Pulling the engine on a snub nosed van

[@mkfaruki]

This guy is a competent Technician. This is the right way to work on a lot of vehicles. Uni body vehicles can be repaired the same way, drop the sub frame.

[@artementy]

This is an older, but an amazing video. Doing your first one would probably take 4 hours, but the next one you will probably do in 2-2.5. Once the body is gone, removing the whole drivetrain literally takes 30 minutes and is so much more enjoyable - you have superior access to everything and exhaust rust and road crap doesn't fall onto your face. At the same time you can take care of so many things - pressure wash the whole thing easily, quickly repair whatever was needed, etc.

[@V8mo50]

God gave people gifts, but you my friend are SENT here by god to do what you do...GOD BLESS YOU.

[@dewaynemartin6437]

Gotta be the first YT video I've ever seen with no DISLIKES. Great video!

[@mykopy]

I found your video while examining options for replacing my own Vortec equipped Express. Thanks to you, I did it myself on a friends lift! Since mine, is a camper conversion and I was working alone it took me a total of 40 hrs. Thanks again for the video.

[@paulmryglod4802]

mykopy I will have to do the same soon. any tips? I have a conversion van.

[@ye-mimahisrael5489]

Do You Think You Can Help Me With My Van Will Pay You ..plz.Let me Know Thanks

[@nolazach1641]

While I have no shop and will do this the hard way, I'm glad you made this video.

[@megadeth1763]

Dear RFRF mechanic, I have been giving you my utmost attention for your ratings! You know what it takes to do the work right. I look to your advice first, Thank You !

[@realfixesrealfast]

I'm glad it helps you. Thanks for your comments

[@joezuerlein4358]

I like the help that you offer it really looks like a fair job to do I own a astro van 1999 and I am sure it is similar to the full size vans

[@banno6938]

NOW is the time to install a premium quality fuel pump !

[@scoots8519]

Ha Ha! With my old 1999 Chevy van I just cut the floor in the cab and patched it. All of a 45 minuet job to replace the pump and who cares with an old van like this one.

[@saltpepper1894]

also look for any potential future probs & fix em now while its all apart & easy to work on including wiring!

[@ecannon649]

Pretty slick idea. Ive been wrenching 26yrs and never considered removing the body. The only down side I see is if there isn't an engine to go right back in would be tieing the lift up a few days. Thanks!

[@tom56071]

get everything you need first

[@briansmobile1]

That's the way they're built at the factory. This makes all the sense in the world.

[@42luke93]

briansmobile1 Ikr. If it’s not body on frame they put the engine on from bottom too.

[@saltpepper1894]

damn thats a clean van....wont be so fun with a crusty old rusty one

[@ilililhy1]

WOW,COOL.you guys are the best,you rock.

[@YungJuiceman23]

iF you guys EVER want an apprentice, please let me know. The knowledge and experience you all can pass on to an eager tech like myself is INVALUABLE

[@FleetTech97]

Did you ever end up getting an apprenticeship?

[@danfrank8938]

Fantastic idea. I've got a good buy on a 92 vandura and was looking for ideas on how to pull the engine to swap into my 88 GMC 1500. Pretty sure I'm gonna use y'all's idea. Thank you

[@amirahmad9254]

I have the same van and also good job you guys

[@RozetRides]

I really liked this video. Unfortunately as I searched how to remove the engine from an e350, I didn't want to see this method as the one I'm pulling at work is a class c motor home. Lol still a great video. I will definitely utilize this method in the future.

[@TheSuperbird43]

On The Older Chevy G Vans We Just Pulled The Nose An Engine Cover Off And Left Everything Else Sit In the Vehicle!!! Usually Took About 16 Hours!!! I used To work For A Chevy Dealer!!!

[@projectartichoke]

This is genius level thinking!

[@ronaldreed7698]

I always do that with compressors. Its faster and it removes a process on reassembly.

[@elsydeon666]

The 97 and up GM full-size vans and ALL Astro/Safaris use frames. The Astro/Safari are even easier as the front is a subframe that drops down with the engine, tranny, and front suspension. That is also how you do 4WD/AWD conversions, just swap the front clip for an AWD one.

[@markstevens1729]

I know this was a minute ago, but where is the 4WD front clip coming from for either the Express/Savana or the Astro/Safari? Is there a GM truck that has the same size 4WD front clip?

[@elsydeon666]

@@markstevens1729 The Astro/Safari vans can be done 4wd with subframe swap.

