1979 Rare GMC K Vandura 4X4 Junkyard Find

1979 Rare GMC K Vandura 4X4 Junkyard Find. While I have made videos on old vans in the yards before, this is a first for a 4x4 conversion full size van. This 79 GMC Vandura 35 with a Pathfinder 4 wheel drive conversion had been sitting since the mid 90s. Last registered in 96 with Missouri plates and it was rusty as all get out on the lower panels. She was still sporting the Chevy 400 small block as well. I bet with a little tinkering it would fire right up. The interior was trashed but you could still see the shag carpeting throughout and the mini kitchenette with sink and fridge. This one was from the van craze of the 70s and it showed with the cool graphics on the paint and the two port hole style sunroofs. She was pretty well gone but still cool to check out.

[@William2005Ball]

We need a bad ass van like this restored on you tube . Where’s the vanners love

[@derbymankg]

That's a damn shame, 400 SBC and a divorced transfer case getting thrown away!

[@rsprockets7846]

Yeah swap into a mid 80s. Van sweeeet!!!!!

[@oldskool1979]

I can only imagine how much "fun" was had in the back of the van !

[@bigal8218]

oleskool : HAY DAM BACK IN THE 70's WE HAD LICENSE PLATES " IF THE VAN'S A ROCK 'en DON'T COME A KNOCK'en " I HAD ONE ON THE FRONT OF MY '66 CHEVELLE (car instead of van) AND THIS PLATE WAS A GOOD ONE " IF YOU TOUCH'A MY CAR I'LL BREAK'A YU FACE" THIS ONE " PUT YOUR HEART IN DIXIE OR GET YOUR ASS OUT " IT HAS A PICTURE OF A DONKEYS BUTT AND IT LOOKING BACK AT YOU LOL LOL LOL O THEM GOOD OLE DAYS WHAT MEMORIES

[@NastyCustoms5150]

At least when you got it stuck in the middle of nowhere it wouldn’t be a bad place to chill out in, fancy rig in its day. Cool to see it

[@lateefcarrere1649]

Wasn't old enough to drive when those came out, now they're hard as heck to find unless they find their way to a boneyard. Damn.

[@briang4470]

Man, you dont realize how lucky you are to keep finding 400 SBC's in the yard. I have been looking for a buildable one for years and all the yards pull them before hitting the pull and go. Same for 6.0 ls engines, the yard owners are smart and pull them out and sell them to an outside core buyer for top dollar.

[@chadmiller6129]

"At the end of the van craze" LOL Thanks for the video

[@MrJeep75]

That should be saved, and yes its salvageable

[@rsprockets7846]

Not really to work tinworm got it but better to swap the stuff. Onto a newer van

[@paulskoglund1757]

I use to own a 1979 GMC Van dura I bought it brand new I remember it was $5,500 bought it in Clouqet, Minnesota had a lot of fun fun in that van. Especially the trip to California in it.

[@backpi]

Cowboy is like a freaking surgeon with them forks on that front end loader. He is just an awesome guy!!!

[@rsprockets7846]

No need to go that brutal some we 40 and vice grips and pop the hood with. No damage

[@backpi]

@@rsprockets7846 Im Sure the only reason they did that is because they are most likely going to crush the whole vehicle. Plus he said it was full of rust.

[@dennismartin5506]

I've seen MANY of Cowboy's videos . I unsubscribed because he don't know diddly !!! I cannot even tell you how many times he will aim the loader with his video recorder ...and he will dingle out a car / truck / SUV and have NO IDEA WHAT IT IS !!!!! My opinion ...if he does not know the cars /trucks/SUV's ...he should be working in an office !!!! WHO CAN WORK AT A WRECKING YARD FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG ...AND CANNOT IDENTIFY A VEHICLE BY IT'S LOOKS ???? A BOZO !!!!! When I saw his lack of knowledge of cars/trucks/SUV's ...I lost all respect for him ...he has NO BUSINESS being in a machine at a wrecking yard since he has issues identifying cars /trucks/SUV's name and model ...what an IDIOT !!!!

