1981 Chevy Vans vs. Ford/Dodge - Dealer Film GM200

Chuck a few live chickens around? Run the 1/4 against a Ford Econoline? See why the 1981 Chevy Vans are the superior choice for utility, economy and performance.
Digitized from laserdisc GM200; enhanced audio.

[@attackb5349]

Never in a million years would I expect to find myself on KZbin watching a 81 Chevy Cargo Van promo video featuring chicken throwing but here I am.

[@alexyoungberg5232]

*Life hits you hard. Like a 353 pound stack of lettuce..*

[@P71ScrewHead]

I agree, but i love vans even if they're heavy turds..lol

[@orlandomoreno5326]

@@P71ScrewHead Those vans were the bomb ... My Dad had a late 80s Early 90s Econoline With the big extended roof ... It was basically almost a small RV. Travel van they called them. I loved that van so much. He would load it up with tools all the time and mom would get pissed because it was a travel van not a work van. I dont blame him tho. It was a mini house on wheels 😂. I wish I could find one just like it. It had a 5.0 302 in it and a C6 transmission in it

[@pyrrhicvictory1707]

Much better than today's PC shows

[@customconnections2425]

No shit🤣me neither!

[@-fuk57]

Gotta love that highly scientific "roll to stop" comparison.

[@greggoett]

Think they snugged the wheel bearings down a bit?

[@-fuk57]

@@greggoett Either that or they let some air out of the tires.

[@rogerstlaurent8704]

@@-fuk57 all good questions between the wheel bearings and low tire pressure how about just applying slight brake pressure on the Ford Van LOL in the end it was a fun prom video to watch

[@glennfrancis9031]

You can drive with complete confidence knowing you can travel 250 feet farther on an empty tank in a Chevy!

[@Michka1001]

@@glennfrancis9031 most people are unlucky enough to run out and stop about 250 ft before the servo so I guess it works 🤷‍♂️😂

[@william2glaser227]

Love when he says “an inch might not seem like it’s that much, until it’s not there” lmao

[@barco581]

Quarter mile runs in full size vans. That was at the top of every van buyer's mind, haha.

[@mrfrank4583]

just remember to wear your helmet!

[@rightlanehog3151]

Dodge must have felt genuinely honored to be disparaged in an official GM comparison film. 😂 I hope this guy does not start attacking these vans with a sledge hammer like he did in the El Camino video. 😁

[@OmegaWolf]

Do u know what the title of that video was lol

[@nobodynoone2500]

@@OmegaWolf kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpzWkpZ4g9-dqNU 1981 El Camino Promo

[@hackabilly4787]

I'm sold. Next time I buy a 1981 van it will be a Chevy.

[@stevenvanheel3932]

It’s amazing the effort they use to put in to get someone to buy a car. Nowadays they just show them driving through a mud puddle and tell you that the starting MSRP is $80,000

[@cameltoast]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Facts.

[@FinalLuigi]

"How do we sell our cars?" "Drifting seems to be cool these days, we should record our cars drifting somehow." "But all we sell are front wheel drive and/or automatic cars, they are incapable of drifting!" "Who cares, put them on dirt and make them slide."

[@mikecyanide7492]

Don't forget to make sure it's dawn or dusk! If they were to see all that shitty plastic in broad daylight...

[@Tracked350Z]

Don't forget to add, "professional driver on a closed course", and a warranty denial if you drove the same way the video showed.

[@obsessivegarage921]

100% 🤣 ever seen the old Ford built tough commercials where they'd drop the trucks from like 10-20 feet in the air to prove the suspension was better?

[@landyachtfan79]

"Cause like a picture She was layin' there. Moonlight dancin' off her hair. She woke up & took me by the hand. She's gonna love me in my Chevy Van And that's all right with me."

[@jamesg9068]

I had a 92 g20 with a 5.7 and 4.10s when I was in high-school, those were the good Ole days it was passed down from my dad and all my older brothers had 250,000 miles and still ran like a raped ape all the way up to 90mph. Good memories, that's what these vans were good for.

[@rexjolles]

"raped ape" that's a new one lol

[@SORGIGERMANICO]

I had an 89 g20 5.7 bought it off my friends family for 250 bucks his grandma bought it new in 89. I drove the hell out of it till I sold it for the engine someone wanted. The van had over 270,000 miles on it when I sold it.

