what to do?
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Topic author - I am merely driving my van
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:43 pm
what to do?
ok first i am not a car guy i want to be if something brake i take it somewhere with that said i have a 2000 astro stock well, i have a intake what next i want to make this good van better and i want to do it myself but where do i start i love this van and i know there is more inside her that wants to come out any ideas thank you
------------ 2000 astro 2wd ls 4.3
89 gmc s15 4.3
89 gmc s15 4.3
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- I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 1750
- Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:31 pm
- Location: Toronto, Ontario
Re: what to do?
I guess the first question is what do you intend to do with this van daily driver, off-roading, towing or family hauler
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
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
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Topic author - I am merely driving my van
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:43 pm
Re: what to do?
so far it has been doing all of that but a think i will stop the offroad thing and i do drive it everyday i want more power but not ready for the v8swap
------------ 2000 astro 2wd ls 4.3
89 gmc s15 4.3
89 gmc s15 4.3
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- I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 2224
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:57 pm
- Location: Elgin, IL
Re: what to do?
For more low end, remove the restrictor plate on the throttle blade.
Underdrive pulleys free up some HP for the wheels.
Underdrive pulleys free up some HP for the wheels.
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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- I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 1750
- Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:31 pm
- Location: Toronto, Ontario
Re: what to do?
i'm running pretty stock still. I have jet underdrive pulley which right off the bat lowered my idle.... and i also used a jet performance programmer to set 91 octan shift points and ignition, didn't seem to change much for city traffic but on the highway i felt it a little bit
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
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
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Topic author - I am merely driving my van
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:43 pm
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- I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
- Posts: 4379
- Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
- Location: New Haven, NY
Re: what to do?
The number 1 mod should be installing an auxiliary transmission cooler.. After that you can play with HP.
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
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- I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
- Posts: 2667
- Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:34 pm
- Location: Orlando, FL
Re: what to do?
I know this is probably not what you want to hear but by the time you realize any significant performance gains you will have spent more than a V8 swap. It's not that hard and it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. 

1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
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- I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 1750
- Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:31 pm
- Location: Toronto, Ontario
Re: what to do?
yeah... that's probably true getting more power out of these V6's is doable but a V8 swap would probably be cheaper AND more reliable our engines are pretty bullet proof stock not sure about modded tho
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
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
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Topic author - I am merely driving my van
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:43 pm
Re: what to do?
i was just thinkin when i am ready for the v8 i can put the v6 in my s15then i am not wasteing money on the v6 you know so there is not any little low cost thing i can do
------------ 2000 astro 2wd ls 4.3
89 gmc s15 4.3
89 gmc s15 4.3
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- Retired
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I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 1209
- Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 5:42 pm
- Location: Lost Angels, Sovern KarlyFornia.
Re: what to do?
If you are intending to fit your 2000 Astro engine into that `89 S10 in your sig, plan on having to swap over all the wiring that goes with it..... Have you ever seen how much spaghetti you can serve up on a trash can lid?
Just do a good tune-up on your 2000 4.3 using genuine AC Delco components and leave it at that. (save your money)
Just do a good tune-up on your 2000 4.3 using genuine AC Delco components and leave it at that. (save your money)
`86 V8 Lowered Cargo, extensively modified, shaved bald, wearing the shortest, sluttyest white primer dress....
A British Wanker living in So KarlyFornia.
My Astro tows my toys to Glamis sand dunes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp2pqjQtpso
First ever canal jump at Glamis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXZjM84x_Xc
A British Wanker living in So KarlyFornia.
My Astro tows my toys to Glamis sand dunes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp2pqjQtpso
First ever canal jump at Glamis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXZjM84x_Xc
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Topic author - I am merely driving my van
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:43 pm
Re: what to do?
ok that sound good to i will just wait for the v8 swap
------------ 2000 astro 2wd ls 4.3
89 gmc s15 4.3
89 gmc s15 4.3