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Chevy Express/GMC Savana

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, Chevrolet Express Cargo, Chevrolet Sportvan, Chevrolet Chevy Van, Chevrolet Chevy Van Classic, Van

#178 of 595 My G3500tranny blew up at 70,000 miles! by madax May 16, 2001 (10:35 am)
My 1997 G3500 tranny blew up at 70,000 miles! It's $2500.00 to replace it with a Certa(newly rebuilt chevy certified unit 3 yrs/50k warrentee) I've owned it since new and this stinks. The milage is 10-11 max also. I love the van-it looks good and drives well. But, it's deisel for me from now on. To bad Chevy dosen't put Duramax deisel in Vans. But Ford does. Guess what Chevy? Brandermediaone.net
#179 of 595 3500 Rough Ride by tx3500 May 16, 2001 (4:09 pm)
I have a new MC Savanna 3500 Conversion. It's a high-top Explorer set-up to pull our heavy trailer. Problem is, unloaded the ride is very bounty for those in the back. Can anyone recommend an after market shock/spring set-up that would allow me to vary the ride height and stiffness when not trailering? We love the van, but the bounce has got to go.
#180 of 595 signal flasher unit by eska1 May 17, 2001 (7:08 pm)
Anybody know where the flasher unit is on my new used 98 savana 2500? I cant seem to find it by the drivers feet , unlike every other vehicle I have owned. Thank You Tim
#181 of 595 3500 Rough Ride by depp May 23, 2001 (3:49 pm)
tx3500, Sorry I don't have an answer for your bounce problem. However, I am currently looking at the Savanna 3500 and 2500 Conversion, and am also looking at the high top Explorer. I will also be using it to tow, and am interested in any other experiences or impressions you have with the van, good or bad? What's this bounce like? I am guessing when you go over bumps, the trailer is pivoting on its wheels, causing the rear of the van to move up and down? Also, what engine do you have?   Where did you get your trailer package, was it part of the Explorer package or like that from the factory? My dealer told me that Explorer would not put in a trailer wiring package that was mounted to the hitch and wired from the underside, it instead had to come from inside the van and hang out between the floor and you then just slam the rear door on the wiring. They said this was because Explorer did not want to drill a hole in the floor. Mind you, I don't know much about it, but this does not sound like a quality setup for towing to me. So how is yours setup and how did you get it that way?   Thanks for your time
#182 of 595 Tex 3500 by xfiles May 23, 2001 (7:10 pm)
I drove the Savana 3500 extended and the ride was quite good up front, similar to my 2500 extended. All full size vans are going to be rough riding in the back when 2500/3500 series.   One alternative is to check your leaf springs in the rear, perhaps you can remove one and get it down to what the 2500 uses. However, even the ride on the 2500 you may still not like, and softening it further could create a handling problem when you need to tow. The ride on my extended 2500 is not bad when I sat in the first row of bench seats and likely is fair until your over the rear wheels.   Your vehicle is built for leaf springs, not for springs and shocks in the back....there will be NO WAY of attaching them to the rear. The only thing I can see is a different brand of leafs for the rear (aftermarket), or removing one leaf to make it close as possible to a 2500. I would leave the front springs/shocks alone, since they are not what is effecting your ride.   To bad you never test drove the extended models, the 3500 extended I test drove was impressive up front (don't know about the back).A longer wheel base always improves the ride.   Under the chevy/savana reliability forum I remember others discussing the rear ride quality. Two people mentioned putting between 700-800 lbs of weight to the back. One used water bottles, and other sand I think. Not what I would like to do, but perhaps you can find ways of adding some weight to the rear. Perhaps the trunk could be fitted with a 1" piece of plate steel from a wrecking yard (bolted down for safety) which likely would add lot of weight, and then can be covered over by carpetting so it is not visible. It would also not take up any space laying flat. A 1" thick piece 3x3FT has to be quite heavy I bet (or go for a 2-3"piece). This might be your best and cheapest choice.   My friends wife was driven to the airport in a 3500 extended, and even then with a full load she mentioned the ride was a bit rough in the back except for smooth hiways. Perhaps there is no solution to get rid of all of it, but adding weight will always help (with one less leaf in back).
#183 of 595 3500 Rough Ride by tx3500 May 30, 2001 (2:34 pm)
Thanks for your post. My van has the 8.1 liter engine. The bounce problem is most pronounced when not towing anything. Just the kids in the back. When crossing railroad tracks or just going over uneven pavment sections on the highway, the rear seat passengers get quite a ride. With the trailer hitched up the problem is still there, but not nearly as bad. I am pulling a 7200 pound trailer using a very good equalizer hitch.   I ordered the van with the hitch and the basic wiring in place under the van. After getting the van from the dealer I took it to a trailer service shop and had the light connector and brake controller installed.($280.00). There are no holes in the floor and the connector is mounted up under the the bumper out of sight. Mounting it in any other position would have put it below the hitch and made it easy to tear off on a curb or driveway.   I have tried putting extra weight in the back and it does work. Just hoping I could find a better solution. Right now I've got about 300 pounds of water back ther in a "Phat Sack" used for weighing down a boat to create a larger wake. I like the idea of using a piece of steel bolted to the floor though. I'll have to check that out.   Since the dealer did not have a van like this in stock and Explorer said they had only ever built about 5 of them, I was unable to test drive one before ours arrived. All in all, we love the van and it can really pull. The new 8.1 liter engine is amazing. Fantastic power. Thanks for the posts. We'll be leaving next month to pull the trailer from Texas to Utah. I'll let you know how our experience with the van progresses.
#184 of 595 Maybe I'm feeling a little sarcastic, but.... by mrnimmo May 31, 2001 (11:17 am)
did you really think you'd get a good ride out of a 1 ton van? Any 1 ton van?   Those leaf springs have to be able to carry much weight. Unloaded they are going to be rough. Really, the rides in newer vans, especially the GM's (and I'm a Ford-guy) have improved greatly. But you still have to expect a rough ride in a 1 ton.   Good luck. Maybe removing a spring, or replacing all the springs with ones out of a 2500, would be your best bet.
#185 of 595 3500 bounce in back by vandalybay1 May 31, 2001 (10:04 pm)
I've got a few cases of water bottles in the back. I also monitor the tire pressure to match what's on the door tag. If the tires are over inflated the ride is especially lively.   Pro's and cons for each fix of the hard ride.   Weight in back--Pro: Keep trailering and cargo capacity. Cons: Possible flying load in accident. All the time worse gas mileage.   Suspension adjustments--Pro: Tuned and softest ride. Cons: If done wrong, handling may suffer. If done right, trailering and cargo capacity sacrificed.   Someday I'll get around to re doing the suspension because I don't need the towing capacity. The plan is custom springs and air bag suspension plus better shocks. I'll retain the ability to return it to factory specs. Until then, the kids enjoy getting air when hitting the bumps.
#186 of 595 Why an 8.1 instead of the 7.4 liter? by vandalybay1 May 31, 2001 (10:07 pm)
Does anyone know why GM switched?
#187 of 595 Madax: Your tranny blew?! by vandalybay1 May 31, 2001 (10:22 pm)
Most importantly what transmission model?   1. Conversion van? 2. Trailer? If yes, what? 3. Fluid changed at how many miles?   I am surprised because, the one ton cranny's should be tough. The 4L80E in my 99 is one tough cranny.   Even still, I have replaced the fluid in mine with synthetic because I was once inconvenienced by a cranny in a Chrysler/Dodge and don't ever want to repeat that experience.

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