Chevrolet van

The Chevrolet van or Chevy van is a range of vans that was manufactured by General Motors from the 1964 to 1996 model years. Introduced as the successor for the rear-engine Corvair Corvan/Greenbrier, the model line also replaced the panel van configuration of the Chevrolet Suburban. The vehicle was sold both in passenger van and cargo van configurations as well as a cutaway van chassis that served as the basis for a variety of custom applications.
Produced across three generations, the model line was sold under a wide variety of model names under both the Chevrolet and GMC brands. The first two generations were forward control vehicles ; the third generation adopted a configuration placing the engine forward of the driver. The second and third generations shared powertrain commonality with the C/K pickup truck model line.
After the 1996 model year, GM retired the G-Series vans, replacing them with the GMT600-platform Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana.

First generation (1964–1966)

The first General Motors van was the Chevrolet Corvair 95, consisting of the Corvan panel van and the Greenbrier wagon introduced for 1961, which used an air-cooled flat-six rear engine design, inspired by the Volkswagen bus. Production of the Chevrolet Corvair 95 vans ended during the 1965 model year.
First-generation Chevrolet van refers to the first G-10 half-ton production years 1964 through 1966. General Motors saw a market for a compact van based on a modified passenger car platform to compete with the already successful Ford Econoline and Dodge A100. The 1964 Chevrolet van had a cab-forward design with the engine placed in a "doghouse" between and behind the front seats. The implementation of situating the driver on top of the front axle with the engine near the front wheels is called internationally a "cab over" vehicle. Engines and brakes were sourced from the Chevy II, a more conventional compact car than Chevrolet Corvair.
The model was also sold by GMC as the "Handi-Van". The first-generation vans were available in only the short 90-inch wheelbase and were only sold with the standard 90 hp straight-4 or a Chevrolet Straight-6 engine. A first-generation is identified by its single-piece flat windshield glass. The first 1964 Chevrolet van was originally marketed and sold as a panel van for purely utilitarian purposes. Windows were available as an option, but were simply cut into the sides from the factory. In 1965, Chevrolet added the "Sportvan", which featured windows integrated into the body. GMC marketed its window van as "Handi-Bus". Factory-installed air conditioning, power steering, and power brakes were not available in the first-generation vans.

1964

This van was of simple construction and its box shape was designed to maximize the hauling of cargo, tools, and equipment. The base cargo model was the Chevy-Van, available with or without windows and side cargo doors. Basic amenities such as a heater and a right-front passenger seat were options.
The four-cylinder engine was standard equipment. Optional was the Chevrolet Straight-6 engine.
The Warner 3-speed manual transmission was standard with a column shift. A 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission was optional.

1965

For 1965, there were minor changes across all models. The grille openings were widened and received one additional slot just above the bumper to increase cooling. Seat belts were added. The four-cylinder engine was discontinued. The I6 became standard equipment while the "High Torque" I6 rated at was optional.

Second generation (1967–1970)

In 1967, the Chevrolet van received a major interior and exterior facelift. Available in either the wheelbase lengths, the forward control cab design was retained, but the doghouse was lengthened, widened, and slightly relocated in order to house the now optional V8 engine. Engine cooling was improved with the addition of an optional larger cross-flow type radiator and a redesigned front that included a low-profile tunnel allowing more fresh air to the radiator. The headlamps were relocated into a new grille; the rectangular tail lights were enlarged, and the van now sported a curved windshield. Power steering and "conventional" air conditioning were never available on the second-generation van.
The original short-wheelbase and the new long wheelbase vans came with a 5 × 4-3/4" lug bolt pattern. An addition for 1967 was the G20 heavy-duty 3/4-ton version. The G-20 featured heavier suspension, a 12-bolt rear axle, and increased hauling capability with wheels having a 6-lug bolt pattern. The G20 model was available only on the 108-inch wheelbase version.
For 1967, the inline-six was now standard. Optional were the inline-six or a 2-barrel V8 producing. Brakes were now upgraded to a safer split system including a dual reservoir master cylinder, and power brakes were optional on the G20 3/4-ton vans.

1968

This was the first year that Chevrolet vans had side marker lights and reflectors, as these became required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108. The front side markers were near the leading edge of each front door, while the rear markers were located about a foot forward of the rear on each side.
The optional V8 engine was upgraded to a 2-barrel V8 producing at 4600 rpm and 300 lbs-ft torque at 2400 RPM), and a column shift 4-speed transmission was now available as an option. The gas tank was capacity was increased from 16 gallons to 24.5.

1970

The 1970 model year was the last year of the square styling, front drum brakes, and I-beam front axle. The inline-6 engine producing at 4200 rpm was now standard. In addition to the 2-barrel V8, a 4-barrel V8 engine may have been available as an option for the first time in 1970; it is referenced in the owner's manual, but not mentioned in the dealer brochures. The 3-speed automatic and manual 4-speed column shift continued as transmission options.

