Chevrolet Third Generation Van versus Dodge Second Generation Van

[JockeP22]

The strongest influence for me must have been watching the A-Team as a kid.
Because between the ages of say 7-12 all I wanted was a Van like this. To me they were
the best vehicles you could possibly own. There's just something about those front ends, and especially the grill, that makes them look menacing and powerful. The fact that Harry & Marv drove one in Home Alone was just a bonus for me as a kid. And in fact Home Alone is otherwise littered with Dodge Vans.

The urge to acquire one is long gone now that I'm older, but whenever I see one I'm once again reminded of how strong my passion was for these models.

Interested in hearing others opinions on which of these look the best. I certainly can't decide, they both look incredibly fine and have similar traits, and yet they are very unlike each other.

I remember constantly asking my dad which of the two was the better one and he always said "Dodge builds much better chassis than Chevy, but Chevy builds the better engines."

It might have been the other way around, but his point was that neither was perfect. One had the better engine while the other had the better chassis.

*Images = wikipedia

 

[Adamgp]

Both were great, but the Chevy gets my vote.

My uncle bought a Chevy van brand new in 1978 and had it until early 1997. It still ran great when he got rid of it, but he figured it was best to haul priceless antiques around in something that didn't have a bunch of rust holes in the floor.

He ended up getting one of the last 1996's. Same body style as his old '78.

 

[JockeP22]

something that didn't have a bunch of rust holes in the floor.

So maybe my dad was right all along, Dodge did make the better chassis.

 

[Adamgp]

So maybe my dad was right all along, Dodge did make the better chassis.

Chassis was ok, at least as good as the Dodge. The rust holes came from 20 years of upstate NY winters. Pretty sure a Dodge van would look similar.

So much fun to ride in the back seat of that things as a kid, watching the road go by underneath your feet.

 

[Dagger311]

Chevy gets my vote as well.

 

[CTznOfTime]

Chevy front looks better... gets my vote

Its actually hard to get a photo of one good and clean example, but here are two:

Maybe if it wasnt so lifted:

 

[Slash]

As much as a Mopar guy I am, gotta go with Chevy here. My grandpa had a conversion van and that thing was kickass.

 

[Celicaas]

The chevrolet is A Better Van it is More common and Reliable


Plus if it is a Conversion Van it has TV and VCR


You can replace the VCR With DVD And take it for a roadtrip

 

[JMoney]

The Chevy looks much better, especially with the two-tone paint.

However the Ford Econoline looks better than either.

 

[HuskyGT]

I love the Dodge Ram, but as long as it's a truck. That, and I used to have a '93 Suburban, so I kind of lean in favor of Chevrolet

 

[Slash]

I love the Dodge Ram, but as long as it's a truck. That, and I used to have a '93 Suburban, so I kind of lean in favor of Chevrolet

Unfortunately that gen Suburban is incredibly unreliable.

 

[HuskyGT]

Unfortunately that gen Suburban is incredibly unreliable.

Well, I loved it! Mine had around 200,000 miles (350,000 kilometers. Don't know how to do the conversion) and gave me no major problems whatsoever considering how used it was.

The only major fix made to it was the transmission since it had never been serviced apparently, other than the fluid. Sometimes it took some time for it to change to second. And I did a few tweaks on the brakes since they were incredibly spongy when I got it. Also, it had some minor rust issues, but that was it. All these details were fixed when we had the time to do it, and never got us stranded at the side of the road.

Everything else was working perfectly since the first owners got it (since new). Everything inside it was electric and I was surprised it was all working fine. The engine; strong, reliable and indestructible as expected from a Chevy 350.

 

[Slash]

The rear ends are notorious for blowing up at low miles. I have rebuilt 4 and seen 6 go under 120k miles. Most were under 75k.