More Old Van Junkyard Finds

1981 and 1982 Chevy Van Junkyard Finds. Two more old vans make it into the yard. This time its two Chevys, an 81 Beauville and an 82 Van 20. They were both pretty roached out but I always check them out. You just never know what you're gonna find in an old van.

[@fmcgarrity1479]

Brings back memories of the old days in 1978. Had a 1976 red white wagon wheels Chevy emblem windows on the sides fun ride 4captins. And a couch bed.

[@frankm8533]

Man I always wanted to have a old van like that restored to take on long trips, make a sleeper out of it

[@googleusergp]

Whoa Nelley, this is "Van-tastic". We got two "G" (vans) and that's good with me. This body style ran from 1971 to 1996. However in 1996, it was a "split" year, you had the "old school G" like this one and then the "new school G" (today's current Express and Savanna vans). We got the VIN we win, here we go on the brown one: 1 for US made, G for General Motors, C for Chevrolet Truck, E for 6,001 to 7,000# GVWR rating with hydraulic brakes, G for G Series Van, 2 for 3/4 ton rating, 5 for van body style, H for 305 V8 with four barrel, 5 is a check digit, C for the 1982 model year, 7 for Lordstown, OH assembly, and the rest is the production sequence. The original paint color was code #69 Walnut Metallic as evidenced by the SPID label. My house still has the paneling installed by my uncle and dad in 1981-1982 and it still looks great. Pretty close to that style (but not beat up like that). I painted the paneling in my entrance way and you can't tell it wasn't that color originally. That appears to possibly be a Tomco rebuilt carburetor. They also still sell carburetor kits and parts. I believe Walker Carburetor/Engine Management Company is made up of rogues that split away from Tomco some time ago as they use similar numbering systems on their kits (or they did at one time). We get the VIN again, we win: Beauville VIN is, here we go: 1 for US made, G for General Motors, 8 for Chevrolet MPV (I think it might be an error and should be a C perhaps for Chevy Truck), E for 6,001 to 7,000# GVWR rating, G for G series van, 2 for 3/4 ton rating, 5 for van body, L for 350 V8 with four barrel, 8 is a check digit, B for the 1981 model year, 7 for Lordstown, OH assembly and the rest is the production sequence. Possible Nordic Blue over Light Silver Metallic paint two tone. The silver metallic was a new color for 1981.

[@garymckee8857]

I will ask the man who knows. Do they still make vans I don't see any new ones on my travels.

[@googleusergp]

@@garymckee8857 GM makes the Express and Savanna, and they even come with a diesel now (a small 2.8, probably going to a 3.0L. I was just talking to the GM rep the other day about this). Ford makes the Transit (full size E Series replacement) and the Transit Connect (small mini van). Dodge has the Promaster and Promaster City which I believe are based on Fiat and European designs. MB/Daimler/Freightliner have the Sprinter and Metris. The Freightliner version of the Sprinter is going away after the 2021 model year, as MB feels that it's a duplicate of the MB Sprinter. We buy some Freightliner Sprinters for the municipal government use.

[@garymckee8857]

@@googleusergp I rode in one of those Transit things and it was not a pleasant experience. Thanks I just haven't seen a new model regular van in a long time and don't look at the dealerships when I drive by one because the inventory looks like a bunch of appliances.

[@googleusergp]

@@garymckee8857 Yup, you'd find more style in the Kenmore appliance aisle at Sears (and that's going down the tubes as is Sears, although I bought a Kenmore dishwasher in 2019 to replace the 1987 Kenmore we had. Only reason I didn't fix the 1987 model was that the tub rotted out, time to go. I did four minor repairs myself on that machine in 32 years. Great machine, and I saved some parts for it and flipped them on Ebay. Both were made in Findlay OH by Whirlpool for Sears under the "665" model prefix). We have a 4WD Quigley GMC van that was converted to 4WD as a shop/airport run vehicle. Quigley is an authorized GM upfitter to do 4WD. Ours is a 2500 with a 6.0 gas engine. It has an old school 4WD shifter to the right of the driver's seat. The truck looks like it came from GM like that. Great van, comfortable, but whoa Nelley, it uses gas and a station you do not indeed pass.

