Thanks for the info Strover. Looks like the lines are a match with the Sierra/Silverado, but not the input shaft. ***or at least a match with some years. I wonder if the input/output sizes were really changed or if that's a typo?***

After researching outside tie rod ends last night, I'm believing all the units would be strong enough. Voyager, Silverado and Astro all seem to have equivalent tie rod sizes; the Trailblazer end is actually bigger and doesn't look like it would fit the Astro knuckle. I'm thinking Smilesafari is out ...

Here are some preliminary numbers I measured on my '98 AWD: stop to stop "throw" is ~5.25" in exactly 2 rotations of steering wheel inner tierods end to end ~39" outer tierods end to end @ grease fitting ~54 3/4" (measured straight, probably a bit longer along the actual ass...

how about keeping it in the family with a R&P from a 1500 Silverado or Express? 4463 pounds and our tierod ends "might" just screw right on. May have to shorten the tierods some. http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/A1C1/971000/02873.oap?year=2005&make=Chevrolet&model=Silve...

Some things to consider: 1...The rack must be from a vehicle of close to equal weight of an Astro/Safari. Just starting to think out loud here (dangerous I know!) about R&P on my AWD. My immediate concern is whether the Mustang unit and the Voyager tierods will hold up to off road abuse and lar...

I've been thinking about it. Anyone got a rack kicking around?

sounds like some new vacuum lines in your future!

I changed out the idlers today, took it on a 4x4 test drive; no more pulley to cross link contact under torque. Probably was the problem all along but the motor mounts were worn so that job wasn't completely in vain.

To check for excessive play in the distributor gear, you just have to pull the cap. They started using a harder metal on the replacements so it doesn't wear like the originals. You only have to pull the distributor if you are going to replace the gear. Funny thing is that you can get a complete new...

I think it mostly comes down to that damn gear at the bottom of the distributor, they wear out and cause just enough running problems to cause issues without throwing codes, causing un-burned fuel to leave the engine, destroying the cat. As soon as that part throttle bucking starts or about 80k to ...

Replaced (or had replaced) the cat today. The old one had about half of the matrix left in it and was pretty much a big ball rattling around inside. I guess the other half must be stuck in the muffler somewhere? Cleared the PO code and the ol' girl had a lot more pep pulling up the grade back home! ...

LOL, well that was bold!

Being tall has its drawbacks. First one to find out its raining... And not being able to sleep sideways eh? As for being able to see the sky? Where I drive there's more of this and less people on the road! :muhaha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5ogSmH8M84 [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Sleeping sideways is pretty nice, at 5'10" I have to shoehorn in there a bit. Always wondered how you tall guys see out the windshield! Never could figure out why they put those seats so high! I've got the power seat in the lowest position and still can't see the sky!

I'm pretty sure I've had a full sheet of plywood in there (4x8), but can't remember for sure.

While the nuts do have a bottom, there may be the possibility (unlikely) of leakage between the nut and roof. Also beware; when I removed mine (because it was half falling off), the screws were rusted tight. When I went to loosen them, the nut pulled out of the sheet metal with little force. So now ...