How do you replace the starter in a 1986 chev G20 van?

There are 2 bolts on the starter holding it on. They are vertical so its an easy change. After you remove the bolts watch the shims as they come out, I replace the shims in the order they came out. Although on a vehicle of that age i imagine its had a few starters in its life and most likely there wont be any shims. After you remove the starter drop it down enough to remove the battery + and the ignition wire. That's all there is to it. Remember to disconnect the battery before you remove the starter. There is a ground from the right head if I remember that goes to chassis ground and another ground on the passenger side lower engine to frame, also another clipped on ground from the chassis to frame on the passenger side behind the passenger door.

There are some pictures in the section on starter replacement at the Autozone.com site, in the repair guide for your vehicle. Used to be I could just link you there, but they changed that.

You have to go to the site and register, then enter the info for your vehicle in the profile, then click "repair info" then "view repair guide". Click the link for "engine and engine overhaul" and the starter replacement and overhaul page is the first one that comes up.

I don't have my vehicle handy to look at, but I believe the thick negative battery cable goes to the drivers side cylinder head or thereabouts, and another thinner wire goes from the negative battery terminal to the chassis somewhere like the firewall.

Since this is a unibody vehicle (from '81 I think, until the '86 models), there are no ground cables between the body and the "frame" (no frame). And if there is a wire to the chassis from the battery, there would not have to be one between the engine and the chassis.

Here's some of the pics from the repair guide, which are linkable;

http://repairguide.autozone.com/znetrgs/repair_gui...

http://repairguide.autozone.com/znetrgs/repair_gui...

http://repairguide.autozone.com/znetrgs/repair_gui...

Assuming the engine is a 5.7L –V8

1. Remove the neg. lead from the battery.

2. Block the rear wheels

3. Raise the front of the vehicle & place on jack stands.

4. Crawl under the vehicle & remove the wires from the starter

5. Remove all mounting bolts & remove the starter.

6. To install - Repeat procedure in reverse

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I dunno about a diagram online, but maybe a chilton's manual website might help. The battery ground is usually used as a body ground, of course there are usually 2 grounds at least. Replacing a starter is not all that, but taking the power off the battery is the FIRST thing to do, as the starter carried current, via the solenoid

86 Chevy Van

Alldatadiy.com will have what you are asking.