What did you do to/with your van today?

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blacknome
I sleep in my van
Posts: 269
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 12:58 pm

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

Post by blacknome »

after parking the van for the weekend I had a half flat tire to contend with before I could go to work. $15 for a new tire valve and I am rolling again.
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HPbyStan
I sleep in my van
Posts: 601
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:15 am
Location: Janesville, Wis

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

Post by HPbyStan »

Monday I transferred the in storage A-Ms insurance to the $500 '03 LT AWD. It's just weird that this is the nicest driving of the three I own. Not sure how I'm going to like the leather interior when it gets cold tho.
'04 White AWD Astro cargo
'00 Astro / El Camino
'61 BSA Super Rocket
'71 BSA B50 engine in a '67 C25 250 chassis
Impossible is just a degree of difficulty....

safari kev
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 237
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:13 pm
Location: St. Louis, Missouri, USA

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

Post by safari kev »

all this happened today (I've been busy)

took the equinox in for an oil change.

caddy has new shocks and the back end no longer drags the ground

toronado has new brake lines and now technically runs and drives (needs alot of work before it is streetable, but it can move and stop under its own power)

and the safari got hit again (my dad was driving it). needs body work down 3/4 of the right side and a new running board. guy in a truck and trailer wasnt paying attention and changed lanes and whacked the fender with the bed of the truck and dragged the trailer down the side.
00 safari high top explorer conversion. "shagfari" 235xxx miles on body. 242k on junkyard Jimmy motor.
94 safari hi-top explorer limited. 132k miles.
95 ASTRO choo choo conv. RIP @115K
97 safari slx "surfin' safari" 145k miles RIP
91 safari shorty Tiara conversion. RIP
86 cadillac fleetwood brougham. 67k. It thinks its a hot rod.
83 lesabre limited. 71k miles
66+68 toronados
66 Riviera
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HPbyStan
I sleep in my van
Posts: 601
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:15 am
Location: Janesville, Wis

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

Post by HPbyStan »

Holy smokes, do you have a target painted on that thing ?
'04 White AWD Astro cargo
'00 Astro / El Camino
'61 BSA Super Rocket
'71 BSA B50 engine in a '67 C25 250 chassis
Impossible is just a degree of difficulty....
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d3athm3talh3ad
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 214
Joined: Sat Jan 26, 2008 3:49 pm
Location: Kentucky

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

Post by d3athm3talh3ad »

replacement manifold came in, and it fits! also ordered some airbag parts today...
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Wiley
ASV Supporter
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Posts: 313
Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2010 3:02 pm
Location: Socal

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

Post by Wiley »

Serpentine belt broke on me last Friday, walked home 3 miles, could have been worse, was close and it was a walk on the beach, if I am gonna get stranded that isn't so bad. It was 20 minutes before dark, cold, and I was in my work clothes, otherwise I could have swapped in the spare I carry. Replaced it Sat. Yay, I did something to my van, its been too long, way too much neglect :( Now where is that list of things that NEED to be done??
2guys1truck.com: 2004 AWD Chevy Astro from California to Colombia!
want to follow along, or think our paths may cross, Facebook kjswiley
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Rileysowner
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 1290
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:14 pm
Location: Exeter ON
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Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by Rileysowner »

Put a new wiper motor in. However, due to the snow and cold I can't get it reconnected to the wiper linkage since I can't find all the screws holding down the grill. I tried for a while with only one half off, but still can't get something big enough to squeeze them back together. I also lost on of the bolts for the motor, so I need to get another.
"I have a torque wrench and I am not afraid to use it."
Jim
1997 GMC Safari RWD, Power Windows and Locks, 7 passenger, a/c, rear heat

http://rileysowner.blogspot.com/
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Wiley
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Posts: 313
Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2010 3:02 pm
Location: Socal

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

Post by Wiley »

Rileysowner wrote:Put a new wiper motor in. However, due to the snow and cold I can't get it reconnected to the wiper linkage since I can't find all the screws holding down the grill. I tried for a while with only one half off, but still can't get something big enough to squeeze them back together. I also lost on of the bolts for the motor, so I need to get another.
Every time I have problems with my Van I am going to try and remind myself of the problems I read about that you have had, and the cold cold weather you have had to deal with when fixing it. My problems aren't so bad. Good luck man, stay warm.
2guys1truck.com: 2004 AWD Chevy Astro from California to Colombia!
want to follow along, or think our paths may cross, Facebook kjswiley

Mathil
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Aug 24, 2013 7:51 pm

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

Post by Mathil »

Bent the rocker in behind the wheel well during some spirited driving on a forestry road, so I pulled it back out and banged it back into rough shape. Just the single skin part, so super easy to fix properly later on down the road.