[@markstevens1729]

@@elsydeon666 thanks for the reply. My question is which vehicles are the replacement (4WD) subframe, trans/transfer case coming from that fit those vans?

[@elsydeon666]

@@markstevens1729 The subframe and AWD parts comes from a AWD Astro/Safari, but only fit those. If you want to convert a full-size van, you are going to have to either build a frame or force the front from a full-size truck to fit.

[@markstevens1729]

@@elsydeon666 oh, I thought there was a GM truck like the S10 that had a compatible sub-frame for the conversion. Thanks.

[@alephtheseeker3892]

16 or 17 hours of work to change a Chevy Express motor. Looks like a new van is a better option. Darn, I love my customized van.

[@southernhellstorm6634]

This is how real mechanics work. Instead of parts changers.. Less work and more effective procedures. So many idiots completely disassemble the entire front end which is ridiculous .. With a proper lift engine work is a breeze with correct knowledge..

[@joshdenham8404]

Awesome! Way to think outside the box. now. ....if I just had a lift...... oh well. I will pull mine out the front. I'm one tenacious s.o.b.

[@87Stang]

That's awesome good Idea I love your vids I've learned a lot from you over the years thanks n keep it up

[@sovereignfreespirit]

once you had the body up in the air you could have rolled the chassy forward and worked without the van body hanging over your head and also had all the clearance in the world to lift that motor with the cherry picker.. Thanks for the idea I liked it. easy enough to disconnect the body, never would have thought to do it that way. Time for a 4 wheel lift kit. and a small body lift ;-)

[@in.der.welt.sein.]

+Ken Blanchard Perhaps it would be a big pain in the ass to line the body back up with the frame and get all the bolt holes to line up, and would probably end up adding a lot of extra time trying to line the frame and body back up. With this guys method, it would just lower right back down into place where it belongs.

[@amirahmad9254]

cool

[@randyaivaz3356]

For reassembly aligning, put Stops , or chocks, and Mark on floor around tires, then roll out, and back into place, usually no steering involved many time. If needing to be steered, Then mark front tires on floor as well.

[@dariomendoza191]

mine.s a 1997 Astro conversion van alot of similarities!! thanks for Sharing!!

[@Blastfence1]

This is the time to clean and repaint the undercarriage before you put the new motor in.

[@ronaldoleksy8264]

Wow great use of the human brain......

[@mrnobody8540]

On one ton chev - they have a frame... The 1/2 and 2/4 ton have unibody - you remove the front cross member and trans mounts.

[@tduncan55]

I don't know man to me it seems like a lot of extra work for nothing. It's not that hard to evacuate and recharge AC system. The van has a dog house in it for access to everything on the motor. The grill and the front of the van is so easy to remove it's ridiculous.

[@chicagovasko]

Yeah not many people have a lift.

[@tom56071]

i got a ford e 350 club wagon this is a nightmare pulling this engine as you cant get in to the engine with a cherry picker i like theis idea removing the chasis ,works for me

[@bozzaa]

Ya, but there's no room in these vans to lift or maneuver the engine under the firewall. I got one to do now and lifting the body was the way to go. That's how their put together on the assembly line.

[@mlopezmolinar]

would be the same process for a 2007 chevy express 2500 4.8?

[@geraldscott4302]

Unfortunately most shops won't do it this way. Currently the cost to replace an engine is a van like that is about $4500 LABOR ONLY.

[@gracecolosimo477]

That is awsome the only problem is i live in ny and the body bolts rust so bad you cant get them out

[@professionalfirefighterlawn]

NICE JOB

[@harryporter3531]

Awsome. I'm guessing the frame was left in place to cut down on realignment issues?

[@Chris07860]

That was actually a really cool video to watch.

[@undertake782]

That's why body on frame is so great for vans. If it was a unibody construction, you're going to hate maintaining the damn thing.

[@CJColvin]

What part of Missouri are you guys from.

[@NissanTy]

@mejia1911 perks of being a automotive technicain, if you are good you can always do a long job in half the time and still get paid for the full time of the job.

[@frederickanthony1965]

Good at being crooks over charging

[@mechanic1582]

ever deal with a security lock out? i have a 2001 chevy express 3500, ive tried all the easy steps i have no where else to turn! i had spark and fuel, it would start and die right away, i have no voltage going to the passlock unit, the radio says "LOC" i tried everything i can to get the security system disarmed, tried the procedure "relearn passlock code" now the problem is worse, no fuel no spark, no clue....

