That is a bit odd to have structural failure before sheelmetal damage. I've looked at a lot of these vans here in the NE and while there has been heavy scale rust on the front clip I haven't seen to the extent you speak of and surely not without the rocker panels having seen eaten all the way to the top step.
Yes you can swap out front clips. There are 6 body mount bolts that connect the clip to the body. Assorted wiring steering shaft blablabla. There are several members who have had their clips out from under. The engine and trans. reside in the clip so if you do swap are you going to try to find an empty clip? Never seen one-gamble on a jy motor and trans that comes with your newly acquired clip or swap all of yours to the said newly acquired unit?
It's all doable. It's all been done. It's only nuts and bolts and time and money

Keep us in the loop. Love that you're fighting the good fight!!

 

I had to change my front k frame a few years ago in my 2001 cargo. At the time my rockers weren't that bad either but could almost stick your finger through the k frame. It came out of Vermont. I found another van and swapped out just the frame. I used a gantry and held the motor up in the chassis so I didn't have to unhook all the electrical, coolant, and I think even exhaust. I have a four post lift and dropped and rolled the frame out and in. Took me a couple of days to do it. The front body mounts gave me the biggest problem, try to loosen them first and see if they will come out or you'll be cutting into radiator support to get to captive nuts.
Good Luck

 

try to loosen them first and see if they will come out or you'll be cutting into radiator support to get to captive nuts.

Like this...

 

I would suggest giving the replacement subframe a good coating of Por15 to help it survive.

 

I've attached some pictures of the van. The body is in exceptional condition, but the front end is completely gone. I would keep my engine and trans. I just need the front end.

I found what I think I'd be looking for. The only problem is I can't find a 4wd frame.

https://www.gmpartsdirect.com/oem-parts ... Ni1nYXM%3D

 

That number being shown looks to be for the 2WD model. You would want 15009053 for 4WD, shown as discontinued. Might have to look on 3bay or at a junkyard. A lot of the LKQ yards are having 40% off for the next three days. Good luck, happy hunting.

 

Not very likely that you will find a subframe new but you can go on row52.com amd get a good rust free used one from a southern vehicle.

Another thought would be getting a southern vehicle off craigslist and having the complete vehicle shipped.

 

I agree what I would do is prep your van to swap the front frame, drain the cooling system, unblot all pertinent parts you wish to keep and continue looking for your new frame. Any of your front end parts that are in good shape and can be transferred should be pulled and tagged to install on the new frame. When I do such an undertaking I take pictures at each stage then transfer the pictures to a computer and tag the pics with notes so its much easier to figure stuff out when you get ready to. then when you get the frame clean it do whatever work you need to to it then put it all together. good luck to you, markmitch

 

The front core support/radiator support is also gone. Is it even worth trying to fix? I'd take more pics but it needs a battery and it's so low to the ground you can't see under it.

 

.... It's very sentimental to not just me, but my whole family. I'm willing to put some money into it if I have too.

That's a call only you and your family can make. The body looks good in the pics, I'd go over it with a fine tooth comb looking for more/hidden rust before sinking money and effort into it. Possibly ask a body shop that does frame repair for their opinion/estimate. Financially it probably doesn't make sense on paper, but paper doesn't take into account it belonged to your grandfather. Not everyone gets that connection, but I bet most of us here do.

 

Definitely look under all that plastic body cladding, it can hide a ton of rust.
Mine looked great until I pulled my cladding off. :shock:

 

You can switch out sub frames rather easy compared to rotten rockers and other body panels. That can get expensive, is time consuming and tedious if you want to do it rite, if you cant weld expect it to cost some serious $$. If the front of the door thresholds are rusted that is also some serious fab work you cannot purchase the front of them where they go into the front fenders. Even the radiator support is not that bad to do and you can get them new thru gm, I did mine and bolted it in then had it spot welded.

 

I work at a car dealership and was told it would cost me about 800-1000 in labor to swap it. That's if everything goes to plan. But the core support is so bad it would fall apart if you took the front clip off.

 

It can be done, either inexpensively by doing the work yourself, or expensively by paying to have it done.

It shouldn't be all that hard to find a donor vehicle locally that has a good subframe/etc.

Maybe your employer would let you work on it one night after closing, if everything is prepped well and you have a knowledgeable buddy to help out, it can be done on a lift in a few hours.

 

I work at a car dealership and was told it would cost me about 800-1000 in labor to swap it. That's if everything goes to plan. But the core support is so bad it would fall apart if you took the front clip off.

It wont! it never does. I'm no Astro/Safari expert but I have had 60 some odd cars all but a few were used and/or classics. Even light rust will give you heartache (or your mechanic)
How's the rear suspension? Steering all reusable? doubtful. Answer those questions before going forward with this plan.
Once you start adding hours to contend with stuck fasteners the price will go beyond the vehicles value.
So sub frame and core support? What else?

My 2 cents (actual value diddley squat) Good luck!

 

Another thought how bad is it under the cladding? ( I was late to that party, missed 1lowcabs post LOL) Mine had pinholes and my underneath is pretty darn good.
How are the brake lines, fittings? A/C and fuel lines, exhaust?

 

99.9% of the time it does not go as planned. The .01 % it does you pay for somewhere else,lol

 

My grandfather was meticulous with the maintenance on it. It was inspected when I received it. I've owned it for 2 years now and it's been sitting for probably a year. I start it and move it around a little bit, but I'm not sure what it would need for another sticker. I know it has a weird issue with the power locks. You can't use the button to unlock and unlock doors and the rear doors only open from the inside. I'll try and take pictures tonight when I get home. I'm willing to put 3-4 grand into it. I just want to be able to drive it again.

 

My grandfather was meticulous with the maintenance on it. It was inspected when I received it. I've owned it for 2 years now and it's been sitting for probably a year. I start it and move it around a little bit, but I'm not sure what it would need for another sticker. I know it has a weird issue with the power locks. You can't use the button to unlock and unlock doors and the rear doors only open from the inside. I'll try and take pictures tonight when I get home. I'm willing to put 3-4 grand into it. I just want to be able to drive it again.

You can easily do it for that $.

 

Here ya go
http://car-part.com/

You can use that to search all the junkyards local to you and see what they have and prices.

 

I'm willing to put 3-4 grand into it. I just want to be able to drive it again.

Game on! I get it. My wifes 1980 Volvo has way more into it than its worth (to most people) but her dad gave it to her so its a "game on" car.

Keep us updated please. :thumbup:

 

If you can do it like I did, you don't have to drain coolant. It was a little bit of a pain getting motor mounts undone but keeping the motor and transmission right in it and only rolling the frame out saved me time.
Yes 1lowcab, that is what I mean by front mounts! If the radiator support is rusty you will have a problem with the front mounts, plan on cutting into it to get them undone.

 

Here ya go
http://car-part.com/

You can use that to search all the junkyards local to you and see what they have and prices.

All that are listed on that particular site anyway, not anywhere near all yards are listed on there, but it's a great resource. In my experience, the best yards are not listed on there.

 

It covers my area really good actually, there is only one yard in a 100 mile radius it doesn't include.
I'm sure it differs for every zip code tho, but still it's a really good starting point.

 

Between car-part and row52 it covers almost every yard in the country. If you can't find the part you need using those 2, your not looking!

SUPPORT. Radiator
Part Number: 15027159 ; 15730572
https://www.wholesalegmpartsonline.com/ ... gory=19395

FRAME. Chassis - AWD
Part Number: 15009053 ; 15991092
No Longer Available
https://www.wholesalegmpartsonline.com/ ... gory=19404