[@garymckee8857]

@@googleusergp I was working at a site in Evansville Indiana and there was a Whirlpool mfg plant there and I believe that production was moved to Mexico

[@gerlandkent6377]

nice, looking find. Random vanners. east coast of virginia. 2%

[@gerlandkent6377]

thank, you.

[@lateefcarrere1649]

My uncle had a '82 Conversion Chevy - black & silver. We looked forward to his visits, because of all the kids could pile in & we'd go to White Castle.

[@mitomr.twiceasnice4358]

My dad had that exact pioneer cassette deck on his old gmc sierra. What a crazy find.

[@LSswapGarage1]

Just a note as you said " one wheel peel" on the 81. Even it wasn't and had a factory gov lock in it they act like an open diff until you get at least 100 rpm of wheel speed differential and then they lock. So any 1973 and newer GM truck or van even listing the G80 option code will spin one forward and one backward like an open diff. They are junk anyway lol. Might find an aftermarket setup one though someday lol

[@jbb8382]

Very cool. Love old vans

[@mcqueenfanman]

Those old vans (older then those two) are a good place to look for a 400 sbc.

[@tonyfriend7413]

Grab The Brown ones Also. They Spend and go into your coffee can, NEVER turn down FREE CHANGE!

[@walterbatman7949]

Vintage “G” van Beauville was Chevrolet’s luxury top of line van

[@45AMT]

Particle board, paneling and shag carpet! Take me back!

[@nathankim7664]

Whoever had the 82 van had some good taste in quality sound systems! Bet those Pioneer speakers came with the unit and were expensive brand new! Such a shame on this one, you hardly see those cool poker tables anymore... The 81 looks to have been a storage unit. Any good Monte Carlo parts for Benny? Or just rusty junk parts to give more weight on the scale? No pennies for Benny? Could've missed out on some wheat pennies!

[@DeathRowCrushing.]

Party Van's dam I mis da old days with these vans...

[@garbage854]

Cool 😀

[@malikdigger4544]

Kool vans 1st one could tell it's whole life 2nd blue & white one luv the rims by way remains of a old daycare bus I rode in 94-97 but it brown & gold tho.

[@waltereturner]

That was a cool old Pioneer head unit.

[@Ghetto_Garage]

Like to have those tailights and rings out of them for my van

[@CR7659]

Based on the sticker that carb on the brown van was a reman or replacement. Those Monte Carlo bumpers would probably sell, if just to a demo derby guy.

[@oldradioguy65]

I see the '81 has B.F. Goodrich Radial T/A's on it. Not a bad tire.

[@kennyswonger5227]

I owned a 79 Chevy conversation about 4 years ago.it was with gray & red strips in the middle.& red cloth seats.it got scrapped at the yard.with the big claws.

[@doug9066]

Another van I see you found. I don't think General Motors build vans for the Chevrolet Division & the GMC Division anymore. Ford so called full size vans are ugly. Those were the days of full size vans decent looking vans. I remember these as well.

[@googleusergp]

Many of the full size GM vans are built today in Wentzville, MO. These two were built in Lordstown, OH, famous for the F body car (first generation) as well as the Vega, "Disastre" (Astre) and GM J body cars.

[@kenswonger4738]

I myself own a 84 Chevy beauville.blue & white van it needs a motor.its been parked in the garage.since 1999.needs restored.but no money to restore it.

[@doug9066]

You missed it on the floor but I saw the license plate registration sticker on the floor when you picked up that thing off the floor of the 1982 Conversion van.

[@D4x4Bronc]

Good changing. Good gas soak they will be ready for spending or keeping if they are silver content.

[@tonyfriend7413]

Better grab that Pioneer radio and speakers.. Don't let them become part of Jan's new next toyota...

[@chevylandt.v]

That's fantastic. But a shame to see them there getting harder and harder to find.

[@TheOldcarlover]

Nice

[@marktellez9719]

The 82 looks better.

[@RANGERIZZY]

It smells like old sex ,stains withing those shaggy walls.Those were neat,for camping 🏕