Chevy & GMC Vans

In 2000, I, the wife, and another couple flew to Aspen.

A nice taxi guy drove us and all our gear to LAX. I remarked about how nice his taxi was and how it carried everything so well.

"400,000 miles, same engine, same transmission", says he.

Astro.

At Aspen, a nice taxi lady was there to whisk us to our condo. I told her which complex that we were going to, and that her chain-less taxi probably wouldn't make it up the steep, snow-packed street. She assured us that we'd make it.

It did, no problem. Astro AWD.

Came home and bought one. I doubt that I'll ever own a better car.

Engine must have been built on a Thursday and the transmission must have lived a life of frequent oil changes and little heat up.

Most people I know seem to run the tranny oil for 100,000 miles. When I ask the last time they changed the tranny oil, they just give me a blank stare. Really, really drives me crazy.

The reason I bought mine is that the PO had documentation of a total fluid exchange and filter change. Every other vehicle I test drove had brown tranny oil. Amazing.

GM can build some pretty great products when they want to. Unfortunately, they tend to work on a product for years until they have perfected it, then when they finally do, they cancel it.

I find no evidence that my engine or trans have ever been removed from my van...

john

Yes, GM is quite dysfunctional. At least they were when I was a contractor for them.

Do they no longer use the 4.3?

Also, thinking about the 4.3...I was reading through the Chiltons manual and found some things that made me go "hmm".

First, why are the injectors in the heads? It would seem that this would be more efficient then dangling plastic tubes down the intake. But, I don't know.

Also, the intake manifold does not seem optimized for air flow. Is it and I am mistaken?

Finally, the air intake could be made ram air or at least pull cool air. You know, pipe it into hood right under the windshield?

I'm guessing R&D costs? You have to remember they started with the ancient SBC, and it was meant to be a workhorse, not put out ponies. They still use the Vortec 4.3 in the Express I think. It sounds like you're thinking about direct injection? It's just too much of a leap.

Yeah, tuned port injection.

Maybe this thread will offer some insight...
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4542

So I am back from my 2000 mile trip. Well, 1750 miles. We picked the van up-and headed out on our trip 18 hours later. How is that for faith in this van?

Tried as I might, I could not get the AWD to fail. In fact, I came to heavily rely on it. For the first time ever, I could sleep in the right seat while my wife drove in nasty snow and ice.

Speaking of snow and ice-I am convinced 4wd is fantastic in deep snow. But for broken snow and ice-and heavy wind-I was happy to know that in just under a second-the computer could start and stop the front axle as needed.

We had the van loaded up with all of our stuff, the baby's stuff and our whole pig (butchered) in the far rear behind the seat. We were planted. I noticed that the pickups were struggling as were minivans.

The engine had no power that I was looking for...but did notice another astro laboring under a heavy trailer. however, this trailer was wider than the van and loaded down. So, not exactly a fair fight. Still, I kept looking at the doghouse wondering "could I put in a fuel injected 350 with a harness and working computer?

Also, I am really happy with the way the transmission shifts. Or rather...the way the computer tells it to shift. It does need to be firmed up for any kind of heavy hauling.

There is one thing I really don't like-and that is the cruise control. It will not shift down in time to get the van up to speed on the large hills and on small hills...it slows down 10 mph. I finally resorted to simply flooring it before the hill to make it shift. A real pain.

Anyway, I am really happy with this little beast. And to boot-it appears shorter than my 4runner with far more room and power.

Meterpig wrote:It does need to be firmed up for any kind of heavy hauling.

Did you press your tow/haul switch?

timelessbeing wrote:

Meterpig wrote:It does need to be firmed up for any kind of heavy hauling.

Did you press your tow/haul switch?

Yes. but I want the real deal.

The Astro/Safari is the best product that GM ever turned its back on. The final decisions were usually in the hands of the accountants. We lobbied for an Astro/Safari version of the Syclone/Typhoon, and for an off-road biased hi-low t-case. I remember seeing a pre-1995 built for off road in Building 26 - brush bars, Cragar type wheels, off road tires, raised a tad - square looking and prescent of the H2. Someone in Management didn't buy off. Sigh. Glad I'm retired from RFBCC, and I can buy what I want - an Astro, and an XL1200S.

It snowed today in the great state of Colorado-specifically about 6 inches here in Parker. I have three 4wd vehicles. My 4runner, 1989 Dodge 3/4 ton and of course the man van. I drove the truck from here over to a friends house in the snow. I am not positive the rear axle is the exact same ratio as the front so sharp turns are "skippy". It's quite a trip though blowing through 6 inches of snow like it's nothing. Great rig, great for zombies.


The 4runner is like a chihauha in the snow but can plow through almost anything up to about 12 inches quite easily. It has a locking rear axle which makes it about unstoppable up to about 16 inches (I have tested this) but I find the truck is easily pushed around in the ruts. Makes sense as it is light and has a short wheelbase.

Then I drove the man van. Wow is all I can say. It feels planted and secure with me sitting almost over the left front wheel. Due to the vans pudginess, ruts are no problem either is apparently six inches of snow. The AWD again amazes me. Since the 4runner is all the time 4wd, this can actually be a bad thing for a variety of reasons.

So anyway, as I am sure all of you already know, this van rocks in (almost) every way. It would rock in every way with a fuel injected 350 and a six speed transmission. But, hey. It was cheap.

http://www.compperformancegroupstores.c ... _Code=6XGM

there is your six speed however it blew cheap outta the water

Hey, it's only six thousand dollars! Isn't that as much as, or more than, many of us paid for our Astro/Safari vans?

wkastro wrote:Hey, it's only six thousand dollars! Isn't that as much as, or more than, many of us paid for our Astro/Safari vans?

Never fails that someone is offended by something.