Best Upgrades for a Chevy Express Van
Looking to improve the looks and comfort of your Chevy Express van? Our forum members have plenty of tips for you.
There’s a reason why the general public calls us enthusiasts. After all, unlike most folks, we just aren’t content with leaving our beloved Chevys the way they are. We want to make them our own, with unique looks and added creature comforts. Such is the reason places like Chevrolet Forum exist.
The forums are a place where we can gather tons of great ideas on modifying our rides. That of course includes the versatile Chevy Express van. And that’s exactly where Teammuir1 headed for some upgrade advice for his 2006 Chevy Express. Needless to say, he got plenty of good feedback.
“What are the best upgrades you guys could offer a new owner of a 2006 Chevy Express van 3500 6.0 V8? My vehicle is sound. I have already started some add ons including tinted windows, a bug shield, and rain guards. I’ve also polished the wheels and waxed the van. I repainted the interior, because the van was used for work and the interior was trashed.”
It wasn’t long before Twscarp chimed in with some potential visual upgrade suggestions.
“I like the chrome bumpers, composite headlight system, full-length front air dam, and GM molded mud flaps. I know the headlights and grille can be changed. I’m not sure of the price but you can get them new through an online GM Dealer like GMPartsGiant.com, or a bone yard, or Pic A Part. Hard to see the air dam, maybe I’ll take a better pic tomorrow. Have fun, good luck.”
“I bought my van used. The front end and chrome bumpers were original equipment, but there was not any deflector installed. It’s a dealer item that attaches to the bumper with 9 square punched holes on the bottom. You would have to check that the holes are in your painted bumper.”
For others, like StanVan, the best thing about having a big van like the Chevy Express is its inherent comfort. And even for an old work van, the space is there to make it quite amenable.
“Creature comforts. A stereo system was first in mind for me. One with a large video display, mainly for a back up camera. I was expecting less rear visibility aster moving up from an Astro, but not that much. Thanks to another member here, I got clued in to a neat camera. It replaces the high mounted brake light lens. I don’t know if it fits an ’06, but you should look into it. Found it on Amazon.
I also did running boards. Again, I wasn’t expecting such a large step up in to the van. My 60 year old knees appreciate the boards. I see you already have the window visors. Did those too. You also might want to look in to a dash carpet. It reduces the heat from the vinyl caused by the sun. I got black to also reduce glare.
Truthfully, the only thing not installed is the stereo. I’ve had to move, and a move of my daughter, just not enough time. I have it all, but I have at least one more week of trying to get the house straight (happy wife, happy life), and then it’s time for the build. I have my first camping trip in this van, and need to get it together. There may be a build thread in my future.”
As the OP learned the hard way, however, maintaining factory options with a stereo switch requires an extra important step, as canucklehead notes.
“You also need the little computer boxes to allow the door chimes and warning chimes to come through the speakers. As well as steering wheel controls and back up camera if your van has the factory ones”
To make ingress and egress easier on the van, StanVan also has a recommendation for running boards.
“I got Volcano running boards. They were inexpensive, and they look good. Each little “nub” is rubber, and it comes with the black ones installed, but you can remove them and put the orange ones in instead. I haven’t had the time, but my plan is to place a few with the orange at each door.
Canuck is right. I paid about $90 for the magic box that keeps the chimes and OnStar. I don’t subscribe to the OnStar, but it is a cell phone, and by law it has the capability to call 911, regardless of a calling plan. BTW, I’m diggin’ the red. I window shopped for my van for over 2 years, and only saw one red one, and only a couple others that weren’t white.”
All of which is a great start. And as usual, our members are more than happy to chime in with advice and tips. Do you have any good Chevy Express upgrade suggestions for the OP, or are you looking for some yourself? Head on over here and chime in, or just breeze through the thread for some inspiration!