Third generation (1971–1996)

In April 1970, GM introduced the third-generation G-series vans as 1971 model-year vehicles. In a complete redesign of the model line, the vans adopted a front-engine configuration. While using a unibody chassis, the third-generation vans derived mechanical components from the second- and third-generation C/K pickup trucks.
Initial advertising in 1970 emphasized interior space, with the tagline "Chevrolet launches the space vehicle." It is a nod to the U.S. space program, with the vehicle appearing vertically on page, imitating a rocket launch.
In production for 25 years, the third-generation G-series vans became one of the longest-produced vehicle platforms designed by General Motors.

Chassis

In line with the two previous generations, the third-generation G-series vans again used unibody construction, integrating the frame rails into the floorpan; the side panels were constructed of a single-piece stamping. The model line was offered three wheelbase lengths: 110 inches, 125 inches, and 146 inches. From 1971 to 1989, the 146-inch wheelbase was used for cutaway chassis; for 1990, a single-rear-wheel version was introduced for an extended-length van body.
The front suspension underwent an extensive design change, deleting its leaf-sprung front axle; in line with C-series pickup trucks, the vans received independent front suspension with coil springs and control arms. The rear axle suspension largely remained the same, retaining a leaf-sprung solid rear axle.
The four-wheel drum brakes of the previous generation were abandoned, as the third-generation G-series vans adopted front disc brakes. The front disc/rear drum configuration remained unchanged throughout the entire production of the model line; heavier-duty vehicles received larger brakes. For 1993, four-wheel anti-lock braking was added as a standard feature.

Powertrain

For its 1971 introduction, the G-series model line was offered with three different engines. A 250 cubic-inch inline-6 and two V8 engines were offered. On the -ton vehicles, a 307 cubic-inch V8 was optional, with a 350 cubic-inch V8 offered as an option on -ton and 1-ton vans. Alongside a 3-speed manual transmission, the 2-speed Powerglide was offered alongside the 3-speed Turbo-Hydromatic automatic. After 1972, the Powerglide automatic was dropped.
For 1974, the 307 was discontinued, replaced by a two-barrel 350 V8 in -ton vans. For 1976, the powertrain line was expanded, with the 292 inline-6 becoming the standard engine in -ton and 1-ton vans; a 305 V8 replaced the 350 two-barrel in -ton vans and a 400 cubic-inch V8 became offered in and 1-ton vans.
As part of the 1978 model update, the powertrain line underwent further revisions, with the 292 six dropped from G-series vans entirely; GM began the use of metric displacement figures. In line with its use in the C/K trucks, the 400 V8 was dropped from the G-series for 1981.
For 1982, a 6.2 L V8 became the first diesel engine option offered in the G-series. Shared with the C/K pickup trucks, an overdrive version of the Turbo-Hydramatic was introduced, adding a fourth gear.
In line with the C/K pickup trucks, a 4.3L V6 replaced the long-running 4.1L inline-6 as the standard engine for 1985. For 1987, the four-barrel carburetor for the V6 was replaced by throttle-body fuel injection, with the 5.0L and 5.7L V8s following suit. Alongside three-speed and four-speed manual transmissions, the G-series vans were offered with three-speed and four-speed automatic transmissions.
For 1988, a fuel-injected 7.4L V8 was introduced as an option for the 3500 series, becoming the first big-block V8 offered for the model line. For 1990, manual transmissions were discontinued and the four-speed automatic became standard equipment on nearly all body configurations; for 1992, the 4L60E and 4L80E four-speed automatics replaced the three-speed automatics entirely.
While the gasoline engine offerings would remain largely unchanged after the 1988 model year, the 6.2 L diesel was enlarged to 6.5 L for 1994, with only a naturally-aspirated version offered for the G-series vans.
For 1996, offered only as a 1-ton G30 payload series, the "G-Classic" van continued the use of non-Vortec engines. The 5.7L V8 was now standard, with the 4.3L V6 as an option only on standard-wheelbase vans. The 7.4L V8 and 6.5L diesel V8 remained options.

Engine	Engine family	Production	Notes
inline-6	Chevrolet straight-6	1971–1984	Initial standard engine on all payload series
V6	Chevrolet 90° V6	1985–1996	Replaced 4.1L I6 as standard engine
inline-6	Chevrolet straight-6	1975–1978	Replaced 250 I6 as standard engine on -ton and 1-ton vans
V8	Chevrolet small-block V8	1976–1995	Replaced 350 2bbl in -ton vans Optional on -ton and -ton vans from 1981 to 1995
V8	Chevrolet small-block V8	1971–1973	Optional on -ton vans
V8	Chevrolet small-block V8	1971–1996	Optional on all payload series 2-bbl version replaced 307 in -ton vans
V8 diesel	Detroit Diesel V8	1982–1993	Optional on -ton and 1-ton vans Naturally-aspirated version only
V8 diesel	Detroit Diesel V8	1994–1996	Optional on -ton and 1-ton vans Naturally-aspirated version only
V8	Chevrolet small-block V8	1976–1980	Optional in -ton and 1-ton vans
V8	Chevrolet big-block V8	1988–1996	First "big-block" V8 engine in G-series van Optional for 1-ton vans and cutaway-cab chassis