GMC 2500 Vandura

[ChrisAwesome]

Hey, what do you think about that one? Wife wants a van for road trips. Do you think I could make it work with this GMC? It seems it takes Chevy 305 motor. I can handle a head gasket, perhaps even a full rebuild of the motor. Could I put 350 in it and still be SMOG legit? Do you know what transmission it uses?

 

[Wes Harden]

no smog tech would put in the effort, figure out a 350 from a 305, a nice fresh 350 would be able to pass on the gas tests.

Make sure the 305 doesn't have water in the crank case, and that the engine turns with a bar on crank bolt, if you are even considering fixing the 305. My guess would be a 700r4 for the trans. Hard to say for sure.

Looks like it might have some drip rail rust, want to inspect that, and stop it or your camper will leak.

 

[Blue85]

A simple test drive verifies so many things, so your offer should consider the possibility it needs several things fixed, maybe a steering gear, maybe a transmission! If all it needed was 1 head gasket, it probably would have already gotten fixed.

But you should definitely buy it and fix up like this:

 

[ChrisAwesome]

Here’s the email I got from the seller.

Good morning. A couple hours to wake up and I will head over to snap photo of the transmission. I recall no issues with the transmission. I carry a load of tool and materials for Internet stair rail installs with this van. Never have had a problem with the tranny.

It ran last in 2020. Drove it 100% for work. I was on my way back from work knowingly with a leaky radiator stopped at a friend’s and had replaced the radiator because i had a new one with me already purchased that day. We installed it no problem and im 99% successful with all my repairs and boy did we end up not having the radiator cap on correctly and i drove on it not knowing this thinking i was fine. It lost good power but it did get way hotter than i would have let it had I been awares. Anyway it would turn over and start but plumes of thick sweet white smoke out the tail pipe. Towed it home.

This van was bought really clean with around 100,000 miles by my Dad and we camped a bit in it. Then I bought the van for work. A lot of highway driving from sacramento to the bay area and i can only guess that the van has nearly 300k miles seeing as the odometer is broken.

Ill reply with trans photos in bit.

 

[imiceman44]

300k miles on this type of engine don't bother.
Replace the engine.
These engines are good for up to 200k.
I like these vans, I had a 1979 conversion van and a 1989 hi top conversion.
I did a 4x4 conversion on the 79.
But when I got a later model 1997 with the vortec, I never looked back.
Smooth running smooth ride and you can easily get 400k miles on them.

 

[imiceman44]

Hey, what do you think about that one? Wife wants a van for road trips. Do you think I could make it work with this GMC? It seems it takes Chevy 305 motor. I can handle a head gasket, perhaps even a full rebuild of the motor. Could I put 350 in it and still be SMOG legit? Do you know what transmission it uses?

View attachment 444158

I just noticed the price. I wouldn't touch a van like this with a bad engine for more than $1000.
I actually sold a running 95 with 159 k miles missing the rear seats for $500 after I got it in part trade.
For that kind of money you can get a running van