[@ethanbrown2900]

I had a 90 g20 with the 5.7 in it aswell. Thing was a beast (mine did 102) and even stayed running upside down!

[@the__black__box]

good memories in the back of them with my high schoolsweetheart if u know what i mean wink wink

[@kendallsmith1458]

I have a 1993 4.3 V6 G20 shortie in the driveway. Boogie van!

[@wildman510]

The nice thing about the Chevy is the lower rolling resistance will allow you to coast to the mechanics when you break down

[@ramp7857]

That really humiliated chevy

[@mattdavis9601]

Chevy Van; thanks to new low rolling resistance technologies is now easier to push to the gas station. To the mechanic's. To the Ford dealer. Even off the side of a cliff! See the USA while pushing your Chevrolet.

[@dzim8822]

4:50 160 hp out of a 5.0 liter 302 engine... A Ford Coyote 5.0 V8 is making over 400 horsepower from the same size engine nowadays, while getting better mileage and putting out less emissions. This shows what computerization, fuel injection, and higher compression with catalytic converters will do. These engines were choked to control emissions back then.

[@alexyoungberg5232]

Um did you watch the video? The Chevy had highly advanced "electric spark control." Nothing like those stupid spark plugs in the ford.

[@michaelisbell9482]

@@alexyoungberg5232 chevy 305 was a steaming pile of 💩

[@samholdsworth420]

Dark days of motoring

[@natezosso6822]

My 09 Milan with a Mazda 2.3 I4 had 160hp

[@406MenaceRacecar]

@@natezosso6822 I don't see the relation to this, are you saying your car had crappy power for a. 2009?

[@andregonsalvez9244]

Great review down memory lane ! I would take these older GM , Ford and Dodge vans over the new European vans we get today ( 2022 ) .

[@brandedmcgowan9414]

GM is the only manufacturer still offering the US style van, Ford went foreign on us with the transit and twin turbo v6 RAMaster went with front wheel drive, gladly GM stayed with the V8 and diesel.

[@RamYRN]

The new vans are way better

[@brandedmcgowan9414]

@@RamYRN in terms of loading capacity and probably economy? yes, for style and toughness plus options for diesel and towing?... classic American design anytime.

[@rogerstlaurent8704]

same here i would take any one of the old vans over the newer style

[@alexandergillingham2592]

Me too

[@donut8514]

I love these old vans, much better looking than the new ones and my favorites are actually the highly modified ones people use for off-roading

[@AliRnBPopAndReggae]

I totally agree with you!🫵🏾😊 Yes, old classic vans or much better than the new ones😃😊

[@BasicFolders]

I wish I could go back to these vehicles and order exactly the combo and color I want. I would buy a new one right now.

[@CH3NO2Semonious]

Buy a used one and have it restored. It will still be half the cost of a new van. (And a lot faster too if you have me build it.)

[@charlie_nolan]

My high school uses a blue Chevy van to haul around track and field supplies between the school and the track and some meets. The van is from 1982 I believe. No idea how many miles. It’s been outside it’s whole life and is a total rust bucket.

[@LostInPhilly89]

*haul

[@charlie_nolan]

@@LostInPhilly89 ah fuck didn’t notice that. Fixing

[@chaseteter]

Sounds like a legendary van.

[@PACKERMAN2077]

@@chaseteter I wonder how many Of your classmates we're probably conceived with cheerleaders and the high school football team in the back of thatv... or the coaches

[@chaseteter]

@@PACKERMAN2077 The number would have been far greater if it were a 1962 and not a 1982. Roe v Wade was in 1973.

[@milkcookies7162]

I could never get the fuel miles out of my old Chevy ,but my FORD was GREAT!

[@nathan7627]

ok cool

[@malcolmhamilton5200]

Not a word about the 305's light weight casting or how the rear camshaft journal webbing would be exiting out the rear of the engine. Countless 305s did exactly that when put in heavy vehicles(loads) or loaned to your nephew for the weekend. What you thought you were going to save in gas should have been put towards the 350 engine. My machinist loved that 305 engine. Put his kids through school with the warantee work. Malcolm Ottawa Valley

[@geoffmooregm]

Interesting. Why woould a 305 have a cam issue but not a 350? It's basically the same engine with different cylinder bore castings. Or did they produce a super light weight version of the 305 like they did with the later Olds low deck engines?

