I Told You About This Vehicle But Nobody Listened
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Date: 2020-01-26
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Comments and reviews: 8
brian
Oh how the myth of how they used to build them to last endures. Oil-based or alkyd enamel is better than water-based paint, however, Almost all of the missing or broken parts on this well-used Chevy can be easily sourced. It was a work van after all, so abuse and misuse can not be ruled out. Was the radio PWR knob seized or just missing the knob? I would pull the radio fuse/relay if the radio white noise cannot be suppressed. The bulk of the V-6 engine weight aft of the front axle(s) actually improved handling. The external door pulls seem to have lasted longer than the Toyota Matrix door pulls. The GM's Vortec dip-stick may have been jammed in too abruptly by many different drivers. Please note that I am not an apologist for GM. I actually don't own a domestically built truck. Back in the day, the 1970's, my company couldn't get more than 90, 000 miles out of a truck or car without the engine, differential or transmission calving. Rebuilt carburettors were required after 48, 000 miles. Leaking rear seals after 25, 000 miles were the norm, and vehicles occasionally arrived brand new with surface rust on the undercarriage. No under coat nor galvanised steel. They sure don't build them like they used to.
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Oh how the myth of how they used to build them to last endures. Oil-based or alkyd enamel is better than water-based paint, however, Almost all of the missing or broken parts on this well-used Chevy can be easily sourced. It was a work van after all, so abuse and misuse can not be ruled out. Was the radio PWR knob seized or just missing the knob? I would pull the radio fuse/relay if the radio white noise cannot be suppressed. The bulk of the V-6 engine weight aft of the front axle(s) actually improved handling. The external door pulls seem to have lasted longer than the Toyota Matrix door pulls. The GM's Vortec dip-stick may have been jammed in too abruptly by many different drivers. Please note that I am not an apologist for GM. I actually don't own a domestically built truck. Back in the day, the 1970's, my company couldn't get more than 90, 000 miles out of a truck or car without the engine, differential or transmission calving. Rebuilt carburettors were required after 48, 000 miles. Leaking rear seals after 25, 000 miles were the norm, and vehicles occasionally arrived brand new with surface rust on the undercarriage. No under coat nor galvanised steel. They sure don't build them like they used to.
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pvcarmon1
Scotty be very careful trashing that van. GM made that model with arguably one of the most robust engines ever made the LQ4 and undoubtedly the strongest transmission on earth the Novak 4L80E. The later models came with huge four wheel disc brakes and were able to whip on most modern cars when empty. These types of vehicles were commonly neglected and beat on daily by employees explaining their usual state of disrepair. I am not a GM fan by any stretch but happen to be very familiar with this model. Aside from having to climb out through the window on occasion and repairing broken exhaust manifold bolts the later model vans are probably one of the few things GM did right with the highest quality driveline in it's class.
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Scotty be very careful trashing that van. GM made that model with arguably one of the most robust engines ever made the LQ4 and undoubtedly the strongest transmission on earth the Novak 4L80E. The later models came with huge four wheel disc brakes and were able to whip on most modern cars when empty. These types of vehicles were commonly neglected and beat on daily by employees explaining their usual state of disrepair. I am not a GM fan by any stretch but happen to be very familiar with this model. Aside from having to climb out through the window on occasion and repairing broken exhaust manifold bolts the later model vans are probably one of the few things GM did right with the highest quality driveline in it's class.
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Ian
Scotty, I drove one of those as a service vehicle for a company that had converted it to run on natural gas. Jeez, what a nightmare. You lose about 25% of your horsepower on NG, talk about having trouble getting out if its own way. Plus, you had to keep the gasoline system and gas in the tank because the damn thing would not cold start on NG. I would use an electric transfer switch to cut out the NG and engage the gasoline system just before getting home so it would start on gasoline the next morning. Plus, it had 3 large gas cylinders in the back tucked under the shelving. Terrible vehicle, glad to have moved on.
