Chevy & GMC Vans

found out the oil filler neck from the astro wouldn't fit the s-10 valve covers so i took the van's covers to work and ran them through our parts cleaner/steamer if it wasn't snowing and cold i would have put them on this evening...

Last 2 days we've had rain and snow, Van cranked great but would not catch, took dog house off grabbed my spare batt, hooked up my 12vdc fan to the batt and blew that engine and any electrical parts DRY, van started up like new in about 15 min, McGuyver ain't got s$^t on me!

astrozam wrote: McGuyver ain't got s$^t on me!

or Kojak

ill be changing the spark plugs in my windstar in the next couple days, i bought autolite platnum plugs. you guys got it easy changing plugs on the astros, on my van to get at the back 3 plugs(fwd) i have to remove the wiper cowl assy and sit on the engine to reach them.

Heh, heh. I worked on a Windstar once, made me sing the praises of my Astros even louder.

Today?

Ordered $230 with of "tune up type parts" Plugs, wires, rotor/cap, radiator hoses, thermostat, waterpump, filters etc.

Then

Ordered a full long block, 3 yr unlimited mileage warranty for $1599 free shipping both ways and no core charge for 30 days.

changed the passenger side torsion bar. luckily torches were available..... cut the bar in half, front half dropped on the ground, pulled the broken piece from the lower control arm, then cut the extension tube from behind the frame and removed the torsion key... with a little finagling got the new one in.

had to tighten old one on the drivers side, to level the front end, until I get in the mood and/or have the time to change the other one.....

now I'll have to ad a leaf to the rearend to bring it up level with the front end...

oil change, lubed chassis and rotated tires( still have a hell of alot of tread left) went for test spin then made sure all lugs were torqued right. seems my shimmy moved to the rear now, i think one of my tires isn't balanced properly...

Green: Put the passenger side oxygen sensor back in.

Picked up a set of 15x7 factory aluminum Suburban wheels for it that I found on Craigslist for $100. If it ever rolls again, it won't have to do it on the ugly steel wheels!

broke the right front sway bar bracket. I guess my heavy duty sway bar just wore it out.
Never thought such a small mundane part could be so hard to find. Right now the slightest gust of wind from the side brings a whole new level of excitement to driving my 'stro. New brackets on order, 'stro parked till further notice.

Removed all of the old graphics. Now it looks just like every white van out there. The vinyl was starting to peel around the edges. New graphics to come.

Never really finished up the power steering cooler after installing the rack so got this done today. I got this unit from Ebay for about 10 bucks,,was for a 429 Ford. Guess it'll work on a Chevy.




Also added an adjustable thermostat on the electric fans. By the way,,if you're running electric fans with a set thermostat, you don't have to change relays to add adjustable. Just unplug the two wires that go to probe and plug in on adjustable unit you see here. Flex-A-Lite said the relay had to be changed out but not so but like anywhere else today,,if ya call back, another guy will tell ya you don't have to change the relay out.

Removed all of the old graphics. Now it looks just like every white van out there. The vinyl was starting to peel around the edges. New graphics to come.

Can you give some details to how you did this ??? what did ya use etc... I have a TON of graphic stripes the conversion company put on the van & i want them off so i can do the little body work & eventually paint it . \

thanx skip

Skippy,
A heat gun and plastic putty blade will work wonders on those stickers.