From a humble conversion van to a cross country toy hauler fit for a road trip loving couple looking for adventure. We got this van from my friends grandfather. He had it special ordered back in 1995. It is a GMC G3500 Vandura that was then customized to be a Traveler by Explorer. It is special because it has a 454 under the hood, with 410 gears. His Grandpa got it so he can drive to Florida and if he found a project car to restore he could bring it home with no issues. We removed the captains chairs and relocated the powered bed to the front. The rear is large enough to haul a Yamaha 250 or 3 small bikes loaded down with the bed fully laid out for sleeping and no one is the wiser. It has some issues that we are battling with: Rust Belt Rust, Oil Leaks, and a very strange coolant system, but she runs like a champ and tows like a monster. We love it! Hope to get as many years as we can out of it before the body is junk and the engine is sold to become a drag racing monster lol.
Ohhhh.... and we love this van so much and is such a part of our relationship that we had it in our wedding photos. (we got engaged on a road trip that we took after the restoration)
Give me some feedback. Thanks!
Last edited by bowfo88; December 30th 2020 6:30 pm.
Welcome to the site .... I have a couple of the 454 model ....
love them the raw power is amazing
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
to the site from pittsburgh! Lots of vanners in Ohio.
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
Welcome from Florida. Sounds like you are really enjoying your van.
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haha sure did! I patched the cancer holes the best I could with body filler and bed liner. It is far from perfect but I just can't put the 5-7k into the body that it requires to properly fix. I live in Ohio so it's a rough life on the ol girl lol.