What did you do to/with your van today?

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1Gary
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
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Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by 1Gary »

The light for the alt has been dimly lite on the shop van for sometime.Actually I am very surprised I didn't get stranded somewhere.So I took off the alt to take it to get rebuilt and I am going to get a new belt for it while I am at it.

Got Ole Yellar started today.
1979 Malibu drag race only car
1999 Sonoma 4.3 5 speed-Rufus
1989 Astro-Ole Yellar cancelled-still selling off parts
1985 Astro-shop van R.I.P. my friend
1994 Astro LT RWD W4.3 rod knock RIP
1982 Winnebago single rear wheel-Chevy 350 Scraped 1/28/13-broken dreams......


Rochester,NY
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MountainManJoe
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Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by MountainManJoe »

Great A'Tuin wrote:I installed a skid plate based on Lifted's plans, took my wife out for a drive in the desert to test it out. Didn't hit anything in spite of the loss of about 1.25 inches of ground clearance :) Got muddy.
Image
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1Gary
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 2743
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:18 am

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by 1Gary »

Worked on the hatch for the dutch doors on the 94LT.Got it open again.whoo whoo. :bounce:

Looking at a dual battery for the starting system for Ole Yellar.Took some measurements and will start a thread about that once I get into it more.
1979 Malibu drag race only car
1999 Sonoma 4.3 5 speed-Rufus
1989 Astro-Ole Yellar cancelled-still selling off parts
1985 Astro-shop van R.I.P. my friend
1994 Astro LT RWD W4.3 rod knock RIP
1982 Winnebago single rear wheel-Chevy 350 Scraped 1/28/13-broken dreams......


Rochester,NY
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muzzy5.0
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
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Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 11:16 am
Location: Norfolk, U.K.

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by muzzy5.0 »

I'll be interested to see where you park the second battery. Planning on a second battery in mine, but for camping items etc.
Spent most of the day pulling out pointless wiring that several previous owners have mashed in and then thoughtfully left hanging around every where (most of it live !!!) long after the items they had fitted have been removed.
'93 Astro EXT - Ol' Stinky
'93 Mustang 5.0 LX
Smart Off Roadster

sfeaver
I sleep in my van
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Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2007 9:37 am
Location: Hamilton, ON

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by sfeaver »

This is from yesterday... Hit 50 degrees here, washed van and Buick. Power washer wouldnt start. Does Gardena make a nozzle that doesent leak (no they dont!)

Image
Image

Got to 55 today (Friday). Cant wait until winter is over!

Scott
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loopie
I finally get the smurf thing
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Location: kamLOOPs, BC, Canada

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by loopie »

Good thing I put the new starter in the 96 yesterday, not today....+10 yesterday, -10 today plus wind chill

wkastro
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 69
Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2009 3:12 pm
Location: Brighton. Michigan

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by wkastro »

I drove the Astro to have lunch with some GM friends who are still inside, including the engineer who developed the off-road package for the Astro/Safari in the mid-nineties. It looked terrific in Building 27 in Milford when I saw it way back when. Sadly, it was never offered. Then to the lab for the, uh, "sample" that is a condition for my hopefully soon-to-start employment at Chrysler. AN oil change at Victory Lane, then safe in the garage.
2003 Astro AWD bought in January 2009
103,000 miles, Trucool 4590, ScanGageII, Michelin LTX 215/70R16, Tekonsha P3

2009 Chevrolet HHR
2001 HD XL1200S
1970 Austin Cooper 'S'

Retired:
1994 Astro AWD (sold in 1996, 50,000 miles in 2 years)
1992 Astro RWD (bought from GM fleet, traded for AWD in 1994)
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muzzy5.0
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
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Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 11:16 am
Location: Norfolk, U.K.

