my friend said it is an easy swap but you guys say?

[astro355]

A van that is in the best case all on it's own is only worth about $2,500.

Gary, if you think your van is only worth about $2,500, fine. I just don't see how you can put a price tag on someone else's van. I'm not sure if he is trying to sell it or not. I don't think that is the OPs point.

[Gary]

Well Jim,as we both know we are both hard headed. For me to invest 7,000 grand in a engine for a Astro isn't my cup of tea. I'll say it again,if as we both said,could a swap like this be done on a wkend???.Yes,as long as he developed his game plan in advance.I do believe that directly answers the op's question.

[Mr_Roboto]

It's not the fact that his van is probably worth ~2500 I have an issue with, it's the notion that putting an engine in it is dumb; I mean lets look at many other platforms. "G" bodies, and second generation "F" bodies or even fox body mustangs. If you look at them, their typical value is in the 2500 range or less depending on model yet people put engines worth 7K+ into them routinely. It's not unusual for the powertrain to significantly exceed the vehicle value, it's a downfall of hotrodding in more than a few ways.

[Gary]

It's not the fact that his van is probably worth ~2500 I have an issue with, it's the notion that putting an engine in it is dumb; I mean lets look at many other platforms. "G" bodies, and second generation "F" bodies or even fox body mustangs. If you look at them, their typical value is in the 2500 range or less depending on model yet people put engines worth 7K+ into them routinely. It's not unusual for the powertrain to significantly exceed the vehicle value, it's a downfall of hotrodding in more than a few ways.

Well Roboto I am kind of taken back by your reply.And alittle confused too. Everything we have talked about over the yrs and "back in the day" has almost always lead to you figuring out the cheapest way to build anything.If you use the comic books page for page like "Hot Rod" as a guide to build surely $7,000 builds are more common place than the real street really is.The history of rodding that I a aware of is owners investing in small to medium amounts at a time.It is more rare to find someone who spends that amount of money all at one time.Thus-me saying"make me a believer"to the op with pics.

In terms of investments like that into a Astro hot rod anyone here or for that matter any Astro site worth it's salt know the pitfalls that these vans have in terms of performance.I would be amiss if given the learned experience I have not to advise the OP of that fact.So it isn't in terms of putting any engine into his van,but moreover the end result he should expect and the mere fact it could be lots less than he should expect.That he need not spend that much to still get a good end result.

Anytime anyone involves himself in projects like hot rodding I truly believe it should be tempered during the build process with a healthy dose of reality.

[astro355]

Well Roboto I am kind of taken back by your reply.And alittle confused too. Everything we have talked about over the yrs and "back in the day" has almost always lead to you figuring out the cheapest way to build anything.If you use the comic books page for page like "Hot Rod" as a guide to build surely $7,000 builds are more common place than the real street really is.The history of rodding that I a aware of is owners investing in small to medium amounts at a time.It is more rare to find someone who spends that amount of money all at one time.Thus-me saying"make me a believer"to the op with pics.

In terms of investments like that into a Astro hot rod anyone here or for that matter any Astro site worth it's salt know the pitfalls that these vans have in terms of performance.I would be amiss if given the learned experience I have not to advise the OP of that fact.So it isn't in terms of putting any engine into his van,but moreover the end result he should expect and the mere fact it could be lots less than he should expect.That he need not spend that much to still get a good end result.

Anytime anyone involves himself in projects like hot rodding I truly believe it should be tempered during the build process with a healthy dose of reality.

Sure, Gary, anyone should do it the cheapest way possible, while not giving up quality! I'm a little confused how you came to the number of $2500. Is that quoted from some "street hot rodding manual" or something? Anyone can spend whatever they deem necessary to do what they want to do. I understand building street rods for a profit but that's not what we are talking about here.

Any platform has its pitfalls. Astro/Safari vans are like any other vehicle on the roads. They have advantages and disadvantages. What you can do to one vehicle, you can do to another. I just don't see how you can put a price tag on someone else's enjoyment.

[zombie{[six]}]

i literally did mine overnight. Started at 7pm finished at 5am. ALL BY MYSELF. Grab a buddy and it will go twice as fast

[Gary]

Well Roboto I am kind of taken back by your reply.And alittle confused too. Everything we have talked about over the yrs and "back in the day" has almost always lead to you figuring out the cheapest way to build anything.If you use the comic books page for page like "Hot Rod" as a guide to build surely $7,000 builds are more common place than the real street really is.The history of rodding that I a aware of is owners investing in small to medium amounts at a time.It is more rare to find someone who spends that amount of money all at one time.Thus-me saying"make me a believer"to the op with pics.

In terms of investments like that into a Astro hot rod anyone here or for that matter any Astro site worth it's salt know the pitfalls that these vans have in terms of performance.I would be amiss if given the learned experience I have not to advise the OP of that fact.So it isn't in terms of putting any engine into his van,but moreover the end result he should expect and the mere fact it could be lots less than he should expect.That he need not spend that much to still get a good end result.

Anytime anyone involves himself in projects like hot rodding I truly believe it should be tempered during the build process with a healthy dose of reality.

Sure, Gary, anyone should do it the cheapest way possible, while not giving up quality! I'm a little confused how you came to the number of $2500. Is that quoted from some "street hot rodding manual" or something? Anyone can spend whatever they deem necessary to do what they want to do. I understand building street rods for a profit but that's not what we are talking about here.

Any platform has its pitfalls. Astro/Safari vans are like any other vehicle on the roads. They have advantages and disadvantages. What you can do to one vehicle, you can do to another. I just don't see how you can put a price tag on someone else's enjoyment.

Jim-I am going to abandon replies to this thread outside of advise as asked by the OP.Surely I will respond to any inquiries via PM's.You made that point early on in our exchanges and I will respect him as you suggested.

Thanks,

Gary

[DaFlyinSkwirl]

to give somewhat of a light of hope to anyone looking to V8 swap later model vans, I too am working on an L31 swap.

everything looks to follow the same rules as the typical V8 swap here, since the L31 is the last of GenI V8s.. accessories should all trade over, etc etc.

pinouts look pretty identical.. I posted them up here..http://www.astrosafari.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=1968
so swapping the motor, the wiring harness and the ecu should be a plug and play affair (save for the conversion motor mounts, which is a no-brainer).

unfortunately this is all speculation, but on paper everything looks good. I'm struggling to free up the funding to purchase a junkyard engine and get the show on the road (so long as my van doesn't have terminal damage from a front end collision it had before I bought it)

but if and when this project ever gets underway, I'll be sure to document and post the process here.