECT CONT, FOLDING, COLOR
EVA : TEST DVT, EVAP EMISSION REQUIREMENT
E24 : WWR SIDE, CARGO, HINGED
FE9 : CERTIFICATION, EMISSION, FEDERAL
GT4 : AXLE REAR, 3.73 RATIO (DUP WITH 5 X 1)
G80 : AXLE POSITRACTION, LIMITED SLIP
JH5 : BRAKE, HYD POWER, 4-WHEEL DISC, 7200 LBS
KD1 : COOLING SYSTEM, TRANS OIL
K34 : CRUISE CONTROL, AUT0MATIC, ELECTRONIC
K68 : GENERATOR,105 AMP
LM7 : ENGINE, GAS, 8 CYL, 5.3L, MFI, IRON, GM
M30 : TRANSMISSION, AUTO 4 SPD, HMD, 4L60E, ELECTRONIC
NA1 : EMISSION SYSTEM, GVW, LESS THAN 8500 LB
NF2 : EMISSION SYSTEM, FEDERAL, TIER 1
N33 : STEERING COLUMN, TILT TYPE
R8A : CONTROL, SALES ITEM NO. 51
SLM : STOCK ORDER, PROCESSING CODE
UM7 : RADIO, AM/FM STEREO, SEEK/SCAN, CLOCK, ETR (BASE ON ALL MODELS)
U73 : ANTENNA, FIXED, RADIO
VK3 : LICENSE PLATE, FRT MOUNTING PKG
VP6 : NOISE CONTROL
VXS : VEHICLE COMPLETE
V73 : VEHICLE STATEMENT, USA/CANADA
WEN : WENTZVILLE, MO, USA
XHH : TIRE FRONT, LT245/75R16/E BW R/PE ST TL ALS 120Q
X88 : CONVERSION NAME PLATE CHEVROLET
YD3 : FRONT AXLE, BASE EQUIPMENT FOR SCHEDULING, GVW PLATE
YD5 : FRONT SPRING, BASE EQUIPMENT
YD6 : REAR SPRING, BASE EQUIPMENT
YHH : TIRE REAR LT245/75R16/E BW R/PE ST TL ALS 120Q
ZHH : TIRE SPARE LT245/75R16/E BW R/PE ST TL ALS 120Q
ZQ3 : SALES PACKAGE, DRIVER CONVENIENCE II
ZW3 : WINDOW PKG, SIDE RR DR, RR DR
ZW9 : BASE BODY AND CHASSIS
ZX2 : SEATING ARRANGEMENT, DRIVER & PASSENGER, HIGHBACK
ZY1 : COLOR COMBINATION, SOLID
1SA : OPTION PACKAGE 01
50U : PRIMARY COLOR, EXTERIOR BLUE WHITE (91)
6XS : SPRING, COMPUTER SELECTED, FRONT, LEFT HAND
7XS : SPRING, COMPUTER SELECTED, FRONT, RIGHT HAND
93I : INTERIOR TRIM DARK GRAY, (01 FRONTERA - BEDFORD)
93W : TRIM COMBINATION VINYL, MED DK PEWTER II (W) (03) (GMT610 - "G" VAN)

 

[boardrider247]

Awesome. Thanks for that.
Basically those confirm my thoughts that the 1500 and 2500 AWD vans are essentially the same.
What's also interesting is that your GVW is the same as my 2010 1500 at 7300#

Anyways thanks again and I look forward to the build.

Cheers!
Danny

 

[Logan80]

I was actually surprised that there doesn't seem to be a specific RPO that designates AWD. The VIN definitely comes back as an AWD 2500, and it most certainly is. I just figured there'd be an RPO for it listed also.

 

[boardrider247]

I was actually surprised that there doesn't seem to be a specific RPO that designates AWD. The VIN definitely comes back as an AWD 2500, and it most certainly is. I just figured there'd be an RPO for it listed also.

That is interesting. Now that you mention it I do not see a specific code for the transfer case either

 

[Logan80]

Do the 1500 series AWD vans have an RPO code listed for their AWD systems?

 

[boardrider247]

Here is the list from my 2010. I don't see anything in there indicating AWD, transfer case or front differential.
But they made sure to include a code for the license plate bracket

2016-07-10_06-38-12 by Danny Knowlan, on Flickr


A12

WINDOW RR DR, STA

AK5

RESTRAINT SYSTEM SEAT, INFLATABLE, DRIVER & PASS

AL0

SENSOR INDICATOR INFLATABLE RESTRAINT, FRT PASS/CHILD PRESENCE DETECTOR

AS5

SEAT FRT BKT, DELUXE,

******

RESTRAINT ROOF SIDE, LH & RH, INFLATABLE

B38

COVERING FLOOR VINYL, FRT & RR, FULL WIDTH

B3P

SALES PROCESSING OPT BAILMENT COMMERCIAL

BA3

COMPARTMENT STOWAGE, I/P LOWER EXTENSION DELUXE

C60

HVAC SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONER FRT, MAN CONTROLS

C6A

GVW RATING 7,300 LBS

D31

MIRROR I/S R/V TILT (DUP WITH D36)

