OK Oppos: What Supervan Do You Choose?!

"i86hotdogs" (i86hotdogs) 03/09/2020 at 16:20 • Filed to: None

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Per the front page, Chevy is putting their new big V8 featured in their new trucks in the Express van as well; simultaneously kick-starting a renaissance of muscle vans. What year is it?!

In the blue corner, a seasoned veteran that comes in a variety of lengths, and heights. Able to make all the turbo woosh noises your heart desires. Its secret weapon is to offer AWD next model year; sending turbo charged power to all four wheels.

In the...other blue corner, this van was already a decent contender with it’s former 6.0L V8 giving you 341HP and 374 lb-ft. It decided to dedicate itself to the gym and pick up some gains. Chevy is stuffing almost double the displacement of the Transit under that aged hood. The body and chassis may be as old as dirt, but that old man now packs over 400HP and 464 lb-ft. of torque.

My only hope is FCA sees  this and decides to stuff the Hellcat engine into those ProMasters. So, Oppo, what’s your flavor of power?

CalzoneGolem > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:22

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The Express is the king of vans. That’s just science.

Future next gen S2000 owner > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:23

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Which was has the Free Candy graphic from the OEM?

..... Asking for a friend.

Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:24

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Express all day every day. 

For Sweden > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:25

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The Chevrolet. I don't like the seating position on the Transit.

jimz > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:25

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ProMaster is FWD

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:26

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The Cheby, because iron block LS with some light work would be well north of 500 ponies in the stable. Then you call Detroit Speed and get them to build you a suspension.

JustAnotherG6 > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:26

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I’ll take the 3.5 in the smallest TransitConnect please.

CB > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:26

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The new electric Transit.

lone_liberal > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:27

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To be totally truthful, I like the Express because I expect a fair number of them to be wrecked by careless or hooning employees making their drivetrains available for swaps.

WilliamsSW > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:28

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Just give me a crate 6.6 with more of a performance tune (it’s obviously tuned for truck stuff right now)  and keep the van

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:29

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The Transit might be more tunable, meaning the power difference is mute.

That said, the Express looks better and makes V8 noises

i86hotdogs > jimz 03/09/2020 at 16:30

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It is, unfortunately.

i86hotdogs > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 03/09/2020 at 16:31

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Same could be said for the ecoboost. There are tunes for that engine that can get you up there.

HammerheadFistpunch > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:32

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meanwhile Nissan and its 380 hp V8 are in the corner waiting for a pretty girl to ask it to dance

WilliamsSW > jimz 03/09/2020 at 16:33

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WHO CARES DROP IN A HELLCAT ANYWAY

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:34

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The only right answer for a big van is the appropriate flavor of Transit for the application.  The big engine in the express doesn't do anything about the steaming pile of shit that is the rest of the van.  They still drive like something out of the 90's.  The transit is, by far, the best driving big van on the market.

CB > WilliamsSW 03/09/2020 at 16:36

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TORQUE STEER OR BUST

Jim Spanfeller > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:37

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I’ve always wanted to body-swap an old V8, AWD van chassis with a malaise muscle car body for rally purposes... This new one is my new dream donor vehicle for that project.

WilliamsSW > CB 03/09/2020 at 16:38

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I  torque steer

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > WilliamsSW 03/09/2020 at 16:38

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Put the Hellcat V-8 in the back for an AWD hell-demon of a van. ;)

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:40

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But the EcoBoost sounds like AAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Nibby > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:40

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ford aerostar

WilliamsSW > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus 03/09/2020 at 16:41

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Not all the way back, but right behind the driver.  In a van with no sound deadening.

Just Jeepin' > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 03/09/2020 at 16:42

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“moot” #themoreyouknow

InFierority Complex > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:43

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I’ll take this 89 Ford Transit

Aremmes > Nibby 03/09/2020 at 16:45

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BEHOLD, IT OVERFLOWS WITH GLORIOUSNESS

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > CB 03/09/2020 at 16:46

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It’s not torque steer until it’s doing chassis damage!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > HammerheadFistpunch 03/09/2020 at 16:48

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She won’t dance with nissan because her feet hurt.

dogisbadob > HammerheadFistpunch 03/09/2020 at 16:53

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+1 came here for the Nissan

i86hotdogs > Nibby 03/09/2020 at 16:55

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This is best answer

i86hotdogs > InFierority Complex 03/09/2020 at 16:55

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show us what’s inside!!!

KnowsAboutCars > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:58

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As someone who uses vans for actual work I say Transit. Mostly because it’s probably more comfortable.

Ducato/Promaster. Not even with Hellcat.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Nibby 03/09/2020 at 16:58

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I saw one this morning which had the rear quarter panel crudely rebuilt out of cardboard with a pitiful attempt at color matching. Let’s use that one.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 16:59

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I gotta go big block.

