Got a New Van!
SgtRauksauff
09-19-2005, 12:18 PM
Hi there!
My father just got a '92 1-ton (G30?) van, with the 454 (7.4L). I'm not sure of the transmission model, but it's an automatic 4-speed (has overdrive, in other words). It's been replaced almost exactly one year ago. He drove it home Sunday, and got 11.5mpg with it according to his calculations. Is this about average for this van, or is there a good way to increase the mileage?
In doing a little searching, it looks like Edelbrock sells a part to switch from TBI (Throttle Body Injection) to MPI (Multi-Port Injection), which would help things a little, but it's a little over 1000 bucks. Not too bad, I guess, but not necessarily the best thing to do. We'll be putting dual exhaust on it for sure, but are there any other common tweaks to get a little better mileage other than increasing tire diameter or a ring and pinion swap?
It's not going to be use a whole bunch, just for entire-family trips, and hauling stuff, and also when I tow my car to the races.
Do headers even fit on vans? And if they did, would they help the efficiency of the vehicle?
Anyway, I appreciate any input, I'm off to do some more research, sorry if I asked any questions with obvious answers..
--sarge
My father just got a '92 1-ton (G30?) van, with the 454 (7.4L). I'm not sure of the transmission model, but it's an automatic 4-speed (has overdrive, in other words). It's been replaced almost exactly one year ago. He drove it home Sunday, and got 11.5mpg with it according to his calculations. Is this about average for this van, or is there a good way to increase the mileage?
In doing a little searching, it looks like Edelbrock sells a part to switch from TBI (Throttle Body Injection) to MPI (Multi-Port Injection), which would help things a little, but it's a little over 1000 bucks. Not too bad, I guess, but not necessarily the best thing to do. We'll be putting dual exhaust on it for sure, but are there any other common tweaks to get a little better mileage other than increasing tire diameter or a ring and pinion swap?
It's not going to be use a whole bunch, just for entire-family trips, and hauling stuff, and also when I tow my car to the races.
Do headers even fit on vans? And if they did, would they help the efficiency of the vehicle?
Anyway, I appreciate any input, I'm off to do some more research, sorry if I asked any questions with obvious answers..
--sarge
RNRea
09-21-2005, 06:29 PM
If it's not going to be used much, it won't do a lot of good to spend a lot of money and time to get an extra MPG or two. Since the engine is already controlled by the computer you will have a lot of retrofitting to do to convert it to MPI, which maybe is why the Edelbrock is so expensive. I have a '92 G-30 with the 350 and TBI. It runs pretty good for 260k miles. Underpowered, though.
You probably have the same transmission as I do, the 4L80E, which is a good, heavy-duty tran, but it is susceptible to electrical issues as the wires and connectors age. If you went with a rear-end ratio change you'll need to change the ratio setting for the speedometer to work properly.
Headers can fit vans, as long as they are for that make/engine/year/etc. They'll have to work with any EGR equipment, oxygen sensors, air-injection, etc. that may be installed on that particular van. They should help a little. I just had new exhaust installed on mine (Cat was OK, everything back was rusted-out). I went with 3" (stock is 2 3/4" for some odd reason). But it doesn't get a lot of use and is long in the tooth, so I'm not looking for extra anything out of it.
You probably have the same transmission as I do, the 4L80E, which is a good, heavy-duty tran, but it is susceptible to electrical issues as the wires and connectors age. If you went with a rear-end ratio change you'll need to change the ratio setting for the speedometer to work properly.
Headers can fit vans, as long as they are for that make/engine/year/etc. They'll have to work with any EGR equipment, oxygen sensors, air-injection, etc. that may be installed on that particular van. They should help a little. I just had new exhaust installed on mine (Cat was OK, everything back was rusted-out). I went with 3" (stock is 2 3/4" for some odd reason). But it doesn't get a lot of use and is long in the tooth, so I'm not looking for extra anything out of it.
SgtRauksauff
11-27-2005, 05:58 PM
Thanks for the info!
I've already had to do some work on it (exhaust manifold gasket broken, resulting in a broken stud in the head.. ouch!!) but so far the van's doing well.
Found out that the spark plug wire going to #1 cylinder on the drivers side was broken, probably baked by that port's exhaust gasket being broken. Haven't really had a chance to drive it, but we're thinking at least getting 12mpg with the now-fixed plug wire, and gasket. put in new plugs too, but not a new cap and rotor.
The tranny is the 4L80E, and it's only got about 17000 miles on it since being replaced by the previous owner.
We're going to go dual exhaust for sure, but still haven't decided on headers or not yet. I'm kind of leaning towards headers, because they also help keep the engine bay/doghouse a little cooler than the cast manifolds do, which will help the plug wire life. Probably just going to use a Magnaflow 3" X-Pipe, and drill/weld the O2 sensor bung in the middle of it. All we've got right now is the O2 sensor, no air pumps or EGR stuff in the exhaust system, otherwise.
Looks like Hooker makes a ceramic-coated header with oval ports for around 380 for the pair from Summit. Nothing else I've found is actually specific to the G30 van with the 454, but there are a bunch for the trucks/suburbans with the same engine. Is there any real difference between the truck/van headers? Will the truck headers sit lower, do you think, or will any header for any '92 454 engine work?
Wierd thing is, the muffler is after the Y-pipe, then the cat is way in the back, just before the axle. Is that normal for these vans, or is that something that's been changed previously?
Anyway, just my mild ramblings of the day...
--sarge
I've already had to do some work on it (exhaust manifold gasket broken, resulting in a broken stud in the head.. ouch!!) but so far the van's doing well.
Found out that the spark plug wire going to #1 cylinder on the drivers side was broken, probably baked by that port's exhaust gasket being broken. Haven't really had a chance to drive it, but we're thinking at least getting 12mpg with the now-fixed plug wire, and gasket. put in new plugs too, but not a new cap and rotor.
The tranny is the 4L80E, and it's only got about 17000 miles on it since being replaced by the previous owner.
We're going to go dual exhaust for sure, but still haven't decided on headers or not yet. I'm kind of leaning towards headers, because they also help keep the engine bay/doghouse a little cooler than the cast manifolds do, which will help the plug wire life. Probably just going to use a Magnaflow 3" X-Pipe, and drill/weld the O2 sensor bung in the middle of it. All we've got right now is the O2 sensor, no air pumps or EGR stuff in the exhaust system, otherwise.
Looks like Hooker makes a ceramic-coated header with oval ports for around 380 for the pair from Summit. Nothing else I've found is actually specific to the G30 van with the 454, but there are a bunch for the trucks/suburbans with the same engine. Is there any real difference between the truck/van headers? Will the truck headers sit lower, do you think, or will any header for any '92 454 engine work?
Wierd thing is, the muffler is after the Y-pipe, then the cat is way in the back, just before the axle. Is that normal for these vans, or is that something that's been changed previously?
Anyway, just my mild ramblings of the day...
--sarge
RNRea
11-27-2005, 08:32 PM
For specifics on headers, I think that the headers are custom fitted for the vehicle that they are supposed to fit in, and there probably isn't as big a market for vans as there would be for P/U's and Suburbans. I don't recall seeing an application with the cat after the muffler. Good luck on the installation.
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