[@CowboyCarCrushing]

@@dennismartin5506 see Dennis it went all over your head. You don't even see the entertainment or the youtube portion of it. It's way over your head. Do you not see that I give the audience a chance to comment and identify the car. I give the audience a chance to contribute. So I play dumb. The audience sure loves when they have a part in the show. You don't get it Dennis. It's part of the show. So who really is the idoit here 🤔. Like I said.....it's way over your head. You can't think on that level

[@CowboyCarCrushing]

@@rsprockets7846 we are Crushing it. Why be gentle?

[@garymckee8857]

That was top of the line back in tbe day. Thanks Benny.

[@84montecarlonazi]

That's freaking cool man you gotta save it

[@saltoftheearth5414]

thanks brother.......great memories in the van that was a rocking

[@TheUnknownLegand]

Glad you made this video. I swear I remember seeing this van on FB marketplace for $4000. But then it disappeared and it wasn't until cowboy's video of it being crushed that I recognized it. Cowboy's first video on it was just the front of it and I had no idea it was a 4x4. If I had known earlier I would of considered getting that drivetrain out for my 78 Chevy van lol.

[@theenchanteduniverseoflife1450]

Cool sweet van

[@crizcriz103customz]

Nice looking van 👌

[@originalosanchez5549]

I love Van's, I drive a 94 safari love it😁✌

[@richroggio]

Benny I love that Van Dura with the 400 engine and 4WD!

[@rsprockets7846]

We had 78 van dura automatic in family ran like snot but by 1985 it was swiss cheeses

[@harrisonhunter7512]

Howdy to you both ,Dang that is a cool van ,many stories in that thing I bet lol 👍🇦🇺

[@CowboyCarCrushing]

Howdy Harrison.... how's the bullriding going for ya 👍🤠

[@harrisonhunter7512]

@@CowboyCarCrushing howdy cowboy,doing great cowboy been away working,back home now catching up with family.

[@doug9066]

I had forgotten where on Florida plates out the stickers, I'd have to look at my old Florida plates but I think your right, the sticker would go on the bottom right for the year & the month on the left side.

[@bennetfox]

That van has more holes in it than Swiss cheese! Cool find! I love the four-wheel drive vans!

[@rsprockets7846]

But it's the vintage parts worth n More than the van recon and swap the parts onto a pre 1992 van and your retro kool

[@rsprockets7846]

But it's the vintage parts worth n More than the van recon and swap the parts onto a pre 1992 van and your retro kool

[@jacobfleming565]

That chevy citation in the back ground haven't seen one in forever

[@ardtessa]

Finally a van again ! But Ho-Lee-Rust holes ! Never seen such a nice pattern of them hahahaha

[@bobbyheffley4955]

Chevy and GMC vans had the ignition switches in the dashboard through the 1981 model year.

[@googleusergp]

Whoa Nelley, Rusty Eck what the heck? Pathfinder was/is a 4WD conversion company out of Utah I believe and they took what was current at the time on a C,K truck and fitted it to a van. Quigley does the same thing today and they are an authorized GM upfitter. We have one of their converted vans at work. Midas Touch was an upfitter that offered conversions to dealers so people would buy a van and the dealer would have it converted for them. Rusty Eck is still around as Zeck Ford at 4501 S 4th St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. There is also a Rusty Eck Ford still in Wichita, KS. I believe that they are related. GM RPO codes follow a family series. A codes are typically seating, C codes are HVAC, F codes are suspension, L codes are engines (LF4 in this case), M are transmission, G are axle, etc, etc. We got the VIN, we win: T for GMC, G for G series van, R for 400 V8 with four barrel (aka LF4), 3 for 35 series 1 ton rating, 5 for panel and van, 9 for 1979 model year, 7 for Lordstown, OH assembly (which closed about 2 years ago), and the rest is the production sequence. You can see the codes for color and trim on the SPID, so I'll skip those. No, GM did offer factory 4WD (actually AWD) vans (but not in these years). It was called the H van and ran from about 2003 to 2014. It was of course based on the G series van (just like the K 4WD trucks are based on the C 2WD ones). Again you can also get a Quigley van, and while not "factory", it is done by a GM authorized upfitter who keeps the warranty intact with GM. Whoa Nelley, this one was "Midas" gold and now it's full of mold. Off the path and needs a bath. Once tough, now it's rough. 400 and gotta go. That's it, time to quit. The man with the cowboy hat is going to make it flat. It's going to be squished and we're kinda pissed.