The big V8 is just simple for long term work duty.

jimz > CB 03/09/2020 at 17:00

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The 62TE wouldn’t survive long enough for torque steer to be a problem

For Sweden > HammerheadFistpunch 03/09/2020 at 17:01

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That van has the same problem I have: being really ugly.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 17:01

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I already shot my mouth (browser) off Over There, but that 3500 Chebby, Extended Length, with the huge towing capacity and monster brakes? All it needs is over 460 pound-feet of torque.  That 6.6 is a “must option” in the one-ton flavor.

Express-Savana Won’t you Fly For Me?

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 03/09/2020 at 17:02

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This probably has the LS3 heads...  so yeah, a cam and you’re close to 500.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > jimz 03/09/2020 at 17:02

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Which is the deal breaker.

AestheticsInMotion > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 17:07

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Definitely the transit. I love the idea of being able to have literally any mom & pop place work on it for pennies, with parts that are available everywhere 

AlfaCorse > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 17:11

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The wheels are a clue, and Ford was the owner of the brand the guts are from at the time :)

Snuze: Needs another Swede > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 03/09/2020 at 17:12

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I’d still pick the Express, because V8... but you’re not wrong. My dad has had a few of these over the years and the dumbest, but most important shit always breaks - window cranks, door hinges, seats, etc - things you use every single day, multiple times a day. But the good news is these things are a dime a dozen in junkyards so parts are cheap and easy to come by.

As far as driving dynamics, I have zero experience in a Transit, but my dad can effortlessly hustle an Express around in ways that make me extremely nervous.

i86hotdogs > AlfaCorse 03/09/2020 at 17:14

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Oh I know what’s in there. Quit hiding it!

HammerheadFistpunch > For Sweden 03/09/2020 at 17:17

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hey, some people are into that

shop-teacher > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 03/09/2020 at 17:23

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But I like things like that, so gimme the V8.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > InFierority Complex 03/09/2020 at 17:25

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You can have that one, I’ll take this one.

shop-teacher > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 17:25

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As somebody who has owned and driven a GM RWD V8 truck for 14 years now ... gimme the Chevy.  Owning a stupid simple hammer of a vehicle has been great.  Give me one with way more power and cargo volume?  YES PLEASE!  You cannot beat that formula for simplicity and longevity.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 17:34

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Transit is the better platform but the American specification is stupid. If I could get it with the 2.0 litre twin turbo TDi & 10 speed auto out of the Ranger Raptor/Everest then that’d be awesome. Otherwise the current diesel is fine and the forthcoming AWD version is of interest.

If you wanted the Chev then it's be cheaper but just as effective to buy a 5 year old version and put a crate motor in it...

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > WilliamsSW 03/09/2020 at 17:36

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WHAT?!?! I CAN’T HEAR YOU BECAUSE THIS ENGINE I PUT IN THE BACK OF MY VAN, IS REALLY F-ING LOUD!

Maxima Speed > Nibby 03/09/2020 at 18:09

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Amen and hallelujah! I have a few fond memories of “ Frank the Tank”, my first car. It was a white aerostar cargo.

Nom De Plume > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 18:10

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How was there not a single “Super” van posted?

GmcSavanna > For Sweden 03/09/2020 at 19:19

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I rented one recently. The interior is very clumsy. Ant the seats are to close together. Chevy is much more room. 

ranwhenparked > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 19:54

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From a durability standpoint, I’d have to go with the archaic and proven Chevy. Although, this is one of the rare cases where the Ford product is actually better at holding onto its paint than the GM equivalent. 

Spect > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 20:09

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If we are talking ‘ speed’ and ‘ muscle’ then that new Chevy engine is going to put every other FULL SIZE van to bed, and sound great doing it! I drive an ‘Express’ everyday for work, and need the absolute best MPG I could get, so I got the smallest engine they put in those vans... The 4.3 V6 Vortec, with a whopping 195 HP . I can’t imagine doing my delivery run with an extra 205 HP in the same van! That’s like 101% more power... The speeding tickets alone would put me out-of- bu siness!

shop-teacher > Jim Spanfeller 03/09/2020 at 20:20

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Unfortunately they no longer make an AWD version of the Express/Savanna.

Thisismydisplayname > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 21:45

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Chevy, because if you wreck it you already have a doner powertrain to use for a project.

Spasoje > i86hotdogs 03/09/2020 at 22:10

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Express, no question. Simple and reliable is exactly what you want in a vehicle like this. Plus, those trick rear doors are very handy.

Also, I promise this has nothing to do with the fact that I already own one...

Jim Spanfeller > shop-teacher 03/09/2020 at 23:51

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Darn. Guess I’ll have to settle for something else. Say... did Ford or Dodge ever make AWD vans with V10's? 

shop-teacher > Jim Spanfeller 03/10/2020 at 07:22

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Negative.

I like where you're head is at with this crazy idea of yours though!

i86hotdogs > Spasoje 03/10/2020 at 11:39

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I’d argue the front of the Expresses are more recognizable than Silverados