Anyone had Astro van engine experience ?
 

Well I dropped a cylinder in my service van, this winter. Burnt valve.
'94 Chevy Astro with 4.3 V6.
198K miles(never been opened up & religiously maintained) and am hearing a little piston slap. No oil usage or loss. Was still strong before the cyl dropped.

Question; I know I SHOULD freshen up the whole engine, but if all I can really afford is a valve grind, Am I going to need to pull the engine or can it be done in-chassis ? I really dislike working on 'van' engines, and it takes me 1.5 hours to just change the plugs on THIS one ! VERY tight quarters.

If I have to yank it out, do I drop it out the bottom or through the front of the engine room ?

It's my experience that opening up a high mileage engine is like opening a can of worms. Ya start finding things that NEED and SHOULD be replaced ! ARG.......

well my friend sorry to say should freshen up the whole thing or find a good used and r&r it. and i feel sorry for you to have to pull it

I'm not for sure but don't schucks or oriely's or napa sell remanufactured long blocks? This might be a little more economically feesable.

I think i'd look for a bone yard find, with less miles on it, the S10 & Sonoma's should be the same engine you may have to use your top end sheet metal from your engine. They are available around here warenteed for $500.00 to $800.00. but yep it's got to come out the bottom, probably a day to a day and a half work, if you have a warm place to work.

JMO

Zip.

92-94 262 4.3 W GM Chevrolet, RWD, CFI, HO, Roller Lifter, Balance Shaft, 3/3 Acc. Bolt Holes, 2 temp. sensors on head, 4 bolt lifter retainer, eyebrow intake ports, block has strut bosses, stamped steel 10 bolt front cover, Comes with M55 oil pump-5/8" Pick-up tube. DCC7 $1,559 $350
93-94 262 4.3 Z GM Chevrolet, RWD, CFI, roller, bal. Shaft, 2 temp sensors on head, eyebrow intakes, strut boss, stamped steel 10 bolt front cover, Comes with M155 oil pump-3/4" Pick-up tube. DCE7 $1,559 $350
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93-94 262 4.3 Z GM Chevrolet, RWD, CFI, roller, no balance shaft, detonation sensor in block, under 8500 GVW DCV6 $1,529 $350
http://bestrebuiltengines.com/GM6.htm

hey what are friends for advanced was like 2100

I've had a valve job done on one with more miles than that, and it ran like a champ afterwards (for a customer, not mine). No oil consumption problems or anything. With that being said though, for about the same price you can find a good lower mileage engine that you can just swap out. It's alot of work, but not as bad as it seems once you get going on it. Alot of salvage companies also offer warrenties with their stuff, so it's worth checking into.