Pics of my 2in lift on a 1999 Government Fleet Vehicle
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Topic author - I get chills without my van.
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2009 6:42 am
- Location: San Jose, CA
Pics of my 2in lift on a 1999 Government Fleet Vehicle
Finally got the tires, lift and shocks in. Tires are 235/75/15 Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac's, rims are stock steelies I painted and modified some chrome center caps to fit, lift is a standard Overland Vans 2 inch lift, with bumper brackets, and shocks are Rancho RS500's
I didn't do a tutorial since there plenty of them out there already.
The lift took an entire day to finish, working slow and taking lunch/beer breaks and by entire day I mean that I started at about 9am and finished at around 9pm. The lift is a bit of work finish, the main problem areas were the bumper fit, which is a bit too tight of a fit being slightly too high and tilted upward a hair, the other problem was removing the front shocks because the limited space to access the top nuts, even when raised. Something not to forget, which I almost did, is to adjust the parking brake after install of the new bracket, it's easy enough with the vehicle already raised. I had minor scrub in about the same areas as everyone else, did a little trimming a little banging and all is good. Another issue was the lower fan shroud, I measured clearance and it 1.5 inches so I trimmed it and installed it, did a test start and everything was fine. I had a nasty rubbing noise if I foored it from a dead stop, I kept thinking it was the wheelwells, but I had aready trimmed and couldn't figure out where the rub could be. As it turned out I didn't take into consideration torque nose lift of the van on hard acceleration which raises the already trimmed lower fan shroud to make contact with the fan blades! luckily no damage was done to the fan blades and the contact only took a small chip out of the shroud. I trimmed an extra 1/2 in and was back to a noise free van. The next day I greased up the shackles, loaded the family and dog, and took it on HWY 17, a 20 mile trip through winding mountain roads to the beach. I didn't take too many pics of the install as I spent most my time installing it. here's a few pics
I didn't do a tutorial since there plenty of them out there already.
The lift took an entire day to finish, working slow and taking lunch/beer breaks and by entire day I mean that I started at about 9am and finished at around 9pm. The lift is a bit of work finish, the main problem areas were the bumper fit, which is a bit too tight of a fit being slightly too high and tilted upward a hair, the other problem was removing the front shocks because the limited space to access the top nuts, even when raised. Something not to forget, which I almost did, is to adjust the parking brake after install of the new bracket, it's easy enough with the vehicle already raised. I had minor scrub in about the same areas as everyone else, did a little trimming a little banging and all is good. Another issue was the lower fan shroud, I measured clearance and it 1.5 inches so I trimmed it and installed it, did a test start and everything was fine. I had a nasty rubbing noise if I foored it from a dead stop, I kept thinking it was the wheelwells, but I had aready trimmed and couldn't figure out where the rub could be. As it turned out I didn't take into consideration torque nose lift of the van on hard acceleration which raises the already trimmed lower fan shroud to make contact with the fan blades! luckily no damage was done to the fan blades and the contact only took a small chip out of the shroud. I trimmed an extra 1/2 in and was back to a noise free van. The next day I greased up the shackles, loaded the family and dog, and took it on HWY 17, a 20 mile trip through winding mountain roads to the beach. I didn't take too many pics of the install as I spent most my time installing it. here's a few pics
1999 Astro 7-Passenger Van
Federal Government Fleet Vehicle
Cadet Blue 4.3L V6
Rear A/C & Heat
RWD G80 posi with 3.42 gears
40,000 miles
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Re: Pics of my 2in lift on a 1999 Government Fleet Vehicle
Looks great! Love the agressive sidebiting tread on those tires!
Matt
Selah, WA
-96 GMC Safari AWD Hi-Top Conversion -->Stalled 5.3L swap & 5" lift
-74 Ford Bronco -->Far from perfect but mine!
-99 V-10 Ford Super Duty Super Cab 4x4 -->Stock with 285 Cooper ATs
-00 Ford Focus Wagon -->The Red Turd
-95 Ford 24' Class C Motorhome -->My big block sleeper
-07 Can-Am Outlander XT -->My yellow 4x4 quad for work & play
-04 Ski Doo REV Summit -->Still several chassis behind!
No new projects until the current ones are done!
Selah, WA
-96 GMC Safari AWD Hi-Top Conversion -->Stalled 5.3L swap & 5" lift
-74 Ford Bronco -->Far from perfect but mine!
-99 V-10 Ford Super Duty Super Cab 4x4 -->Stock with 285 Cooper ATs
-00 Ford Focus Wagon -->The Red Turd
-95 Ford 24' Class C Motorhome -->My big block sleeper
-07 Can-Am Outlander XT -->My yellow 4x4 quad for work & play
-04 Ski Doo REV Summit -->Still several chassis behind!
No new projects until the current ones are done!
Re: Pics of my 2in lift on a 1999 Government Fleet Vehicle
Looks GREAT!!
Nice job, Slim !!
Nice job, Slim !!
