[sofarez]

There's a guy advertising an 89 astro cargo van wih an allison transmission. He claims it was a factory option.

The heavy duty Alison transmission was a factory installed option GM did forthese vans in 1989. It is the original tranny.

Anyone ever heard of this or had any eperience with this tranny?

 

[Gary]

Nope-I haven't.I would think it would take all the computer controls too to make it work.

 

[kidhauler]

Sorry I call B.S. there is no heavy duty trans option for these vans. The best you can do is get a factory oil cooler. I have had 3 vans with the trailer tow pack and have checked in nearly every dealership in Vancouver when I was looking for my current van. They all said the same thing the best set up they ever came with was a trans cooler and a 3:73 posi. that was the heaviest drive train you could get for towing. The guy you are talking too is either full of crap or doesn't know his head from a hole in the ground... I would think #2

 

[sofarez]

I suspected as much, couldn't find another anywhere in the western world. I will send him the last reply just for kicks.
thanks

 

[sofarez]

The seller replied and is adamant that this was a factory option. I think I'll take a camera along and go have a look. This was his reply.

Alison is embossed into the rear bumper (factory bumper) of this van. I woked in the car business for over 20 yrs and am positive that this 89 Safari has an Alison HD tranny. Perhaps you should call a GM dealer and talk to a sales rep with a couple decades in GM. I am sure they would give you better info than you have found so far.
I can understand the long way away thing as I also shop on Craigs list but I can not argue the tranny type with the online sources you have found as they seem to be very weak on GM product knowledge. GM worked with Alison Trannys for several years as a HD option. The tranny itself is worth 500.00 just sitting on the auto wrecker floor let alone in the van.

 

[guyonearth]

I think this is BS too. The stock transmission is plenty tough for anything an Astro would do or haul, it's the same one they use in the big vans and pickups. I would challenge this guy to come up with some pictures of this thing. It would be physically very difficult to fit one of these in an Astro. It's possible it was a custom job by someone, I suppose. I can't find any reference that states this was a factory option.

 

[sofarez]

Anyone know an easy way to identify an Alison trans just by looking at it from under the vehicle?

 

[guyonearth]

It would look completely different than the 700R4 that should be in there.

Allison

GM 700R4

 

[sofarez]

There's no mistaking the two that's for sure. Looking at it, seems it would be tough to fit in. Hard to believe a guy would just put out a bunch of b.s. and claim that he worked for G.M for 20 years to boot! I'll tell him he has to pay for my gas if it isn't an allison in er.
thanks

 

[rev_les]

ehhh, I don't see much of a difference. :rofl: . Neither of my factory manuals show one in the RPO's, nor do I think it would fit without some pretty radical modification... Maybe they tubbed out the tranny tunnel, hehe. Heck, go look, maybe it has a Duramax in it too!!!!!!! ..............................*sarcasm*

 

['cudapaul]

Save the travel. Ask him for the RPO codes from the glovebox.
The RPO code for factory installed 700R4 is listed as M30, if it has that code in the RPO sticker then it is a 700R4.

Also have him look at the trans oilpan. The 700R4 (also 4L60 and 4L60E) oilpan is rectangular which is longer front-to-rear than side-to-side and has 16 bolts; 3 bolts in the front lip, 3 bolts in the rear, 5 bolts on the left side, and 5 bolts on the right side.

 

[gtkane]

Never happened.

 

[sofarez]

Yaa, I know not a hope in **** that its an alison but curiosity got the best of me. You hear of odd ball stuff every once in awhile. I even sent him the photo of the alison and he still swears that what's in the van..I gave him every opportunity to get off the hook and told him I'd be pissed If I drove over and it weren't what he said. He ain't changing his story. I'll try the rpo check, not worth the drive by the sounds of things.

Otherwise it looked pretty good no?
http://kamloops.en.craigslist.ca/cto/1221143540.html

 

[rev_les]

I'd do the drive just to prove to him he's a moron. Previous owners name was probably Allison, lol.If by some oddball chance someone had an Allison tranny in it, then you HAVE to buy it and show us pics, lol

 

[sofarez]

Tried to get the rpo by sending a copy of the previous post with the tranny code. no luck, this was the reply.

I don't know who your GM advisor is but you should inform him that there is NO glovebox period in a 1989 Safari van like this. I am guessing that he is the tranny advisor here too which would explain the lack of knowledge on this Allison HD which IS FACTORY!

Must be tough being the only guy with one of those when the whole world doesn't believe you. I decided not to make a special trip.. maybe someone else lives a little closer and would like to stop and see this rare gem?? May as well stop in here and see the bridge I have for sale on the way by too..

 

[guyonearth]

How goofy is this guy? The glovebox is on the doghouse, the label is inside. I know, I had one like that. The later ones put it on a door sticker, passenger side. It should be obvious to anyone that an Allison transmission can't fit into that body. It would weigh more than the engine! Not to mention the rotating inertia would be so heavy it would feel like you lost 50 horsepower. You'd have to lift the body 10 inches, and even then it would run dangerously close to the ground. I use to deliver for a place that worked on and sold units like this...they are HEAVY and BIG. Is he willing to give you the VIN#? That would settle once and for all what is was built with.

 

[ihatemybike]

Can I send the guy an email quoting his ad, just to call him an idiot? I feel rather abusive today.

 

[sofarez]

You could but how about lead him along for a bit first just to see how far he will go with the b.s. He has 20 years experience working for G.M after all..
have fun!!

 

['cudapaul]

Hahaha! I figured it out, I know what it is!

The seller is on the level and is ABSOLUTELY correct!

GM makes an "Astro" fleet truck body system that is used for service and delivery clients. The current one is built on the Colorado /Canyon pickup chassis, but in the past it has been built on other "heavy duty" truck platforms and that is what the owner is talking about. They have been building this series for decades.

See link:

http://www.gmfleet.com/sitemap/astrobodyvideo.jsp

Here's a picture of the older style that has been around since the 70's:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1970-GMC-ASTRO-95-T ... 11006r8619

 

[guyonearth]

Now that makes sense. You think the guy would have enough savvy to state in the ad that it was a heavy-duty truck, not the well-known minivan. Shame on GM for using confusing names too.