[@malcolmhamilton5200]

@@geoffmooregm the casting was so light around the rear most cam journal webbing, on those 305s, that any undue strain on the stock valve train caused the back of the block to crack off, usually breaking the cam too. Like I said, in the hands of your old uncle they might last 250,000 miles. Loan it to your nephew for the weekend or the 18 year old furniture delivery part timers and they shat the bed. It wasn't just a common problem, it was epidemic. Can't say I ever heard it happening to a 350. Their problem was wiping their cam lobes flat back around then. Malcolm Ottawa Valley

[@shawnsatterlee6035]

Fake news! They didn't cast a different block specifically for the 305! Matter of fact they are basically all the same other than bore size and the high nickel ones and very early small journal crank. So nope, you're totally wrong

[@malcolmhamilton5200]

@@shawnsatterlee6035 Fake news is spread by people who weren't there.....I was. All through the 80s machine shops and stealerships across North America were filled with 305s with the same problem. The rear of the block casting, around the rearmost cam bearing would break off, usually with the rear camshaft bearing still in it and usually snapping the last 8" of the camshaft off too. My machinist handled dozens of them. Several garages I go to had the exact same work to do on 305s. My brother was that part time furniture delivery guy and it happened to the replacement engine in the cube van a second time. Several 5.0 liter Mustang guys I knew witnessed 305 IROCs lunch their engines the same way, right in front of them. Ask people who were around back then. Malcolm Ottawa Valley

[@gearjammergamer8560]

@@malcolmhamilton5200 You are wrong. It's the same block. In fact the only difference is bore size. A 305 is a 3.74" bore and a 350 is a 4 inch bore with identical stroke in THE SAME BLOCK. I've worked on hundreds of them. I also have a family member that ran 305's in NHRA Super Stock in a 84 Firebird. Rules stated stock blocks and heads. They would yank the front tires off the ground when built right. He won many class championships running 305's. This isn't the hill to die on because you are wrong. The worst thing stock 305's did in the early 80's is spark knock like crazy with cheap gas.

[@danielaguilar6460]

Could’ve just used the empty crate for demonstration lol poor chickens

[@Elmas_Chingon]

I completely agree!

[@InspirationDose]

😂 this cracked me up and the way they tosed the chickens into the van like wtf!

[@hondamanvtec2894]

You dont know much about the life on a farm do you

[@jayt620]

they have to use live chickens . to realistically simulate weight shift and distracted driving

[@DoNotEatPoo]

Chickens is just code word for children.

[@JJsAutomotive]

Love the fuel efficiency comparisons from time where a gallon was like... 50 cents? 😀 Epic nostalgia hit. I was thinking about "The A-Team" all throught this video. Thanks for sharing.

[@runsbetterthanitdidgarage.626]

It was around a 1.50, which equates to roughly for 4.50 per gallon in today's money with inflation. That's why fuel economy was so important in that era.

[@mikeylopez9625]

It's greed ....a CEO to a oil company is getting rich

[@border2beachwithchipleach63]

I don’t know who else is watching a 81 van sales promo in 2022 but whoever you are, you’re my people.

[@poultryhousefarmer]

I am watching this in 2024

[@brandonobaza8610]

Chicken Throwing should be a standard of all car reviews 😁

[@alexanderthegreatoz5945]

9:08

[@joe125ful]

Yeah:)

[@robertauvil5451]

I drove a 1980 Chevrolet van in early 80’s with the inline 6 that thing was plenty powerful I should have bought it from my employer when the company closed in late 80’s. Super reliable and decent gas mileage and power when needed

[@byronn.2885]

The old straight six Chevy engines were bullet proof. They were also so narrow that there was tons of room to work on them if you ever needed to. My old man and I swap an old straight six 250 out of a rotted out Nova into a 79 Pontiac Catalina and it had plenty of power to move that old tank. The good ol’ days….

[@occckid123]

@@byronn.2885 now a base engine Ford f150 has wayyyyy more hp oit of a v6 with a 10spd auto that would smoke any of these engines lol.

[@byronn.2885]

@@occckid123 All that may be true but the simplicity of the older engines allow for average people with a handful of tools to keep their vehicle running. Good luck repairing any of these new cars. You need a degree in computer science to do anything with them.

[@occckid123]

@@byronn.2885 that's true but in the 400k miles I had my nissan altima it hasn't had any super big issues that anyone else couldn't figure out with a code reader and has never broken down on me. I wouldn't expect these old reliable engines to still be working at 400k miles or they are so bad you wish you weren't driving it. Modern engines can still do good!

