Thought I would document this if anyone else can benefit from it. A little back story...My aunt bought this brand new to use as a wheelchair conversion van. Years go by and she gets a newer van and gives me this for free. I use it for my band and movin stuff around. I've had it for about 12 years now and its probably my best running vehicle haha. I use it as a second daily driver for work or around town.
I'm trying to lift it about 2-3 inches and put some 30 or 31 inch tires. So far I replaced the rear leaf springs (4 leaves and 1 overload) with new stock leaves (5 leaves with 1 overload). FInished up today and it added about 2.25". I was surprised of the lift I got with only new springs!
Next move is to install the coil spring spacers which are advertised to lift it 2-3 inches. If that lifts the front too high ill add a 1 inch block in the rear or take a leaf from the old set and add to the new set.
Looking good so far. Excellent score at the junk yard too. Always good to grab stuff like that when you get the opportunity.
Arianrhod:2003 Chevy Astro Black Magic: 1985 Dodge B-250 Serenity:1985 Chevy G-20 The Outcast:1983 Ford club wagon Luna 1974 VW bay window transporter Freedom:1990 Ford E-150(parts van) Outcast Vanners van club Support your local 2%
Just got the coil spring spacers in and it lifted the front of the van a little shy of 3 inches. Looks like I'll be putting in 1 inch or 1.5 inch blocks in the rear and hopefully some wheels and tires soon!
Nice stance. What type coil spring spacers did you use? The horshoe looking ones that are placed at the bottom of the coil? Any change to your shocks expected? Just curious, I've done bigger coils 20yrs ago but now have an 89G20. Keep up the posts on your work, nice van.
I like where your going with this. I'll take a pic of mine and post later, suns down. If your upper control arm is hitting the frame. Look up flipping your ball joint for a slight patch. I'm currently using my shocks as limit straps and i'm still on the hitting the bump rubber. I used spring spacers and after measuring the installed height I realized I have worn springs. Some more lift in there, I currently have 14 inches of clearance in the front crossmember. When you get tires you will be satisfied or the crazy will hit. This seems to be a trend, there are alot of lifted vans by me.
Nice stance. What type coil spring spacers did you use? The horshoe looking ones that are placed at the bottom of the coil? Any change to your shocks expected? Just curious, I've done bigger coils 20yrs ago but now have an 89G20. Keep up the posts on your work, nice van.
I used these. As for shocks I still have the original size which were replaced 10+ years ago. I'll be in the market for new shocks. I'm also playing with the idea of keeping the stock truck wheels and caps and using a taller tire. Looks pretty good now so who knows. It might end up staying. online gif hosting
Your van is the only other one I have seen with the same paint, the grey and the dark blue ones seemed to rot out badly first. I jut dropped dead when I saw it in a shorty. Looks good, still trying to lift mine some more.
Your van is the only other one I have seen with the same paint, the grey and the dark blue ones seemed to rot out badly first. I jut dropped dead when I saw it in a shorty. Looks good, still trying to lift mine some more.
Jim & Lucy Newkirk 1965 Chevy Bad Influence 1981 Chevy-the Love Shack 2012 Chevy Van , 2020 chevy van 2020 Chevy van Sapphire Sweet. Club Vannerz. vanninvanner@comcast.net
The top one is a G10 & the other is a G20 spring pak. The G30 has 7.
Also the thickness changes.... some are 5/16 and others are 3/8 .... some are wider than others
Last edited by frscke1; February 14th 2018 1:38 pm.
SUNSHINE VANS-VAN DIEGO ADRENALIN BY THE GALLON & CHASIN RACIN ONE FOR THE DIRT & ONE FOR THE STREETS '93 CHEVY G30 454 4X4 SPORTVAN EXT 146" WB '92 CHEVY G30 454 BEAUVILLE EXT 146" WB
Sorry to hijack the thread. I haven't measured the thickness of an individual leaf, but my G2500 (conversion van) came with 4 leaves and an overload. See attached photo.
My G30 came with 7 5/16 leafs.... when I had them changed I had 5 +1 3/8 leafs put in....
Maybe it was the govt that put in the 7 leafs...
SUNSHINE VANS-VAN DIEGO ADRENALIN BY THE GALLON & CHASIN RACIN ONE FOR THE DIRT & ONE FOR THE STREETS '93 CHEVY G30 454 4X4 SPORTVAN EXT 146" WB '92 CHEVY G30 454 BEAUVILLE EXT 146" WB
I put new springs on my 76 g10 years ago .the spring shop here made me a set out of the next size thicker metal. Probably the difference between a g10 and ag20. I don't know.what he difference between standard and heavy duty is on a g20. I know adding that 5th leaf took some of the bounce out of the back and lifted it a little. Who knows what they put in that van of yours when they built it lol.
Last edited by Lionvan; February 04th 2018 2:54 pm.