[@garymckee8857]

As usual I go straight for you comment. Thanks I never knew the deal on these and l never saw many of them.

[@googleusergp]

@@garymckee8857 I have driven our Quigley van several times. Looks factory off the line.

[@chevelle-pi1bn]

That van was awesome in its day .

[@rsprockets7846]

Still has some awesome parts on it worth 3k at least

[@jasonkowitz4598]

I would get this van just to strip it out. Love to have them sun roofs. Not to many 4x4s land in a junkyard. I would be using that 4x4 to fix up another van, cool find!!!

[@kyboy5]

Been squeezed

[@edantonuk690]

That's so sad those are really had to find I belive ur rite 4x4 was after market that was probably a very nice unit when new 😀👍👍💯

[@googleusergp]

Aftermarket in those years, eventually around 2003, GM produced them in house as the "H" van. They were technically AWD, not 4WD.

[@michaelcoffey7362]

Cool :)

[@ls6-ss413]

That van is completely savable. At LEAST it was before cowboy was unleashed on it🤦🏻‍♂️I've always wanted one of those. My grandfather had one and junked it with 60k on it. Would paint it black with purple flames, jacked up in the back with cragars and side pipes 😎😝✌🏼

[@googleusergp]

Anything is savable, but with the time and money you'd spend, you'd be better off finding something with less rust and in better shape.

[@ls6-ss413]

@@googleusergp the frame is the issue. The body is nothing I'd have new panels on it in 48 hours. Those vans are starting to go for good money and I've always wanted one.

[@googleusergp]

@@ls6-ss413 True, but there are more solid examples out there.

[@MrZdvy]

I never knew they made these in a 4x4 version.

[@chevylandt.v]

Wow that's rare air, but what a shame that the owner let it go. Would have been the cat's meow in it's time.

[@jbb8382]

That van musta been awesome in heavy snow...

[@neshpro6521]

Flat top knuckle on that Dana 44 would be handy converting crossover steering on a lifted rig also that divorced 205 sought after.

[@rsprockets7846]

Really don't understand these yards with the crushing schedule.....5k worth of era parts go to Japan to be toyotas...hey post on net and recycle thee classic parts

[@paulburns3788]

You should save that van but I could be wrong

[@anthonycoach4551]

I think that's a rare van because of the 4 wheel drive I've never seen one in a Vandura..

[@ronaldrutledge8583]

I know a lot of people who would love to redo that van

[@buckster2575]

Shame it got this way.4x4 400 small block.

[@honeyblunt5150]

Reminds me of Uncle Rico's van from "Napoleon Dynamite"

[@dowen1511]

I would check the bottom end on that 400 Benny . that could be a very valuable small block..

[@rsprockets7846]

Not anymore old timer shun the ls and sbc prior to 2002 is wanted

[@briang4470]

@Dan King the 400s are rare these days, especially for a good buildable core, lots of these engines got worked hard and usually have cracked block/heads or have line bore issues. A good rebuildable 400 block can easily fetch 800-1000 bucks.

[@brentboswell1294]

400's cannot be rebuilt...no margin in the block for re-honing. You'll go right through a water jacket if you try!