[@ghaleon128]

There are not many instances where I won't condone wearing a helmet in a safety sensitive scenario, but drag racing 1981 full size vans is probably not one of these scenarios.

[@CH3NO2Semonious]

My 1965 Chevy van runs low to mid 13s in the quarter mile at around 150 mph.

[@FoDaddy]

I like how they compared the payload capacity of the 3/4 ton Chevy van to that of the 1/2 Ford van.

[@TheSailingwoodworker]

The G20 was more of a 5/8 ton. It only had 5 lug wheels and semi float rear axles.

[@iFixJunk]

The Ford always outsold the Chevy / GMC and Dodge vans, so none of this proved anything to the consumer, anyway. The guys with the GMs always told their buddies about the rear doors not lining up due to body flex, which I'm sure sold a lot of Fords.

[@stansmith4054]

So basically the Chevy van can hold more chickens. Good enough for me!

[@joe125ful]

Yep.

[@4wdiesels]

All these American vans were cool back in the day but having talked to many old timers who weren't that old back then, Dodge had the best vans in the late 70's & early 80's. I believe them because they were absolutely everywhere!

[@kinguin7]

Hardly see them nowadays though, so.... I suspect that means something.

[@kendallsmith1458]

Yeah I would have selected the Dodge w/ 360ci

[@SolamenteVees]

I wonder what axle ratios were in each of these vans? 🤔

[@rogerstlaurent8704]

i would have loved to see the 2 vans hooked up by a chain and see who had the best axle ratio and witch van weight the most Ford for the WIN

[@camclarke9952]

@@rogerstlaurent8704 the ford would lose,do the math,that gutless dog couldn't pull a sick hore off a pisspot.

[@ChillkootMarkowee]

@@rogerstlaurent8704 well the Ford Vans were the heaviest as they have the thickest frame. The Dodge either have the 2.73 or 3.21 rear end, The Chevy a 3.08 or 3.42. Not sure what rear end ratios were available for the Ford, maybe a 3.25 not sure.

[@rogerstlaurent8704]

@@ChillkootMarkowee to me all 3 vans the Chevy Ford or the Dodge where just about the same one might be bigger than the other or had more HP all had just about the same mechanical issues but one thing all 3 vans shared was they all died from body rot if you lived in the northeast and bought a new van in 1981 in about 2 yrs or so the body would of stared to show signs of rotting out by year 4 if you still owned the van you either had to replaced the van or do a lot of body work to repair all the body rot

[@ChillkootMarkowee]

@@rogerstlaurent8704 yeah the good old rust belt, I'm from BC, Canada not any better! I always remembered the Dodge Vans always had none existing rocker panels by the time they were 10 - 20 years old! I own a 1980 Dodge B300 MaxiVan from the island and it's got a few holes in the rocker and floors. I've scrapped a 1987 GMC Vandura G2500 with 323 000kms (6 digit odometer) and it's got far less rust than my Dodge Van with an estimated 1 83 000kms! (5 digit odometer). Yeah the Dodge Vans burnt valves, the Fords blew transmissions and the Chevy ate cams and cracked heads haha!!!

[@05gtdriver]

"If this van's a rock'n don't come a knock'n!" :-)

[@TheTarrMan]

The marketing gobbledygook in this video is hilarious. . . . . but that's still a nice van.

[@Chris-ml8hs]

All it's missing is the shag rug all inside , bed an sound system that's an , 80 van

[@forterierocks]

My grandparents had a Chevy van they used when they had there Dutch Grocery store, they loaded that thing to the hilt a few times a week and it never failed them.

[@falcon4755]

"...which weighs as much as this stack of cabbage." ah yes the good old "stack of cabbage" measurement system... brings me back to the days where we would drag race our full sized vans with chickens in the back

[@jesusmorinjr.8408]

All 3 vans lost to rust. I remember the 1990 G20 Gladiator conversion my parents owned when i was a teen. Southern Texas van and rust all around the roofline even before it was 10 yrs old

[@SteelRhinoXpress]

when you are the main target to your competition, then you must be doing something right. It's apparently obviously gm felt that ford was a much bigger threat than Chrysler was in this video.

[@kendallsmith1458]

The Dodge would have out performed the Chevy

[@OfficialReggarf]

5.0 for economy. What a time...

