Considering purchasing a Cummins powered frito-lay Chevy P30 Grumman stepvan for a multitude of reasons. One of which would be to tow my pickup to the trails(instead of modding my cruiser). I don't tow that often, and when I do it's usually with my club members who can't go that fast on the interstate anyway.

What I'm wondering is if I'd be legal and how it would handle. I know the top speed is essentially limited to 60-65mph due to the governor on the 4bt and the diff ratio, but I'm hoping that maybe with a few mods and maybe a rear end ratio change I can cruiser at 70mph(so I don't hold up traffic on the interstate).

From what I understand these chassis' were used under motorhomes, and therefore I'm hoping they were rated to tow a decent amount(truck and trailer weight somewhere between 6-7k) and that a standard hitch will bolt on.

I'd turn the back into a mobile workshop/sleeping area for when I'm 'wheelin far from home.

Comments?

I think its a great idea as you have plenty of space in the box for whatever and the ability to tow your truck. Had a buddy who flat towed a 60 with an 80 (in neutral neutral) to avoid dropping the shafts and he made a bracket of some kind to hold the levers in place so they couldnt jump into gear, but it wasnt the greatest by any means.

As you know a 4bt doesnt have huge power in stock form and a bread truck is a brick, so i wouldnt expect great fuel economy or speed and watch out for cross winds. That said, they are simple and functional and are rated to tow at least 5-6k pounds. You may want to look at a tranny cooler and changing your RE ratio as stated...

A small cabover (Isuzu NPR) has a bit more hp than a stock 4bt, but the Cummins can be turned up easier. NPRs can be had cheap, parts are plentiful and you still get the box in the back..

Many of the step van chassis were P series Grumman (P-10, P-20, P-30, etc) and those chassis were used for many things, small motorhomes being one of them. You may be able to find more info looking for specs on GMC or Grumman p-30 step vans, which are still in production today..

Many of the step van chassis were P series Grumman (P-10, P-20, P-30, etc) and those chassis were used for many things, small motorhomes being one of them. You may be able to find more info looking for specs on GMC or Grumman p-30 step vans, which are still in production today..


Way to many variations on the Chevy P-30 chassis over the years (78-99) to hazard a guess without knowing the specifics (single or dual tired axle, solid or independent front suspension, 16" or 19.5" wheels, 7000# to 14,000#+ GVWR etc.)

The Chevy P-30 chassis has not been produced by Chevrolet since 99 and Grumman was split up under chapter 11 in 2003 so saying that they are still in production today is a bit of a stretch.

Grumman became Grumman-Olson and is now Morgan-Olson. The company I work for bought one a few years ago, I got a factory tour when we were looking at them. Remember these are sold as fleet vehicles, creature comforts and horsepower take a back seat to fuel economy and ease of maintenance.

Brewchief:D

Well I'm gonna talk to my buddy who is the head of maintenance at the local frito distributor and see what he thinks they'll sell for(he said they've got a couple they're gonna sell soon) and what their specs are. If it's reasonable, I just might do it. I'm pretty sure my uncle will get one either way. He wants to build one for his auto-x car, but he'd put the car inside, not on a trailer, and wouldn't really be traveling all that far with it.

I worked recieving and every driver I talked to said the chevy gas engines were faster and had alot more power the the 4bt in the frito trucks. All the drives's came out of Sacramento and said they slowed to 45mph comming up the hills, while the gas engines could do the speed limit.

I'm a die hard diesel but I would pass on a frito truck as a tow rig.

Just get a school bus.

I've drove several, unloaded though. I use to have a source for them. We bought them strictly for the 4BTs. The ones I drove were dogs to say the least. You were constantly rowing/shifting gears trying to stay AT the legal speed limit on grades. Now keep in mind these were bare bones stock motors, no mods, or tuning of any kind. I wouldn't consider on for a tow rig. Of all we've bought over the years we never paid more than 700 dollars for them from Frito's, bread bakeries, etc..

I worked recieving and every driver I talked to said the chevy gas engines were faster and had alot more power the the 4bt in the frito trucks. All the drives's came out of Sacramento and said they slowed to 45mph comming up the hills, while the gas engines could do the speed limit.

