New to the site, not new to Astros or online forums. I normally hang my hat at trifive.com. My newest projects are 57 Chevrolets.
We bought our first Astro AWD back in 98. It was a 97 lease return with less than 20K miles on it. The kids were getting bigger so we needed to get out of the dodge mini van scene. The room was great....towing the tent trailer was better but the gas mileage was a short setback. Just a quick note on the mini van.....I lifted it 2", not for off road, but to hold the load. I put a full leaf in the back and found some Moog springs that brought the front up to a nice level stance. I could step on the back hitch and the van wouldn't go down. So, we weren't that family headed down the road with the rear tires rubbing and dragging the bumper.....you seen em!
The 97 was cooking along fine and then the trans went out. Took it back to the dealer under their extended warranty to have it fixed. First time I bought extended warranty; they made an offer I couldn't refuse. I had my own financing, but they said if I used their money folks they would drop interest by 1 full percent. That payed for the extended warranty. Got the van back after being there for over a week. I went by everyday to see my van not moved. I asked them to put in a GM tranny. Nope, they said they rebuilt it and charged the extended warranty company $2,600. I wasn't happy, but got my van back. 13 months later, the trany did the same thing. They wouldn't warranty it ...even after I called the general service manager and let him know that they weren't doing me any favors. I went to the chevy dealer and bought the tranny and put it in myself. The van reached 100K and we went shopping for a newer model.
We came home with an 01 Astro AWD in Aug of 02. It only had 1,200 miles on it and I went over it with a fine tooth comb. I crawled under it and no stone was unturned. The salesman said he had never seen someone look so intent at a vehicle. My wife said, you don't know my husband.
I couldn't figure out how an 01 with all the cardboard NEW car tabs still in place have 1,200 miles, being sold as used and being sold near the end of the following year of manufacture. We didn't trade in the 97, they didn't want it...or it could be that I wouldn't take the $3,000 they offered me for it. I told them I could drive it for two years and sell it for more. Now six years later and 32K more miles, I was hoping to sell it for $3,000 since it is in real nice shape.... The 01 has 145K on it and we are looking for a newer Astro. We don't need 3 vans.
Now the sad news
This Saturday, I decided to change the oil and put on a new distributor cap. Things were going fine; I drained the oil and started on the cap. I did the Indy Pit Stop and had the wires back on. I reached over and decided to fire it up and see how it ran. I raced the motor a few times and then realized that there was NO oil in it. I shut it off, put oil in and it wouldn't crank over. Then I felt sick in my stomach for doing such a bone head mistake. 
I let the engine cool for a few hours and then it started. Wow, I dodged the bullet on this one. But, on the second day home from work I noticed the oil gauge drop as I turned into my housing area. Then as I turned onto my street the knock was heard. Suddenly that sick feeling came back.So, now I am at a cross roads.... I found this site and decided to join. I can try to pull the pan and replace rod bearings hoping to get a few more miles on her, sell it out right or part it. So, in the next few days as I try to figure out what I am going to do, I will start a new thread when I decide a plan. It could be a "Hey I drained my oil, ran it and put rod bearings in and am on the road" or a classified or parting out post.
.......I sure deserve the knuckle head of the year award for last Saturday's performance...Hope you ALL will have me as a part of the form! I promise I won't try that stunt again!