[@PorscheRacer14]

Chevy with that yellow van and some chickens in the back. All we needed was some white dots all over the van and Fastest Chicken in the South on the rear quarter and we'd have ourselves a Clyde Torkal Special!

[@abodymody7641]

I wish they still made these vans today.

[@boostjunkie2320]

Van's dont sell in today's market

[@kendallsmith1458]

@@boostjunkie2320 Tis a shame. But I can't justify $60K for one of those butt-ugly things

[@centralcoastcamper9631]

I would take the older chevy van upgraded with a modern LS engine and trans, that would be a winner!

[@CameronsCars]

Tremec T56 and LS7 FTW

[@caseyc8603]

Perfect!!

[@kendallsmith1458]

No, it would be a waste. Spend the bucks on a kick ass interior

[@beans301]

videos like this should be preserved.....flippin time capsule of what was considered great at one point.

[@jamiehernandez4378]

I don’t even know 1 why this was in my feed 2 why I clicked on it 3 why I’m still watching .

[@stevedeleon8775]

I bought a brand new 1981 GMC High Sierra Pick Up with a 305 V8 four barrel Rochester...I put a performance intake manifold & bigger carburetor & put headers with California turbo mufflers i added 40 more hp with this mod..

[@carmageddon1886]

3 years prior you got a 1978 Trans Am getting almost 12 if your lucky highway, crazy to think the 1981 G-10 gets double the MPG city as a 1978 Trans Am with the actual Pontiac 400

[@rajanrairealty8979]

16 hiway

[@eduardoaguirre155]

my dad had an econoline. brings back memories. and it was also the same color as this video

[@tl5108]

They were comparing the g20 payload to the e150 payload. Surprise surprise the 3/4 ton van is rated higher than a half ton.

[@panisimo77]

That extra inch always gets the job done

[@lilibethdoherty295]

I had a 76 chevy van with a 350 and Quadrajet carb. it was a blast to floor it and hear the engine scream with that Quadrajet howling a foot away with the engine sitting in the front between you and your passenger !

[@althunder4269]

I drove a 1979 Chevy Van as a delivery driver back then with the 305 V8 auto trans. P/S & P/B. I loved driving that thing. It was a very smooth driving vehicle.

[@supergamer1122]

I had a friend that wanted a mobile candy shop because he couldn't afford his own store so this was the better option he had it painted white with candy decals He drove up and down parks and school zones. I still don't know why he kept getting approached by cops.

[@Somewhere_In_The_Barn]

I'm heartened to know that my '91 Beauville G20 has superior chicken hauling capability. ....

[@SystemofaDowns]

Awesome Upload! Thank you 🤘😆

[@stevewilson7857]

There’s a Chevy van somewhere out there with my DNA all over the cargo area 👀

[@Stressless2023]

I was a little later, there's a Ford Aerostar cargo out there somewhere with mine lol doubt it still exists though lol.

[@rexjolles]

My grandpa's DNA is on the back of a 1923 Star somewhere. 10 years old when I heard that story

[@waylonmccrae3546]

DAD ????? 😳

[@leinie6683]

rear end gears the same in those drag races ?

[@bigcrowfly]

9:09 Chucking live chickens🐔 into the back of a Ford van🚚! GM's attempt at comedy.

[@toronado455]

chucking chickens OMG 😂🐓

[@406MenaceRacecar]

No liberals melted down....

[@dj_paultuk7052]

Wow, the Marketing was strong on this one. Crazy how far vans have come. Now we have Mercedes Sprinter vans that will sit in the outside lane of the highway doing 120+ mph.

[@Smasher-Devourer]

What's the 1/4 mile time on these vans? 25 seconds?

[@FCCFox]

I had an '84 Chevrolet 20 van with the 5.0 engine. It was overall a nice van, drove nice, ran well (when new), but after a year that micky mouse 5.0 had more problems than I could even believe. Would stall out constantly, a thing the dealership called "vapor lock" which I came to understand was a code word for, P.O.S. Engine. Had that same problem with a truck I had with the very same engine. Stopped buying those crappy underpowered engines and never had that problem again with the 5.8, 350. Now they are trying to get us to "buy" into these 6 cyl engines with toy turbo crap installed. I am STILL in love with my 8 cyl engine and as long as they make one, I WON'T drive a turbo toy ever. I buy a truck to make me money, NOT spend it's time going back and forth to the dealer.

