Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2014 04:24:47 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Friday OT...my Poor Man's Syncro...(AWD GM Safari)
In-Reply-To: <BAY406-EAS40FF9669E9BF0E85D8362CA0030@phx.gbl>
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Yes, I figured I can probably 'learn' how to manage the Automatic
transmission a little better than I do so far.. I don't think it will ever
be as controllable as using a clutch and gear lever to actually engage any
gear and match engine speeds to wheel speeds, etc.
There is a web forum detailing all the possible drive line alterations
to these vans...the easiest being to swap to the '98> electronic module
controlled AWD that is more of a selectable 4wd and a dual range, also.
With that later system, an improvement on the viscous coupling driveline,
you can have an electronic/vacuum switch or a mechanical pull wire switch
to select 2wd, 4wd or 4wd Lo range.. 4wd/Awd, that is a whole other
topic... The other often done 'modification' is to find a junkyard Blazer
or S-10 pick up and substitute the drive line components from that, since
the engines and the chassis are plug and play, and those other GM parts
vehicles are common and inexpensive.
All in all though, I think these vans are OK...
On Fri, Jul 4, 2014 at 9:55 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> Just like a Syncro the all wheel drive kills the mileage. Especially if
> pulling a trailer this mileage is about normal. The 2WD versions will do
> about 18. One of the reasons these vans lost popularity is that the fuel
> economy is not much lower than the full size vans with the same engine.
> These vans are almost the Vega of the GM economy vans. Major difference is
> the engines don’t melt.
>
> When you really learn how to drive it you will find that you can have
> great influence over the shift points with your right foot. As for what
> sometimes seems like it is shifting excessively you can force off the
> overdrive by simply moving the shift lever. Same goes for gearing down when
> descending hills.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Don Hanson
> Sent: Friday, July 4, 2014 10:49 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Friday OT...my Poor Man's Syncro...(AWD GM Safari)
>
> I filled the thing up after my first tank of fuel.(holds 27 gallons)
> and I got just 15mpg. (A 97 AWD (with a viscous coupling just like a
> Sycnro) Van that I bought recently for two grand because I can't afford
> $20 grand for a Syncro) Driving it without a "lead foot" and at 65mph
> average highway....though it's easy to find yourself moving 75 or 80 in that
> van. Not exactly stellar gas mileage, but this one has 237 thousand
> miles on the original Vortec V-6 and it doesn't burn a drop of oil or sound
> or feel worn out at all. And I did hook up my 10 Wells Cargo utility
> trailer with two motorcycles and pull it...Hardly slows the 4.3 liter lil'
> truck down.
> I will say I very much dislike driving an automatic vehicle now, this
> being the first automatic shifting vehicle I have had real day to day
> experience with...The auto tranny just seems like it's working at
> 'cross-purposes' to what I am trying to do with the van/truck...It wants to
> keep going fast when I want to slow down, it shifts when it doesn't really
> have to, there is no anticipation really allowed...It bothers me, I'd
> rather be selecting all my rpms as I need them, not just "accepting" what
> this device gives me...I think the auto tranny is one of the major reasons
> the fuel economy is lower, but they stopped offering manual shifting
> Astro/Safari vans in 89, I think.
> The tranny is a GM certified rebuild also and it IS working as well as
> it should... Gimme my Vanagon 5sp any time....
>
> Anyhow, as a Friday topic...there you go..
>
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