What did you do to/with your van today?

[d3athm3talh3ad]

Dang-it sure is a bright world out there now.

lol! it's amazing the things that are hiding behind those raindrops!!

removed sensors from the old engine to put on the new-to-me engine, couldn't find my liquid or tape teflon, cleaned out the trash and empty boxes and packaging from the back of the van so i can get to the bags of hardware i set aside...found the teflon and it started to rain, so i'll try again sometime this week...

[T.Low]

I strategically parked it so that I could look at it while i powerwashed the block retaining wall, the front driveway, and the front deck.

Tomorrow I'll park it strategically so i can look at it while i powerwash the back deck, the back driveway, and the humongous back patio.

yup your obsessed.

Thank you.

Last night I went to my bachelor party. Even more so than the freaky naked girls, the highlights of my night were 1) being able to park next to another Astro van, (two Astros parked together is always infinitely cooler than just one)and 2) having the host of the party brought out by a freind to look at my van and hear him yell "I saw this thing at REI and and had to point it out to my wife and even she liked and she hates vans! Dude, your van rocks!" and he started taking pictures of it on the same memorey stick as all the freaky naked girls were on.


Today I parked it on the side of the property while I powerwashed the side two block retaining walls with a mild hang over (its hard to tell what you've already powerwashed when wearing dark glasses).

[Cobra]

T that's great

[dunedog]

T, you're still hungover cause when you start out saying,"Last night I went to my batcheler partyetc.etc.....no shit,........... you almost seemed like you aren't quite sure!!!
Man that had me ROTFL from the beginning.......

[thevalleyboy]

pounded through another 20cm of snow.... springtime in Calgary - got to love it...... the drifts in the lane were up to 40cm deep - no problems however I did feel the G80 lock up a few times

[skippy]

Saturday i got the 95 started & moved into the driveway , got it up on jackstands & dropped the tranny pan & drained all the fluids so i can in the next week or so pull the tranny so i can replace the pump & torque converter . shouldn't take me more than a couple weeks to get it done & drivable again . I can't wait !!!!!

[safariobsession]

I guess i'll have to be the Debbie Downer for today...

...We sold it. Big Blue - The Man Van is now in another driveway. Sold to a neighbor's friend who has seen the progress of her through the years and knows the work that's been put into it. Truely a sad day but a rewarding one too knowing it's going to someone that really needs a vehicle and honestly appreciates the deal and the van. I'll actually get to see it quite a bit since the buyer is next door visiting a lot.

Last Day Pictures:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v394/ ... =slideshow

[tbhager94]

changed the oil on saturday on my windtstar, i used valvoline high mileage 5w-30 and a bottle of stp oil treatment and today the od turned over to 180,000 kms

[crash]

rotated the tires sunday, polished the rims while i had them off. yesterday, took some polishing compound to the new 'scuff' on the side

[Spike99]

.

> What did you do to/with your van today?

Put some old gas into my van, drove my 2001 AWD Safari van to the local GM dealer, handed over both sets of keys, signed a few legal papers and offically "traded her in". Never to be driven by me again. Drove off the GM Dealer lot with a 2009 Montana EWB van - with 110 kms on its speedo. Its now official, my 2001 AWD Safari van is now gone. I will miss "the old girl". But, I won't be missing "its usual" yearly mechanial & electrical repairs.

ok guys... Try to top this "last driven" entry. ya. It's like a `last supper` event. It will be remember for many more years. Possibly, be remembered by many generations as well. LOL!!!!

.

[dunedog]

Spike, don't forget to tell us how well the Montana runs after a year......

[crash]

yeah, don't forget the updates spike.. and i'm curious how much you got for a trade on the 01 awd ... :-k

[Spike99]

yeah, don't forget the updates spike99.. and i'm curious how much you got for a trade on the 01 awd ... :-k

Overview:
- MSP for 2009 Montana EWB / 1SB = $32,000
- Add more options (like remote start, side air bags, upgraded seats, rear AC, etc.)
- Subtract factory rebate of $10K
- Subtract $2K for GM Visa points
- Trade for 2001 AWD Safari van with 148,000 kms with $3,500.
- Add Registration, licence, plate transfer, etc.
- Add 13% PST/GST (taxes)

Thus, our "drive off the GM lot" final cost was $23K (that's including 13% taxes).

Comparing my new 2009 Montana van against my `old technology` Safari van is like comparing night and day. No comparison at all. The Montana is like driving a large frame car that comfortably fits 7 people (3 rows of seats). For take off power, the Montana's 3.9L (240 HP) VVT engine blows the doors off the Safari's 4.3L (196 HP) engine. The '07-'09 Montana's huge front brake rotors have amazing stopping power as well. The Montana is like driving a car - compared to the Safari's "truck" driving feeling. So far, we love our new Montana van. Since I no longer tow a TT or heavy weight utility trailers anymore, there's no more need for an Astro/Safari van in my family. We will probably miss the AWD (for traction) during winter months. Only time will tell...

Future upgrades for my new Montana van (mostly for light weight utility trailer towing the odd time):
- Timbrens for its rear - for my utility trailer towing (already bought them).
- Class III hitch - REESE or hidden hitch brand.
- 7-Pin trailer connector - will wire "+" live wire as well.
- Brake Controller - Husky brand (???).
- Front hood plastic bug guard / wind deflector.
- Extra reverse lights - like I did on my old Safari van.
re: http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w251 ... ghts-3.jpg

Will keep folks posted on my towing item install progress, and will try to provide future "what ever happened to?" updates.

So far, we're glad my previous "old technology" Safari van was traded it.

.

[Moreforles]

pulled the front wheels off the new...... 88 shorty astro..... pads where gone rotor grooved up badly, both front brake lines were leaking where they connect to the flex hoses and the rear line as well some where over the rearend.

after this next cold spell, I'll see if if runs.... (before I think about doing any brake work of course....)

I still need to bring the 94 astro conversion to the new house.... keys dissapeared during move... but make have to have the linkage disconnected and have it towed.... (before something else happens to it....)

a couple weeks after we moved, a big icicle broke off the gutter and busted to sliding door window (same window I changed after someone one through a small rock through it, when I had it parked at a friends house.

[chemist]

- Trade for 2001 AWD Safari van with 148,000 kms with $3,500.

And that's exactly why I won't be rushing to trade my 03 Astro. Besides, I want to prove to myself that you really can get 300,000 on one of these things...

As for today, loaded up some of the arsenel and took family to range. Then later cleared a P0101 engine code from all the uphill driving...