The flooding here in Nebraska is becoming a normal way of life. Today I drove my Chevy Express van into about 18 inches of water and the thing stalled out. Now when I try to start it all I get is a vibration sound like an almost dead battery.

So I figure it will dry out in a few days. I was able to call someone and got winched out and then made it home. But I am going to upgrade to a Tahoe or something similar with 4x4.

I have been offered a duce and a half but that is not practical for a daily driver. It would solve my high water over the road problem.

But.... If I get a Tahoe is there a package or a procedure to upgrade the electrical system so I can drive through water up to 24 inches? I am really wondering if someone can point me in the right direction on the web, not a full blown description of how to perform such an upgrade.

This is standing water, not flowing.

I would also be concerned about water intrusion into mechanical components such as transmissions, transfer cases and differentials at 24 inches of water...

My wife wants me to wait for two years and buy a Rivian which is a new electric truck. The components are sealed to allow for use in up to one meter of water.

I predict they will sell a lot of these in Nebraska. For a area so flat it sure has a lot of places that collect water. And too many of those places are in the middle of a road.

Got ya covered ....

I saw one of these in the early 70s. I ran across one on a used car lot.

A dealer in Arlington, Texas had a 'We Trade for Anything!' sale and someone bought one of these in. So they traded for it and put it on their lot.

I think the asking price was $3,500.

They are much taller than they look.

An update for anyone using their car for a flotation device.....

Today the starter is turning over the engine. It would not do this yesterday but yesterday was the first hot day recently. And then it was only 80 f.

But still no start. Hit the intake with starter spray. Nothing. So tomorrow will be a drying out of the distributor and other wiring connections.

So far my efforts to repair this have been to charge the battery. That and wait for things to dry out.

I did look at a Range Rover with the full snorkel and high water package. Too much rust from too much high water driving. But at least I know the package is available.

If I wanted to deal with all the other older Range Rover problems. Such as the lurking Prince of Darkness in every switch and relay.

I was about to suggest Gelandewagen mit schnorkel. Landrover Nein!

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

I looked at one of these but these actually ride rather hard.

Depending on the year Express van. If the starter gets soaked, it will show an open circuit to the BCM and will not crank. If there is an amperage sensor on the positive cable, unplugging it will bypass it and it should crank.

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Satan creates nothing: he only ruins everything. He does not invent: he tampers. And his followers are no different ~ Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigaṇ

Right now I am giving it a day or two to dry out. I know this is sometimes not possible so your info will come in very handy if the foul weather continues.

I just need two hot days with no rain. My road was just about passable yesterday afternoon. And then it rained again last night.

If you sucked water into the intake you may have a bent rod. If so it may cause slow cranking due to extra friction from the piston being not square in the cylinder.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

What year and engine

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Satan creates nothing: he only ruins everything. He does not invent: he tampers. And his followers are no different ~ Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigaṇ

Lucky you!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

DO get it good and hot and do another hot oil & filter change soon ! .

Every time the gulf floods (hurricanes etc.) Southern California's bottom feeder used car lots get filled up qith salvaged flood damage cars, they can be good deals but most are worthless and rust out in 3 ~ 5 years .

I've saved quite a few waterlogged engines over the decades, the mail thing is to keep them submerged until you're ready to work on them .

Good to hear you dodged the bullet here .

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-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better