Buying a old van 1994 Chevrolet G20 Van

[krazyatom]

Hello Fellows,

I am really newb at motor vehicles and I need your advice!
I saw a local craigslist person selling his 1994 Chevy G20 Conversion van for $1700, but he's telling me that engine may need to be fixed. Engine making some pinging noises when it accelerating to 4000ish RPM. He was told by two separate mechanics that if treated with kindness, this engine will go for 50,000 more miles before a very serious problem happens - although they both recommended fixed ASAP. Current mileage is 196,000.

I always wanted to buy a van and I was planning to build solar panel into it but this van already comes with solar panel, intake, batteries (Cost about $1000 all together).

Is it worth spending money to rebuild engine for 1994 chevy g20 van? I know it would cost me $1000 for solar panel set up so this van is very tempting to me. Should I take it to a auto shop before I buy it?

Do you guys know how much it would cost to rebuild engine? engine + labor? Your advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Here is CL Link: https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/5197276424.html

 

[krazyatom]

Basically, is it worth it? Even though van is over 20 years old with high mileage.

 

[boomerang]

Only you can decide if it's worth it after you get estimates for doing the repairs. You should be able to get close enough with over the phone estimates. Just tell them what you're contemplating and for an approximate cost.

You will get a replacement engine. You may have a choice on whether that is a rebuilt or a used engine. Oh, and there will be unexpected costs when the work is done that will drive up the total.

I guess I would temper the decision on the condition of the body.

 

[krazyatom]

Only you can decide if it's worth it after you get estimates for doing the repairs. You should be able to get close enough with over the phone estimates. Just tell them what you're contemplating and for an approximate cost.

You will get a replacement engine. You may have a choice on whether that is a rebuilt or a used engine. Oh, and there will be unexpected costs when the work is done that will drive up the total.

I guess I would temper the decision on the condition of the body.

I didn't see the van myself yet, but pictures shows overall ok, but not great. I googled and rebuilding engine cost about $3000 for standard car, so 8th cylinder engine would probably cost more and you don't really know other parts are ok. I would have to take it to a auto shop and do a complete inspection, but that is no free. oh man decision..

 

[WoodButcher]

If the body is good and you like the van it's worth it.
Be ready to rebuild / repair pretty much everything because it is over 20 years old. All of it is tired and needs TLC. If you want to get in and drive buy new and make payments or consider those payments your not making on a monthly basis and rebuild the '94 for a lot less. Consider the money spent on the engine a down payment. If you are capable of doing your own work you'll save a fortune and learn a lot along the way.

I have a '93 Safari I swapped a 350 from a G20 van into, rebuilt the engine, trans, refurbed the underskirts and made her pretty on the bottom side, a work in progress. Here is the novella, it may give you an idea of what you'll be getting into if you want to keep an older vehicle nice.
http://www.astrosafari.com/viewtopic.php?f=127&t=17922

When I bought the van I did a pretty thorough inspection but when I pulled the sub frame I found a bit of rust in the uni-body. Expect rust, corrosion, and deterioration, rubber dries and cracks, vinyl gets brittle and metal weakens.

 

[krazyatom]

@woodbutcher

Unfortunately, I live in a apartment so I don't have a lot of option to do my own work. I am also looking other option as well. Maybe I should buy a good maintained used van instead?

 

[WoodButcher]

That is an option, but even in only an apt there is a lot you can do. With a van an awful lot of tools can hide behind the third row seat.
I'm not familiar w/ the average cost of fullsize vans but the Astro / Safari vans were last built in '05 and I've seen some in real good condition go for $5 grand or less. While many folk use them for camping I think they are a little small.
The van your talking about if it meets your wants and needs would be fine provided your ready for some repair. I had my engine rebuilt w/ a few upgrades for $3,500 and did the swap myself, to have someone else either rebuild or install a rebuilt would cost you $4,500 -5,000, the transmission will want attention soon as well as many other bits and pieces. If the body is sound these repairs would not be a bad investment if you compare the cost of new. I hate car payments...
The solar panels with house battery setup, is it in good shape? What condition is the interior? tires, suspension, steering and brakes? Take it for a test drive, find out what the heck he is doing running at 4,000 RPM... The only way I'm running at 4k is with the tires smoking or up over 100 mph and that is a scary place in a 2 ton brick. I have the 5.7 motor, 4l60e trans and 3:73 rear end. Maybe it has the 305 C.I., 5.3L but the trans and rear would still be the same or similar to mine. On the highway at 65 mph I'm turning 1,900-2,000 rpm in 4th. The 4l60e is 1-2-3-D, Drive being 4th or overdrive as 3rd is 1-1. I'd be really interested to find out what he is doing at 4,000 rpm.
Sounds like you really need to see it before anything.

Put up the link for the CL ad, are there pics?