DE2

MIRROR O/S LH & RH, MANUAL CONTROL, FOLDING, COLOR

DT4

ASHTRAY CIGARETTE LIGHTER

E24

DOOR SIDE REAR, HINGED

EVA

TEST DVT, EVAEMISSION REQUIREMENT

FE9

CERTIFICATION EMISSION, FEDERAL

G80

AXLE POSITRACTION LIMITED SLIP

GT4

AXLE REAR 3.73 RATIO

JH5

BRAKE HYD POWER, 4 WHL DISC, 7,300 LBS

K34

CRUISE CONTROL AUTOMATIC, ELECTRONIC

KD1

COOLING SYSTEM TRANS, OIL

KG7

GENERATOR 125 AMP

KUP

THROTTLE CONTROL ELECTRONIC

LMF

ENGINE GAS, 8 CYL, 5.3L, SFI, V8, OHV, IRON, GM

M30

TRANSMISSION AUTO 4 SPD, HMD, 4L60-E, ELECTRONIC

NA1

EMISSION SYSTEM GVW LESS THAN 8,500 LB

NT7

EMISSION SYSTEM FEDERAL, TIER 2

FE9

Emissions, Federal requirements

G80

Differential, limited slip

N15

FLEXIBLE FUEL ETHANOL

N33

STEERING COLUMN TILT TYPE

R8A

CONTROL SALES ITEM NO. 51

R9N

CONTROL SALES ITEM NO. 89

R9U

CONTROL SALES ITEM NO. 95

SLM

SALES PROCESSING STOCK ORDERS

T74

HEADLAMPS CONTROL AUTOMATIC, DELAY

TGA

LANGUAGE CONTROL ENGLISH, FRENCH, SPANISH

TR9

LAMP GROUP

U73

ANTENNA FIXED , RADIO

U80

SPEAKER SYSTEM 8, DUAL F/D MIR PATCH TWT, DUAL F/D WOOFER, DUAL R/D MTD, DUAL SUBWOOF PKG SHLF, AMP TRUNK, BOSE

UM7

RADIO AM/FM STEREO, SEEK/SCAN, CLOCK, ETR

UY7

WIRING HARNESS TRUCK TRAILER, HD

V73

VEHICLE STATEMENT USA/CANADA

VK3

LICENSE PLATE FRONT FRT MOUNTING PKG

VT7

OWNERS MANUAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE

VXS

VEHICLE COMPLETE

WEN

PLANT CODE WENTZVILLE, MO, USA

XPR

TIRE FRONT P245/70R17-108S BW TL ST ALS

YD3

AXLE (BASE EQUIP) FOR SCHEDULING GVW PLATE

YD5

SPRING FRONT BASE EQUIPMENT

YD6

SPRING RR, BASE EQUIPMENT

YPR

TIRE REAR P245/70R17-108S BW TL ST ALS

ZPR

TIRE SPARE P245/70R17-108S BW TL ST ALS

ZQ3

SALES PACKAGE DRIVER CONVENIENCE II

ZW2

WINDOW PKG RR DRS

ZW9

BODY EQUIPMENT BASE BODY OR CHASSIS

VK3

License plate bracket, front

6XS

COMPONENT FRT LH COMPUTER SEL SUSP (6XS)

7XS

COMPONENT FRT RH COMPUTER SEL SUSP (7XS)

93G

TRIM COMBINATION CLOTH, MED DK PEWTER II (G) (03) (GMT610 - "G" VAN)

Z88

MARKET BRAND GMC

ZX2

SEATING ARRANGEMENT DRIVER & PASS, HIGH BACK

ZY1

COLOR COMBINATION SOLID

50U

PRIMARY COLOR, EXTERIOR BLUE WHITE (91)

 

[86cj]

The AWD 1500 Van is an "H" chassis or frame, it is in the VIN and has always been built the with the same transfer case and axles, the RPO selects gear ratio. All other vans are "G" chassis, making the AWD Van's "H" chassis unique to itself 1500 or 2500, they carry the same 7300 GVW it is the same van.
They used to build a 2500 van with five lug 15" wheels and a half ton 10 bolt axle up until 1995, just go by the GVW and don't worry about some marketing ploy.

BTW a 7300 GVW was high for a 1500 until the who can build a bigger 1/2 ton PU race started.

 

[Logan80]

So now that I've got it all cleaned up inside and out I've got a few more chores ahead of me.

I've got some paint work to do on the body, it's got a few spots that are peeling and will need to be sanded and painted. I'm sure I'll get by with a can of matching touch-up spray paint for now at least.

The interior needs to come out. It's got just a rubber floor liner front to back, no rear seats, a few pieces of Reflectix type material, and that's it. The front seats need to come out, then all the floor liners and the ragged bits of reflectix. I need to re-insulate the floors and reinstall the liners and front seats and then address the walls and roof.

I'm thinking reflectix, then rigid foam, then reflectix over that for the walls. Followed by furring strips and thin paneling. I'll likely cover the paneling with some sort of carpet or cloth.

As for the floor I'm thinking reflectix and thin rigid foam with 1/2" plywood then the liner for the cargo/camping area. For the cab area I'm thinking just reflextix then the factory floor liner. I'm not sure what else I could get locally/easily that's cost effective for sound deadening and insulation.

Somehow during this time I've also got to cut a hole in the roof for a vent system, and run wiring for any lights and outlets I might want. So I guess I ought to figure out my floorplan before I get too far ahead of myself...

 

[86scotty]

Nice score!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[endneu913]

Awesome Find! I got my 2005 AWD up on a Pot Lot in north seattle years ago- had about 140k and strong as a bull. Still always adding the last finishing touch-- at 240k.. still feels like the first day I drove her!