GMC Savana, Plus a Chevy Express Now Too

[bucket]

After kicking the idea around for the last 10 years, we finally bought a van. And it's Wheatland Yellow like I would have optioned if we bought a new one back then too.

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It's a 2013. Not talking model years, that's the newest vehicle I have ever bought. I bought a '93 Lumina Z34 in '03 and that car held the "newest" title until now. As far as model years go, the "latest" title had been held by our '00 Suburban 2500. So this van broke two personal records, lol.

But anyway, it's a 2013 3500 long wheelbase passenger van. Decently optioned for a "base" model too. It has the little L20 4.8 liter v8 (wish it was the 6.0 though), 6L90 trans and a 3.42 geared 9.5" 14bolt with a yet-to-be-determined locker/posi. Probably a Gov-Loc.

There's a lot of things I want to change or modify, but I'm not sure how far I will actually go with it. I for sure want to gussy it up a bit and make it look less like it was school transportation (which it was, lol). Would like to do aftermarket wheels, some white letter A/T tires, a chrome grille, composite headlight swap and add a full width air dam like the brand new vans have. Oh, and the exhaust needs to have some kind of rumble.

 

[SirRobyn0]

I'm not sure why you have the need / want for a van, but I will say up until 2005, we always had a full size van. The first was a 1973 Dodge Sportsman, the last was a 1994 Dodge B300, all were extended length passenger vans (or as Dodge like to call the maxi-vans), but the seats came out easy enough for hauling stuff you didn't want to get wet. In 2005 we gave up the full sized van and bought a new, 2005 Chrysler T&C which the wife still drives to this day now with 220,000 miles. It's the only new vehicle we have ever bought, and I doubt I'd ever by new again. 6 years of almost $500 a month payments sounded fine in 2005, but then came the economy crash which, was a difficult time, but we didn't loose anything so that's a good thing. My point with all of this is vans are great to have around and are great even to sleep in on trips. I'm sure you'll get a lot of use out it. How many miles?

 

[gotyourgoat]

Not quite a short bus....but it is yellow.

 

[yevgenievich]

Agree on a van, just not much on the yellow part. I liked the access from front seats to back in a van when we drove the e350 around. Brefer the gm version. Especially the stability control thing been acting up on the e350 van lately

 

[bucket]

I'm not sure why you have the need / want for a van, but I will say up until 2005, we always had a full size van. The first was a 1973 Dodge Sportsman, the last was a 1994 Dodge B300, all were extended length passenger vans (or as Dodge like to call the maxi-vans), but the seats came out easy enough for hauling stuff you didn't want to get wet. In 2005 we gave up the full sized van and bought a new, 2005 Chrysler T&C which the wife still drives to this day now with 220,000 miles. It's the only new vehicle we have ever bought, and I doubt I'd ever by new again. 6 years of almost $500 a month payments sounded fine in 2005, but then came the economy crash which, was a difficult time, but we didn't loose anything so that's a good thing. My point with all of this is vans are great to have around and are great even to sleep in on trips. I'm sure you'll get a lot of use out it. How many miles?

The want/need comes from having 10 kids.

Miles are kind of up there at 110k, but being it was a government affiliated fleet vehicle that hauled kids to and from school, it has been very well maintained. It was decommissioned in '19 and has hardly been driven since then. It drives perfectly and everything works as it should.

 

[SirRobyn0]

The want/need comes from having 10 kids.

Miles are kind of up there at 110k, but being it was a government affiliated fleet vehicle that hauled kids to and from school, it has been very well maintained. It was decommissioned in '19 and has hardly been driven since then. It drives perfectly and everything works as it should.

You know it's been take care of. All I can add to that is I had a friend that worked as a mechanic for the school district here, and at the time they still had buses from the 70's, (this would have been in the early 2000's) and they really did keep them in tip top shape. And at 110K, sure you might want a lower mileage vehicle for a kid hauler, but you know you'll still have it at 200K no problem.

 

[bucket]

Right, it's still got over half it's life left. Or more. If we can manage to keep it from rusting too badly, I wouldn't hesitate to swap the engine and rebuild the trans when the time comes.

 

[bucket]

I almost forgot to point out, it's actually a standard available color for the year, which I've always thought was cool.

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[animal]

Cool! You gonna paint "Andy's School District" down the side?

 

[Craig 85]

I wouldn't hesitate to swap the engine and rebuild the trans when the time comes.

You know ... in '01 & '02 the 3500 series vans had the 8.1L available. Just sayin'.

 

[bucket]

Cool! You gonna paint "Andy's School District" down the side?

No.

Lol

 

[idahovette]

Cool! You gonna paint "Andy's School District" down the side?

Could be a "tax right off" ???!!!

 

[Midnightmoon]

Congrats on the van. We purchased a full size van back in 2015 to use to transport my then handicapped mother. After she passed, we have kept it around and it is honestly one of the most useful vehicles that I own.

 

[eskimomann209]

You know ... in '01 & '02 the 3500 series vans had the 8.1L available. Just sayin'.

That 8.1 is a PIG!
But I have been kicking around the idea of swapping one in my OBS 98 c1500.
With the NV4500 I think it would be pretty sweet.

HOLY **** @bucket
TEN kids!?

 

[Vbb199]

Very nice andy, if i had that many kiddos i'd be buying a van too.

I think newest i own is the 09' or 10'? Equinox