03 express LM7 engine has a distributor
 

according to this link 2003 Chevy Express - Specs (new-cars.com)03 express LM7 engine has a distributor.
I thought the 03 express was a 1st gen LS which means it has coil to plug ignition.

thats one of the things I mesed up on my 02 van I could never get cylinder 1 on tdc. since then I have vowed to never own a vehicle w/ a distribtor. apparently the 03 2500
doe's have the coil to plug w/ a 6.0.

so when did GM express/savana 1500s get distributorless ignitions? sure hope it was before they came up w/ dod. thanks for advice

2003 is the changeover year to LS based engines.

The 4.3 V6 retains a distributor in 2003. Based on what Rock Auto will sell me, the V8s do not.

yes you are correct about rock auto not offering a distribtor. so what the heck is a "electronic spark control, composite distributor, platinum-tip spark plugs"
thanks

You need to be careful because all aftermarket outfits don't service everything and could mislead you.

The better thing to do is;

Go to a Chev dealer provide your VIN and they have the info pertaining to your particular vehicle. That is one sure way of getting the correct parts.
They can pull up all the info that your vehicle contains as built just from your VIN.

I'm replacing the 02 w/ a newer express. I thought all LS based engines had coil to plug. so when I read distribor I thought maybe this was a early03 or late 02. van was built in 9-03 and seller says it is coil to plug.
I don't have the vin# just making arrangements to go look the convensions have always been hard to find these days it's 10x harder.

this 03 has 200K miles which is average for it's age but kindof high more than I've ever had.still mite be a decent deal even though the rocker panels are shot I think the rockers rusting out is normal for express and trucks. the frame & under body is the usale body rust. brake/fuel lines look unrusted.driver seat needs cover all seat well worn. sofa is manuel not sure how it gets folded down?
I like the 5.3 and according to my new car link this 1500 comes w/ a 4L80 so I think she mite have more miles left in her.
thanks for advice.

You can run the VIN right on here for free, this site has a VIN decoder.

I look at these all the time being sold off as state surplus and lately every single one they say has frame rot. I would examine it carefully particularly below the front doors on both sides and at the rear where it kicks up to clear the axle on both sides.

You're right about the drivetrain, Cleetus McFarland back in the day pulled a used junkyard 5.3 with more miles on it than that and drag raced it in his Corvette "Ruby" until they blew it up. 350K is not unusual on one that doesn't rot to death first.

The conversions I had with a manual folding bench you just lifted it at the forward edge and pulled towards you and they folded pretty easily.

If it is rotted bad I wouldn't pay much for it. $1500, $2000 tops if it runs and goes with no issues. The last couple auctions I went to you could have got a pretty decent one for as little as $500. Of course that's also when fuel prices were close to $5 a gallon.

Just to give an idea, I've been trying to sell my 02 with 136,000 for a grand. Needs a fuel pressure regulator, I got one, but it's such a huge pain to change I would rather just buy a minivan for the winter and to heck with this. I put a semi-new tank and new fuel pump on and it didn't cure the problem. It has all the same rot you mentioned, rockers, lower fenders, all down the driver's side, plus a little in the frame by the passenger front door.

good tips on frame rot locations. seller has been upfront about rust.
so far from the images I see it's mainly an obvious the rockers driver is completely rusted pass just about 20" I can fix the rockers if there's some good metal inside to vito to. as far as the frame from the images I currently have it appears to be surface rust. I should ask for spesific spots like at the front doors and axel as you suggest.
I was concerned about rusted fuel/brake lines which appear fine.
van is located about 170 miles away. attach images I have. he has a lift so I should be able to inspeact in person. besides looking how is that done tapping w/ small hammer?


first time I saw a express frame for sale I thought that to be kindof of weird, now it makes sense swap frames to keep the van on the road.
where are you located? I look at alot of places for a van,everywhere except gov deals.
craigslist,fakebook,autotrader,autonation (rarely)even copart that van in FL w/ the sunroof I believe was a elderly seller that didn't want anyone coming to there house and paid copart to sell.anyway I've been looking for a fender bender thats worth fixing.
as far as the fuel regulater isn't that part of the fuel pump? why not cut a hole in the floor to access the pump. I've read ppl constantly swapping chinee made FPs.thanks for advice

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/chevrol...eab82917e5.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/chevrol...a3582009c5.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/chevrol...f2bfe48c85.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/chevrol...d25a52c202.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/chevrol...ae662ada32.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/chevrol...b63d53cd9a.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/chevrol...7ab81ba3b8.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/chevrol...e7a3caef75.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/chevrol...a1108f2486.jpg
of course this isn't my dream van the 05-06 1500 YF7 explorer high top it's a tow vehicle replacement untill I find the yf7.

edit: I think the seller moved the front wheels w/ the inside tire wear to the back then shows images (I havent posted)of the fronts even tread patten w/ wheels turned kindof sneaky. this seller is in the used tire bussiness.

That one is better than mine, but here in NY the road salt eats them up.

My tank was weeping fuel and I located a fairly recently changed one in the local you pull yard, it was clean and still had the sticker on it.

On a 5.7 with the spider injectors (97-02) the fuel pressure regulator is under the upper intake manifold. On the LS motors, it's in about the same place but on the outside, and you can change it fairly easily. Because of the intake on a pickup it's about a three hour job. On a van, it's probably about the same but it's awkward to get down inside there. And that's if nothing breaks with all the plastic crap they use. When I took a cruise control off a junker van, I had to lay between the seats to get in under the doghouse in any way comfortably. My van was a state special needs home transport, so it has a police car style divider in it which prevents me from getting into that position. The stupid part is the regulator itself is just held on with a spring clip. Changing it is easy. Getting to it is the hassle. There's a reason I went back to a 94 when I got the chance.

when I removed the intake manifold on my 02 I removed the pass. front seat just to get dog house off.
this van I'm concidering is priced at $4K I'm hoping the seller (who amits this is a northern van)will take images of the frame around front doors and axel.or did you see these questionable rot spots?

what do you think about seller switching front wheels w/ inside tire wear? probaly needs front end parts.

Just based on the presence of paint on the frame and overall better condition of that van I wouldn't worry as much about the frame.

I can get the doghouise off these with the seats in.

You're supposed to rotate the tires that way. The only way to know for sure what's wrong with the front end is to get it in a shop and checked. One of mine wore a tire down on the inside on just one side. For the time it appeared to take to do it, for a beater, I didn't worry about it.