Also just finished sewing seat covers for my van, check out the thread!

viewtopic.php?f=56&t=9543
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Great A'Tuin
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 106
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:57 pm
Location: Boise, ID

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

Post by Great A'Tuin »

Swapped on my snow tires before the storm hit, Toyo A/T's off, Winter Duellers on.
john

2000 LS AWD
2.5" lift, 3.73 G80, Bilsteins, 235/75-15 Toyo A/T's, 2500 Brakes, Skid plate
Ultra-Gauge, Long/Tru-Cool tranny cooler, Electric fans, Bed Kit. 265,000 miles.

safari kev
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 237
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:13 pm
Location: St. Louis, Missouri, USA

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

Post by safari kev »

dad found out the hard way that the van has hydroboost today. PS pump went out and took the brakes with it. Van is at the shop awaiting a new pump tomorrow. I guess 185k+ is not bad for a PS pump
00 safari high top explorer conversion. "shagfari" 235xxx miles on body. 242k on junkyard Jimmy motor.
94 safari hi-top explorer limited. 132k miles.
95 ASTRO choo choo conv. RIP @115K
97 safari slx "surfin' safari" 145k miles RIP
91 safari shorty Tiara conversion. RIP
86 cadillac fleetwood brougham. 67k. It thinks its a hot rod.
83 lesabre limited. 71k miles
66+68 toronados
66 Riviera

LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

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

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

I bet his heart was pumping! :heart:
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

sidecar53
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 88
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2012 3:56 pm
Location: Windsor, Ontario

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

Post by sidecar53 »

Safari kev, same thing happened to me on Monday during the cold snap. These things are real brutes to drive without power steering and power brakes. Apparently, it's a pretty crappy job to replace it- glad it wasn't me working on it.
Windsor, Ontario
2004 GMC Safari SLE

safari kev
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 237
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:13 pm
Location: St. Louis, Missouri, USA

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

Post by safari kev »

sidecar53 wrote:Safari kev, same thing happened to me on Monday during the cold snap. These things are real brutes to drive without power steering and power brakes. Apparently, it's a pretty crappy job to replace it- glad it wasn't me working on it.
yeah, mine went out during the cold snap. My dad got stuck in high snow (about a foot) and powered through it, then had no steering/ brakes.

It wasnt cheap (its a PITA to get to it), but it is now fixed and all is well.


Also, the equinox is not happy. it had a loud electrical hum coming from the center stack of the dash (radio and CC turned off, and it still was there), and the rear end made a low pitched whine/grind when I went through some snow and slipped (at least its still under warranty)

Its gonna be warm this weekend, so I hope to get some time to adjust the carb and tighten the clamps on the low pressure side PS hose on my caddy. I also have a center dash piece to install for gauges (since the radio is going in the center console)
00 safari high top explorer conversion. "shagfari" 235xxx miles on body. 242k on junkyard Jimmy motor.
94 safari hi-top explorer limited. 132k miles.
95 ASTRO choo choo conv. RIP @115K
97 safari slx "surfin' safari" 145k miles RIP
91 safari shorty Tiara conversion. RIP
86 cadillac fleetwood brougham. 67k. It thinks its a hot rod.
83 lesabre limited. 71k miles
66+68 toronados
66 Riviera
User avatar

Great A'Tuin
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 106
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:57 pm
Location: Boise, ID

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

Post by Great A'Tuin »

Towed home a 1985 Saab SPG with the dolly I picked up last fall.
john

2000 LS AWD
2.5" lift, 3.73 G80, Bilsteins, 235/75-15 Toyo A/T's, 2500 Brakes, Skid plate
Ultra-Gauge, Long/Tru-Cool tranny cooler, Electric fans, Bed Kit. 265,000 miles.
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