[@oldguy2082]

GM's 5.7 v8 and Ford's 300 six are both legendary engines in their own right, Chrysler's 5.2/5.9 Magnum series motors are also long lived motors. But, I would say, based on my experience in service, the 300 six from Ford is about as tough as they come. Change the oil + filter on timely basis, I ve seen many of these live almost as long as some well known pickup diesel motors. And, I have mainly owned Dodge trucks due to circumstances.

[@Clint328]

Only issue I’ve seen with the 300-6 was sheared distributer roll pins on the gear.

[@markbehr88]

Love the channel. I just subscribed.

[@andyamysarizonaadventures5450]

I still want an 85 k5 blazer and an 80s big hair chic 😆

[@heinzbaron9129]

The helmets for the drag were a bit much.

[@ScrawnyRonnie89]

I learned to drive in my late Grandfather's old 85 Chevy van. It was Ohio state Red and silver/gray. It was given to my Father in 2001 about 3 yrs after my grandfather passed from cancer. I can say this much, that van withstood horrid abuse and that 350 was put through hell on a daily basis it kept running for another decade and my Father loved it so much he bought a newer one just like it. We used to take it out in the country pop it into nuetral and shut it off, pump the gas 3 times and turn the ignition and 💥 BOOM! 💥 It sounded like someone let off a 12 gauge. Met some nice city police officers and sheriff's that way lol 😆

[@regularguyreviews3048]

Holy crap I never thought that I rather be watching old commercials or old cargo van promos instead of any stream service 😔

[@KTripable]

This has been helpful. I’m gonna buy the Chevy.

[@brentmagerowski7886]

I can’t believe I actually watched this entire video Let’s face it these vans are all almost equal in reliability power and popularity Buying one came down to what your friends snd family bought

[@thawk3561]

I had one of these bad boys when I was younger and it was a Party Wagon - camper and of course for work

[@5T3V3N-ns9gg]

If I ever go back to the early 1980s. I'll be sure to keep this in mind when I fictionally buy a full size Van.

[@sheldonk5747]

I can't believe I'm watching this on a Saturday night. Really on a Saturday night. Where did my life go wrong? If I make it to the end of this video hit me in the back of the head with a shovel because I deserve it.

[@tyeeslayer]

But can the Chevy van hold a queen size water bed??

[@ethanbrown2900]

Idk about a queen size water bed, but mine could hold a full and some badass subwoofers

[@vwestlife]

They paid good money for that SqueeZoom video effects processor, so they sure were going to use it a lot!

[@pleasedontwatchthese9593]

It's weird to see one that's new and not beat up

[@johnnydodge]

I wished they did the test with Cheech and Chongs van. Man that thing had hydraulics and dingleberries in the window.

[@DanielJaegerFilms]

Loading the chickens individually because the crate didn’t fit 😂😂

[@Tnenamrep2]

Hmm... could they not have just tipped the crate up a couple of inches, to clear the door?

[@aeHyde]

chickens were pissed in the making of this video

[@vegapower454]

Did the chevy have the 700r trans.?

[@TeeroyHammermill]

3 speed so was either a 350 or 400

[@thekekronomicon590]

You would need a team of the world's smartest scientist to produce such little horsepower from 5 liter engines today I'm actually amazed it was possible at all

[@ricusserfontein1086]

Love all vans, but my dream is a G10 boogie van. ☺

[@arielmuscagorry]

I still drive my 1980 GMC Vandura everyday ! 😀👍

[@aaronsexton6434]

I love how they compared apples to apples lol. I’m surprised they didn’t get sued

[@300mag83]

I’m on my way to go buy a g10 van right now. That bad ass 5 liter v8 with 160 horsepower thundering under the hood.

[@kendallsmith1458]

you have a good set of tools, right?

[@Jason-oz6tk]

I love these old vans idk why did ford and dodge went big and unreliable unlike the chevy atleast they still kept the classic style since 96.

[@COYGunners]

The official car of “free candy”

[@BrokenWrenches]

Im LS swapping an 82 g20 on my KZbin channel. I like all of them.

[@CoyoteFTW]

#nomorelsswaps

[@JohnnyButtons]

GM’s old 5.0 liter was a damn reliable and durable engine.

[@biffwellington1782]

Highly underrated.