SUNSHINE VANS-VAN DIEGO ADRENALIN BY THE GALLON & CHASIN RACIN ONE FOR THE DIRT & ONE FOR THE STREETS '93 CHEVY G30 454 4X4 SPORTVAN EXT 146" WB '92 CHEVY G30 454 BEAUVILLE EXT 146" WB
Installed a new axle seal today on the van. Took a couple pictures of the interior, nothing special. I use the van for loading music gear through the side door mostly. I think I may do carpet in the cockpit area and then some laminate flooring the rest of the way back. Also I'll make some new side panels out of wood.
Arianrhod:2003 Chevy Astro Black Magic: 1985 Dodge B-250 Serenity:1985 Chevy G-20 The Outcast:1983 Ford club wagon Luna 1974 VW bay window transporter Freedom:1990 Ford E-150(parts van) Outcast Vanners van club Support your local 2%
I switched the 31x10.5r15s from the craigslist wheels (Isuzu Rodeo) to a set of 15x7 GM aluminum truck wheels my Dad had lying around.
I bought a harbor freight manual tire changer. Major PITA but after about the 7th wheel I got the hang of it. It really works well if its mounted in cement or a very heavy base. I figured selling those Isuzu wheels would pay for it.
Im not sure how I feel about the wheel choice...but the tires fit great! No rubbing in the front and the sliding door does not interfere with the tire. These tires and wheels were just used to see how everything would look and fit, so looks like i'll be buying new tires......eventually
Arianrhod:2003 Chevy Astro Black Magic: 1985 Dodge B-250 Serenity:1985 Chevy G-20 The Outcast:1983 Ford club wagon Luna 1974 VW bay window transporter Freedom:1990 Ford E-150(parts van) Outcast Vanners van club Support your local 2%
I had the day off and decided to run to my local junkyard which never has any chevy g vans. Then, almost at the end of the aisle of cars was a clean solid 1975 Chevy van 10. BAM! After a long search I finally found a set of Non conversion doors so they haven't been cut out. These doors are nice! They are early style so the license plate is inside the door, I hope they work on my 89. I figure since the van was so complete I'd see what else it had to offer. Mind you I was not looking for any of these parts but I couldn't leave them lol. Some nice bucket seats I thought would be fun. I head to the front of the van and wow.....the grille is still there. It is a little bent, but definitely fixable. I probably won't use it on this van because I think it might interfere with my transmission cooler. I might just sell it....they seem to be going for top dollar recently.
Scored these yesterday on craigslist. The ad was for a 83 c10 but in the ad it stated, "comes with extra set if mag wheels" I thought, why not I'll ask about em. Got a quick response and I had them home in about an hour. Best part is they came with decent tires and all the caps! (Although rusty) I got em for a steal! Cant wait to put em on after work.
They are 15x8.5 with 235/75r15. After they wear out I'll be going with 31x10.5r15s
Last edited by SirTimTim; November 18th 2019 2:24 pm.
Just as a word of warning, you may definitely rub with 31’s on there with stock suspension. The wheel wells in g vans aren’t as big as c trucks and I rubbed with stock g20 Suspension and 31’s. I had to roll the inner fender lip in and get g30 springs to raise the front end to clear
Just as a word of warning, you may definitely rub with 31’s on there with stock suspension. The wheel wells in g vans aren’t as big as c trucks and I rubbed with stock g20 Suspension and 31’s. I had to roll the inner fender lip in and get g30 springs to raise the front end to clear
The suspension is not stock in the front or rear. I did test fit some 31x10.5r15s (you can see in previous pics). Although those were stock wheels and these are aftermarket. Fingers crossed. I have to find the correct lug nuts also.
Last edited by SirTimTim; November 18th 2019 7:22 pm.
Jim & Lucy Newkirk 1965 Chevy Bad Influence 1981 Chevy-the Love Shack 2012 Chevy Van , 2020 chevy van 2020 Chevy van Sapphire Sweet. Club Vannerz. vanninvanner@comcast.net
Update! Finally got the wheels on the van, polished the rear to see how well they clean up. Really digging how the van is looking. Not the original vision I had, but I drive it every chance i get. Found some rear doors and a new slider also. I backdated the side markers to the earlier style. Still a long way to go, hopefully paint one day.
Last edited by SirTimTim; January 10th 2020 4:21 am.
Jim & Lucy Newkirk 1965 Chevy Bad Influence 1981 Chevy-the Love Shack 2012 Chevy Van , 2020 chevy van 2020 Chevy van Sapphire Sweet. Club Vannerz. vanninvanner@comcast.net
Arianrhod:2003 Chevy Astro Black Magic: 1985 Dodge B-250 Serenity:1985 Chevy G-20 The Outcast:1983 Ford club wagon Luna 1974 VW bay window transporter Freedom:1990 Ford E-150(parts van) Outcast Vanners van club Support your local 2%