What did you do to/with your van today?

General Discussion
( Please do not post help questions here )

Rotor
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat Oct 17, 2009 3:59 pm

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by Rotor »

ihatemybike wrote:
Lumpy wrote:The guys at DiscountTire love it when I come in. Since I took the rear wheels off to do the lift, I went in for some air up and had them torque the lug nuts. I've been eyeing some 235/75 BFGoodrich A/Ts.
This is what I want to put on Grumpy after its 2" lift is installed. Pocketbook and environmentally friendly.

Treadwright Crawler M/T 235/75R15
Image
I cant say enough good things about my Treadwrights. I run the 225-75r16 Puma A/T's on my Astro camper(got them when I only had a 2" lift), kinda wish I had gone with the mud's. All mine balanced at an ounce or less. When mine wear out I think ill go with these, since I am at about a 4" lift now.
245/75R16 GUARD DOG M/T (E)
Image

Kidhauler
I sleep in my van
Posts: 877
Joined: Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:46 pm
Location: Vancouver B.C.

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by Kidhauler »

well the other day we went to do a 20km drive to Princess Auto we got about 5km when the front right started to make a whumpping noise. I thought the tire might be going down so we stopped at the gas station and when I put my hand on the rim for balance it was warm to the touch. Nice another frozen caliper. I just put that caliper on last year. So today I got to swap another caliper on the front right. This time I got lucky and the brake rotor was not damaged. I put on slotted vented rotors last year and they are very expensive but it seemed to be worth it as they took the heat and didn't warp.
1999 Safari Touring edition.
trailer tow pack with a 3:73 posi
Bucket bench seats, Rear heat, Rear Airconditioning.
teal green
300 000 kms
AirRide air bags in the rear to fix soft stock suspension.
Onboard aircompressor to make it all work nice.

phr1$k37
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 1035
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2007 6:40 pm

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by phr1$k37 »

Kidhauler wrote: I put on slotted vented rotors last year and they are very expensive but it seemed to be worth it as they took the heat and didn't warp.

Glad to hear! Thanks again for the helping hand on the weekend :)

Lubed up the chassis to get rid of a squeak in the suspension when rolling through a turn.
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"
User avatar

reaper
I sleep in my van
Posts: 381
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:51 pm
Location: VANcouver

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by reaper »

Kidhauler wrote: started to make a whumpping noise.
Whumping noise?...........Care to explain? :muhaha:
90 Astro Cargo V-8
90 Artro RS - V-8 Now running!
& a bunch of tractors
"there's nothing like a V-8 Polluting the Environment"
Image

Topic author
ihatemybike
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2224
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:57 pm
Location: Elgin, IL

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by ihatemybike »

reaper wrote:
Kidhauler wrote: started to make a whumpping noise.
Whumping noise?...........Care to explain? :muhaha:
Brake catching causes the tire to jump. Similar to a tire being severely out of balance.
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
User avatar

reaper
I sleep in my van
Posts: 381
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:51 pm
Location: VANcouver

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by reaper »

ihatemybike wrote:
reaper wrote:
Kidhauler wrote: started to make a whumpping noise.
Whumping noise?...........Care to explain? :muhaha:
Brake catching causes the tire to jump. Similar to a tire being severely out of balance.
Thanks,I know what it is,Just like to tease Skidhauler allot :partyman:
90 Astro Cargo V-8
90 Artro RS - V-8 Now running!
& a bunch of tractors
"there's nothing like a V-8 Polluting the Environment"
Image

phr1$k37
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 1035
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2007 6:40 pm

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by phr1$k37 »

reaper wrote:
ihatemybike wrote: Whumping noise?...........Care to explain? :muhaha:
Brake catching causes the tire to jump. Similar to a tire being severely out of balance.
Thanks,I know what it is,Just like to tease Skidhauler allot :partyman:[/quote]

*Cough ... CrashHauler ... you forgot? He just avoided this whumpping one.
(PS thanks for coming to my rescue again!)
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"

Kidhauler
I sleep in my van
Posts: 877
Joined: Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:46 pm
Location: Vancouver B.C.

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by Kidhauler »

(Cough cough) anyone who runs his van out of gas isn't allowed to poke fun at others for 2 weeks. (Cough Cough) :poke:

At least my van was broken. :muhaha:
1999 Safari Touring edition.
trailer tow pack with a 3:73 posi
Bucket bench seats, Rear heat, Rear Airconditioning.
teal green
300 000 kms
AirRide air bags in the rear to fix soft stock suspension.
Onboard aircompressor to make it all work nice.

Cobra
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 1750
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:31 pm
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by Cobra »

drove to North bay with 30 2x2 pave stones had a flashing check engine light and a nasty misfire on steep uphills drove back no problems even got decent mileage....?
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

rlsllc
I sleep in my van
Posts: 901
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2006 6:35 pm

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by rlsllc »

I'm a day or two behind, but...