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Scotty, I drove one of those as a service vehicle for a company that had converted it to run on natural gas. Jeez, what a nightmare. You lose about 25% of your horsepower on NG, talk about having trouble getting out if its own way. Plus, you had to keep the gasoline system and gas in the tank because the damn thing would not cold start on NG. I would use an electric transfer switch to cut out the NG and engage the gasoline system just before getting home so it would start on gasoline the next morning. Plus, it had 3 large gas cylinders in the back tucked under the shelving. Terrible vehicle, glad to have moved on.
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Nyx
The fact that this van still runs after the way it's been abused is almost impressive. Those old Chevys can last well over 300k-400k miles with no major problems if you take care of them. Other than old Hondas and Toyotas, old GM trucks/vans are the only pre-2000s vehicles I see on the road these days. Sure, they had some issues with interior build quality and paint, but they had solid transmissions and bulletproof engines. Aesthetics don't really matter on a 20-30 year old work/fleet truck.
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The fact that this van still runs after the way it's been abused is almost impressive. Those old Chevys can last well over 300k-400k miles with no major problems if you take care of them. Other than old Hondas and Toyotas, old GM trucks/vans are the only pre-2000s vehicles I see on the road these days. Sure, they had some issues with interior build quality and paint, but they had solid transmissions and bulletproof engines. Aesthetics don't really matter on a 20-30 year old work/fleet truck.
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mark
Well all I can say is I have been driving one of those chevy, or GMC van for the past 25 years. They are the only vehicle the company I work for will buy, or lease. I have put over 200, 000 miles on ever one without a single motor or transmission failure. I would also say that is loaded with a 1000 lbs of tools and part. So you can say what you want about the crazy paint job. I'll take a solid drivetrain over a nice paint job any day of the week.
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Well all I can say is I have been driving one of those chevy, or GMC van for the past 25 years. They are the only vehicle the company I work for will buy, or lease. I have put over 200, 000 miles on ever one without a single motor or transmission failure. I would also say that is loaded with a 1000 lbs of tools and part. So you can say what you want about the crazy paint job. I'll take a solid drivetrain over a nice paint job any day of the week.
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Fran
Just saying but we had service trucks from chevy prior to GM going bankrupt but those things would last THOUSANDS OF MILES we are talking way past a quarter million miles I even left the company due to them refusing to buy newer fleet for their drivers the corporate claimed they weren't even close to worn out & it wouldn't be cost efficient to re purchase the fleet guess what years have past those same vehicles ARE STILL RUNNING
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Just saying but we had service trucks from chevy prior to GM going bankrupt but those things would last THOUSANDS OF MILES we are talking way past a quarter million miles I even left the company due to them refusing to buy newer fleet for their drivers the corporate claimed they weren't even close to worn out & it wouldn't be cost efficient to re purchase the fleet guess what years have past those same vehicles ARE STILL RUNNING
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Chris
GM, Quality or lack there of. I totally agree I have a 2019 Craplaredo 4X4 RST & only have 7K on it but the transmission slips, A/C doesnt work until 3-4 minutes running and even then it isnt cold, dashboard cuts out (real fun at night when you cant see what youre doing, ABS light is on but hey look at all the fun I get to have arguing with the dealer when they say its normal operation. Toyota & Honda from now on
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GM, Quality or lack there of. I totally agree I have a 2019 Craplaredo 4X4 RST & only have 7K on it but the transmission slips, A/C doesnt work until 3-4 minutes running and even then it isnt cold, dashboard cuts out (real fun at night when you cant see what youre doing, ABS light is on but hey look at all the fun I get to have arguing with the dealer when they say its normal operation. Toyota & Honda from now on
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Marty's
Is it me or does anyone else see it like me. Yea this might be a 1000 van with high mileage. So you spend let's say 2000 getting it back up to good mechanical shape. Now you have a van in good working order, You know it's a good driver now and it's still cheaper than a new van or spending 3000 on something else you know nothing about? Is it me?
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Is it me or does anyone else see it like me. Yea this might be a 1000 van with high mileage. So you spend let's say 2000 getting it back up to good mechanical shape. Now you have a van in good working order, You know it's a good driver now and it's still cheaper than a new van or spending 3000 on something else you know nothing about? Is it me?
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