2001 olds bravada off-road & performance ?s

[mudslinger88]

Hey guys. Has anybody ever taken the ac system out on a 2001 olds bravada? I want to start on turning it into an off-road rig and I don't want any kind of extra pulleys that I'm not going to need. less resistance and less weight. Also, would equal-length shorty headers give me decent enough exhaust flow for it to be worth the money? I've looked for weeks for full-length headers but I can't find them for the 4.3 Vortech. Just another question, has anybody ever heard of putting a turbo on a 4.3? Just thought it would be different, and I like to be the guy with a unique vehicle. Thanks for any info.

[MT-2500]

Got any good speed shops in your area?

Are you going to only drive it off road or on road to?

[MagicRat]

I hate to put a damper on your ambitions but I think the Bravada is not a good choice for an off-road rig.

As I recall, it does not have a low range setting for the transfer case and it has an AWD system, with (I think) no way of locking the front and rear driveshafts together.
Furthermore, the stock suspension is tuned to be more soft and comfortable than effective off -road. Also they generally had no skid plates.

imho it would take too much work and money to make this decent off-road. Unless the truck is a worthless wreck, you are better off selling it and buying a Chevy Blazer (especially if it has the Z-71(?) factory off road package (which includes a number of off-road upgrades that a Bravada does not have) orbuy one that has already been modded for off road use.

Finally, turbos are virtually useless off road. Unless you have a full-on race truck and want to run the Baja 1000, off roading requires low, low gears (that the Bravada does not have) and lots of low end torque.

Imho the stock 4.3 has enough power for any novice's off road situation, so save your $$$ and leave it stock until you have lots of off-road experience with the truck.

[mudslinger88]

Thanks guys for the info. I would mostly like to use it for easier trails. I have been offroading since I learned how to drive when I was about 10. I mainly want to put a little lift and bigger tires on it. It's mostly for my girlfriend to use, so she doesn't feel left out when everybody goes out. She would use it on and off road. I am the one who mostly uses it for a daily driver, but I use a 1987 Mitsubishi Mighty-Max when I go out wheelin'. I just want to give her something to use to have a little fun. I don't know if I am going to do the swap-over or not. I have been throwing ideas around on whether to make it off-road or turn it into a street mod suv. I'm not realy sure what to do yet, but I want to do something. I do know that I want the AC system out though. I never use it and it would be one less thing to have to worry about keeping maintained. I have seen some really crazy modified Bravada's in shows, from big off-road lifts and tires setup to slammed and highly street modified. I like them both. Any ideas to help me with my absolute confusion on this suv would be greatly appreciated. One good thing, I have it registered in a state that doesn't have emissions laws so I'm pretty open on options when it comes to engine mods. Also, I still haven't found full-length headers for the 4.3 vortech. Anybody find any for my model out there? Again, thanks for the info and any ideas are greatly appreciated. Sorry to be so long winded.

[Josh Smith]

Well, this is a bit old, but I'll answer at the risk of being censored:

Though the Bravada doesn't have low range, it does have 3.73 gearing and rear posi or locker or hybrid, depending upon the year. If yours is based on the TrailBlazer, I believe it will have the hybrid (Dad was, until recently, a GM engineer at the truck plant in Roanoke IN, and explained the evolution of these things to me).

Anyway, I would think that it would make an exceptional light off-road vehicle. I don't know that I'd go so far as to pull the A/C and all that - they have their other uses; check with partsmike.com - but any stock engine can benefit from increased breathing.

I thought Headman Headers, at least at one point, made headers for the 4.3 SPFI engine.

You should probably have traction control stock on that bad boy as well, and that will help a beginning offroader.

Lack of low range just isn't a big concern where I come from - mostly we keep 'em in high range and hydroplane the Wabash River, and any mud pit we could find . Or did, 'til we grew up or the cops got onto us, depending on the person.

Regards,

Josh <><

[b1lk1]

I would be doubtful there will be long tube headers available for these trucks since the routing is just not open enough to fit them in there. Probably have to atleast lift the engine to even wedge them in there, lol. Shorties would be fine.

As for the A/C, makes no logical sense to pull it. When it is off there is no parasitic drag and these newer systems generally don't leak. The only real concern would be smashing the condenser in an accident and that would still be an easy fix.

As for 4X4, the system on the Bravada is OK for the light stuff but I wouldn't want to rely on it in any deep mud or way off the beaten path. Also, without a lift kit these trucks just don't have crap for ground clearance. The differentials are decently strong and many came with a LSD in the back atleast. The lack of low range really does cause problems when off road since these trucks are heavy.

If she needs a truck to wheel with then take it as a good excuse to buy a truck that is much better suited for it and help her fix it up. Something with 2 less doors would be a much better place to start. I would build a Bravada for the street, not for off roading.

[Josh Smith]

Dad and I went fishing out at Huntington Reservoir when I first got my old Bravada.

I parked the beast and, when we came back shortly after, having no luck fishing, the Bravada had sunk to its hubs.

I was able to back out with minimal spinning.

I agree that AWD isn't the best choice for mudding, but since we're just talking about fairly smooth, level 1 roads, I wouldn't worry about it. Many folks take 2wd trucks on these things, and most don't get in trouble.

I'm thinking fire roads and the like; if I read the OP's thread starter, please let me know.

Josh <><

[b1lk1]

I didn't even read the dates of the original posts........