1988 GMC Vandura 5.7L Weird Overheating Issue (A-Team Drift Van)

[VanGasm]

Sounds like a cool project! I know you're not asking...But if the head gasket is actually bad the right thing to do is change it (or both in your best interest). Especially if this is going to be an actual "drift van," do it the right way and you won't be disappointed.

I know there's some bandaid fixes in a bottle to get you home...But sometimes those fixes show up later in the form of clogged coolant passages, heater core, or blocking some tubes in your new radiator causing other inefficiencies.

Well... it's official. Head gasket.

LS Time!!!!

 

[CrustyJunker]

Very cool. That's another way to fix it!

 

[VanGasm]

Very cool. That's another way to fix it!

For the time and money it would take to upgrade a TBI motor... an LS is an easy decision.

 

[L31MaxExpress]

For the time and money it would take to upgrade a TBI motor... an LS is an easy decision.

Hope you get a 6.0 or 6.2. TBI engine is not hard to upgrade with all the affordible aluminum heads out there. Aluminum head 383 or 406 would drop right in place of the old 350 and burn the tires off that van, LS not so easy of a swap. Budget 2x what you think the swap is going to cost you.

 

[PlayingWithTBI]

Aluminum head 383 or 406 would drop right in place of the old 350 and burn the tires off that van

I have these heads on my 88 TBI, bolted right up, used chromoly push rods (for the guide plates), and full roller 1.6 rockers. Great price ($899) when I bought them

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[VanGasm]

Hope you get a 6.0 or 6.2. TBI engine is not hard to upgrade with all the affordible aluminum heads out there. Aluminum head 383 or 406 would drop right in place of the old 350 and burn the tires off that van, LS not so easy of a swap. Budget 2x what you think the swap is going to cost you.

Aiming for the 6.0 HO from an Escalade as luxury car owners typically don't abuse their vehicles.

Budgeting 10K for this, but pretty sure I'll get it done for $5k with the harness, tranny, and accessories.

 

[VanGasm]

I have these heads on my 88 TBI, bolted right up, used chromoly push rods (for the guide plates), and full roller 1.6 rockers. Great price ($899) when I bought them

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Free Shipping - Summit Racing™ 62cc Aluminum Cylinder Heads for Small Chevy with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Cylinder Heads at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

Super tempting, but I"ll have a 6.0L and 4L60E in the driveway in the next few days. My plan is to pull the 5.7TBI with everything on it and 700r4 and put it for sale as a combo. I've replaced just about everything on the motor, rebuilt the tbi, new sensors, etc, etc, etc. Somebody will get a cool project motor at a steal.

 

[VanGasm]

Super tempting, but I"ll have a 6.0L and 4L60E in the driveway in the next few days. My plan is to pull the 5.7TBI with everything on it and 700r4 and put it for sale as a combo. I've replaced just about everything on the motor, rebuilt the tbi, new sensors, etc, etc, etc. Somebody will get a cool project motor at a steal.

Just picked up a 2004 Escalade with a strong running 6.0L. Currently going through the parts list to get the bits and pieces for the swap. should have done this from the beginning.

 

[VanGasm]

Bits and piece are coming in for the 6.0L LS swap. Just picked up an Eaton Posi for it. Anybody know what stock gear ratios came in the rear end?

Haven't jacked the van up to check and I'm away from it for the next few days. I recall the Napa guy saying 3.43 and 3.90 when I was ordering a fan clutch for the original TBI 350. Based on highway cruising RPM and the fan clutch matching the OEM, I believe it's 3.43. Just wanted to see what the internet says as the RPO codes are non existent and I'd like to get parts on order.

With the amount of power we're going to put to the tires to drift, I'm OK with the 3.43 as we'll be able to break the tires loose at a lower RPM. Thoughts?

 

[L31MaxExpress]

Bits and piece are coming in for the 6.0L LS swap. Just picked up an Eaton Posi for it. Anybody know what stock gear ratios came in the rear end?

Haven't jacked the van up to check and I'm away from it for the next few days. I recall the Napa guy saying 3.43 and 3.90 when I was ordering a fan clutch for the original TBI 350. Based on highway cruising RPM and the fan clutch matching the OEM, I believe it's 3.43. Just wanted to see what the internet says as the RPO codes are non existent and I'd like to get parts on order.

With the amount of power we're going to put to the tires to drift, I'm OK with the 3.43 as we'll be able to break the tires loose at a lower RPM. Thoughts?

RPO codes should be in the "glove box" on the engine cover. Most likely GU6 3.42, but I have seen GT4 3.73 and GQ1 is 3.08.

LS with 3.42s probably will not even chirp a tire.