Search found 15 matches

by AstroWyo
Sat Feb 15, 2014 10:14 pm
Forum: General
Topic: What if...how many rigs can the Astro replace?
Replies: 6
Views: 2823

Re: What if...how many rigs can the Astro replace?

It would if you do all the work yourself. Don't have the time. It took me 8 years to finally just pay someone else to lift my van 2". Read through my SAS build in the Off Road section. For a while, I had that almost committed to memory. Incredible build. One of the most inspiring builds. Gives...
by AstroWyo
Thu Feb 13, 2014 10:25 pm
Forum: General
Topic: What if...how many rigs can the Astro replace?
Replies: 6
Views: 2823

What if...how many rigs can the Astro replace?

This is the forum where a guy can toy with "what ifs", I think. So... I think that most of us here really dig our vans and have lots of reason to. It'll haul a lot of people, a lot of stuff, tow a lot of weight, has pretty good power, and lots of customization possibilities. I know some li...
by AstroWyo
Sat Dec 22, 2012 9:34 am
Forum: Lifting & Lowering
Topic: 2" Overland Lift- Merry Christmas Astro!
Replies: 3
Views: 3731

Re: 2" Overland Lift- Merry Christmas Astro!

One more pic.
by AstroWyo
Sat Dec 22, 2012 9:31 am
Forum: Lifting & Lowering
Topic: 2" Overland Lift- Merry Christmas Astro!
Replies: 3
Views: 3731

2" Overland Lift- Merry Christmas Astro!

After about 8 years of gawking at lifted vans on the forum and asking lots of questions, finally did it. :guitar: It all came to a head when my 75k mile tires were officially spent. Shocks worn out, even leaky. And, to top it all off, my '87 4Runner's timing chain suddenly went. No off-road capabili...
by AstroWyo
Sun Feb 20, 2011 8:56 pm
Forum: Off-Road
Topic: squirrely with lift
Replies: 10
Views: 5738

Re: squirrely with lift

I'm glad to hear that general confirmation of bs. I have been on this site for a long time and anything I've read has confirmed what you are saying. I was gonna argue with the guy but he had made up his mind already. Maybe, once it's lifted, I'll pull in with some other store's tires on it. Now, I'v...
by AstroWyo
Sat Feb 19, 2011 2:50 pm
Forum: Off-Road
Topic: squirrely with lift
Replies: 10
Views: 5738

squirrely with lift

I spoke with a tire shop mechanic today and he told me he worked on a lifted astro that was squirrely on the road, in fact, it was all over the road and they couldn't get it right. Anyone else have this problem?
by AstroWyo
Wed Feb 02, 2011 7:32 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Advice wanted... '96 vs. '05?
Replies: 13
Views: 3721

Re: Advice wanted... '96 vs. '05?

I saw that '05 on e bay, too. Very nice. Kinda far from Wyoming, though, for something I can't even look over. I think it's in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Anybody from Detroit area want to look at it? Thanks for taking me to the next level in understanding vehicle write-offs. I doubt that I could justify t...
by AstroWyo
Tue Feb 01, 2011 9:20 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Advice wanted... '96 vs. '05?
Replies: 13
Views: 3721

Re: Advice wanted... '96 vs. '05?

Thanks. I probably have one of the dumbest looks on any taxpayer's face when at the accountant. As I understand it, I can write off repairs, registration, taxes, insurance. I've left the concept of depreciation out of my brain to allow for more valuable brain functions like remembering music trivia....
by AstroWyo
Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:13 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Advice wanted... '96 vs. '05?
Replies: 13
Views: 3721

Advice wanted... '96 vs. '05?

I'm looking for good advice but will hear out bad advice. My '96 Astro has been parked for a coupla years with a bad intake gasket- bad enough that it left a coolant residue on the back windows. I parked it to minimize the damage. Been considering my options forever. Went to do taxes today for my 7 ...
by AstroWyo
Thu Dec 09, 2010 4:23 pm
Forum: General
Topic: Prototype for the new Astro
Replies: 33
Views: 10685

Re: Prototype for the new Astro

I have some VW busses and have always liked the Synchro vans. I like what guys are doing to them when they're putting Subaru engines in them and even lifting them and I've seen some very nice ones (last one I saw was a lifted '87 with a WRX motor- $35k). BUT, they're expensive, not as safe in a coll...
by AstroWyo
Mon Dec 06, 2010 8:50 am
Forum: TRANSMISSION
Topic: Replacing gears in tranny?
Replies: 9
Views: 4303

Re: Replacing gears in tranny?

There's a thread ("Nobody has done an NP236 swap yet, right? Will it fit?") There were some TCCM issues, I guess. He didn't do it. I did some more surfing. Best I can come up with is the Selec trac NP242 with a Novak conversion kit for the 4L60. I didn't check price. Don't even know if it'...
by AstroWyo
Sun Dec 05, 2010 8:12 am
Forum: TRANSMISSION
Topic: Replacing gears in tranny?
Replies: 9
Views: 4303

Replacing gears in tranny?

I want to keep my AWD transfer case (BW4472). I'm completely convinced (am I wrong?) that it's better in snow than it would be to put in 2 sp transfer case. I have a 4Runner, too, and have compared the two. Still, I want that low crawler gear. I know I'll need to change out the gearing in my axles a...
by AstroWyo
Tue Nov 02, 2010 12:09 pm
Forum: Off-Road
Topic: How to build the perfect AWD?
Replies: 8
Views: 4716

Re: How to build the perfect AWD?

Sorry if this is a dumb question, kidhauler, did you mean 31 inch tires? 41 inch might involve some creative cutting or bigger lift? :-s
by AstroWyo
Sat Oct 30, 2010 11:21 am
Forum: Off-Road
Topic: How to build the perfect AWD?
Replies: 8
Views: 4716

Re: How to build the perfect AWD?

I like your suggestions. I wanted to do it all at once but I can see how that could really make ironing out the bugs a bit of a nightmare. I was really hoping to drop the subframe to do the 350 swap and just lift it at the same time. Maybe it's worth doing the drop twice to do one thing at a time. I...
by AstroWyo
Fri Oct 29, 2010 9:09 am
Forum: Off-Road
Topic: How to build the perfect AWD?
Replies: 8
Views: 4716

How to build the perfect AWD?

First post here. Been reading threads and elsewhere for a long time, trying to figure out my '96 AWD. My 4.3 may be in bad shape with the blown head gasket. I want a lifted van for road travel and moderate to heavy off road- but not rock crawling. So... I'm thinking Vortec 350 out of a '96 full size...