1989 worked on clutch/start switch circuit (Wednesday)

1994 removed seats to haul wife's crafts show stuff for a 3 day event (Thursday)

1999 disassembled and removed subframe, dissassembled drivetrain, took trans to be rebuilt, worked on assembling engine (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday)

1994 hauled craft show stuff back, she made more in 3 days what I make in a month ](*,) (Monday)

1994 put seats back in (Wednesday)

1999 worked on engine, boogered up pick up tube ](*,) , sent wife for a new one (please please??)

Topic author
ihatemybike
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2224
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:57 pm
Location: Elgin, IL

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by ihatemybike »

Time to catch up, again. All Grumpy this time.

Saturday
Late start on the van due to adding almost another inch of lift to my wife's Jeep.

First was a trip to the exhaust shop to cure the header to Y-pipe exhaust leak. I had tried to fix this myself, but after rounding a nut off and a 2nd degree burn on my arm from a hot socket I decided to let the pros do it. $110 for new gaskets and studs, after talking down $20. Van is almost too quiet now.
Image

Returning home I had enough time to prep and roll the first coat of paint on the hood (test panel) before heading out to a friends graduation thing. Looked ok. Technique needs work. Forgot to take pics.

Sunday
Got up early to roll a second coat of paint, hoping it will be dry enough in time to go to a Jeep Meet and Greet.
Image

After attending the meet and greet did some pre-paint prep work on the body. Look for the gray primer spots.
Image

There was a rust bubble under the paint on the right rear fender, that revealed this when cleaned.
Image

Since I've fallen in love with the van, I decide to try my first bondo job. Wasn't ready for how fast it sets.
Image

After mixing bondo 4 times I had a surface that I could smooth out and primer.
Image

Monday
Started by removing the roof's gutter covers.
Image

Thunderstorm coming, so it's off for more paid work. Lifetime alignment at Firestone. $159.99 less $25 coupon. Lifetime? How long do I plan on this van lasting? I was allowed to watch and shoot the bull with the technician the whole time.
Image

Storm over and Grumpy able to drive a straight line, back to pre-paint prep. Pulled the rub trim from the drivers door. Leaving adhesive behind.
Image

Maybe this will help.
Image

Not sure if it helped much, still took a lot of effort to get here.
Image

All areas to receive gray paint were cleaned of any rust and primered if needed and wet sanded.

Tuesday
Free AC System check at Merlin. AC System has a decent size leak to be found later.

Was originally planning to get the roof painted, but I needed to go for a walk with my mother in law to help clear some stuff from my head that's been weighing me down for far too long. Best thing I could have done. I love my family! :D
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

SafariRoadster
I am smitten with my van
Posts: 30
Joined: Tue May 11, 2010 8:17 pm

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by SafariRoadster »

Yesterday I installed a new fuel pump and finally got the van running. Today I put a cover over the hole in my floor where its cut out to access the fuel pump. Vacummed it all out and just cleaned it up. Also never really showed in interior pics so here you go. I guess the PO built some wall panels and headliner for it. I'm going to cover all that in either carpet or tweed. I'm also going to steal one idea I read on here. I'm going to get some of those cushion squares from Harbor Freight to go underneath my carpet.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

Cobra
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 1750
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:31 pm
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by Cobra »

Days like today make me think i should just take it to my mechanic instead of me monkeying around under it

drove home from work and started to change my rusty cat and O2's 6 hours 2 rounded nuts and 3 broken bolts later my van is now out of commission :muhaha:
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

rlsllc
I sleep in my van
Posts: 901
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2006 6:35 pm

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by rlsllc »

Cobra wrote:Days like today make me think i should just take it to my mechanic instead of me monkeying around under it

drove home from work and started to change my rusty cat and O2's 6 hours 2 rounded nuts and 3 broken bolts later my van is now out of commission :muhaha:
I'm with you, exhaust work is for shops with all the right tools.

I will say that extracting the studs and removing the flange nuts is really easy when the sub frame isn't under the van and you don't have to worry about catching everything on fire with the torch. I did a bit of that yesterday on the 99 build. So many things are easy with the subframe pulled, too bad it is a such a pain to get to that point.
User avatar

thevalleyboy
I sleep in my van
Posts: 285
Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2007 6:39 am
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Re: What did you do to/with your van today?

Post by thevalleyboy »

Hauled a bunch of crap to a friends little girls first birthday party - chairs, bocce balls, beer, food, my family, a fridge, dog, all the other stuff like diapers, clothes, etc.... thats about all - but it is what it is - a hauler! and works well. Oh ya good party - thanks Woodies!

Hey Chev. screw the SUV's AKA Acadia, Traverse - I want the ability to walk back to my kids in the back - even though while moving that is not legal - I want to be able to do it when stopped... bring me back the AWD Strofari... or something like it - I don't mind the better mileage of the new SUV's but I would also like something that can tow - so 4.10 gears and 20mpg is my wish - walk through - and AWD, with push button LOW RANGE! Not a Tahoe, I want a VAN type thing!
2001 Astro LT AWD - SOLD @ 180,200KM
Now I got a 2006 Ford Expedition King Ranch 4 x 4
to pull a Hybrid RV - 2006 Kodiak 235
Calgary, Alberta
Post Reply