 

[krazyatom]

That is an option, but even in only an apt there is a lot you can do. With a van an awful lot of tools can hide behind the third row seat.
I'm not familiar w/ the average cost of fullsize vans but the Astro / Safari vans were last built in '05 and I've seen some in real good condition go for $5 grand or less. While many folk use them for camping I think they are a little small.
The van your talking about if it meets your wants and needs would be fine provided your ready for some repair. I had my engine rebuilt w/ a few upgrades for $3,500 and did the swap myself, to have someone else either rebuild or install a rebuilt would cost you $4,500 -5,000, the transmission will want attention soon as well as many other bits and pieces. If the body is sound these repairs would not be a bad investment if you compare the cost of new. I hate car payments...
The solar panels with house battery setup, is it in good shape? What condition is the interior? tires, suspension, steering and brakes? Take it for a test drive, find out what the heck he is doing running at 4,000 RPM... The only way I'm running at 4k is with the tires smoking or up over 100 mph and that is a scary place in a 2 ton brick. I have the 5.7 motor, 4l60e trans and 3:73 rear end. Maybe it has the 305 C.I., 5.3L but the trans and rear would still be the same or similar to mine. On the highway at 65 mph I'm turning 1,900-2,000 rpm in 4th. The 4l60e is 1-2-3-D, Drive being 4th or overdrive as 3rd is 1-1. I'd be really interested to find out what he is doing at 4,000 rpm.
Sounds like you really need to see it before anything.

Put up the link for the CL ad, are there pics?

Yes, link here.

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/5197276424.html

 

[WoodButcher]

It looks pretty good. It is an extended van, about 10 feet from the back of the front seats to the inside of the back doors.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet+Performance/809/12568758/10002/-1

 

[krazyatom]

It looks pretty good. It is an extended van, about 10 feet from the back of the front seats to the inside of the back doors.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Chevrolet+Performance/809/12568758/10002/-1

Yea, only if everything else is ok. So buy a engine for $1700 + labor fee $2000? LOL.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Full size fans are worth NOTHING. The only thing that makes that van worth anything is the solar setup. You should be able to buy a damn nice full size conversion van for $2k with less miles than that. Would you rather fix this one or put solar panels a different van?

Without knowing what is actually wrong with the engine it is really hard to say anything about it. Is it piston slap which really isn't a problem or is it rod knock which is a huge problem? The cost of a rebuilt small block chevy isn't that much, $700?, but the labor to have somebody do the work will cost you a lot and cost you even more being a van. Pulling an engine out of a van is a bigger pita than a car/truck. Can you do the solar work yourself if you went with a different van?

 

[krazyatom]

Full size fans are worth NOTHING. The only thing that makes that van worth anything is the solar setup. You should be able to buy a damn nice full size conversion van for $2k with less miles than that. Would you rather fix this one or put solar panels a different van?

Without knowing what is actually wrong with the engine it is really hard to say anything about it. Is it piston slap which really isn't a problem or is it rod knock which is a huge problem? The cost of a rebuilt small block chevy isn't that much, $700?, but the labor to have somebody do the work will cost you a lot and cost you even more being a van. Pulling an engine out of a van is a bigger pita than a car/truck. Can you do the solar work yourself if you went with a different van?

I think I can do it by myself. I saw it on youtube. I thought $1700 was ok since solar set up cost around $1000 anyway. Why is it full size van not worth anything?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I think I can do it by myself. I saw it on youtube. I thought $1700 was ok since solar set up cost around $1000 anyway. Why is it full size van not worth anything?

He's just incapable of valuing anything that doesn't have a trade in value. I drive an '86 G10 with 190k on it. Gas mileage is poor but, it keeps running and towing a 14 foot trailer. I plan on taking it from Arizona to North Dakota at the end of this week. It holds a lot of junk and parts are easy to come by. I'll drive it til it dies.

 

[thedarkwolf]

I'm not saying they suck, I'm saying nobody wants them so they aren't worth anything monetarily. If that van didn't have the $1000 solar setup on it it would be a $500 van that somebody would buy and drive till the engine blows and junks it. I've driven beaters for my whole life including an $800 89 dodge caravan for 12 years and it was awesome. Just doing a quick local craigslist search for conversion vans I found several late 90s full sized vans for less than $2000 with lower miles on them.

http://charlestonwv.craigslist.org/cto/5271608575.html
That one for $1500 for instance.

 

[nakedfrog]

@woodbutcher

Unfortunately, I live in a apartment so I don't have a lot of option to do my own work. I am also looking other option as well. Maybe I should buy a good maintained used van instead?

Then I do not believe this is the van for you, even if it didn't have the mystery problem.

 

[krazyatom]

Guys, thanks for all your advice. I decided to just look for a van with less mileage. Even if I get this van, down the road I would have to rebuild the engine. My budget is like 5k including solar system, but rebuilding would cost more money and headache.