New guy w/ 89 Vandura. Howdy!

milemaker13 · 03-16-2007, 06:56 AM

Hi everybody! This is my first post here. I searched for Vandura, but came up pretty much empty handed. So, I bought this van for under $900 and it runs well enuff. 89 GMC Vandura 2500, 5.7l V8, 4 spd auto. Some rust. Conversion interior is actually really nice still. Has 150k , and a rebuilt motor. My problem right now is I have no dip stick. I read the capacity after oil & filter change is 5 qts. Is that accurate? Anybody know the stock dipstick length? Thanks in advance!

75K30 · 03-16-2007, 07:29 AM

Welcome to the site milemaker13, glad to have you onboard.
Your dipstick question is a very good one, and easy to fix. However it is going to require the dealer to replace, here is why. Vans use a slightly different length tube, and insert for them to each the engine bay, where access is easy for the oprerator. This changed locations from time to time as the years changed. Yes some will work on others but this is so simple of a fix to just go to the dealer and replace the right part. I would also recommend that you purchase the stick, and the tube to insure accuracy. The distance between the end of the tube, and the end of the stick is important for an accurate reading, so just throwing something in there may not be a good option if the tube is still there.
Good luck, and look foward to your future participation..

milemaker13 · 03-16-2007, 08:58 AM

I kinda figured I'd change the oil & filter, fill it w/ 5 qts, run til warm then run a flexy wire down there til it bottoms. Bend the top so it retains position (depth). Pull it out and check the level on it. Snip off everything below the oil line except maybe an inch. Scribe that oil line onto the wire(maybe a steel fish tape) and call it a day. I would like to avoid costly dealer parts, but I think they said like 30-40 bucks. Not too bad.
Thanks for gettin back so quick!

mudseeker · 03-17-2007, 04:52 PM

i had to buy a dipstick from a dealer once after an engine rebuild. i went to all the junk yards figureing a dealer would be expensive, but i think the dealer only cost about ten bucks. i found the old one under the work bench after the fact.

milemaker13 · 03-19-2007, 04:55 AM

Yeah, I called a couple JYs, but they don't have any. At least none not in a sellable engine. I guess the dealer for $30. Again ,thats not too bad. I have a trans issue now... read my next post. Thanks guys-

03-16-2007, 06:56 AM	#1
milemaker13 Full Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 13	New guy w/ 89 Vandura. Howdy! Hi everybody! This is my first post here. I searched for Vandura, but came up pretty much empty handed. So, I bought this van for under $900 and it runs well enuff. 89 GMC Vandura 2500, 5.7l V8, 4 spd auto. Some rust. Conversion interior is actually really nice still. Has 150k , and a rebuilt motor. My problem right now is I have no dip stick. I read the capacity after oil & filter change is 5 qts. Is that accurate? Anybody know the stock dipstick length? Thanks in advance!

03-17-2007, 04:52 PM	#4
mudseeker Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 3,934	i had to buy a dipstick from a dealer once after an engine rebuild. i went to all the junk yards figureing a dealer would be expensive, but i think the dealer only cost about ten bucks. i found the old one under the work bench after the fact. __________________ member map add yourself

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03-16-2007, 07:29 AM	#2
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,518	Welcome to the site milemaker13, glad to have you onboard. Your dipstick question is a very good one, and easy to fix. However it is going to require the dealer to replace, here is why. Vans use a slightly different length tube, and insert for them to each the engine bay, where access is easy for the oprerator. This changed locations from time to time as the years changed. Yes some will work on others but this is so simple of a fix to just go to the dealer and replace the right part. I would also recommend that you purchase the stick, and the tube to insure accuracy. The distance between the end of the tube, and the end of the stick is important for an accurate reading, so just throwing something in there may not be a good option if the tube is still there. Good luck, and look foward to your future participation..

03-16-2007, 08:58 AM	#3
milemaker13 Full Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 13	I kinda figured I'd change the oil & filter, fill it w/ 5 qts, run til warm then run a flexy wire down there til it bottoms. Bend the top so it retains position (depth). Pull it out and check the level on it. Snip off everything below the oil line except maybe an inch. Scribe that oil line onto the wire(maybe a steel fish tape) and call it a day. I would like to avoid costly dealer parts, but I think they said like 30-40 bucks. Not too bad. Thanks for gettin back so quick!

03-19-2007, 04:55 AM	#5
milemaker13 Full Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 13	Yeah, I called a couple JYs, but they don't have any. At least none not in a sellable engine. I guess the dealer for $30. Again ,thats not too bad. I have a trans issue now... read my next post. Thanks guys-