THE BEST Off Road Traction UPGRADES for Your Chevy Express 2WD Van
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- čas přidán 19. 01. 2024
- After the Betty 3.0 (Chevy Express 2WD) rebuild, our van was extra heavy and still in dire need of a traction upgrade on the suspension and rear axle. Despite everyone telling us we were crazy, we've pulled off what many fellow vanlifers wouldn't even consider. Watch as we swap in a Dana 70 rear axle with a "g80 govlock" diff locker re-geared to 4.10's. We also add brand new WeldTec Designs progressive leaf springs. These are BIG UPGRADES!!
NOTE: this video is part 1 of 2. Join us for the sequel in which we'll show and tell you rest of this big-win van life story! As always, thanks for watching.
WeldTec Progressive Leaf Springs:
If you want your own set of progressive leaf springs and you'd also like to support us, click the link below when you plan to purchase your leaf springs and we'll get a small kick back from the sale! weldtecdesigns.com/product/wt...
#chevyexpress #diyvanbuild #weldtecdesigns #g80 #lockerreview #vanlife #youtuber #travelvlog #vanlifeusa #slowroamers #travelcouple #overlanding
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4x4 conversion next!
🤣 I know I know, everyone’s scratching their head wondering why we’re doing all these upgrades and not 4x4 swapping. We’re keeping the ol’girl 2wd. These upgrades, aside from adding a transfer case, make the van as capable as possible with 2wd, so that’s where we’ll stop. 🤷🏼♂️
dig that mustache on Jose!
It’s a beautiful thing, ain’t it?
Always looking forward to your next vid, A&M. 7800+ subs! Keep it up!
Thank you! We hugely appreciate our dedicated watchers! Were climbing slowly to 10k😁😁😁
Everyone needs a “Jose” in their lives from time to time! More flatulence in this video, but this time from the diff oil. Nicely played! I’m on to part two!
Agreed! We both feel pretty dang blessed to have a Jose. 😁 More flatulence next time. 🤣
Best rear end replacement I have seen on CZcams!! Thank you for sharing!! 👍🤙✌
Yesssss! 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 thanks man!
You two are awesome!
😁😁🙌🏻🙌🏻
Great work 💪 💪
Very talented
🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Oh man, excellent video but I'm stressing out vicariously over the part 2 mishaps. Hope all is well now!
I’ll try to get it uploaded today and release it tomorrow. Thanks for watching!
Looking forward to the offroad comparison as a locker is in my E350’s future. Of course it’s all about the driver though. Many a times have I have past stuck 4x4’s in a 2wd vehicle. I agree with you about not going full on 4x4 conversion. I’d rather take that money and cruise around or get a separate rig for the bush.
I’m super stoked to get the van off-road. I’ve already noticed quite a difference in flex just bumping down a service road here in AZ. I think with the combined flex and real 2wd on the rear end well put a few 4x4 vehicles to shame.🤣 Luckily I’ve already got ol’Thomas back at home in the event i REALLY want to go somewhere off-road. Thanks, as always, for watching, Sylvain!🙌🏻
9:51 You have a lot of trust in those Harbor Freight jack stands 😅
lol, they’re not the recalled ones! I joked with Jose about that, and he actually had the recalled jack stands and got these ones in their stead. I’ve been under the van with the van up on smaller jack stands, these ones were far bigger and I felt far safer.
@@SlowRoamers Just kidding of course! I had the recalled ones too 😅
The new Daytona models do seem a lot better
These ones had locking pins which helped with making me feel a lot safer too!
究極のデザート「いちご大福」を食べながら動画を見ています。
Looks/sounds like you had a couple of rough weeks - first the Starlink and now this…
Month…it’s been a month.🤦🏼 Part two coming soon.
Better late than never.. lol.gotta do some rewinding
Thanks for watching! This came out a lot later than expected, but had to fight my way through all the changes first.
@Roamlndr looks like you did a great job on it. Be interested to see the change in fuel economy. Side note from a mechanic. A air hammer on the shock and spring bolts will usually push the bolt right out.
