Chevy AWD

[kntr]

I just bought a 2006 Chevy AWD Express van. Id like to lift it a little to fit 33" tires under it. I cant find a lift. Is there a truck lift that will work? What about a 2" body lift and just torsion up the front and a block in the rear? Ideas? Im new to the site and hope to have this van hooked up soon.

[Herbie]

Overland Vans doesn't offer anything specifically for AWD Express vans, but they do cover the 2WD stuff, you may be able to cobble something together.

Not sure how the Express/Savanna is built, but the Astro/Safari lift kit is exactly as you describe, a 2" body spacer then crank the torsion bars (offset torsion keys are provided). If the Express is built in a similar way, you may be able to adapt.

[kntr]

Thanks for the info. I was thinking the AWD Express might have suspension close to another Chevy vehicle.

Anyone else know?

[dsw4x4]

Kntr,
Hate to be the truck driver of bad news but the awd express uses a spindle that is specific to the awd express, Or at least that is what i was told by the previous owner of overland vans! However you could do a small body lift for some tire clearance.
Good luck and let us know what you find out.
Derek

[jeremiahak]

I've seen a few people claim online that the Express shares the Avalanche platform. I'd start there, and good luck. Please post your findings here, because I've been interested in the same thing for a work van of mine.


Jeremiah

[kntr]

I plan on a 2" bodylift and then Ill just put in a different torsion bar key and a rear block.

I did a 500 mile road trip today and I got 19 mpg on the first tank and 20 mpg on the second tank. I sure am going to miss this great gas mileage when I go to 33s.

[BajaSavana]

I just ordered this 2" torsion key/block lift which Auto Parts Warehouse promises will fit my 2003 GMC Savana 2500 AWD with blue torsion keys. Will report back... http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/de...AYKG09119.html

[zuren]

I just ordered this 2" torsion key/block lift which Auto Parts Warehouse promises will fit my 2003 GMC Savana 2500 AWD with blue torsion keys. Will report back... http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/de...AYKG09119.html

Please do report back! There are several people here that would be interested. I see you have a 2500 but hopefully this kit would work for a 1500 as well.

So a quick note regarding the quoted text I posted above. I was talking with a mechanic friend and learned something I hadn't considered. On the trucks, I guess Chevy is famous for using a 2-piece fan shroud with the upper half connected to the upper radiator support (part of the body) and the lower portion to the frame. When guys loosen the body mounts and start doing a body lift, they stretch and crack that fan shroud. There are bolts on both sides of the shroud that can be loosened to allow the 2 halves to separate, then you need some bushings to deal with the gap.

However, there could be a new issue. I was poking around the front of my van tonight and there is a lower "sub-body" support that seems to support the bottom of the shroud. If that support goes up with the rest of the body, it would be lifted straight into the fan. I don't know if the trucks have this extra support and I bet the guy that posted about his 1/4" lift didn't go high enough to encounter an issue. I plan to look at this closer this weekend to confirm or deny if it will work.

[BajaSavana]

I just ordered this 2" torsion key/block lift which Auto Parts Warehouse promises will fit my 2003 GMC Savana 2500 AWD with blue torsion keys. Will report back... http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/de...AYKG09119.html

Well, the kit came and the torsion keys were indexed almost exactly like the stock keys, so no lift at all. There were two kits advertised, but rather than reordering I am abandoning the key lift idea.

I called my local GMC dealer and spoke with a credible sounding service guy who warned me against adding any lift beyond the adjustment range of the stock keys. He said the range of motion of all the ball joints in the front end would be exceeded with lift keys and I'd be replacing parts often. Also, by increasing spring tension the ride would get progressively more harsh.

I also called Day Star, who manufactured the keys. They said have not made or tested any keys for Savana or Express vans and Auto Parts Warehouse was out of line selling them for our vans. Other than selling me the wrong thing, APW was great.

In the end I just maxed out the stock keys and gained an inch or so of clearance. I may go for more lift with taller sidewall tires. BTW- I've used stock width tires extensively on sandy beaches and dirt roads and experienced no need for more width, just height.

The next idea is a body lift to allow for full suspension travel with taller tires. I've heard the stock transmission shift cable from the steering column to trans is too short. Anyone tried a 2" body lift?

Washboard road ride quality and more space between my plastic fuel tank and sharp rocks is the goal!

[zuren]

Well, the kit came and the torsion keys were indexed almost exactly like the stock keys, so no lift at all. There were two kits advertised, but rather than reordering I am abandoning the key lift idea.

I called my local GMC dealer and spoke with a credible sounding service guy who warned me against adding any lift beyond the adjustment range of the stock keys. He said the range of motion of all the ball joints in the front end would be exceeded with lift keys and I'd be replacing parts often. Also, by increasing spring tension the ride would get progressively more harsh.

I also called Day Star, who manufactured the keys. They said have not made or tested any keys for Savana or Express vans and Auto Parts Warehouse was out of line selling them for our vans. Other than selling me the wrong thing, APW was great.

In the end I just maxed out the stock keys and gained an inch or so of clearance. I may go for more lift with taller sidewall tires. BTW- I've used stock width tires extensively on sandy beaches and dirt roads and experienced no need for more width, just height.

The next idea is a body lift to allow for full suspension travel with taller tires. I've heard the stock transmission shift cable from the steering column to trans is too short. Anyone tried a 2" body lift?

Washboard road ride quality and more space between my plastic fuel tank and sharp rocks is the goal!

This is disappointing news but I guess not that surprising based on the difficulties and lack of info already encountered.

I'm ready to install a 1" body lift since I just need a little lift. I have all of the parts, just need to confirm a few more things related to the parking brake, fan shroud and steering linkage. It sounds like I won't have any issues with the brake or linkage but the shroud will probably need to be trimmed. I won't be able to confirm until I actually try.

At 2" of lift, you'll definitely have parking brake cable, steering linkage and shroud modifications to make and no one makes a kit for these vans. You'll have to fabricate and piece it together. I hope to report back after this weekend.