[@JohnnyButtons]

@@biffwellington1782 folks don’t realize GM made many versions of the 305, even just in the F-body chassis, from the economy LG4 and L03 lackluster versions to the more powerful L69 H.O and LB9 TPI performance versions. The L69 H.O 4-barrel from 83-86 was a decent runner for its time, but the more powerful 230hp LB9 Tuned Port engine when coupled to the 5-speed manual T5 transmission got the more aggressive .430 cam and they gave Ford’s 5.0 Mustangs a lot of trouble. Ford’s 5.0 had a larger bore but GM’s 5.0 had the longer stroke. GM’s 305 was almost a perfectly square/balanced engine (equal bore x stroke) Ford offered a factory tubular header and H-pipe design whereas GM offered a more restrictive cast exhaust manifold and Y-pipe design. Ford offered the same 225hp 5.0 H.O across entire line of V8 equipped GT and LX Mustangs. GM did not do this unfortunately. GM offered multiple versions of their 5.0 engine in the F-body that ranged in power from the weak 170hp on up to the hotter 230hp example in the 5-speed models. Those G92 and 1LE optioned 5.0 cars would flat out run in their day. They would run low 14 second times and Motorweek actually clocked a 1LE model at 13.9 which was a damn fine time in the ‘80s.

[@erik61801]

so clean, man id drop that thing onto bags and welds and LS swap it.

[@abrahamsealv1342]

Love the first van. In one of those I cross the border 😅

[@markwilliams5606]

I'll want one so Bad! Were looking! Chevrolet 🇺🇸. 350- 400 Turbo transmission!

[@davidkastin4240]

Chevy Van for the win 🏆 LMAO at the guy throwing the chickens in the van.

[@-fuk57]

Lol. Yeah, just driving down the road with live chickens loose in the van! You've got to appreciate the bit of absurd humor in that.

[@TheInsaneupsdriver]

i learned how to drive in one, it was in such bad shape it shouldn't have been on the road, but it was still safe, ish.... the universal was missing and duct-taped in place. it had such bad steering linkage you had to turn the wheel a quarter turn just to move the wheels. and the automatic was replaced with a manual though the auto column shifter that made it look like you were fighting it (which isnt far off) to shift moving it multiple times to get it to shift, and a rod sticking up through the floor for a clutch. I was 12! now im a 26 year UPS employee with 22 years safe driving at UPS, and the funny thing is, im still driving a GM. the old ones had the 4.3, the current ones the 6.0.... the latter's 500 cubic foot one drives like a sports car (does have single leaf suspension from the donor C6 Z02 Vette drive train.) but on propane.

[@patriotcanuck6485]

I love the G20, I want one.

[@billcurtis5925]

I’m sold! I’ll buy it!

[@qwertykevin1]

Only time will tell. Which van ended up being better ?

[@kendallsmith1458]

The GMs have def lasted better, Dodge is 2nd

[@eldo59]

In the midst of all the ugly Euro styled vans today. I'd still take this G20 or Vandura any day.

[@GreatBirdOfHope]

Those euro vans are awful

[@KODE13TK]

This had me friggin Captivated....

[@LoNeWoLf6661000]

This guy had me sold in :35 seconds... Now where is my bucket of free candy?

[@markcole6475]

That ESC set up was prone to problems…..spark knock and drivability problems

[@tenaciousvirgiltenaciousvi5671]

God I love full size vans!

[@ElectronicInspiration]

I like these old infomercials

[@taMeska]

“Cargo or _people,_ *in an enclosed, **_lockable_** space.”*

[@andreasu.3546]

Ideal for human trafficking!

[@RiceReaper]

The chevy van of this era is superior and I base that on how many are still alive. I’ve got an 87 myself and I see tons of them still in service. There’s nearly no Fords left and dodges are more common in a 1 ton camper configuration for that era. Ford would eventually catch up, espeicallly with diesel equipped vans, but in the 1980s you only wanted the Chevy

[@blackout_1349]

You're going to see more of what you're biased to I suppose. I say that because I see more fordvan of that era than chevy. No dodges anywhere at all.

[@thisguysnameismatt4460]

I'll second what blackout said. Around here where i live i see waaaay more older ford vans (and some of the old 60s ones) than chevys or dodges....but i am a ford guy so yeah, i see more of em...js

[@kendallsmith1458]

I have a 93 G20 4.3 V6 w/ 257000 on the odometer