going to try out 96 transport anything i need to look for than the usual?

[thejman3]

hey guys,
i have been looking for a few months now for a 94-96 transport. i love the looks of these more than the others. with the options i want (power slider, steering wheel controls) and have not had any luck at all. i looked at a handfull of nice ones but without the 2 things i wanted. so i placed a wanted add here local for one and just got a call to come and take a look at a 96 with pretty low miles with the options i want, and looks to be in good shape. of course you cant tell to much about pictures. now i know the usual stuff to look for on a vehicle, but this is my first van purchase and i just wanted to know if there are any things i should lookout for?

thanks people and i cant wait to get me one of these!

[MagicRat]

Imo these are fine vehicles, and pretty cheap to buy, especially if you find a nice one.

Just have a good look at the 3.4 V6. Maybe pressure-test the cooling system, and get a compression test done to make sure its solid, with no head gasket issues or other problems.

Generally, these engines are pretty solid, but neglect and a lack of maintenance can cause problems.

Other than that, just look at the usual wear/rust problems as you would for any other car.

[thejman3]

thanks! will do, these vans have surprised me as far as how long the last when taken care of. i have seen a few with well over 300k and you would never suspect it when looking or driving it. most people i know get scared when a vehicle gets close to or over 100k. like its time for a trade in or something? lol

[Jrs3800]

Statesville huh... I pass by there all of the time on my way home to WV...

Are you in a salt state? I'd say check the undercarriage to make sure there is no rust..

These vans are pretty good.. Got my 95 a couple of years ago and liked it soo much I couldn't help but to Mod it and update to the newest 3800 GM made...lol... Its has around 185,000 on the body but I have replaced the motor with the newer unit and I have rebuilt the trans.. I refuse to get rid of this van... Long live the DustBuster

[thejman3]

Originally Posted by Jrs3800

Statesville huh... I pass by there all of the time on my way home to WV...

Are you in a salt state? I'd say check the undercarriage to make sure there is no rust..

These vans are pretty good.. Got my 95 a couple of years ago and liked it soo much I couldn't help but to Mod it and update to the newest 3800 GM made...lol... Its has around 185,000 on the body but I have replaced the motor with the newer unit and I have rebuilt the trans.. I refuse to get rid of this van... Long live the DustBuster

i'm from wv to, moved down here in 2002 after the big flood hit there. i didn't get to go this week and look it over good but i am soon. i was going to check the frame anyway as i have seen some that rust has ate away but the rest was in good shape. has anybody ever modded these type of vans? i cant find anything on them, i have a plan to lower mine with some nice 18' or 19'wheels, and some nice audio and video.

i love the looks of these older models, i would not have a newer one. i just don't like them as good.

[Jrs3800]

I am from New Martinsville WV Myself...

I have modded the life out of mine... Currently running a Series III 3800 with the Series 2 upper parts... along with a cam... I rebuilt the trans and swapped to 3.33 gears...

But being a 96 with the 3400 you should have 3.29 gears..

[Negative_3]

I used to own a 1996 Trans Sport exactly like the one you are looking for. Power sliding door, steering wheel controls. It also had electric seat adjustment, and on-board air compressor.

I currently own a 1995 Chevy Lumina APV with the 3.1 V6 and none of those nice accessories. (Lumina APV = Trans Sport = Shiloutte, same vehicles, different names).

While they look the same on the outside, the difference in power between the 1996 with it's 3.4 V6 and the 1995 with the 3.1 V6 option is night and day. The 96 could slam me in the back of my seat all the way up to max speed. I had to watch my speed because I could get going so fast after just a couple seconds without even realizing it. I don't think there were many cars on the road that could accelerate as fast the 96 Trans Sport minivan. The 95 with the 3.1 V6 is the COMPLETE opposite. It accelerates like a turtle. I think GM heavily limited how fast they let you accelerate it because it of the throttle body fuel injection and the 3T40 transmission.

BUT... that being said, I actually like the 1995 with the 3.1 V6 more than the powerful 1996. The 1996 has a very long lasting drive train, but the 3.1 V6 has an even longer lasting drive train. Especially the transmission. Even with proper maintenance, the 96's 4T60-E transmission seems to top out at about 200K. With proper maintenance the 3T40 on the 3.1 V6 can reach insane miles. I think this has a lot to do with the fact that GM apparently limits how fast you are allowed to accelerate the 3.1 V6. There seems to be no limit on the abuse you can give the 4T60-E on the 96.

