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Re: 1997 Chevy Express Cobra Conversion
1983 G20 Van #778762 July 10th 2021 6:26 am
Joined: Apr 2004
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My van came out of Elkhart too but then I think 90% of american RVs and campervans were made there at one point. I think it was a menonite town.

Brochure I have says cobra was an Odyssey company and was on county road 3 south, elkhart.
Probably the company was sold to Advantage in the 80s.

[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]cobravancatalogue by shagedemus, on Flickr


79 chevy G30 cobra camper conversion.
[Linked Image]
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Re: 1997 Chevy Express Cobra Conversion
1983 G20 Van #778766 July 10th 2021 7:10 am
Joined: Jul 2019
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S
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Nice progress. Cool Retro pics,

Last edited by SDMickey; July 10th 2021 2:59 pm.
Re: 1997 Chevy Express Cobra Conversion
1983 G20 Van #778771 July 10th 2021 2:39 pm
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Oh for shame Shaggy that pic is of a Ford Cobra van .... they gave you the wrong brochure .. lol


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
Re: 1997 Chevy Express Cobra Conversion
1983 G20 Van #778773 July 10th 2021 3:01 pm
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Wow ! I was so focused on the interior I missed the white elephant in the room. smile

Re: 1997 Chevy Express Cobra Conversion
frscke1 #778774 July 10th 2021 5:01 pm
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They mainly converted Fords and Dodge vans, seems like my Chevy one is a rarity. I have two different Cobra catalogues from the late 70s.


79 chevy G30 cobra camper conversion.
[Linked Image]
Re: 1997 Chevy Express Cobra Conversion
1983 G20 Van #778775 July 10th 2021 5:22 pm
Joined: Jun 2010
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Im just messing with ya ..... lol

And a rare one it is ... Ive never seen one


Sry I hijacked your thread '83G im done

Last edited by frscke1; July 10th 2021 6:07 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
Re: 1997 Chevy Express Cobra Conversion
frscke1 #778806 July 12th 2021 11:14 am
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 249
Likes: 59
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G Van Man
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Originally Posted by frscke1
Im just messing with ya ..... lol

And a rare one it is ... Ive never seen one


Sry I hijacked your thread '83G im done

No worries. Just staying moving on this project. Picked up a parallel flow condenser with a lifetime warranty. With my discount at work it was under $80. The old style serpentine condenser (2 tubes snake all the way through it) was 2x the thickness and highly restrictive to airflow after nearly 25 years even though I had previously cleaned it and straightened the fins. The new parallel flow is thinner and being new and clean flows alot more air through it. Condenser design and function has been drastically improved in the 30 years since GM designed that early R134a condenser. The newer condensers typically reduce the a/c head pressure, let the a/c function better and help keep the engine cooler with the improved airflow.

[Linked Image]


1983 G20 Conversion Van, 350 TPI, Reed Hydraulic Roller cam, Ported 906 Vortec, Edelbrock 3817 TPI-Vortec Base, Doug Thorley Tri-Ys, Dual 2 1/2" exhaust, Speed Density 7730 ECM tuned by ME, 700r4 by ME, Stock 1,600 rpm converter, Rebuilt Stock 10 bolt with posi by ME, 3.08 gears, 358 RWHP @ 5,200, 384 RWTQ @ 3,400, 14.66 @ 95.43 w 2.28s 60'
Re: 1997 Chevy Express Cobra Conversion
1983 G20 Van #778808 July 12th 2021 12:36 pm
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 249
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G Van Man
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Harness is installed and works well. Only need to lengthen the two control wires and route them to the PCM inside the engine harness. The PCM will be controlling the fans based off coolant temp and a/c pressure. I am adding a GM a/c pressure transducer to the a/c discharge hose between the compressor and condenser. I tested the fans on video. First on low speed with the motors in series for 6 volts each. Then on high speed with the fans in parallel and 12 volts each. Fans draw 9.25 amps on low and 37 amps on high. The startup amperage spike is also very low with this wiring arrangement. The PCM will also run the fans only as much as needed so less wasted energy. With the PCM controlling the fans I can adjust the idle airflow when the fans turn on and off to maintain a steady idle speed. The PCM is also going to control the alternator when I am done with the wiring changes which means stable voltage as the fans turn on and off. I am going to try to bend the trans cooler mounting bracket in toward the condenser to get more airflow through it. It sticks out close over 2" from the condenser now because the condenser is thinner. Even so the airflow through the trans cooler will still pull a paper towel against it on low speed and hold it in place. But with the 2,800 rpm stall converter its hard to go overkill on trans cooling.

[Linked Image][Linked Image][Linked Image][Linked Image]

https://youtu.be/VavjEubOni4

Last edited by 1983G20Van; July 12th 2021 12:48 pm.

1983 G20 Conversion Van, 350 TPI, Reed Hydraulic Roller cam, Ported 906 Vortec, Edelbrock 3817 TPI-Vortec Base, Doug Thorley Tri-Ys, Dual 2 1/2" exhaust, Speed Density 7730 ECM tuned by ME, 700r4 by ME, Stock 1,600 rpm converter, Rebuilt Stock 10 bolt with posi by ME, 3.08 gears, 358 RWHP @ 5,200, 384 RWTQ @ 3,400, 14.66 @ 95.43 w 2.28s 60'
Re: 1997 Chevy Express Cobra Conversion
1983 G20 Van #778815 July 12th 2021 6:26 pm
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,696
Likes: 172
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Looks great and nice work.


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1965 Chevy Bad Influence
1981 Chevy-the Love Shack
2012 Chevy Van , 2020 chevy van
2020 Chevy van Sapphire Sweet.
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