4 cylendar engine

Since the whole reason I'm doing my van is to tow it behind my bus, I'd even consider putting a 4 cyl in the van does anyone know of a 4 banger available?

I think you are asking for trouble putting a 4 in there,,,,,,I don't know if you still can get parts for it,,,,,,the next bigger engine is the 6 cylinder 194 cu in and there are millions of those around.....and there are plenty of parts for it and its other 6 cylinder brothers, the 230, 250 and 292......

If you really want to save weight, find a buick 215 v8. They were all aluminum. Weighed only 300 lbs.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/pts/4751792778.html

I wonder how the transmission mounts up on a 4 cylinder van,,,,,,since  it sits more forward, probably with a longer driveshaft,,,,,,is the trans crossmember moved forward ,,,,,would that mean you could not put a 6 cylinder in it unless you moved the crossmember?

It doesn't look to me that it sits any more forward, at least in the pics I have seen.  The radiator is moved aft to get closer to the fan.  I imagine the transmission is in the normal location.

An idea if someone really wanted to do the L4 would be to run a small turbo, that would help it out.

The 151 4 cyl is a great little engine. The vans came with them so installing one would be a breeze. GM used that engine for a long time, at least in to the 90's. Pontiac called the iron duke for a while. I had one in a 92 S-10 p/u, fuel injected with a 5 speed. Great mileage, not the most powerfull thing but fine for a small truck. It depends on how you want to use the van, other than towing it. A turbo on it would be cool. In the 80's Oldsmobile built a low slung futuristic looking race car with a big hopped up turbo charged version of the engine. Set a speed record on an oval track, something like 230 mph

These engines were somewhat different than the 151 iron duke of the 80's!! These installed in vans were 153 cube 4 bangers - used by omc corp. & mercruiser marine from early 60's till late 70's when the new design was made. They could be safely spun to 5800 rpm all day too!! Ive had some that were spun up to 6300 rpm yet was somewhat too much. Came with a 2bbl carb always.! Rochester i do believe & was just a bullet proof engine. never gave any problems! The later 4 cyls put into chev, buick, pontiac, olds in 80's (i still drive one!!) had an early head design that was BAD!! cracked quickly when overheated! New heads were brought out by gm later solving the problems!! I cant remember if the early engines had a crank damper on them yet later ones do NOT!! All the later ones also have Throttle body injection! Fiero did use many too. The early marine engines also had a cast in side of block motor mount that autos did not have! Early marines also had a nice aluminum valve cover -many here in the forum look & install the mercruiser 6 cyl valve cover on their chev 6 engines!! Seems like mercruiser & all started using these 4 banger engines in 1964 up cars & boats. 1964 up=Chev 11 used them big time!

I also still have a 215 olds (all alu.) 4 bbl engine in my stash!! & articles that allow that engine to use a 300 buick crank & heads -making a  "stroker" !! They  (GM) also had a turbocharged 215 @ the time in  60's!! Bad thing was with the early 215 's the antifreeze  wasnt compatable tith the alu. !!  would actually corode the  blocks & heads somewhat!!  The trannys  =powerglides & turbo 350's will bolt up to these engines. There is 1 member here that has a chev van -- that has the 4 banger chev in it from factory !!

There should still be tons of the 4 cyl chevys in boats still running & forsale & in the boat yards!! Basic blocks & head were just bullitt proff -unless allowed to freeze & crack!! I know as ive replaced many that boat owners forget to "winterize"!!

http://vintage-vans.smugmug.com/Vans/danny/27842685_kTwvsC#!i=2348616228&k=mHC3Jfx
if you scroll down to the motor pics , the trans on my orig 153 sits in normal spot its the front of motor that sits about a foot short of front of engine box ,leaving much air to breath !

Heres one for sale via hamb in Wisc.
qhkdq-4700970199@sale.craigslist.org
Member Ditdater (Danny) has the only one I've ever seen.

Another shot,forward of radiator and support.Room to spare.

Twinpilot I think you are talking about the boat engine they called a 470 don't know what the #s meant but I almost bought a boat with one of them in it the boat screamed but the 4 banger I need has to have come out of a Gvan to support the clutch belcrank.

No Doug -the newer "470" was nothing but =mercruisers wanting to build a modern 4cy. boat engine- they did very well yet wasnt anything but a new block ,crank & cam with ford 460 internals & 460 head on it. They were ok -yet just didnt fit the bill on many marine applications -used more fuel & after years of those started using the GM v-6 engines instead!!

Good pix nightmoves!! lots of room!! Yes -thats the member -only 1 ive ever herd of also!!

Heres the valve cover u need -cheap enough & all alunimum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!