[@nuclearbum9858]

+Rob Sikes go online and try to find how to bypass the passlock on the van your key cylinder has went bad ..rewire and eliminate..good luck

[@darrin81128112]

So does Advance Auto do Tool rental on Lifts if so im in business 😁. Hope it fits in my Driveway.

[@nca877]

@therockkkkher Probably a tired engine with a lot of miles. It is 10 years old after all.

[@peralez2383]

we pulled it out the front and reinstalled in 1 day

[@ivanferrandon6566]

Really?

[@peralez2383]

@@ivanferrandon6566 really

[@James_the_Builder]

We? an experienced pit crew

[@peralez2383]

@@James_the_Builder hard to believe of you sit a computer all day huh?

[@paulsthormes251]

I replaced engine from the front very tight fit . engine does come out wasn't too bad one day job

[@michaelovitch]

Why a repost of the same video ?

[@joeyalfaro2323]

I did older van Chevy out passenger side you just remove passenger seat. About 1 hours worth work crack dash all to shit. Then on new motor someone forgot drain oil and guy turned it upside down on engine stand. Exhaust manifold were hair off on bolt like if header shrunk that was nightmare. Today I would have oval bolt hole called it day.

[@greidysvazquez2256]

Nice van

[@spacesuitor]

999 thumbs up on this video when I came along and broke 1000. 👍

[@Localtruthspeaker]

Does the shortcut reflect on the bill aswell or is the invoice charged out at book time?

[@realfixesrealfast]

good question. It does save time, so I start with the book time and adjust as necessary.

[@nickg1387]

bad ace! 2 cool! I have always wanted to design a vehicle with a front end on a hinge that opens up and allows access to the motor. Mechanics clearly do not design vehicles, otherwise none of us would conceal the motor.

[@Ashroyer86]

They have those already. Called rigs.

[@kolhelly]

Good afternoon guys..... I have a question if I want to change body in my car... Can you change it... thanks....

[@foxdmulder]

holy sweet mother........................wow

[@metalmoto]

Simply Amazing!

[@alekstolstoi]

how long it takes to do this job

[@jcortes3930]

30 minutes

[@Christof708]

Work smarter not harder! 👍

[@eduardobravo6653]

Good day, excuse me the question, can change the engine of the original GMC, for a modern version engine?

[@danb.3397]

OKAYEEE, THAT SHOULD HELP WITH MY VAN !

[@canadianrocketfanvees942]

why are vans snubbed

[@adrianp918]

can this same method be applied to a 04 chevy express with the box truck body??

[@CoyoteShaman79]

thats nice to cut the book time in half, but one problem im to poor to get a body lift , well look's like it's back to the old way again buy my friends a beer or 2 and lift body up our selfs

[@turbobuick33]

what is wrong with the engine?

[@briansansone]

wow. Are yall in the metro ATL ?

[@mitchatkinson5599]

Will this work on a pre 96 chevy g20 van

[@artementy]

No, that van is unibody. There is no frame.

[@tonywilkerson1572]

yes just front clip kind of like a old camaro or nova

[@brentmack51]

would this be wize to do a head gasket on a 92 dodge church van? or can you get at everything through the dog house? i have a lift

[@pierrew46]

will this work on 1996 GMC Vandura G3500?

[@mikegurge4487]

Where are you located? I would like to hire you for my van.

[@GeraldThomasphotojunkie]

That is too sweet!!!! 🚐

[@klosnoski]

just like an astrovan... NICE!

[@CheapGuitarsAndMore]

Whats the alternative so we can do this at home?

[@mikefaber7990]

You are the man!

[@oiyabastard]

hey do that to a customer when they come in for an oil change call them into the shop and say somethings wrong with your van sir

[@studpuppy69]

Tell that van owner to get new tires! Death trap tires!

[@busguy100]

Really good idea :) Will it work about the same on a Ford?

[@joshriles84]

Where are you located, looks like a Missouri plate

[@indoorroadkill3369]

Sounds like this would work great down south, but those of us stuck in the Salt Belt would likely have a horrible time with this.

[@footprintsinconc]

that is very clever!

