Hello everyone.
My name is Brad. I live in the Indianapolis area. I'm a sheetmetal worker full time. I buy and sell cars for my "play money". Astro vans have become my niche. I find they last much longer than other vans of the same age (aerostar, caravan, etc.) They sell good and I just like the way they look. I've had about 10 so far. I currently have 1993 Safari AWD and a 1989 Safari touring edition. The AWD will be for sale soon. The 89 is going to be my next project, a Cummins 4BT swap, goal is over 30mpg. Lots of great info here!
New member from Indy checking in
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WVKayaker
- I sleep in my van
- Posts: 427
- Joined: Tue Dec 25, 2007 9:30 pm
- Location: Bowie, MD
- Contact:
Re: New member from Indy checking in
Welcome ellabilt!
post pics when you can!
post pics when you can!
1999 AWD Astro purchased January 2007
2" Overland Vans Lift Kit, Add-a-Leaf, Shackles, Torsion Bars Cranked 1"
AGM Deep Cycle Marine Battery w/Isolator
Helwig Rear Anti-Sway Bar
Auburn Gear Pro Series Limited-Slip Differential
BFG AT KO 235/75/15
Cragar Nomad I Wheels
Dearly Departed 1990 RWD Shorty owned since day one.
Sold Feb 2007 with 193k miles.
2" Overland Vans Lift Kit, Add-a-Leaf, Shackles, Torsion Bars Cranked 1"
AGM Deep Cycle Marine Battery w/Isolator
Helwig Rear Anti-Sway Bar
Auburn Gear Pro Series Limited-Slip Differential
BFG AT KO 235/75/15
Cragar Nomad I Wheels
Dearly Departed 1990 RWD Shorty owned since day one.
Sold Feb 2007 with 193k miles.
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89AstroDan
- I finally get the smurf thing
- Posts: 123
- Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2007 6:49 pm
- Location: Indiana
Re: New member from Indy checking in
Welcome ellabilt from the Anderson area.
89 Astro Shorty
3.73 G80
3.73 G80
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ihatemybike
- I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 2224
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:57 pm
- Location: Elgin, IL
Re: New member from Indy checking in
You get that 4BT swap done and you'll have a visitor from Elgin.
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
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
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Jim in Indy
- I finally get the smurf thing
- Posts: 161
- Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:00 am
- Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Re: New member from Indy checking in
Hello & Welcome !!! Noblesville here.
Indy, all the horsepower you could ever imagine in one place...
Indianapolis 500, MotoGP, 400 at the Brickyard, NHRA US Nationals.
1991 Safari GT, 'B' motor, factory 4.10's. Original Owner !!!
Indianapolis 500, MotoGP, 400 at the Brickyard, NHRA US Nationals.
1991 Safari GT, 'B' motor, factory 4.10's. Original Owner !!!
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LiftedAWDAstro
- I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
- Posts: 4379
- Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
- Location: New Haven, NY
Re: New member from Indy checking in
Welcome Brad. Post up LOTS of pics about that Cummins swap. Many here have wondered and even one has started a diesel swap but no one has completed it!
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
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
Re: New member from Indy checking in
Hey welcome from Canada!
97' Safari AWD SLT - Nicknamed "Princess" cause of all the TLC she begs from me!
Location: West Coast, B.C., Canada eh?
Photos and Specs of "Princess"
Location: West Coast, B.C., Canada eh?
Photos and Specs of "Princess"
Re: New member from Indy checking in
Thanks for the welcome guys! I'll definitely document the swap. Being a fabricator, my plan is to sort out everything that needs to be fabbed for this so I can hopefully build more vans, provide others with parts, and possibly do some commissioned builds. I just have to stay focused! I have a nice AWD (prepping for sale) and a decent 2wd (coolant in oil). I'm gonna use the 2wd for the conversion. I've always wanted to do a t-case swap and build a cool 4x4 van. But I want to sort all of this out with a 2wd first, besides, the goal of this is max mileage, so a shorty 2wd is the logical choice. Stay focused Brad, sell the AWD. I'll probably have to turn a couple more vans after the AWD before I have enough cash on hand to pick up a step van to donate it's engine. I'll post some pics of some of my current and past vans when I get a chance.LiftedAWDAstro wrote:Welcome Brad. Post up LOTS of pics about that Cummins swap. Many here have wondered and even one has started a diesel swap but no one has completed it!
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GEJ
- I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 1487
- Joined: Mon Dec 25, 2006 9:50 pm
- Location: Rochester,NY
Re: New member from Indy checking in
Dito.Welcome.Tons of interest in a diesel swap from a number of members here.Will be following your threads about that.Really like guys who do great jobs fab'ing parts.
Call me Gary
1985 Astro-"Ole Yellar"
1994 LT Astro
1981 Winnebago-"Baby"
12'dual axle enclosed trailer
The vendor trailer
Lead with my heart & take the hits because of it like a man.
1985 Astro-"Ole Yellar"
1994 LT Astro
1981 Winnebago-"Baby"
12'dual axle enclosed trailer
The vendor trailer
Lead with my heart & take the hits because of it like a man.