My sons 94 project

SWAPPING IN A 305, 350 OR ANY OTHER SMALL BLOCK, POST THEM HERE.

Topic author
lockdoc
I sleep in my van
Posts: 704
Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:50 am
Location: Plymouth Township, PA

My sons 94 project

Post by lockdoc »

My oldest kid learned to drive in an Astro, his first and only car has been an Astro. He has pretty much killed his van and wanted another one. So he he bought a decent condition 94 TBI Astro for $550. The engine has 200K and runs rough so we decided to replace it. Found a decent 350 TBI with all the accessories with it for $400. So, when he is done he should have a nice running V8 Astro for about $1500. Not bad. I'll update as it progresses.

Towed it the 130 miles rather than risk it breaking down. After playing with the engine for a bit I decided it wasn't worth the money to get it running nice so we strated tearing it down. We are going drop the frame on this project. It will keep me from lying on the ground so much.

Image

Image

Image
Current:
01 AWD - Stock
98 AWD - Stock
Past:
93 4WD - 305 V8 - 5" lift - 31" tires
98 4WD DHC - 10" lift - 33" tires - Onboard air and Hydraulics - Snowplow
92 RWD - 350 V8 - lowered - 97 front clip
92 RWD - 350 V8 - converted to AWD - V6
91 AWD - 350 V8 - conversion van
94 RWD - 350 V8 - sons van
92 RWD - stock - sons van
93 RWD Shorty - project
89 RWD Shorty - parts van
User avatar

mdmead
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 2153
Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 6:45 pm
Location: Selah, WA
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: My sons 94 project

Post by mdmead »

:supz: :supz:
Matt
Selah, WA
-96 GMC Safari AWD Hi-Top Conversion -->Stalled 5.3L swap & 5" lift
-74 Ford Bronco -->Far from perfect but mine!
-99 V-10 Ford Super Duty Super Cab 4x4 -->Stock with 285 Cooper ATs
-00 Ford Focus Wagon -->The Red Turd
-95 Ford 24' Class C Motorhome -->My big block sleeper
-07 Can-Am Outlander XT -->My yellow 4x4 quad for work & play
-04 Ski Doo REV Summit -->Still several chassis behind!


No new projects until the current ones are done!

LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: My sons 94 project

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

I was wondering what you guys have been up to! :supz: :cheers:
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

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

Cobra
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 1750
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:31 pm
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: My sons 94 project

Post by Cobra »

he's lucky... he has someone with some much experience working on it
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

1997 gone

Moreforles
I sleep in my van
Posts: 354
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:35 am
Location: Cleveland, Ohio

Re: My sons 94 project

Post by Moreforles »

body looks pretty good from the photo's, once the engine done and back in, he should be good for a bunch of years (or until something better catches his eye, at which time he can sell his 94 to some one on this sight... freshly rebuilt motor is a great selling feature) there's a shop here near Cleveland that rebuilt m y 2000 Trans for $400 if that ends up being an issue as well
2000 Astro, passenger van. Converted into a cargo van, used for Carpet cleaning (10 lbs of crap, in a 5 lb bag)

Lockboy1691
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2010 2:08 pm

Re: My sons 94 project

Post by Lockboy1691 »

Its going to be awesome when we are done. I am going to have a good time with this van maybe even more than my first one. But if anything would catch my eye after i am done with this it would probably be another astro or safari van. :supz:
1992 Astro Van Ext - First van Multicolored Beat to crap
1994 Astro Van Ext - Second van finally V8 powered and lookin sexy!
Son of Lockdoc
Image
User avatar

kings-x59
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 1374
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2006 7:50 pm
Location: Cypress, Tx

Re: My sons 94 project

Post by kings-x59 »

chip off the old Lock... :muhaha:
'89 Astro, 4.3L, TBI. Minor intake and exhaust mods. Rebuilt 700R4 trans (by me). Corvette servo, 0.5" boost valve, police grade 1-2 accumulator spring (shifts fast and solid). B&M stacked plate trans cooler. Bilstein shocks. Belltech sway bars front and back. New head unit, speakers and subwoofer. Needs paint and a new headliner.

name's Steve
I can't remember all I've forgotten about that....

