Parts For Older Van

[Kid_Buick_98&84]

Hey all,
I bought a 1987 GMC Rally STX Van about 6 months ago and wanted to know where i could get mods for it. Somethings id like to find:
Windsheild visor
Bull Bar
Roof Rack
Lift Kit
New Rear Suspension

I know i can prolly find some of these in the junk yard but is there anywhere else to get custom stuff for an old ass van?

Thanks

['97ventureowner]

Try J. C Whitney ( http://www.jcwhitney.com/Truck-Parts/10614.jcw), they may carry some, if not all of those items for your van.

[MagicRat]

WOOOO HOOOOO !!!!!
I love the older - style GM vans, having owned 3 myself.

Nobody makes a brush guard/bull bar specifically for a van so I had to take one intended for an older, pre-88 GM pick - up truck (with the flat grill)

The cheapie guards that bolt directly to the front bumper of the older pick-up trucks will fit with no mods. But they just are not very strong and will bend under a modest impact.

If you want a stronger one, .. get a real, frame-mount pick-up truck version and adapt the mounts. If one has a bit of metalwork experience, it' pretty easy.

For a roof rack, try an RV store. There are universal-type racks designed to fit full-size vans that are easy to work with.

They may be able to get a visor, too . although I hate such visors. These vans have such a big roof overhang that a visor really isn't needed All a visor is .... is a big gas - guzzling parachute that ruins the fuel economy of an already less-than-economical vehicle.

As for the suspension...... on your van, front and rear suspensions are virtually identical to the 2wd pre-88 Chevy and GMC pick - up trucks. One used to be able to buy lift kits for those trucks, but I think they have been discontinued. If you look around, you may be able to find one. The post '88 truck kits will not work.

If you just want to fix up the rear end........ look in the Yellow Pages for a shop that specializes in truck springs. Usually these shops work with big highway rigs. However, they can easily rework your existing leaf springs to make it firmer, and/or raised. IMO going to such a shop is better than buying springs on-line because any good shop can tailor the load carrying and ride height to exactly what you want.

Otherwise, GM offered 3 different leaf spring packs for this van...... 1/2 ton (too soft, imo) , 3/4 ton (just right) and 1-ton (too stiff unless you carry 1500 lbs of concrete in the back all day). You might be able to find the right ones one from a yard.

The problem with parts from old custom vans is IMO their poor quality. It's been decades since custom vans were really popular, so any old parts will likely be ancient crap that really wasn't very good even when new.

[Kid_Buick_98&84]

I was born too late, ive always loved the custom vans but by the time i had a license that fad had gone the way of ol yeller.
I know a visor is horrable for gas mileage but i have always loved the way it looks on trucks/vans especially with the lights in the front. Plus since this is primaraly used as my towing/cargo vehicle and not a daily driver i really dont ming killing the mpg a bit.


I know it would be a big project if possible (maybe down the raod) but Ive seen a couple vans that swapped out a 4x4 truck frame into it. But i think that would be badass.

thanks for the help by the way i appreciate it.

[MagicRat]

There is nothing to stop you from building a custom van right now. I did so about 15 years ago, it's pretty easy and lots of fun.

BTW most of the 70's era custom vans were pretty ugly..... too gaudy and tasteless. Imo a more subtle approach is much better.

There were several companies that made 4x4 conversions, mostly for sale to commercial customers, such as utility companies. One of these is better than most home-made jobs.