jody78

Hello i am turning my 1999 express van into a 4x4. I am useing a set of running gear off off a 1980 3/4 ton chevy truck. What i want to know is will the 1980 trany bolt onto the 1999 4.3 engine. Or is there a way to modify the manual trany that is already in the van to take a 1980 alum transfer case. Any other ides will be great.

hfl67

Chevy gasoline motors will all bolt up to any chevy transmissions, in addition to the 6.2/6.5 diesel. The crossmembers, however, will have to be fabricated. The 4.3 is probably not the best choice to go with with a van that big and heavy, not to mention extra driveline losses the 4x4 transfer and additional differential will add. I'd go 5.7...

Do you have an update on this? I've been wanting to do the same thing.

hfl67

I don't know what trans you have, but sometimes you can take off the tail shaft and connect it directly to the transfer. Your best bet is to find out the model/stamping on the transmission and transfer and go find a 4x4 or rockcrawling website and ask around. Those 4.3's are popular with the Toyota crowd and there are people who connect all kinds of stuff for crawlers-- double transfers and whatnot. That's your best bet there.

I've been thinking about checking wheelbases on 88-98 chevy trucks and finding one that's similar to my 2000 G2500, pulling off the body, and going from there, but the front suspension/motor relationship scares the bejesus out of me. You've inspired me to search the threads...