'94 Astro AWD EXT LT - Over 211,000 ,parts van now!
DHC Rock rails
Overland Vans 4" lift kit and bumper w/grille guard
Fiamma awning
'95 Astro AWD EXT CS - Just over 99,000 miles
DHC Rock rails
Overland Vans 4" lift kit and bumper w/grille guard
Fiamma awning
'95 Astro AWD EXT CS - Just over 99,000 miles
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- ASV Supporter
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Re: Pics of my 2in lift on a 1999 Government Fleet Vehicle
Looks Awesome...........Put some narrow trim rings on those wheels. It will really set them off.
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
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Topic author - I get chills without my van.
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2009 6:42 am
- Location: San Jose, CA
Re: Pics of my 2in lift on a 1999 Government Fleet Vehicle
Tires were $116 each on sale, and let me tell you, they are really quiet! Hardly any more noise than the passenger tires that were on it, they are a bit soft in the sidewalls, I think I need to air them up a bit more, and I've been looking for trim rings that'll fit I can only seem to find deep 3in one that won't fit, the ones that fit are always overpriced, I'm happy with the feel and look of van, not bad for a days work. The lift really looks more than 2in to me, it's around 32" from ground to middle bottom edge of wheelwell in front and a bit over 33" in the rear, I didn't think to take any before measurements, one thing I did notice was that since I got the tires on before the lift it looked like all the pics I saw of vans with the 2in lift already! Maybe it just needs to settle after a few miles
1999 Astro 7-Passenger Van
Federal Government Fleet Vehicle
Cadet Blue 4.3L V6
Rear A/C & Heat
RWD G80 posi with 3.42 gears
40,000 miles
Re: Pics of my 2in lift on a 1999 Government Fleet Vehicle
I got some 1.5 " chrome/steel trim rings on Ebay for $51.00 w/ free shipping. Seller was nationwidehubcaps.
I really love the look! I stole the look from Smiliesafaris van when I seen his back in May.
I really love the look! I stole the look from Smiliesafaris van when I seen his back in May.
'94 Astro AWD EXT LT - Over 211,000 ,parts van now!
DHC Rock rails
Overland Vans 4" lift kit and bumper w/grille guard
Fiamma awning
'95 Astro AWD EXT CS - Just over 99,000 miles
DHC Rock rails
Overland Vans 4" lift kit and bumper w/grille guard
Fiamma awning
'95 Astro AWD EXT CS - Just over 99,000 miles
Re: Pics of my 2in lift on a 1999 Government Fleet Vehicle
Just took some measurements on my '95(stock). Front 30.5" & rear 30.75"(fiberglass monoleafs).
So yours sounds right on!
So yours sounds right on!
'94 Astro AWD EXT LT - Over 211,000 ,parts van now!
DHC Rock rails
Overland Vans 4" lift kit and bumper w/grille guard
Fiamma awning
'95 Astro AWD EXT CS - Just over 99,000 miles
DHC Rock rails
Overland Vans 4" lift kit and bumper w/grille guard
Fiamma awning
'95 Astro AWD EXT CS - Just over 99,000 miles
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- I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
- Posts: 4379
- Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
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Re: Pics of my 2in lift on a 1999 Government Fleet Vehicle
Looks awesome! Very clean van.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition
Mileage spreadsheet
Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition
Mileage spreadsheet
Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
Re: Pics of my 2in lift on a 1999 Government Fleet Vehicle
very cool.
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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- I sleep in my van
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Re: Pics of my 2in lift on a 1999 Government Fleet Vehicle
Yes, this came out really great!
1998 Astro, 246,000 miles
K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box
K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box
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- ASV Supporter
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Re: Pics of my 2in lift on a 1999 Government Fleet Vehicle
I got my trim rings from: www.autodetailcompany.com. They were polished stainless. Shipped to my door for $54.27. One of the trim rings had a small defect. I e-mailed them and they sent me another one free of any charge. That's good PR.
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
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Topic author - I get chills without my van.
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2009 6:42 am
- Location: San Jose, CA
Re: Pics of my 2in lift on a 1999 Government Fleet Vehicle
Thanks for the link, I've been trying to source a set from local junkyard on the cheap, but it's just too hard to find a matching set, so it looks like I may go this routeSmiliesafari wrote:I got my trim rings from: http://www.autodetailcompany.com. They were polished stainless. Shipped to my door for $54.27. One of the trim rings had a small defect. I e-mailed them and they sent me another one free of any charge. That's good PR.
1999 Astro 7-Passenger Van
Federal Government Fleet Vehicle
Cadet Blue 4.3L V6
Rear A/C & Heat
RWD G80 posi with 3.42 gears
40,000 miles
Re: Pics of my 2in lift on a 1999 Government Fleet Vehicle
Quick question, if you don't mind about the lift kit. Did you just purchase the 2" kit, or did you get the bumper relocate kit too? (Getting ready to lift mine as soon as the tax return comes)
Thanks!
Thanks!