Doug DeMuro - 1997 Toyota Previa LE SC AWD

It really looks weird.

 

I have photos on the old phone of a Pinto with collector plates.

 

I almost bought Previa buck when we first looking for a seven seater. Ended up leasing Nissan Quest instead. Then moved on to Grand Caravan, then to Toyota minivan, but by that time it was Sienna.

 

A neighbor has one with vent shades and it’s a recognizeable blue.

 

Wow wow wow! This video brings back memories. There was a short time I had an experience with this Previa minivan, it was a LE S/C (RWD), AT, without leather.

I replaced the engine on this bad boy. Previously another guy replaced the head gasket on this supercharged minivan, the shop performed a warranty engine replacement for the customer. I actually had to do the R&R twice, because the first replacement engine was a bad engine.

The tranny and engine comes down together, there is an intermediate shaft that goes from the engine main pulley to the front of the vehicle to run an accessory pulley (for the radiator/AC condenser fan, AC compressor, and power steering). Engine harness is straight forward, you loosen all the connectors to the engine, couple clips, and you can swing it upward to let it rest in the driver footwell area, this step is done through the engine access cover, although space is kinda tight, but no difficulties. The customer let me drive it for a good 3 weeks before she picked up the van, it is so cool to drive, handles very well, visibility is superb. Power wise, even though it is the supercharge model, it is still somewhat under power, and gas mileage... horrible LOL I did a calculation and it was about 15 mpg.

The guy in the video forgot to mention some interesting facts, like, on the passenger side of the dash there are 2 glove boxes, something you don't see often in the 90's. and then in the top middle of the dash where the mid section of the "W" shape, there is a huge service cover you can pop out to get to the OBD II connector. The battery sits at where the "driver side sliding door" supposed to be (edit: if I remember correctly LOL!).

This is a weird van with some interesting design indeed.