its also been too cold to work on the wiring in the caddy (need to redo the choke wire so it sees 12 volts and wire up a fuse panel for the console and gauges)
I also picked up a set of really nice olds trofeo buckets for it (more comfortable than the bravada buckets in there now and IMO fit the cars style better)
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
98: changed burnt out headlight
97: hooked battery back up and got ready for the road. Primed it three times and started with ease after sitting all winter.
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler
Mostly what i did was to the trailer so i could move the trailer out of the garage so i could put the Safari in the garage.
Did put the front end on the jack stands and remove the doghouse so i can get at the engine.
91 Astro EXT; never liked GM till i stumbled into this van. Free just for dragging it out of a field. Ran like a scalded cat, had 53K miles and completely rusted out brake lines. Been all over North America, lots of fire roads and no roads; fully loaded and towing constantly. Average 21 mpg. I recently (by accident) found out she now has 265,886.4 miles without so much as a tuneup, and only 1 oil change. And still no leaks. MAN I LOVE THIS VAN !
97:took an emissions test and passed it. attempted to remove bearings from differential carrier and failed.... my baby shop presses bed is too small to fit the differential and the pullers bolts are to small. I guess this second Torsen diff will have to wait another day to be installed
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler
Man the right tools make a job sooooo much easier, bought a unitool differential side bearing puller set ut7251 and got the old bearings off the Torsen and the old open diff from my 98. Removed worn 4.10 ring gear and pressed on the new bearings
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler
97: half assedly installed the torsen and tested it out. There is slight gear whine at low speed coasting but it can wait for warmer days when i do all the bearings and seals in the rear axle . Finally i can back into my driveway without having to take a running start, no more one wheel peel
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler
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
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
my princess auto made in china bearing splitter worked great but my baby shop press is too small to use for a diff. I tried to buy OTC 4520 but it would have been a couple days so i grabbed Unitool UT7251 instead since we had it in stock, it worked but was damaged simply by using it. Unitool tools are the only tools I break and always under normal use conditions to top it off .
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler
Removed batteries, strobe lights, and alarm system form the '89. getting ready to install them in the '95.
Found a ground wire missing on the '95. the '89 has one from the battery to chassis and same spot on the chassis to engine. The '95 did not. I took the battery cables out of the '89. Will be using them in the '95
Powered up the fiberglass subwoofer enclosure. God am I glad I didn't design it, it sounds like runny doggy poo. Will be doing something about that soon, hopefully.
I Am Dennis. Van is Da Boom
Florida Sales Rep for GPI Subwoofers
I didn't do it but I paid my friends shop to change the NAPA starter that was put in my '03 the morning I bought it last July. Much to my surprise NAPA stood by it and I got another for "free" except for the flatbed ride and not enough labor cost from my bud. http://s296.photobucket.com/user/HPbySt ... sort=6&o=2
'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....
HPbyStan wrote:I didn't do it but I paid my friends shop to change the NAPA starter that was put in my '03 the morning I bought it last July. Much to my surprise NAPA stood by it and I got another for "free" except for the flatbed ride and not enough labor cost from my bud. http://s296.photobucket.com/user/HPbySt ... sort=6&o=2
Wow, my Auto Insurance covered the $90 flatbed ride. Made out like a burglar on this deal. This van has really been good to me.
'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....