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by muzzy5.0 »

Not feelin the love for Ol' Stinky today. Took a trip with the trailer to get the beginnings of a new offroad project (Suzuki LJ80). Van ran like a sack....
Horrible weather, windows all steamin' up, wipers no good, lights on the blink, gearbox is nasty, slipping and all sorts. Getting about 11mpg. Ouch! :cry:
'93 Astro EXT - Ol' Stinky
'93 Mustang 5.0 LX
Smart Off Roadster
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doyoulikeithere
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Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by doyoulikeithere »

11 MPG, Yikes, time for a tuneup.
Sounds like " Ol Stinky " could use a bit of TLC to get her smelling Rosey once again.

I changed a seal on my transfer case.
2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 - Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.
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doyoulikeithere
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Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by doyoulikeithere »

wkastro wrote:Then to the lab for the, uh, "sample" that is a condition for my hopefully soon-to-start employment at Chrysler. AN oil change at Victory Lane, then safe in the garage.
I was really interested to hear of your GM Offroad package for the safastro.
Its not right that people can be forced to submit a 'sample' as a condition of employment, yet junkies can collect welfare.
2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 - Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.

wkastro
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 69
Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2009 3:12 pm
Location: Brighton. Michigan

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by wkastro »

I will ask for some more details, like t-case, and trim heights. I am sure it was not rock-crawling capable, but was fine for logging road type use. The wheel wells were untouched, so it was not extra-large-tire capable. I think it would be fun to apply Jeep tech to an Astro. Armagedvan.

The drug testing, well, it is a product of the times in which we live. Not crazy about it, and my views towards recreational pharmaceuticals are decidedly libertarian, but I do not indulge.
2003 Astro AWD bought in January 2009
103,000 miles, Trucool 4590, ScanGageII, Michelin LTX 215/70R16, Tekonsha P3

2009 Chevrolet HHR
2001 HD XL1200S
1970 Austin Cooper 'S'

Retired:
1994 Astro AWD (sold in 1996, 50,000 miles in 2 years)
1992 Astro RWD (bought from GM fleet, traded for AWD in 1994)

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ihatemybike
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2224
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Location: Elgin, IL

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by ihatemybike »

Grumpy
Saturday: Put the cap and rotor back on it. Dang thing started first try after not wanting to start for the past two months. Took it to get tacos. Removed the seat belt guide from the second row seat as it's mount inside the headrest had been broken.

Sunday: Put the engine cover back on. Took it to the LOST Jeeps meet and greet with the dog in the back. Discovered that Grumpy fowled another thermostat and wouldn't go over 150° Took one of the member's 13 year old sister to the empty parking lot and let her have her first experience behind the wheel.

Green
Saturday: Repaired the rear hatch, drivers side release rod had somehow got disconnected. Cleaned up the snow melt that had been spilled in the back.
Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
1997 Astro (Grumpy - $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, LSD, 2" lift, 31" tires, 335k+ orig engine, $30 eBay fuel pump
Prev Astros:99,97,00,94,87,86
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potskie
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Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by potskie »

Same thing I do with it everyday. Move it outta the driveway so I can get my truck out. Poor neglected van. I haven't wrenched on it myself in quite awhile. Been paying a mechanic :-$ to work on it. The boss wants me to trade it in on a jetta...
Image 98 Safari RWD. Stock.
Do you smell what Barack is cookin ?!?!
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dunedog
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Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by dunedog »

Plowed 6" of wet cement )>) I'd rather 16" of regular snow than this crap!
Also ordered up some Firestone Destination A/T's, time to get rid of the 2nd set of rims and tires.... :whistle: ahem!
1999 LS AWD 3" Lift,4.10's,Snowplow,9500lb Ramsey winch
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muzzy5.0
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
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Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 11:16 am
Location: Norfolk, U.K.

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by muzzy5.0 »

Picked up a good (so I'm told..) used 4L60E 'box out of a '93 C1500.
Hoping it's gonna cure Ol' Stinky's trans horrors. Should I bypass the built in cooler and run an aftermarket one? Seems like a plan.
'93 Astro EXT - Ol' Stinky
'93 Mustang 5.0 LX
Smart Off Roadster
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