[@rsprockets7846]

@@brentboswell1294 yup siamese cyl walls coupled to bad head design make it a crap shoot to rebuild. Heads cracked alot too

[@briang4470]

@@brentboswell1294 400s can be rebuilt atleast once. You can safely go .30 over on 99% of blocks but only a handful can take .40 or more. But for alot of guys on a budget rebuilding a junkyard 400 will give you dollar for dollar the best bang for the buck atleast for a sbc. That 4.125 bore makes such a difference over the 4in bore engines.

[@buggzo]

Where can I find this? I have a 77 G35 that I want to do a 4x4 conversion on that might be need some odds and ends off this

[@malikdigger4544]

Time capsule for sure going just scrap metal now those rims, powerplant & emblems are worth gotten what a shame was probably amazing kool van minus rust.

[@johnm.5848]

After the van was loaded into the crusher, it quickly folded like a cheap suit from all of the rust the moment Cowboy hammered it the first time with his fork lift.

[@rsprockets7846]

Cowboy seems to have some sort of sadistic. Pleasures. Crushing cars

[@terrencegiordan9812]

I called Cowboy last night that you were at the yard when he was working the other day he laughed and said yeah he's cool

[@CowboyCarCrushing]

Cool dude 100% 😀👍

[@moneypitmustangbrian3934]

I wonder if you could swap the drivetrain into 73-87 Chevy pick up or blazer?

[@rsprockets7846]

Why? You could buy one cheeper this is setup for a van

[@rickyberkley7091]

Where's this at I have been following you on here I am from granbury TX now I live in Oklahoma and we don't really get to see the square body's in the yards here

[@jrzues]

Would have loved to found this before crushing, there were good useable parts destroyed

[@anthonycoach4551]

Looks like Swiss cheese in bottom man needs a lot a mud..we owned a vandura too it was our run around van that thing ran good till the last drop if you know what I'm sayin thing had a slant six in it ran like a v8 I actually miss that van..I think ours was a 79 also don't remember..

[@anthonycoach4551]

Nah they rust from the bottom up lol

[@clarencejones7916]

the corrosion is from road salt I had a 94 jeep Cherokee with the same problem

[@dannyjaythompson1243]

Ford made a production Four wheel drive Van in the early 2000's Called Sport-mobile. I was a service writer for Ford from 2009-2013 (before I went into sales). They had a 351 in them and some came with the 6.2 Diesel. They were expensive 80k-120k . I live in california so we had a few but from what I understood since they were built to be lived in not many were sold. They came with full working bathroom, kitchen, refrigerator, shower and bed they also cane with a shovel and a ax! This is from Ford! I haven't seen one since I left service and alot of hippies bought them so alot of them went to Oregon and Colorado but you can live in them and drive them anywhere they had a 4' inch lift with a Dana 60 rear and I saw some pretty mean ones but people usually don't let them go because you can go 500k on those easy. If you or cowboy find one at the auction or the yard and you got the cash , You could do worse by not buying it!They had a ladder and a rack for surf boards and anything else you want.

[@googleusergp]

That was technically an aftermarket conversion. That company is still around: sportsmobile.com/contact/

[@rsprockets7846]

Tell by the freeze plugs sbc 400 got 3 350. 2

[@briang4470]

Not always true there are 2 freeze plug 400 blocks but they will atleast have a raised spot in the center of the casting so you can still ID one.

