[chevyman17]

this morning i woke up and said, im going to sell my 1980 malibu wagon, and buy a 1997 astro van, why you ask, v8 conversion kits. lower it just a little put some smoothies, paint it all black, tint the windows, put an awsome sound system since ther is alot room

[chevyman17]

does anyone think i should go with this build up.

[crazy larry]

only if the engine is located in the cargo area. then you could be pullin the wheels everywhere you go. you might try TECH QUESTIONS FOR SLANTY
for a qualified response.

[Stinkin_V8]

If I had room for another project, I'd definately do it. Go with an AWD model, if you can find one.

[chevyman17]

AWD models are very hard to put a v8 in, a RWD van you can use the same radiator and tranny, tell me that is easy for a swap.

[Stinkin_V8]

I might be wrong about this, but I heard the AWD Astros used a 4WD S-10 clip. I did a V8 swap in my 4x4 S-10, there were some additional issues that needed to be dealt with because of the front differential but nothing too bad. The oil pan was the worst of it.

From <a href="http://www.jagsthatrun.com" target="_blank">JTR</a>:

All-Wheel-Drive V-8 Swap

The 2WD Astro Van V8 mounts will not work with the All-Wheel Drive Astro Van. The All-Wheel-Drive Astro Van uses a Borg-Warner 4472 transfer case. It is a full-time four-wheel-drive transfer case that is also used in Oldsmobile Bravada, and in the All-Wheel-Drive S-10 Blazers. It was also used in the GMC Syclone and Typhoon Sport Trucks, which had 280 horsepower turbocharged and intercooled 4.3 V-6 engines. The transfer case will handle the power of 350 V-8.

The All-Wheel-Drive Astro Van uses the same front differential as a 4x4 S-10 Truck. To clear the front differential, the oil pan must be modified, or a modified pan can be purchased from Stealth Conversions for about $240. See our parts catalog for a photo of the oil pan. This pan is normally used in the S-10 4x4 V-8 swap, but it works well in the All-Wheel-Drive Astro Van V-8 swap.


I'm doing something very similar - different body but same drivetrain. The BW case mentioned above is fine, but you can't shift out of full time 4WD (or AWD if you want to use the buzzword). I'm looking at swapping an NVG 242 case into my setup, it's got full time 4WD, part time high and low and 2WD.

[ January 24, 2003: Message edited by: Stinkin_V8 ]</p>

[chevyman17]

240 dollars, thats a little expinsive for an oil pan dont ya think? lol, well good luck with your project, and thinks for the output.
over and out...

[Stinkin_V8]

One more thing - when I did my conversion, I picked up a 4.3L S-10 4x4 pan from the wrecker and welded an extension into it. Cost was next to nothing. Built the mounts myself based on the drawings in the conversion manual, too. You can do it on a tight budget and make it work.

[chevyman17]

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