What did you do to/with your van today?

General Discussion
( Please do not post help questions here )

LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

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

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Installed 4 new KYB Gas-A-Just shocks and found I needed 1 new rear brake pad! Wondered why it was making a funny noise! The right rear inside pad was down to the wear indicator with about 1/16" left. Replaced all 4 rear pads. Test drive is later today when Ben and I head to the local state park to run some trails.
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
User avatar

HPbyStan
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 601
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:15 am
Location: Janesville, Wis

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

Post by HPbyStan »

Was the caliper able to float ?
'04 White AWD Astro cargo
'00 Astro / El Camino
'61 BSA Super Rocket
'71 BSA B50 engine in a '67 C25 250 chassis
Impossible is just a degree of difficulty....

97CargoCrawler
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 754
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:50 pm
Location: Near Los Angeles, CA
Contact:

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

Post by 97CargoCrawler »

I got this little bracket thingy from Ballistic Fab:

Image

Now I just need that little spool of twine thingy that glues on top.
1997 SAFARI 2WD CARGO
Image
"I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success... Such emotions make a man forget food, sleep, friends, love, everything." Nikola Tesla

astroturf
I plan to be buried in my van
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 1658
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:25 pm

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

Post by astroturf »

97CargoCrawler wrote:I got this little bracket thingy from Ballistic Fab:
Now I just need that little spool of twine thingy that glues on top.
What is it?

97CargoCrawler
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 754
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:50 pm
Location: Near Los Angeles, CA
Contact:

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

Post by 97CargoCrawler »

I heard it holds a wench. I guess you tie her to it with the spool of twine...? I dunno. It's much bigger than it looks. :-k

astroturf
I plan to be buried in my van
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 1658
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2009 6:25 pm

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

Post by astroturf »

97CargoCrawler wrote:I heard it holds a wench. I guess you tie her to it with the spool of twine...? I dunno. It's much bigger than it looks. :-k
Ah, OK, I gotcha...

Carry on.

LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

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

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

HPbyStan wrote:Was the caliper able to float ?
Yeah both sides float fine. The pads float freely inside the holders too. Shortly before I bought the van, the brakes had some work done to them. I wonder if an old pad was left on or something. The rotors were in great shape with just barely a lip on the edge. No unusual wear patterns or rust. I will keep an eye on them over the next couple oil changes.
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

97CargoCrawler
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 754
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:50 pm
Location: Near Los Angeles, CA
Contact:

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

Post by 97CargoCrawler »

I got these today to assist with my axle overhaul:

Image

Bearings and seals supposed to ship on Thursday.

I also celebrated with this on the way home from work:

Image

:supz:

LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

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

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Just broke in! Nice! =D>
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

safari kev
I finally get the smurf thing
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 237
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:13 pm
Location: St. Louis, Missouri, USA

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

Post by safari kev »

nice. I'm closing in to 180k with my 2000. (and oddly, I get alot more compliments on my van that I did with my luxo-barges).
I found out I need a new tire hoist thingy. I went to put my spare back under the van. I cranked it down about 2 inches and the wire jammed and wouldnt move any more, so it looks like my spare is permanently riding on my rear bed.
00 safari high top explorer conversion. "shagfari" 235xxx miles on body. 242k on junkyard Jimmy motor.
94 safari hi-top explorer limited. 132k miles.
95 ASTRO choo choo conv. RIP @115K
97 safari slx "surfin' safari" 145k miles RIP
91 safari shorty Tiara conversion. RIP
86 cadillac fleetwood brougham. 67k. It thinks its a hot rod.
83 lesabre limited. 71k miles
66+68 toronados
66 Riviera

97CargoCrawler
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 754
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:50 pm
Location: Near Los Angeles, CA
Contact:

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

Post by 97CargoCrawler »

My job didn't fit into my schedule today so I slept in and then messed around a bit in the van. I started the prep work for putting the rack on this weekend. I had to de-bur the holes, polish the paint where the rubber gaskets will sit, fit the plastic spacer plates and add in washers to take up any gaps. I'm glad I was able to do this today because not only did it take a hell of a lot longer than I thought it would, I also ran out of washers! Now I'm 40 washers short. Which normally isn't a big deal except that these are stainless steel in just the right thickness I wanted and diameter that would fit in the cross member channels. It was like 2p.m. when this happened so I quickly placed a McMaster order and they said it would ship today. Then I checked back a few hours later online and it has my order shipping tomorrow morning....which means it will arrive Monday. F**K! Now I gotta go to the hardware store and get whatever crap they have for 10X the cost.

97CargoCrawler
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 754
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:50 pm
Location: Near Los Angeles, CA
Contact:

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

Post by 97CargoCrawler »

UPS made their daily delivery.

McMaster came through! My stainless steel washers arrived today so I'm good to go for rack installation tomorrow.

Also arrived: new door hinge pins, springs, axle bearings, seals and new spring hangers. I bought the spring hangers to get an idea of how they are made and what I can to do them, including making my own from scratch. Being that my van is a DD I can't just pull them off and have a look. These look pretty easy to modify. Weld plates, drill holes etc. Jot down the basic dimensions, buy new greasable bushing sleeves and some steel channel and make a set a few inches longer...hmmmm.

Image
User avatar

9dawgs
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 278
Joined: Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:27 pm
Location: Tampa, FL on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico
Contact:

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

Post by 9dawgs »

Drove to church O:)
Jim<><

'99 Astro 4X2, (RIP) 4" Overland Lift, 31X10.50/15 BF Goodrich AT T/A KO,
Rancho RS5000 shocks, Rockford Fosgate RFX9000, Red Top Optima, K&N Filter
Image

'98 Astro 4X2 (SOLD)

wkastro
I get chills without my van.
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 69
Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2009 3:12 pm
Location: Brighton. Michigan

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

Post by wkastro »

Tomorrow I am going to drive the Astro up the hill to GM's Milford Proving Ground for my new job.
2003 Astro AWD bought in January 2009
103,000 miles, Trucool 4590, ScanGageII, Michelin LTX 215/70R16, Tekonsha P3

2009 Chevrolet HHR
2001 HD XL1200S
1970 Austin Cooper 'S'

Retired:
1994 Astro AWD (sold in 1996, 50,000 miles in 2 years)
1992 Astro RWD (bought from GM fleet, traded for AWD in 1994)

97CargoCrawler
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 754
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:50 pm
Location: Near Los Angeles, CA
Contact:

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

Post by 97CargoCrawler »

wkastro wrote:Tomorrow I am going to drive the Astro up the hill to GM's Milford Proving Ground for my new job.
Congrats on the new job!

Now what kind of company secrets can you get us? :-k Van related of course.
Post Reply