My "new" Safari is almost legal!
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Topic author - I am smitten with my van
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:04 am
- Location: Brantford ON
My "new" Safari is almost legal!
Finally after two weeks of being in the shop I picked up my "new" 95 Safari yesterday, couldn't even begin to tell ya how happy I was to be driving it again!
It could've have been on the road today or possibly Tuesday next week, but as I mentioned in another forum here discovered I have a shot radiator support. It's at shop #2 getting my stereo put in and the driver's window motor fixed.
I already have a mobile welder on standby for the rad support...
Stay tuned
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Topic author - I am smitten with my van
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:04 am
- Location: Brantford ON
Now I know why autobody guy's get paid lots of $$$
Thought I would tell you about my adventure yesterday while working on my "new" van. I tell ya when GM says their trucks are built tough, they aren't just whistling dixie.
If all I was doing was just replacing the bumper bar, I would have been 80% done getting this thing on the road.
I had never ever taken apart the front of a vehicle in my life before, and it was an experience! After getting the bumper off, discovered that the fenders had to come off, GM is sneaky, these were bolted in places I never knew existed. Off came the hood, my able bodied assistant snapped off my antenna so off to the wreckers I go today to get another one.
Thought I could get away with just patching up the rad support panel.. no such luck.. entire bottom was swiss cheese. Took the headlights out and discovered the pots were rusted right out as well, and for that matter so were the horns LOL LOL.
We started at 10:45 am and didn't leave the shop til 7pm at night.. what a day!
If all I was doing was just replacing the bumper bar, I would have been 80% done getting this thing on the road.
I had never ever taken apart the front of a vehicle in my life before, and it was an experience! After getting the bumper off, discovered that the fenders had to come off, GM is sneaky, these were bolted in places I never knew existed. Off came the hood, my able bodied assistant snapped off my antenna so off to the wreckers I go today to get another one.
Thought I could get away with just patching up the rad support panel.. no such luck.. entire bottom was swiss cheese. Took the headlights out and discovered the pots were rusted right out as well, and for that matter so were the horns LOL LOL.
We started at 10:45 am and didn't leave the shop til 7pm at night.. what a day!
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- ASV Supporter
- Posts: 2667
- Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:34 pm
- Location: Orlando, FL
Re: Now I know why autobody guy's get paid lots of $$$
A lesson well learned. Us mechanic types have nothing to do with how these vehicles are put together. We're just left to take customer abuse because it takes so long to repair them.
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
Re: Now I know why autobody guy's get paid lots of $$$
i love salt .. it's so necessaryGrover wrote:Thought I could get away with just patching up the rad support panel.. no such luck.. entire bottom was swiss cheese. Took the headlights out and discovered the pots were rusted right out as well, and for that matter so were the horns LOL LOL.
the above message sponsored by your local aftermarket auto body panel manufacturer
Rob
current rides:
04 Mazda 6 V6 5spd
vans owned:
97 Astro AWD (selling by summer .. i think) SOLD
99 Astro LS Sept 08 ASV VOM
94 Astro LT
93 Astro LT
96 Astro LT AWD * parts van*
current rides:
04 Mazda 6 V6 5spd
vans owned:
97 Astro AWD (selling by summer .. i think) SOLD
99 Astro LS Sept 08 ASV VOM
94 Astro LT
93 Astro LT
96 Astro LT AWD * parts van*
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Topic author - I am smitten with my van
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:04 am
- Location: Brantford ON
Re: Now I know why autobody guy's get paid lots of $$$
heh when I used to work as a parts guy at a local GM dealersip I used to think the very same thing.. salt is my friend!
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Topic author - I am smitten with my van
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:04 am
- Location: Brantford ON
Finally.. the end is near!
Finally! After a week of delays and headaches, I got my rad support from the wreckers patched up and I found a body man through a friend of mine who is gonna weld it back in place today.
I am sooo looking forward to putting this back together and finally being able to get to drive it.
I am sooo looking forward to putting this back together and finally being able to get to drive it.
Re: Finally.. the end is near!
woo hoo!! good news!!!
Rob
current rides:
04 Mazda 6 V6 5spd
vans owned:
97 Astro AWD (selling by summer .. i think) SOLD
99 Astro LS Sept 08 ASV VOM
94 Astro LT
93 Astro LT
96 Astro LT AWD * parts van*
current rides:
04 Mazda 6 V6 5spd
vans owned:
97 Astro AWD (selling by summer .. i think) SOLD
99 Astro LS Sept 08 ASV VOM
94 Astro LT
93 Astro LT
96 Astro LT AWD * parts van*
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Topic author - I am smitten with my van
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:04 am
- Location: Brantford ON
My van rolled out of the shop yesterday woohoo!
