What did you do to/with your van today?

General Discussion
( Please do not post help questions here )
User avatar

Rileysowner
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 1290
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:14 pm
Location: Exeter ON
Contact:

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

Post by Rileysowner »

Bearings are packed, and the hub installs, but the spindle nut will not go on. It won't move unless I hit it with a ratchet, so finger tightening it would be impossible. I am out of time now, but would love suggestions. I hope this does not mean I need a new steering knuckle although they are cheap enough at the wrecker, but I don't want to have to separate the ball-joints again, especially with the pickle fork as I could then damage the boots on the ball joints.
"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/

Topic author
ihatemybike
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2224
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:57 pm
Location: Elgin, IL

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

Post by ihatemybike »

Green: Yesterday, moved into garage and put up on jack stands. Start working on removing the trans today.

Grumpy: Forgot that during the Jeep gathering last weekend I removed the door card from the passenger side back door and pushed a dent out.
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
User avatar

Rileysowner
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 1290
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:14 pm
Location: Exeter ON
Contact:

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

Post by Rileysowner »

I got frustrated with it. Actually my frustration is more for whoever mucked up spindle bolt assuming that is why it won't go on without a fight.
"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/

Rebel
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2009
Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:24 am
Location: Evergreen, Al. 96 mile marker, where life is slow and there are no rules.

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

Post by Rebel »

Did a little more work on the Frenched antenna,,used a step drill for hole in fender well for the wires and antenna cable to run across front of firewall.
Early pic before smoothing out some of the rough areas around edge and inside exhaust tubing.
Image
89 Astro, 350 V-8, Shaved doors, Filled Slider, Corvette IRS, 94 Mustang GT Rack & Pinion(Thanks to Skip), Cad Tail lights from SoCalliV8 ( RIP) Miss you my friend.

VIDEO

Image





If you drive illegally, they take your driver's license. If you're here illegally, they want to give you one :)












Image





If guns kill people, do pencils misspell words
User avatar

Rileysowner
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 1290
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:14 pm
Location: Exeter ON
Contact:

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

Post by Rileysowner »

So far this evening. Finished bearings, installed hub/rotor, installed new pads and mounted caliper, and installed the kyb Gas-adjusts. I still have to to the tie-rods, but it is raining and I am hungry. I am hoping to get to them after supper as I can count threads in the garage. At this rate it will be read to go out for an alignment tomorrow. Wooohoooo! It will be good to have it back.

Then all that is left is the window motor on the drivers side, and the rear brakes. I don't have the stuff for the rear brakes yet, and I don't think doing the window motor in the rain would be a good way to keep my interior dry :)

UPDATE:
Everything is done except the alignment. Sadly it is noticeably off. I'm thankful I have old tires to throw up front for the drive to get the alignment. I would love to get it out there this evening, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. I tried to adjust the toe in, but frankly I am done like dinner. I will just leave it for someone else.
"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/

Topic author
ihatemybike
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2224
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:57 pm
Location: Elgin, IL

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

Post by ihatemybike »

Green: Put it up on jack stands, drained the transmission and removed the drive shaft.
Last edited by ihatemybike on Wed May 13, 2009 9:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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
User avatar

potskie
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 769
Joined: Sat Jun 09, 2007 9:13 am
Location: Waterloo, ON

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

Post by potskie »

Cleaned the carpets. Wished I was in it instead of driving a truck and trailer that had a load on easily 1000KGs over my license weight limit.
Image 98 Safari RWD. Stock.
Do you smell what Barack is cookin ?!?!
User avatar

crash
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 1289
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:18 am
Location: Woodstock, Ontario

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

Post by crash »

drove it to take my wife for bday dinner tuesday. gave it a nice little highway run. noticed the slider won't lock or unlock with the rest of the doors. add checking that one out to my 'to do' list [-(
Rob Image

current rides:
04 Mazda 6 V6 5spd

vans owned: Image
97 Astro AWD (selling by summer .. i think) SOLD
99 Astro LS Sept 08 ASV VOM
94 Astro LT
93 Astro LT
96 Astro LT AWD * parts van*
User avatar

Rileysowner
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 1290
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:14 pm
Location: Exeter ON
Contact:

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

Post by Rileysowner »

crash wrote:drove it to take my wife for bday dinner tuesday. gave it a nice little highway run. noticed the slider won't lock or unlock with the rest of the doors. add checking that one out to my 'to do' list [-(
I have that problem with the slider in mine sometimes as well. No idea how to fix it.
"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/
User avatar

LaGrasta
I sleep in my van
Posts: 724
Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:07 pm
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 3 times

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

Post by LaGrasta »

Rileysowner wrote:
crash wrote:drove it to take my wife for bday dinner tuesday. gave it a nice little highway run. noticed the slider won't lock or unlock with the rest of the doors. add checking that one out to my 'to do' list [-(
I have that problem with the slider in mine sometimes as well. No idea how to fix it.
Never had that problem, but my guess is those "contacts" in the door jamb. Scrub them up a bit and see what that gets you.
1998 Astro, 246,000 miles

K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box
User avatar

Rileysowner
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 1290
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:14 pm
Location: Exeter ON
Contact:

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

Post by Rileysowner »

Took the van to have it aligned. I limped part way there, it stalled, and I decided enough is enough time for a tow. Now it is aligned, and drives very nicely.
"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/
User avatar

reaper
I sleep in my van
Posts: 381
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:51 pm
Location: VANcouver

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

Post by reaper »

Removed this reflective sticker shit that was on the inner drivers door.
Replaced a leaking power steering pump line.
Modified a suction cup mount for my GPS to fit into the drivers side cupholder
& eliminated the GPS cigarette lighter plug & tapped into a switched source.
In all that mumbo jumbo,I managed to install a AVS bugdeflector on my
friends Ford ranger (Wooooo.....Big deal).
90 Astro Cargo V-8
90 Artro RS - V-8 Now running!
& a bunch of tractors
"there's nothing like a V-8 Polluting the Environment"
Image

Topic author
ihatemybike
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2224
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:57 pm
Location: Elgin, IL

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

Post by ihatemybike »

Green: Tried removing the Y-pipe, broke a stud and decided I need a hotter torch.
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

robertg
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 114
Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 4:52 am
Location: cortland, ohio

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

Post by robertg »

drove it to work, and took my better half out to dinner afterwards.

watching the news to see who's dealerships are closing....
2000 Astro 4.3 A4- b&m transcooler/autometer trans temp gauge. 171k miles
1995 Astro 4.3 A4- generic flowmaster muffler. 239k miles
User avatar

crash
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 1289
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:18 am
Location: Woodstock, Ontario

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

Post by crash »

Rileysowner wrote:Took the van to have it aligned. I limped part way there, it stalled, and I decided enough is enough time for a tow. Now it is aligned, and drives very nicely.
:-k so you arrive with a van in tow.. align it and it runs fine and no longer stalls? maybe i'm missing something :dunce: how did the alignment fix the 'required to be towed issue after stalling' ?

and ya lagrasta.. i'm sure it's just the contacts needing a cleaning and some dielectric grease. seems these days more 'to-dos' are being added at an alarming rate to my 'to-do' list than i'm getting crossed off ](*,)
Rob Image

current rides:
04 Mazda 6 V6 5spd

vans owned: Image
97 Astro AWD (selling by summer .. i think) SOLD
99 Astro LS Sept 08 ASV VOM
94 Astro LT
93 Astro LT
96 Astro LT AWD * parts van*
Post Reply