[@danielpineda4352]

A-TEAM

[@mnite7991]

I'd be interested in the tilt column

[@Chris-pq6dr]

I've been assured in the axles and drivetrain of that van but we're in and the transfer case the guy want to pull them out and I'd love to get that cuz I'm building a make my truck four wheel drives I'm trying to

[@Chris-pq6dr]

Had your interest in that van that for a drive parts off it the axles and transfer case I wanted to I buy them from you my number is 763-219-78 54 give me a call let's keep bug in those errands and transfer case

[@CR7659]

Wow, I seem to be first. My 1995 G30 was rustier than that when I drove it every day. The go/no-go is the frame rails, typically rot out under the shock mounts in the rear. Which is still repairable, it just stops being economically viable. All that body tin they make panels for. Seeing a 400 motor makes it even more sad what happened to this. People want those for whatever reason. I just bought a nice 1994, planning to pick it up next week and will make some videos then. If you noticed at The Spot there there's a white G-van in the front section and mine looks a lot like that one. Shows in a few of Cowboy's videos when he has to run up there. kzbin.info/door/_NVBVhoPD8IP_LRQDhFCCQ

[@katzazzdetailing1823]

The other 4x4 vans are Quigly

[@billsmith8238]

I'd set it up on blocks clean up the inside & pass the bong around there'd be smoke rolling out the sun roof

[@anthonycoach4551]

You need take them emblems mides touch lol that be cool have

[@mnite7991]

And the driver's side wing window and frame

[@spacecat7247]

35 series. Wow 4x4 and a 1 ton. 400 sb. Oh well

[@paulburns3788]

It could be rebuilt

[@anthonycoach4551]

Thats called da poor man's choke hold opener...or in my parts we call it the lemont choke hold..

[@robert77156]

Man thats a midas van will they sell it whole,

[@johnwakley1951]

did i saw Cowboy squish that thing a few Day ago ??

[@googleusergp]

Yes, he did. The man with the cowboy hat made it flat.

[@shtfvan8084]

Mad parts on that van. Even that sony radio has value smh

[@dragonfarts4329]

so did you save her or just Drool!!

[@DanKirchner5150]

I have an 85 chevy van tops completely rusted all the way around ,with a gaping hole in the back ,and im in vegas ,its a vegas van . how these do that is a mystery

[@briang4470]

What happens is the intense sun burns the paint off and then eventually gets down to bare metal and moisture overtime will eventually rust it out.

[@DanKirchner5150]

@@briang4470 oh really dr brian g ? can i also ask you how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop ?

[@briang4470]

@@DanKirchner5150 that my friend the world may never know, thoughts that will keep a man awake a night

[@coinslotsandjoysticks2572]

I seen the video of him crushing it. Really sucks

[@joaodorciliobona2163]

AQUI NO BRASIL DAVA PRA VENDER POR 20 MIL DÓLARES FÁCIL FÁCIL

[@dowen1511]

Kinda rare to find a 400 in a van 😳 I wonder if that is one of them super rare 4bolt main 400 that only came in van commercial chassis ? Hummm.

[@rsprockets7846]

400 were made from 1970. On. All chevys had access to them monte carlos caprice malibu's pick ups vans rare....we had one in 73. Caprice kingswood estate wagon ran like snot but sucked gas bad.....had overheating probs with cracked cyl heads

[@googleusergp]

@@rsprockets7846 Correct. Siamesed setup as I recall which caused overheating problems. The 350 was more balanced, and had less problems.

[@rsprockets7846]

@@googleusergp yeah and wierd cyl heads too with vent holes and steam ports. Gimme a good old fashioned 1970 350ci with 4bbl hei and holly 4bbl and mild cam with a 9 to one ratio. And dart heads and I'd be real happy.....oh yeah maybe a 4 bolt mains......

[@googleusergp]

@@rsprockets7846 Qjet over Holley.

[@rsprockets7846]

@@googleusergp put a performer manifold on my elky and luv it....had whole setup off 71 Monte. Carlo and sold it mid 80s at swap meet

[@aRustyPatina]

No no no no CRUSH PLS!!

[@ClassicRideSociety]

Unfortunately it was crushed

[@joeydrumstix]

What's not saveable about this

[@robertlyman9789]

Just buy a Quigley 4X4 conversion kit

[@geedee94134]

Salvageable if you know what your doing!

[@ClassicRideSociety]

True