I'm looking at a couple of fullsize chevy's. I really like the looks of the 94'ish model with the four small headlights. Anyone know what years (and models?) had this style. <P>I just looked at a 96 with the same bodystyle and 4 small headlights. The window van said beauville on it, but KBB.com and Edmunds.com show Express as the 96 model. Who is right? How do I tell if it's a 1500, 2500, or 3500? I'm sure you are surprised to hear that the salesman was no help. <P>Any reason why I should pick or avoid any certain 90's models Chevy/GMC vans?

If you were looking at a 96 Chevy van you were looking at that new godawful looking Express body style.The last model year for the classic G series was 95. I have a 93 G 20 with the quad headlights you like.I know for sure they came on 91-95 G series vans, they may have been options on other years.I've had 8 Chevy vans,from a 62 to the present 93 and loved them all. I still own # 7 and #8 a 79 Cargo and the 93 Shorty. G series vans are rated by G-10 ( half ton) G-20 (3/4 ton) and G-30 (1 ton).1500, 2500, and 3500 are GMC van designations, not Chevy.If you go with the pre 96 vans most body parts and mods parts fit with few exceptions for 20 years and engine parts for over 30.Good luck on the hunt, let us know what you find.

Funny thing, I double checked the VIN through DMV and it does in fact say a 1996 Chevy Truck. This is vehicle is on a Chevy dealers lot. However, it was clearly the old body style and not an Express. (???) <P>I've noticed that some of the 1991-1995 vans do NOT have the quad headlights. Does it matter if the van begins life as a cargo van (and is converted) or as a passenger van? I remember the old chevy 2500, 3500, and 1500 WT looked different than the 1500 sporty modes.

If that is a 96 with the 71-95 body style it may be a "leftover"- in other words, built late in 95 and thus titled as a 96. The quad light setup was from a premium trim package and could be ordered on cargo vans, usually by conversion companies.

I believe anything from Chevy after the looks of the new van.It is quite possible they switched the body style part way thru the model year and both body styles were produced in 96.I was looking for a new Chevy in late 96 and all they had were the 96 Expresses and a few of the 97 models.( I decided not to buy either.Yech..hehe) You could buy a dressed up cargo just as you could buy a naked shell of a window van. Keep in mind if you're building a custom that you can always add windows to a panel cargo but you're stuck with windows forever if you get a window van to begin with.I know, I put windows in the back of my 79 cargo, changed my mind, too late now I'm stuck with them.As I said before not ALL of the years I mentioned came equipped with quad headlites some may have had them as options.Chevy built vans with round and rectangular in the same years also. My 79 G-20 has 2 round, my 78 Nomad had 2 rectangular.

I suppose, if its REALLY that important, I could probably put that style grille and light setup on any late model. Agreed?

you're not stuck with windows if you don't wanna be.i have a 79 shorty that started out as a window van.then i took out the large side windows and cut panels from a parts van and covered the holes,changed the rear doors to panels and put on nomad emblems.i get a lot of questions from the people who really know their chevys.they never made a shorty nomad but i have one!

Windows aren't a real concern for me. I guess I'm not really into custom exteriors, but I really dig custom--especially camping style--interiors. I actually prefer a factory window van to a custom van with most windows. The conversion style bay windows are hideous.<P>Anyone else have input on the years the 4 headlight style grilles were available?

Any other reasons I should choose one early to mid-90's model ove another? FI changes, tranny changes, etc.?

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by redneck:<BR><B> you're not stuck with windows if you don't wanna be.i have a 79 shorty that started out as a window van.then i took out the large side windows and cut panels from a parts van and covered the holes,changed the rear doors to panels and put on nomad emblems.i get a lot of questions from the people who really know their chevys.they never made a shorty nomad but i have one!</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I agree Redneck, I think you've made yourself a rare one, both my Nomads were 125' wb but most of us don't have the skills to do all that sheet metal work ourselves.Give me a paint gun and I'll show you a purty van,give me a torch or a welder and I'll show you a really warped body panel..lol.Nemo, the older the van , the lower the tech. You look under the hood of my 79 all you see for wires and hoses is yellow plug wires,two vacumn hoses,two radiator hoses,and a throttle cable. Pull the doghouse off the 93 and it looks like a snake nest.Hoses, sensors,wires,solenoids galore. EFI is low maintenance and you get better mileage but if it screws up it's usually a bitch to diagnose and expensive to repair.The later Chevies have 4 speed trannies the extra gear gives you a tiny mpg gain as opposed to 3 speeds but once again the lower the tech, the easier it is to work on. The 3 speed in my 79 has adjustable bands,no such deal in the 93, the 4 speed isn't adjustable.Whatever you decide I'm sure we can all agree you made the right choice on getting a Chevy....hehe.<BR>