Lockboy1691
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2010 2:08 pm

Re: My sons 94 project

Post by Lockboy1691 »

i have to say i agree cause i am a locksmith too not as good as my father but not bad. :)
1992 Astro Van Ext - First van Multicolored Beat to crap
1994 Astro Van Ext - Second van finally V8 powered and lookin sexy!
Son of Lockdoc
Image
User avatar

Smiliesafari
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 2667
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:34 pm
Location: Orlando, FL

Re: My sons 94 project

Post by Smiliesafari »

That's a nice score. It's great to see you and your Dad working together.
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle

astrozam
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 2770
Joined: Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:57 am
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: My sons 94 project

Post by astrozam »

Well that apple didn't fall far from the tree now did it ? :muhaha:

Welcome aboard jr, its been awhile since we've seen any projects roll out of the PA Mtns, looking forward to seeing this project develop. :cheers:
User avatar

dunedog
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 686
Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2007 1:22 pm
Location: Pioneer Valley WMass

Re: My sons 94 project

Post by dunedog »

Son of Lockdoc,........does kinda send chills down my spine!! :butthead:

Hey, noticeably missing from the pics are any beasts!But nice score just the same.

and Billy,in all seriousness,learning a trade,doing it well,being fair and honest will pay you back a thousand fold in life. :yawinkle:
1999 LS AWD 3" Lift,4.10's,Snowplow,9500lb Ramsey winch

Topic author
lockdoc
I sleep in my van
Posts: 704
Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:50 am
Location: Plymouth Township, PA

Re: My sons 94 project

Post by lockdoc »

Just for you Dunedog. It's funny you mentioned the dogs. The whole time Bill was trying to take pics he was trying to shew them away. I told him they are trademarks in my pics! This is Faith's pup Abbey. She's 6 months. Unfortunately as of yesterday there is some sad news with the dogs that I'm not up to sharing about.

Image
Current:
01 AWD - Stock
98 AWD - Stock
Past:
93 4WD - 305 V8 - 5" lift - 31" tires
98 4WD DHC - 10" lift - 33" tires - Onboard air and Hydraulics - Snowplow
92 RWD - 350 V8 - lowered - 97 front clip
92 RWD - 350 V8 - converted to AWD - V6
91 AWD - 350 V8 - conversion van
94 RWD - 350 V8 - sons van
92 RWD - stock - sons van
93 RWD Shorty - project
89 RWD Shorty - parts van
User avatar

1Gary
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 2743
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:18 am

Re: My sons 94 project

Post by 1Gary »

Good looking van.That carport is also one of the trademarks that I can think of.It sure has seen a number of builds over the yrs.Wish you well on the build.
Last edited by 1Gary on Tue Sep 21, 2010 10:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1979 Malibu drag race only car
1999 Sonoma 4.3 5 speed-Rufus
1989 Astro-Ole Yellar cancelled-still selling off parts
1985 Astro-shop van R.I.P. my friend
1994 Astro LT RWD W4.3 rod knock RIP
1982 Winnebago single rear wheel-Chevy 350 Scraped 1/28/13-broken dreams......


Rochester,NY

Lockboy1691
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2010 2:08 pm

Re: My sons 94 project

Post by Lockboy1691 »

Hopefully getting the engine today i guess since its 1am but the guy hasn't been communicating very well but if he answer lockdoc and are going to get it after work tomorrow holding my breath though i don't want to jinx it :-$
1992 Astro Van Ext - First van Multicolored Beat to crap
1994 Astro Van Ext - Second van finally V8 powered and lookin sexy!
Son of Lockdoc
Image

Lockboy1691
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2010 2:08 pm

Re: My sons 94 project

Post by Lockboy1691 »

We got the engine!!! except for it down pouring the whole time it was like a winter white out it was so hard to drive in but all and all we got and I can't wait to get it in. :supz:
1992 Astro Van Ext - First van Multicolored Beat to crap
1994 Astro Van Ext - Second van finally V8 powered and lookin sexy!
Son of Lockdoc
Image
Post Reply