Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

As the title says fellas, I want to make my 1991 GMC G20 conversion van into a factory looking 4x4. I have a near mint drivetrain to put in it and I was just wondering if any of you pros have done this before??
I want to make a good Bug Out Vehicle(BOV).:metal:

The chassis I have is a SM465/205 with a Dana 44 front and 12 Bolt POSI rear. I do have a 3/4 Ton and 1 Ton drivetrain I can use(Dana 60 front, Corp 14 bolt rear and Dana 60 rear posi)


Thanks fellas for your input.

Patriot:ito:

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

This project sounds so bad ass, please post pictures, im sure its possible.

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

wont the shifter on that 3 speed be 2-3 feet to far back......

i'd find a divorced np205 to go behind the transmission in there now.. fab up a crossmember (current thread in the 4x4 section) and get yours drive lines made.... just swap the rear axle with possibly some custom lift springs and then do something like a b52 kit on the front....

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

If you took the bend out of the shifter or even turned it 180 degrees in the case and reshaped it a little I bet it would work. I think the shifter boss would end up right about where the front edge of your seat is so probably a forward bent shifter would be needed.

You would need to find and adapt a hydraulic clutch setup for sure though.

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

Preparing for TEOTWAWKI?

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

not to be a buzzkill, but aren't 4x4 vans notorious for bent frames?

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

That's after you watch too many episodes of the A-Team.

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

HAHA awesome! I always like how they use a completely different van for the jump scene, usually with the round headlights.

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

GM vans do not have frames :rolleyes: they are basically unibody.

I have seen this done before, but it required massive modification to the front of the van structure as the engine cross-member and 2wd suspension mounting points are all in the way of a solid axle.
Years ago a company called Pathfinder made a kit to "bolt-in" and add either a leaf sprung or coil-over solid axle.
Leafs are very hard to do unless you want to have your mounts sticking well out in front of the van.
Coils are a bit easier, but still require massive amounts of fabrication.

Also you have to consider the differences in steering between a van and a solid axle truck.

Not to try and steer you away from this, heck I have a 94 G20 sitting in my garage that I want to do the same thing to, and I have a full 1/2t driveline sitting around to swap into it as well.

Check out Pathfinder Vans

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

I have a HP60 that came out of a Pathfinder van, was built in 85 or 86.

After reading some of the stuff in that site, I don't know if I'd want to buy anything that have...

*Small block engines and big block engines have different bell housing patterns.

*4-speed trannys can be installed if you use the rare 465 tranny top that has the shifter mounted to the rear of the shifter top. Used in the mid 80’s in 1 ton GM trucks

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

I agree, blatant errors like that are a good sign they don't know jack about Chevy parts and are just making stuff up to fill space.

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

Looks like you've had several months to ponder this. Are you talking about bolting your van body to a 4wd 73-87 pick-up frame? Obviously some modding would be needed in certain areas but it sounds like the result would be worth it.

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

I would do it if we still had are 76 Chevy g10 with a built sb350, th400 15"x10" tires in back 15"x8" in front thing had more power than my blazer sb400, th350 fun burn out machine for a thirteen year old kid but neighbors landlord hired a tow company to take some cars off his property and they took it off of are property with the cars they were there for and it was never seen again. :censored:
imagine this with slot mags and lowered it would be the exact van

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

But this would be cool you should definitely do this

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

That is a sick van! but did you ever get any money or anything for your van being basically stolen?

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

It was my dads van but we never did get any money for it we never could get a hold of the landlord. he was avoiding us that has been 4 years now and have not seen a glimpse of him at all new people moved in and we never saw him once

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

Well that is b.s. if it had been my van i would of done everything to get a hold of landlord (im sure you did) and then filled it as being stolen

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

You could always fab-up a Ford style radius arm from suspension.

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

There is one for sale on CL in my area, been for sale for a while. I think it`d be a cool idea, weekend camper, beach cruiser.

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

We reported it stolen but they must have stripped it and crushed it because it was never found

Sorry for jacking your thread

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

"Zombie Goat"
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r.../ZombieVan.jpg

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

I just spotted this while looking for parts on craigslist. If you're interested in making the drive down I can go check it out and take pics. looks like it would save you alot of fab work and give you a rust free body.

http://austin.craigslist.org/pts/2128123291.html

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

Opps just noticed that it says the body is trash....Still a good chassis! :metal:

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

Please note that you must be a supporting member to post classified items. This includes but is not limited to What Its Worth, Want To Buy, Want To Trade, and For Sale. Please consider supporting the forum by subscribing. Further information on the subscription levels available are located here

If you need any further assistance with that please contact any Admin for help.

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

saw this the other day

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

Hi there. I am new to the forum so bear with the poor computer skills. This is my 1986 g20 4x4 conversion, did it the hard way[myself] but worth it

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

Hi I sure like your van I have one I am about to start on its a 1983 GMC shorty

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

Hi thats a good looking van I have a 1983 GMC Shory t110
inch wheel base I am about to start a 4x4 conversion on Any advice would be welcomed

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

Hmm. What a great idea! You could order a 4x4 van back in the day. I always wanted one. Should be pretty cheap to build and I think I see leaf springs in the front of some there don't I? They sure look tough. Any feed back on the handling or capabilities of these bad boys?

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

Yes leaf springs is the way to go Cheap well not so sure how cheap I do have most of the parts already I do have to fab an engine suport

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

The conversion was not cheap by any means and above average fabricating skills are required. If I would do it again I would use a driver side drop diff and a 88 or newer transfer case as the engines are 4" over on the passenger side. Overall the conversion was a great success and handled very well even on the highway

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

How do I add pictures?

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

Yes I agree driver side drop would be better But I have 2 solid front diff that are both Passenger side drop One is out of an 1988 3/4 ton truck the other is out of a K5 Blazer Not sure of year yet I have to get the tree off of it first Its a little tight to get into yet Tree smashed it Yes the engine support has to be fabed and spring hangers

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

The pitchers I am not for sure I just joined this site and dont know how to work this yet I sure would like to get pics of the engine support It would help a lot to see what I am up against If you want you can email them to me its dlatimer55@gmail.com

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

I have also heard that the diff can be swapped from passenger to driver side drop It would take a shop to be done right

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

Hi from what I have heard they handle good I am hoping all will trun out good I have decideed to swap my 10 bolt front to driver side Use the Trans and Transfer case out of the 1988 3/4 ton pickup And the Neg Sprung front springs out of a K5 Blazer I am wanting to use it as a daily driver

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

I hope you choose to build it, would be cool and not many around.
Mudman.

Re: Making a G20 a 4x4???
 

Yes I am I have stocked piled all most every thing I need I have two donor vans I picked up for a few hundered dollars I also have a K5 Blazer that a tree feel in the middle of it its all in tack just sits a lot lower in the middle now The van I am building is a 1983 GMC Rally but I have Steel Grill from a 76 and I will use the smaller bumpers from 76 and two head light system I am taking all side window out and back doors window out and put all sheet metal in