I'm a die hard diesel but I would pass on a frito truck as a tow rig.

Just get a school bus.

I honestly don't know, but I would think that with the power mods, these things would be able to hold their own on hills. For the price(sub-1k), I don't know if these can be beat.

Now the question is, if I have a choice between a 350, a 4bt(assuming power mods), and a 6.5td, which would you choose and why?

A school bus would be a lot harder to hide in a suburban neighborhood than a bread van, and I'm gonna have enough trouble hiding the bread van :p

I towed this from Portland, OR to southern CA. It weighed 21K pounds. I went really slow (25-30mph) up the mountains. It averaged 11MPG and the motor is all stock and governed. I'm expecting 27MPG in the '69 van.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c138/EMIEVEL/my%20fleet/7.jpg

I think you have the right idea. I got mined for $3K with some front end damage, but the motor only has 149K miles on it, and the Turbo 400 is fresh. Mine has the 19.5 wheels and great tires. The brakes are all new too.

I plan to get some money back:
Scrap aluminum - $1500
19.5 wheels/tires - $750
rear axle - $100

I'm going to use the power steering and brake system in the van.

when are you planning on selling the 19.5s? I guess I"ll drop you a pm.

-ben

You can get some tow ratings and GCWRs out of the brochures found here:
http://brochures.slosh.com/

I towed this from Portland, OR to southern CA. It weighed 21K pounds. I went really slow (25-30mph) up the mountains. It averaged 11MPG and the motor is all stock and governed. I'm expecting 27MPG in the '69 van.

When in PDX do you buy it??

When in PDX do you buy it??

about 2 years ago, maybe less.

about 2 years ago, maybe less.

Damn! I was hoping someone was clearing out a few NOW. I haven't seen any 4bts for sale around here recently...

www.dovebid.com

Now the question is, if I have a choice between a 350, a 4bt(assuming power mods), and a 6.5td, which would you choose and why?


The 6.5 is no powerhouse, it'll work, but you won't win any races (I have a 6.5 'burb). The mechanical IPs (pre 95 or 96) are better than the later ones with the PMD, but the later ones have better cooling. Go with the 4B. Try it with the bread truck, if it's *that* bad, drop it it in something else.



Andy

Dude, you forever have a scheme up your sleeve. I thought the FJ80 idea kicked ass. I dunno about towing with that little 4 banger but it sure would make a great mobile shop and tailgate machine. Keep me posted if they have more than one for sale I'm interested in one too. Would be great for a parts runner.

you can find them with the 5.9's. I considered these but went with a box truck and no trailer

Dude, you forever have a scheme up your sleeve.
I'm going to take that as a compliment :D

I don't have enough money to execute all my ideas, so I have to carefully pick and choose the ones I do. :D

once you graduate you'll have more $$, not a a lot but more. Like I said. If you can get more than one I want one too. Tailgate machine

once you graduate you'll have more $$, not a a lot but more. Like I said. If you can get more than one I want one too. Tailgate machine

Actually, I'll probably have less, as now is the perfect time to invest in real estate when the market is in the shitter.

If I find more than 3, you can have the 4th. I'm down for 2 for myself and 1 for my uncle :D

this is the P-30 chassis to which I was referring. I knew about the merger/buyout, but didnt realise that it was labelled Workhorse Van or something like that instead of p-30 now.

Ford makes one and so does Freightliner and maybe International too,

http://www.morganolson.com/products/workhorse.lasso

http://www.morganolson.com/products/

this is the P-30 chassis to which I was referring. I knew about the merger/buyout, but didnt realise that it was labelled Workhorse Van or something like that instead of p-30 now.

Ford makes one and so does Freightliner and maybe International too,

http://www.morganolson.com/products/workhorse.lasso

http://www.morganolson.com/products/

The current Workhorse W42 chassis has no commonality with the previous P30/P32/P42 chassis produced by Chevrolet or Workhorse so using the current models for a comparsion is pointless. Navistar owns Workhorse so you could say they produce a chassis in this market.