Oh man…where were you? Jose actually has an air hammer too!🤦🏼
We have a 1500 all-wheel drive that we swapped a 10 bolt rear diff to a 14 bolt semi float with 410 gears in the G80 rear Locker and also went with Suburban 2500 leaf springs! Van is much more capable it feels better
Nice! Thats a serious upgrade! How’s the g80 worked out for you thus far?
Nicely done, sorry about all your gear trouble. Hopefully that’s sorted now.
It’s sorted now…finally. More on that to come though.
My wife and I have been enjoying your journey and build-out. When you get to use your G80 you will love it. I have one in my 04 Express AWD. Last summer was on a sketch shelf pass in Colorado. Driver side was in a snow bank. When the rear started to spin it kicked right in and pushed us thru the snow bank with ease. Can't wait to here your thoughts.
That’s good to know! I’ve never had an auto locker in any of my vehicles which leaves me skeptical that they actually work, despite having seen videos of them working. Glad to know you have personal experience with it working. Thanks so much for watching, glad you’re enjoying it!🙌🏻🙌🏻
I love my 04 lifted all wheel drive with the G80 rear Locker
Finally found your rear axle video! Looks like that G80 is awfully rare & expensive. Might be the deciding factor in my getting a 4x4 truck instead. And putting a bare fiberglass Diablo topper on it, & customizing that. I’d rather have a van, but they don’t seem to be built for traction.
Yeah, it’s true that the Dana 70 with the LSD is a little harder to come by. I need to correct a bit of misinformation in this video, when I made it I believed that I had a G80, but later learned it was a PowerLoc LSD. It did take me a bit of hunting to find the right van with the right axle, but I was also having the wrecking yards look for the wrong axle! I thought at the time I was looking for a Chevy 14bolt. So, perhaps if you start by asking for the correct axle you’ll find one easier.🤣
Diablo carbide tipped metal cutting recip blades work like no other for hard steel fyi. Ive cut through leaf springs with them
Ooof, sounds like fun. I like to keep the old parts intact if I have that option though. 😁
Haha no doubt, just an example of how good they are
What's your new spring rate over stock now?
They’re 5000lb springs, I’m not sure if that qualifies as the “spring rate” information you’re looking for, but the improvement in ride quality is quite evident. I’ll be releasing the second video this week and then a follow up review video at some point, but I can tell you, the springs are buttery.
@Roamlndr Awesome, and yes that helps. I'm about to order springs for my rig is why I asked. Glad you like yours! Really digging your adventure! Keep on truckin! ✌️
Great choice! Would highly recommend. If I add an affiliate link to the springs in the description, would you click on it so we can get a small kick back from WTD?
@@SlowRoamers sure!
@@mitchhoten3922 Hey Mitch, the link is in the video description now. All the best, and thanks again.
Is that the cast iron gov lock, with a heavier axle?? Do you know the part #? This is somewhat of a mystery. It seems that GM specifically did not want these vans modified for over landing. Thank you so much!!
No, it’s a PowerLoc LSD. I don’t think the vans were built with any other intention other than carry people, materials or tools. Having said that, I pulled the axle from an express 2500 HD that had a Duramax diesel, so it proves that some did come with traction aids.
@@SlowRoamers Thanks!
Have you noticed any fuel mileage increase with the 4:10 since you've got bigger tires and a heavy camper build? Thinking about doing the same on my van. I've got a full camper build and the 5" weldtec lift on stock 3:73 gears.
It’s pretty hard to gauge fuel mileage, I’d say possibly yes but it’s negligible. Likely that fuel mileage would mostly be seen in town, believe it or not. I have noticed it has a lot more up and go on the highway and climbing rocky fsr hills in first gear there’s a lot more torque. It’s a very worthy upgrade/ modification. I’d say, if you have factory sized tires you may want to stay with the 3.73’s though. With the 285/75/16’s and added weight we were REALLY noticing the strain on the transmission.
@@SlowRoamers yeah I’m not factory size anymore. I’ve got 31.5 tall by 11.2 wide tires. A 285/60/18. But I’m going up to a 33/1250 here in the next few weeks.