Hello guys and girls I found you while doing a Goggle search for some information on this van I'm thinking about buying.
We moved over here to England about seven years ago but I'm American to the bone and when this little van was offered I decided I would take a chance and pick it up. I'll have a few hundred questions about this little Astro from Japan so if it's alright I wouldn't mind picking a few brains if I could.
I don't know the exact year of the van but it's on a 'K' plate and here I assume that means~ K - 1992/93
She's been converted to run on LPG along with gas...
I understand these are the guys that imported it and did the LPG...
Side view..
She has a hitch installed already...
The plan is to make use of it for my business along with some family time away so I'm curious as to what sort of power this engine has and other than trans cooling what are some of the problems to look out for. I don't remember off hand what the milage was...sorry.
Last edited by California on Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:38 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Hey Doc, I swiped this from another site. Maybe some help. Jim
ps: she looks good!
VIN Position Description
Position 1 Country of Origin:
1 = U.S.A.
2 = Canada
Position 2 Company built by:
G = General Motors
Position 3 Make or division:
1 = Chevrolet
7 = GM of Canada
C = Chevy Truck
K = GMC Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
N = Chevy Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
T = GMC Truck
Position 4 GVW/ Braking System:
B = 3,001 - 4,000/ Hydraulic
C = 4,001 - 5,000/ Hydraulic
D = 5,001 - 6,000/ Hydraulic
E = 6,001 - 7,000/ Hydraulic
F = 7,001 - 8,000/ Hydraulic
Position 5 Chassis:
M = Van (Astro, Safari) 2WD
L = Van (Astro, Safari) AWD
Position 6 Series:
1 = 1/2 ton
2 = 3/4 ton
Position 7 Body Type:
5 = Van
Position 8 Engine type:
A = 151 ci L4 2.5L TBI
B = 262 ci V6 4.3L TBI
E = 151 ci L4 2.5L TBI
N = 262 ci V6 4.3L 2 BBL ('85)
N = 262 ci V6 4.3L 4 BBL
W = 262 ci V6 4.3L CPI
W = 262 ci V6 4.3L MFI ('98-'05)
X = 262 ci V6 4.3L CPI
X = 262 ci V6 4.3L MFI ('98-'05)
Z = 262 ci V6 4.3L TBI
Position 9 Check digit:
This is a VIN checksum used to verify VIN legality.
Position 10 Model year:
F = 1985
G = 1986
H = 1987
J = 1988
K = 1989
L = 1990
M = 1991
N = 1992
P = 1993
R = 1994
S = 1995
T = 1996
V = 1997
W = 1998
X = 1999
Y = 2000
1 = 2001
2 = 2002
3 = 2003
4 = 2004
5 = 2005
Position 11 Plant:
A = Lakewood, GA
B = Lansing (Reatta), MI
B = Baltimore (Truck & Bus), MD
B = Pupyong, KOREA
C = Lansing, MI
D = Doraville, GA
E = Linden, NJ
E = Pontiac (Truck & Bus), MI
F = Fairfax II, KS
F = Flint (Truck & Bus), MI
G = Framingham, MA
H = Flint, MI
J = Janesville (Truck & Bus), WI
J = Janesville, WI
K = Leeds, MO
K = Kosai, JAPAN
L = Van Nuys ('82-'92 F-car), CA
M = Lansing, MI
N = Norwood ('82-'87 F-car), OH
R = Arlington (B-car), TX
S = St. Louis (Truck & Bus), MO
S = Ramos Arizpe, MEXICO
T = Tarrytown (Truck & Bus), NY
U = Hamtramck, MI
V = Pontiac (Truck & Bus), MI
W = Willow Run (B-car), MI
W = Iwata, JAPAN
X = Fairfax, KS
Y = Wilmington, DE
Z = Fremont, CA
Z = Spring Hill (Saturn), TN
Z = Fort Wayne (Truck & Bus), IN
0 = Pontiac (Truck & Bus), MI
1 = Wentzville, MO
1 = Oshowa 2, ONTARIO
2 = Moraine (Truck & Bus), OH
2 = Ste. Therese ('93-'96+ F-car), QUEBEC
3 = Detroit (Truck & Bus), MI
3 = Kawasaki, JAPAN
3 = St. Eustache, QUEBEC
4 = Orion, MI
4 = Scarborough, ONTARIO
5 = Bowling Green ('84-'96+ Corvette), KY
5 = London, ONTARIO
6 = Oklahoma City, OK
6 = Ingersoll, ONTARIO
7 = Lordstown, OH
7 = Lordstown (Truck & Bus), OH
7 = Fujisawa, JAPAN
8 = Shreveport (Truck & Bus), LA
9 = Detroit, MI
9 = Tillsonburg, ONTARIO
9 = Oshawa 1, ONTARIO
Excellent!! I didn't get a picture of the VIN but I will next time I go over and talk turkey. She needs a lock cylinder for the rear door and a passenger side mirror.
These vans are pretty tough overall and with reasonable care and feeding will run in excess of 200K miles on the original drivetrain. The V-6 is bulletproof. Transmissions too if maintained and not overheated. (Towing, especially in OD, causes the heat. The transmission in my '96 went 160K miles before I pulled the van off the road and it was still strong. I used to tow about 2,000 lbs with it and it doesn't have an auxillary cooler.) I see the rearend as a weak link. Mine started whining at only 45K miles and I had it rebuilt around 100K. I would guess the harder you use the van, the bigger the problem it might be. (I'm sure lots of people haven't touched their rear axle... maybe it is just me!)
The problem I see with our vans are smaller issues. Wiring for the power windows where it comes through the driver's door. HVAC controls and wiper motor electronics that go haywire (96+). Things that probably won't leave you stranded, but sometimes annoyed.
The bottom line for me is that this is the toughest non-fullsize van out there. Very capable in stock form, and able to be strengthened as needed!
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!
Great info !!!
I noticed that the water pump had gone out some time ago and was replaced, the remaining rust over the intake manifold leads me to believe that there wasn't a proper mixture in the tank so it's worth checking out the trans and adding a cooler if it hasn't already been done.
That small block is sweet, a bit heavy for my plans but I would have one in a heartbeat I have built one from a keg for home use and after I noticed the van had a proper reciver I'll fab up a mount to fit it and the keg for those family trips.
Stainless was the way to go with the weather we get over here...
Couple other issues these vans have are steering idler arms and fuel pumps.
Idler arms are easy swaps, get Moog brand when replacing and keep them lubed.
Fuel pumps usually don't die altogether, they just get too weak to fuel the van. Sometimes when they go you can start the van with starting fluid and be able to drive the van home. Only replace with ACDelco/Delphi as other brands usually die a premature death forcing another replacement and irritating the owner. (That's part of the reason I was able to get Grumpy for $250.) Hopefully since it has the LPG conversion you won't be running the normal fuel pump as often, thus making it last longer.
Normal usage the fuel filter should be changed every 20-25k miles, which helps make the pump last longer.
A giant BBQ. 
