1990 Lumina APV van

[brian89gp]

My dad has a APV van with a 3.1 iron head TBI motor in it. The milage is somewhere around 250 and it is starting to blow smoke on startup and otherwise run like a worn out motor. I think it has a 4t60 transmission in it and I had to unplug the torque converter because it was having trouble disangaging when comming to a stop.

So the question is, what should I do about it, what engines will fit, etc. Fuel economy and price are of the utmost importance. Should I rebuild the current engine or shove a newer 3.1 or 3100 in there? Remember price is most important.

And about the transmission, its an original. What should I do about it.

This thing has run a hard life. At 200k I changed out the original spark plugs :P, about the only thing done to it was oil changes.

[RednBlack]

If you are going to pull the engine anyway, Go ahead and rebuild it. It's got that many miles on it, it must be fairly tough. It saves you any headaches of maybe getting a lemon motor. Rebuild to me would be the cheapest route. Unless you get a free motor. And you might as well get the tranny rebuilt, that's fairly cheap if it's already out.

[Anonymous]

If you want to get more power, drop in the drivetrain from a newer Venture or something with a 3400. We own a 95 Lumina van which has the same engine as yours, and I know they are tough, but kinda slow. The Ventures on the other hand, can beat me car.

[brian89gp]

This isn't about speed, its about the lack of money and absolute need for a vehicle. A new vehicle is not in the budget, a rebuilt motor even would probably be funded by me.

How much is a rebuilt tranny out of the car? And any idea what a basic rebuild would cost on the iron head? You know, spending the least amount of money but making the engine good for another 200k.

[RednBlack]

Overhaul kit for the trans. is abut $120, Most shops will charge about $100 to rebuild. Engine kit runs about the same.

[brian89gp]

Now, has anyone taken the engine out of one of these things before? I doesn't look like it will come out of the top very easily.

[patgizz]

bottom. just did one.

a 4t60 kit is on ebay right now for something stupid like $40 buy it now. and its a GM kit. buy that and the ATSG book and do it yourself. its not too hard and i know you can do it.

on the heads do a once over and toss in new valve seals. check the bore, could probably get away with a hone and new rings, new bearings, cam and lifters, and it would be good for another assload of miles.

[geoffinbc]

I agree with patgizz. Get a couple kits an go at er. A few days in hte gerage and it SHOULD go back in smoothly. Dont be discouraged if you come across a few suprises. It should go back together under $1000 and im thinking in Canadian dollars.

[sharkey]

are you sure its a 4t60??? if its a 3 speed (shifter goes prnd21) its a th125. if it doesnt, its a 440t4. the lockup problem you have is likely caused by a sticking lock up solenoid. basicly all you have to do is take the side cover off the tranny and replance the solenoid. they cost about $50 and shouldnt take more than an hour.

[bszopi]

My shifter just has PRNOdDL and its a 4T60-E. So shift pattern doesn't matter since its different between vehicles. That, and since Brian has pulled at least 1 4T60E, I think he'd know the difference between the trannies.