[@amirahmad9254]

I have the same van

[@JohnDrivesAnything]

Great excuse to add a body lift! =)

[@michaelovitch]

@AutoTechHector he he

[@89bigbox]

How much something likes this costs

[@frehausechas2803]

WOQW!!!! I am impressed

[@matthewvelders2278]

You do not have to lift the body off of your truck to take out the motor I just changed mine all you have to do is take off the intake manifolds don't listen to this where you got to lift the motor I've done this a dozen times

[@istheone100]

oo im working on this thing for 4 days know could of help me 4 days ago lol LD

[@freespeachrulez]

You would need a lift with no upper cross member or one like in the video otherwise you would not be able to lift it high enough to put the cherry picker in there, but this is genius. Everything is pretty much snap back on anyway.So how many hours did this take in total?

[@Catrik]

I don't understand why they didn't just roll it forward so you don't have to work under the body. Just mark the position of the wheels to the ground so you can get it back to the same position.

[@ninokwim7700]

who can tell me where to get this done on my 88 ford school bus?

[@seapeddler]

If someone forgot to lower the body back onto the frame, and just drove it away, there would be extra problems. Somoene may think it is a prototype, and photos would appear in car mags.

[@farhannaufal9409]

A 2019 mercedes?

[@jcortes3930]

Farhan Naufal A 2020 Oldsmobile?

[@rustymanrustola]

Wow... wish i had a lift

[@Maples01]

When did GM cease being unibody?

[@striderhiryufan]

+Maples01 In 96, when they replaced the G-Van with the Express.

[@Maples01]

I wonder why they total them with a collision yet rebuild the Ford?

[@mattp.7002]

GM full size vans have always been on a truck frame, never unibody. I've owned a '74 GMC, '85 Chevy, '91 GMC, '00 Chevy, '02 Chevy and an '08 Chevy. They were all either 3/4 or 1 ton and all had frames. A lot of the parts are common with the GM trucks and Suburbans. Parts are readily available and very economical. I've owned Dodge and Ford vans too, but my personal experience has been more positive with the GM vans.

[@bishop5166]

I'm so glad I taught myself how to work on cars....lol..I have no problem putting in 22hrs myself. doesn't the front clip come off? seems like it would have been faster.

[@Bryan-Hensley]

bishop Yes the whole front end comes off and you can leave the radiator and condenser attached. It takes about 20 minutes. Pulling the engine takes about 2 more hours. I can see some things would be easier but I don't see how you'd make up the time it would take to remove all the body mounts and unhook the wiring harness. I wish he would have shown how much trouble that is.

[@CISCODLTN]

Thats awesome.

[@Mike__james]

How many people watching this have access to a lift. This is not a do it yourself job at your house.

[@meyawabdulaziz3863]

in my country you can easily afford all the equipment refill this vans huge gas tank with 12 dollars no taxes...dirt cheap insurance minimum wage (1400 USD a mounth unemployed welfare that is) BUT,,, you cant afford a land (super demand ..so little available) cheapest apartment = 150000 USD smallest land = forget it so its mostly renting ...but the rent is also ridiculously high which is unjustifiable for a hobby i dont know i think in the USA its the opposite based on what your saying

[@tonyinfinity]

Did it say do it yourself?

[@Mike__james]

+tonyinfinity He's talking to the viewer who else is going to be doing the job.

[@tonyinfinity]

Mike James Obviously someone who can do it, not someone who cries about not having a lift.

[@Mike__james]

+tonyinfinity Your not very bright are you. I can't argue with slow adults I am done. keep being stupid.

[@nikolaromanos456]

Now I know the body will be separated from the chassis where the engine was bolted

[@AutoTechHector]

@michaelovitch Some peolple need to watch somethng twice in order to get the idea..LOL!!

[@tonyinfinity]

So this cuts down the time in half but I'm sure you still charged them 22 hours labor right? LOL

[@warclownband]

thats business 101. :)

[@haroldchurcher2472]

S

[@leepeterke3971]

wouldnt you

[@leepeterke3971]

knowledge is expensive

[@tonyinfinity]

No, i charge what my trucks work in actual hours, not pretend time.

[@Nudnik1]

same for 6.0Ford diesel pu

[@borenagin12]

Do it with a motorhome ;)

[@13yearsaprepperr.jtilbury.51]

that i would like to see , I just rebuilt the heads on my 65 inside the rv under the floor ,,

[@markstevens1729]

You’ve yet to answer the key KZbin question: will a Cummins fit in there?

[@dmorley100]

michaelovitch is right. It's a great video and all, but why did you post this video again?

[@arowynkusaj7802]

I mean... that’s cool and all if you have a $7k 4-post lift...