Finally after 3 weeks of swearing, cursing and snafu's finally got my van put back together yesterday. I still have some minor issues to deal with, but they can wait for now until I earn some more $$. The body guy who welded in the rad support gave me a HUGE break on the price, mainly because I helped him do it... if I had've taken it to a body shop this would have cost me easily $1000.00
It's getting the rear bumper installed today and it should be legal either today or tomorrow!
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- I sleep in my van
- Posts: 352
- Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:18 am
Re: My "new" Safari is almost legal!
for future reference window motors are easy to replace you sound capable of having done it yourself. couldnt help but notice, did your able bodied helper who snapped your mirror also lose the peice of "a pillar" in front of your passenger mirror?
99 SLT Safari AWD, G80/GT4 rear, Burgundy, 196,000 and counting (strictly AMSOIL) flowmaster 40series muffler no more cat, K&N Kone Filter, roll pan, 255/60/15 rubbers mounted to 15x8.5 inch American Racing Tailgunner wheels, billet grille, CB Radio, Alpine Deck, Shag carpet, the list goes on....
03 Chevy Silverado 2500HD, LB7 Duramax Diesel, 5 speed Allison Tranny, Crew Cab Long Bed, no muffler or cat, 4 inch turbo back and side piped. not too many other mods yet, also addicted to AMSOIL.
03 Chevy Silverado 2500HD, LB7 Duramax Diesel, 5 speed Allison Tranny, Crew Cab Long Bed, no muffler or cat, 4 inch turbo back and side piped. not too many other mods yet, also addicted to AMSOIL.
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Topic author - I am smitten with my van
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:04 am
- Location: Brantford ON
Re: My "new" Safari is almost legal!
Well I probably could have done it myself, but I don't have the proper tool to remove the door trim
The mirror isn't broken it just looks that way.. the little piece you are talking about it's in the van, I lost the screws for it ( gotta open the door to attach it) going to the wreckers today or tomorrow to rectify that.
Had to get the van out of the shop and on the road.. as my E-Test paper for this thing is only good til the 12th of the month.
The mirror isn't broken it just looks that way.. the little piece you are talking about it's in the van, I lost the screws for it ( gotta open the door to attach it) going to the wreckers today or tomorrow to rectify that.
Had to get the van out of the shop and on the road.. as my E-Test paper for this thing is only good til the 12th of the month.
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- I sleep in my van
- Posts: 352
- Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:18 am
Re: My "new" Safari is almost legal!
oops i meant to say snapped off your antenna, not snapped off your mirror...
99 SLT Safari AWD, G80/GT4 rear, Burgundy, 196,000 and counting (strictly AMSOIL) flowmaster 40series muffler no more cat, K&N Kone Filter, roll pan, 255/60/15 rubbers mounted to 15x8.5 inch American Racing Tailgunner wheels, billet grille, CB Radio, Alpine Deck, Shag carpet, the list goes on....
03 Chevy Silverado 2500HD, LB7 Duramax Diesel, 5 speed Allison Tranny, Crew Cab Long Bed, no muffler or cat, 4 inch turbo back and side piped. not too many other mods yet, also addicted to AMSOIL.
03 Chevy Silverado 2500HD, LB7 Duramax Diesel, 5 speed Allison Tranny, Crew Cab Long Bed, no muffler or cat, 4 inch turbo back and side piped. not too many other mods yet, also addicted to AMSOIL.
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Topic author - I am smitten with my van
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:04 am
- Location: Brantford ON
Re: My "new" Safari is almost legal!
From what I hear it's a common thing for these antennas to snap.. oh well minor details!
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Topic author - I am smitten with my van
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:04 am
- Location: Brantford ON
Re: My "new" Safari is almost legal!
Nothing really just the two screws that fasting the pillar pieces in place.. have no clue what type of screw it was. Might get another radio bezel.. the one I have now was wrecked by duct tape.
Re: My "new" Safari is almost legal!
now you tell me, you mean my phillips head and a big-ass flat screw driver weren't the proper tools? Holy s**t,, I could have done all kinds of irepairable damage!Grover wrote:Well I probably could have done it myself, but I don't have the proper tool to remove the door trim :
'89 Astro, 4.3L, TBI. Minor intake and exhaust mods. Rebuilt 700R4 trans (by me). Corvette servo, 0.5" boost valve, police grade 1-2 accumulator spring (shifts fast and solid). B&M stacked plate trans cooler. Bilstein shocks. Belltech sway bars front and back. New head unit, speakers and subwoofer. Needs paint and a new headliner.
name's Steve
I can't remember all I've forgotten about that....
name's Steve
I can't remember all I've forgotten about that....