But I think a lot of people junk these great minivans, not because of the drive train, but because of vacuum leaks and failing accessories. I couldn't imagine paying for all the minor repairs I made to the 96 Trans Sport and the 95 Lumina APV.

And as far as modifications go, I made one mod to my 95 Lumina APV. I wired it so that the radiator cooling fan is on whenever the engine is on (did this by grounding the green wire on the cooling fan relay). The engine is now on the low end of operating temp (about 195 F), and its temp is way more consistent, as it is regulated by the thermostat and not the cooling fan cutting on and off. I have thoroughly checked the transmission temp with an IR temp gun, and it is consistently 10-15 F cooler under both idle and intense city driving. GM turns the radiator cooling fan on at 222 F for the 3.1 V6. Granted it's all iron, but that still seems a little hot to me. Especially when you consider that the engine coolant is also responsible for cooling the transmission!!! Plus I would think the changes in temp from cutting the fan on and off would make metal expand and contract slightly, but often. I don't see how that could be good. I thought the constant running of the fan might wear it out, or wear out the alternator, but both have held up just fine. Despite the fact that these vans seem to run forever, and thus it would seem like GM knew what they were doing, I still don't trust them. I think 222 F is too hot, I think the transmission is allowed to run too hot, and I think letting the temperature fluctuate with a range of about 25 F is too much. So I fixed all that. Hopefully this will extend the life of my 95 Lumina APV. I would think the same mod would be good for a 96 Trans Sport as well. No telling how hot those 4T60-E's can get.

BTW - I recommend getting a white one. My 96 Trans Sport was dark green and looked like a dust buster. My 95 Lumina APV, which has the same body, is white and it looks like a space shuttle.

[LMP]

I'd stick with a 3.8....best engine in the world. that ends with '95, pediod.

[Meridivs]

LMP, please explain.

[Jrs3800]

Originally Posted by LMP

I'd stick with a 3.8....best engine in the world. that ends with '95, pediod.

I agree... My series III 3800 swapped van does not burn a drop between oil changes... The 3800 that was in it was the exact same way... 5000 Miles on my Synthetic and still full to the top...

I have seen the 3400's with a lot of miles on them tho... Say a 96 TS in the yeard a week ago with 214,000

[500hpgtx]

I have had 3 cars with a 3800. 92 Bonneville, 95 Transport, and 2000 GTX(gtp).

I still find it hard to believe how much horsepower can be produced from the
L67 3800. I am now using E85(105 octane) and 93 premium, and I am still impressed with the acceleration. My GTX has over 85K and is like new with engine performance. Our TS has over 130K and embarrasses more than a few sport sedans. Probably the reason I have kept this van so long. Great engine with a rust free body...(and GREAT help from the gurus at Automotive Forum!) KEV

[Jrs3800]

I know I an getting off topic here...

And i have said this before... 95 was a freaky year for the 3800 L27 Tuned Port Injection 3800 as well as the Supercharged 3800... for 95 the Series I used the Series II light weight crank... So they could spin up quicker..

When I first got the Van I was in shock at how quick it could pull the large van around and how effortless it seemed.. Then I modded the motor and was shocked at how nasty the 1-2 shift could get... Took me a long time to figure out why the old motor could get into the revs so quick..

Over the years the Tuner Port Fuel Injection 3800 went from 8.5:1 compression to 9.0 : 1 compression, received roller pivots for the rockers to reduce friction, and in 95 it got the 2170 light weight crank... Yet GM rated the engine at 170 HP and 225 Ft Lbs as they did the first year it was in production.. Something tells me in 95 the engine was closer to 180-185 HP and 235-240 Ft Lbs for 1995... All of the 3800 U bodies came from the factory with 3.06 gears...

The 1996 3400 had 3.29 gears in the van...

The 92-95 3800 vans had a 18 City 26 Hwy rating... I have heard time after time that most did 26 or better on the road..

[bradfordbyron]

generally they are pretty solid vehicles. mine has 200+K but i would strongly suggest avoiding the 3.1 or 3.4 they were problematic for head gasket/ lower intake gasket problems the 3800, as long as it is decently maintained will last forever, the trans will last for a long time as long as it is serviced regularly i wouldnd suggest getting one with too many electrical "toys" on these as they become problematic with age