What did you do to/with your van today?

General Discussion
( Please do not post help questions here )

photo_van
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 592
Joined: Wed May 18, 2011 4:38 pm
Location: 7000' in the Mountains of California

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

Post by photo_van »

new hinge pins and bushings, doors close nice and don't rattle.
1998 AWD/4WD
4" lift, 31x10.50's, NP 242j/c hybrid, 4.10 gears, S10 front disconnect, rack & pinion steering, trans cooler, rock sliders, ARB fridge, house battery and 100w solar, swing out rear rack with foldout camp table, bed and passenger swivel chair
dirt bag camping rig
1981 Toyota 4x4 pu
1974 John Deere 710
User avatar

Herbie
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 674
Joined: Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:45 am
Location: San Diego, CA
Contact:

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

Post by Herbie »

Replaced the 20-year-old (and bent) Pop-Top hinges on my GTRV top.

Made a new windshield header mount for my Scanguage.

Tried and failed (again) to get Transmission Temperature X-Gauge working on said Scangauge.

Reinstalled rear headliner and modified forward headliner into two pieces and partially reinstalled that and some trim plastics (first time in 4 years without bare metal roof!)

Waited in vain for UPS to deliver my new rear shocks... 3 weeks after I ordered them... from a company in the same town as me.
"My minivan is cooler than your bro-truck"
2003 Astro AWD Astrolander/ZMB - GTRV Top Transplant, 4" OLV Lift, NP233 T-case, evolving interior
1995 Safari GTRV Organ donor - gutted and gone.
Image

SilverBullet1997
I get chills without my van.
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 74
Joined: Tue Sep 24, 2013 1:40 pm

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

Post by SilverBullet1997 »

Hmmm...

Took the van to Discount Tire for a Tire Rotation and Re-Balance... 0$

One of my chewed up tires from off-roading got a nail in it's sidewall, wasn't leaking air until the nail was pulled. Got a brand new tire to replace the chewed up tire 26$ (mounted and balanced, with a new certificate)

:D

Life is good.
Here is a couple videos of my first van offroading at Tahuya WA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkFaZXo2KL4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1zn5ppLI6g
R.I.P 1997 Astro AWD SilverBullet 4-9-1997 to 2-17-2015 - Cause of death: Rear-ended
1999 Astro AWD SilverBullet II 1-4-1999 - Present

5" lift, 31x1050r15 tires. 7 inches over stock

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 »

Went junkyarding. Brought home a new fan speed resistor pack, rust free battery tray, and some horns for 10 bucks. Next week, the astro is going in for an oil change and coolant flush/ New hoses.
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

SilverBullet1997
I get chills without my van.
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 74
Joined: Tue Sep 24, 2013 1:40 pm

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

Post by SilverBullet1997 »

Rear Tire carrier installed!
Rear Tire2.JPG
Rear Tire.JPG
Here is a couple videos of my first van offroading at Tahuya WA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkFaZXo2KL4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1zn5ppLI6g
R.I.P 1997 Astro AWD SilverBullet 4-9-1997 to 2-17-2015 - Cause of death: Rear-ended
1999 Astro AWD SilverBullet II 1-4-1999 - Present

5" lift, 31x1050r15 tires. 7 inches over stock
User avatar

T.Low
I plan to be buried in my van
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 1768
Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2007 7:11 pm
Location: Bellingham, Wa

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

Post by T.Low »

SilverBullet1997 wrote:Rear Tire carrier installed!
]


Looking good! (Enough to copy!)
ImageImageImageImage
AstroLander Build Slideshow
Church bells ringing in the middle of a gunfight.
User avatar

T.Low
I plan to be buried in my van
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 1768
Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2007 7:11 pm
Location: Bellingham, Wa

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

Post by T.Low »

Herbie wrote:
Waited in vain for UPS to deliver my new rear shocks... 3 weeks after I ordered them... from a company in the same town as me.


#-o
ImageImageImageImage
AstroLander Build Slideshow
Church bells ringing in the middle of a gunfight.

