[brads_astro]

I've considered swapping my 4.3 out with a LS2 for some time now. Sure financially it'll take a bit, but the biggest leap is KNOWING how to do it. Guides on here are great and very informative but I'm definitely a visual/hands on learner more than a reader. Would be cool to actually see someone else do it in a video beforehand.

I've noticed there are plenty of videos showcasing vans after the fact, but hardly anything showing the process of the swap. Anyone know of anything I'm not finding on YouTube?

 

[Mmusicman]

Have you ever pulled an engine before?
Do you have a garage, shop, or place to do the work?

 

[brads_astro]

Have you ever pulled an engine before?
Do you have a garage, shop, or place to do the work?

Yes to place to work, no to pulling an engine. I should’ve clarified that my plan to do this is still a ways away. I just wanted something to watch so that I had in my head what to expect. Some of the things mentioned on the guides here I’ve never dealt with so I’d like to see it in action. I guess not necessarily a step by step tutorial but just a series showing it’s progress. To me that’s better than a parts list and worded guide. I’m better with YouTube than with a Haynes manual, you know?

 

[markmitch]

First things first: is your van rear drive or AWD? I ask because the oil pan on the AWD becomes a potential problem. Whereas on a rear drive it does not. There is no kit or even motor mounts for such a swap on either rear drive or AWD so they will have to be custom-made. Other than that we do have a member by the name of copperfiremist that has done the swap on an AWD. I believe he has a build thread here somewhere.

 

[brads_astro]

First things first: is your van rear drive or AWD?

It’s RWD. It’s a 2005 Astro Cargo Base model. I wasn’t aware of the motor mounts having to be custom made but I did know that some folks have issues with the oil pan.

 

[markmitch]

Ask copper about his motor mounts and explain what you wish to do. He is in Seattle if you're close to that area.

 

[brads_astro]

Ask copper about his motor mounts and explain what you wish to do. He is in Seattle if you're close to that area.

I’ll ask him on the discord server sometime. I’m Popus on there!

 

[Ruh-Roh]

There are several LS swaps on YouTube. This guy's seemed pretty complete:

 

[6.2 Astro]

In response to the motor mount talk above. I did a 1988 2wd shorty van. For my motor mounts I bought a set of ICT Billet motor mount swap plates for a LS into a square body chevy. Then you have to source a pair of the Chevy clamshell engine side mounts for the older chevys, make sure the ones you source are flat on the engine side. The ones that are dimpled will not work. On the passenger side I just had to bolt the adapter on the LS and the clamshell on the adapter. Bolted right in. For the drivers side I had to cut the motor mount riser off the crossmember and move it forward. For starters I removed the riser, bolted the adapter and clamshell on the block, bolted the riser in the clam shell and set the motor in. Bolted the passenger side in place and then tacked the riser on the cross member. The front edge of the foot of the riser over hind the crossmember just a tad so I heated it up and folded it around the radius so I could get a 100% weld around the foot. This method allowed me to keep the trans bellhousing in the stock location. There isn’t much clearance on the passenger side rear head to the floor flange for the dog coupe but it works. Left just enough room for a thick radiator with shroud and electric fans with a 1/2” clearance from the front of the water pump pulley threads. The truck oil pan I used sits about a 1/2” below the bottom of the engine crossmember and there is plenty of room above for the ls3 intake with room to work around it. It’s hard to see in the pictures(I didn’t take too many along the way but you can kinda see the motor mount setup in the 1 pic