1989 Chevrolet Van Beauville G20 from North America - Comments

Original transmission blew six months after we purchased it. We were travelling the country at the time from Oregon to Kentucky to Colorado. The transmission blew one year later after being rebuilt. It was replaced with a used transmission which failed one year later. The vehicle sat for three years. This year we rebuilt the transmission (number 4) for $1800.

One day after replacing this last tranny, the engine died. There was a vacuum leak into one of the cylinders. It was replaced for $2000.

One week later the radiator begun leaking. It was so rusted, it had to be replaced $420.

As of now, the engine continuously dies for no apparent reason. The oil gauge never stays in one place. The mechanic broke off the antenna. The roof is severely rusted. The tape player does not eject cassettes. The battery hardly holds a charge (blower motors fault). The blower motor and A/C condenser needs replaced and a screw is missing from the drivers seat.

This vehicle is a great work horse. It has substantial towing capacity. The gas mileage ran around 20mpg in town, on the highway, across country, loaded/unloaded/with or without trailer. That is considerably good for a 350 12 passenger van.

I would not purchase a Chevrolet again. I am a die-hard FORD fanatic. This Chevy has sentimental value, that is the only reason I put so much money into it.

Well, no wonder my own van (same exact make, model and year: 1989 Chevrolet Beauville 12-seat van) has turned up so good this far. It just seems yours gobbled up almost all the problems that were possibly coming to mine and a few others as well. During the last 14 years that I have been its second hand owner I have had to repair the automatic transmission only once and then it was just a matter of installing the standard service kit of gaskets, o-rings, etc. The engine (5,7 liter V8, TBI fuel injection), starts and runs like a charm, isn't even smoking or using up any oil yet (165,000 miles) and has plenty of power to spare. I haven't touched the radiator except to periodically renew the coolant mix and change twice the pressure cap. So far my own repair list (other than normal, eventual changes of battery, rubber hoses, fan belt, muffler, headlights and the like) is: front AC evaporator (twice), alternator (once), fan clutch (once), fuel pump (once), steering components (pitman arm, etc., twice). Many of these repairs were due to the harsh, hot and dusty conditions where it is located (coastal Caribbean). Thinking real hard I can't recall any other major repair job needed in all these years. My van practically only visits repair shops for normal tire and brake wear, oil & filters, radiator coolant flush & renewal or any of those routine maintenance tasks. Maybe this careful maintenance schedule has helped me a bit. Also, with every other oil change I like to throw in a bottle of anti wear additive, which is the only particular indulgence I lavish on her other than normal, fair quality products. I have traveled many times up and down high mountain roads with full cargo of passengers and baggage, and the rest of the time at super hot, tropical sea level climate. I have not used it for towing trailers, though. That might have also contributed a little to it's outstanding performance, I guess.

Nevertheless, all in all I am totally satisfied and well impressed by this van. I consider it a very strong vehicle.

I have a 1980 Chevy van for 7 years now,and it is the best vehicle I have ever owned, it drives like a Cadillac, your problems needed new solutions.

It sounds to me like your problem was you listened to much to the lies and stories from the talking heads at the shops you went to and did not do your homework.

You need to replace an overdrive with a TH350 non lockup prior to 1980, you can take your pick either save money on fuel with an overdrive tranny and pay the shop $1800 to fix it later, or put the $1800 extra fuel in at the pump its all the same cost either way.

It seems very unlikely that all of those transmissions of yours would just fail like that.

You mentioned your radiator rusted out and had to be replaced. It sounds to me like your transmission cooling lines might have been plugged and as a result your transmission overheated and fried.

It does not matter what transmission you put in if that was the case. They would fry every time.