Engine in a 97 Chevy Venture Van

[jgallentine]

My father-in-law has a 97 Chevy Venture van with what we presume is a blown head gasket, a fair amount of antifreeze in the oil. I am thinking about putting a new engin in for him as I can do it for about the price the shop quoted just to replace the head gaskets and then their is always the possibility of a cracked head or block as it did get hot. On top of all of this, antifreeze is corrosive to bearings may accelerate their failure. Yes I am contemplating doig the same repair the shop is talking about but I am concerned about thebearings as I have seen bearings fail directly after exposure to antifreeze.



So here are my questions, has anyone out there ever put an engine in one of these? Will the engine come out through the hood or do you have to remove the cross-member and take it out through the bottom? Is it overly complicated, it doesn't look like it?



I have changed and rebuilt many engine but they were always older Corvettes, Camaros, Trans Ams and Chevy trucks. Any input you all might have would be appreciated.



Thanks

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Isn't this a FWD minivan? If so - I'd hate to think that you wouldn't be able to yank it from the top with an engine hoist... even though they tuck them quite nicely under the cowl...



If it's the minivan - it probably has the 3. 4L V6... Dad just changed a headgasket on a 3. 4L powered Camaro because of a broken headbolt... it stretched (probably during installation at the factory?) and then finally broke after a while...



If it's a RWD full-size van - it's a whole different ballgame... they're a pain in the neck no matter what. You'd probably have to take the whole front end off the van and even then you'd be fighting it to get it out with a engine hoist/cherry picker...



Matt

 

[RustyJC]

Dunno about the Chevy, but a lot of these FWD designs are tough to pull without the right equipment. For instance, the engine/transmission package in a 1986 Mercury Sable I owned dropped out the bottom. You put the car on a hydraulic lift, loosen the engine and transmission cradle mounts and lift the car, leaving the engine and transmission package sitting on the floor!



Rusty

 

[JoshPeters]

If I remember right... . the Venture is a Mini Van. That one would come out the bottom. Remove all wiring... fuel lines etc... remove the cradle bolts... lift vehicle... and your set.





Josh

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I've never pulled an engine on a FWD vehicle... but I figured it would be easier to yank just the engine from the top side... Obviously - I'd pull the transmission by itself from the bottom.



What if you don't have a lift in your garage? Then you kinda have to use a cherry picker, no?



Matt

 

[MFalkinham]

Although it could definitely be a head gasket, the 3. 4L is infamous for intake manifold gasket problems that could leak coolant into the crankcase. If that's the case, and it hasn't been driven very much since, you might be able to save the engine just by repairing the intake manifold gasket and refilling the crankcase. Unfortunately, my understanding is that the gasket replacement is a difficult job due to limited underhood access. Dealerships charge about 5 hours of labor for it, but you probably wouldn't have to pull the engine. Our 2000 Venture hasn't started leaking coolant YET with 60k on it, but I'm keeping a close eye on the reservoir level.



Do a Google Groups search on venture intake manifold for numerous postings and experiences. Good luck!



- Mike

 

[Will24]

Venture van motor comes out from the bottom, drop the whole cradle, trans and all.





Like was said before, 3400s are known for intake leaks. There is a coolant passage around the throttle body in the plastic upper intake plenum, the plastic gets warped by the coolant, thus allowing the coolant to flow out from it's passage and into the intake runners. There's a 99% chance that that's the actual problem. The upper intake really isn't TOO bad to change, though you are looking around $300 total (upper intake, thermostat, etc) for parts.





Your call



-Will

 

[jgallentine]

The Venture is the FWD mini-van.



Mike,



I have done a ton of surfing since posting this and I believe you very well may be right. The intake gaskets are blowing routinely and leaking anti-freeze just into the engine in some cases.



Will,

If the upper intake were leaking as you have seen, wouldn't we see some signs of that int he performance, exhaust or cylinders via reading the spark plugs? I haven't looked at the plugs yet as I immediately had to go out of town after learning of this problem. However the van runs fine and the exhaust is clear, no steam or anti-freeze smell.





I was afraid this thing may have to come out through the bottom as space is tight on top. If I can't find any evidence on the plugs of antifreeze consumption through a cylinder, I think I will just go into the top of the engine looking for a blown lower intake gasket. You guys are right there is not much room but that would definitely be better and cheaper than having to put a new engine in.



Thanks for the input.



Jeff

 

[MFalkinham]

You're welcome for that info, Jeff. One more tidbit - if you wind up changing the spark plugs, to get at the rear bank of cylinders you will have to disconnect the rear mount and tilt the engine forward in order to get enough firewall clearance.



More depressing GM fun. Maybe I'll go look at other brands of minivans for my wife to drive. The new Mercury Monterey looks pretty nice, and they have $6k rebates right now.



- Mike

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Mike said: "the 3. 4L is infamous for intake manifold gasket problems that could leak coolant into the crankcase. "



I don't know why I didn't remember about that one...



They're so bad that my buddy (back in MA... ) who co-owns a used car dealership replaces the gaskets on every car he buys at the auction with a 3. 4L... I don't know how quickly he can get 'em in/out of the shop though... the other owner is a really good wrench...



Matt

 

[Will24]

Holeshot, so did the chevy dealer I worked for with ALL 3. 4 trade ins



-Will

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I smell class-action lawsuit... :-laf



Matt