SilverBullet1997
I get chills without my van.
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 74
Joined: Tue Sep 24, 2013 1:40 pm

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

Post by SilverBullet1997 »

T.Low wrote:
SilverBullet1997 wrote:Rear Tire carrier installed!
]


Looking good! (Enough to copy!)
You'll see it tonight, you can take measurements and pictures, for a fee(a looksie inside that awesome astro of yours). :D
Here is a couple videos of my first van offroading at Tahuya WA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkFaZXo2KL4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1zn5ppLI6g
R.I.P 1997 Astro AWD SilverBullet 4-9-1997 to 2-17-2015 - Cause of death: Rear-ended
1999 Astro AWD SilverBullet II 1-4-1999 - Present

5" lift, 31x1050r15 tires. 7 inches over stock
User avatar

Herbie
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 674
Joined: Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:45 am
Location: San Diego, CA
Contact:

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

Post by Herbie »

Installed new rear shocks with best helper I've had. Image

Measured ride height and confirmed rear has settled ~1" since installs. Planning to reinstall OLV shackles.
"My minivan is cooler than your bro-truck"
2003 Astro AWD Astrolander/ZMB - GTRV Top Transplant, 4" OLV Lift, NP233 T-case, evolving interior
1995 Safari GTRV Organ donor - gutted and gone.
Image

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 »

dad got the safari back from the mechanics. runs like new, aside from a weird hesitation this morning accelerating. hit 20, it shuttered, then kept going. all gauges remained normal, and it hasnt given him any other problems.
astro is parked until tuesday when it goes in for new hoses and coolant (still has original dexcool). oil is also getting changed.
I'm currently working on installing a stereo system in it. should have that done in a couple weeks.
tried out a cadillac UX1 I had lying around. gets alot louder than the chevy UX1. tape deck needs a new belt though. thankfully, i have several spare blaupunkt mechs. hooked it up and "fancy" came on the radio. almost killed the factory speakers LOL. apparently the fronts are shallow 6.5s with 10 ohm resistance.
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
User avatar

Herbie
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 674
Joined: Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:45 am
Location: San Diego, CA
Contact:

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

Post by Herbie »

Re-installed Overland Vans lift shackles to top hole to get ride height back to where it was when lift installed 3 years ago.
Re-greased the shackles, but they didn't take nearly as much as I remember from last time, so I'm guessing they're still full! ;-)
"My minivan is cooler than your bro-truck"
2003 Astro AWD Astrolander/ZMB - GTRV Top Transplant, 4" OLV Lift, NP233 T-case, evolving interior
1995 Safari GTRV Organ donor - gutted and gone.
Image

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 »

Van went in for coolant flush and hoses change and oil change. It no longer surges on startup/ has fuel in exhaust smell. Pulled drivers door panel to replace window motor, and that's as far as I got on that been driving it with the door handle bezel and armrest. Looks totally ghetto. Then again, my dad's 91 had no pass side door panel for almost the entire time he owned it. He fixed the window motor, slapped on the armrest and switches and tossed the panel aside.
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
User avatar

Great A'Tuin
I finally get the smurf thing
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 106
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:57 pm
Location: Boise, ID

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

Post by Great A'Tuin »

Replaced my fuel pump today w/ a Delphi unit. Took a bit under 2 hours start to finish.

The van has 250K miles on it, and it was intermittently losing power, like someone dropping an anchor out back.
Ran great otherwise. Somebody tell me I spent $265 in the right place! [-o<

BTW thanks to ihatemybike for his great instructions on another forum! =D>

Thursday I tow my race car from Boise to Redmond, OR...
john

2000 LS AWD
2.5" lift, 3.73 G80, Bilsteins, 235/75-15 Toyo A/T's, 2500 Brakes, Skid plate
Ultra-Gauge, Long/Tru-Cool tranny cooler, Electric fans, Bed Kit. 265,000 miles.

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 »

Drove it to work at the GM Milford Proving Ground.
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)
User avatar

Wiley
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 313
Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2010 3:02 pm
Location: Socal

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

Post by Wiley »

Looked at it, thought about what I need to do, and walked away.
2guys1truck.com: 2004 AWD Chevy Astro from California to Colombia!
want to follow along, or think our paths may cross, Facebook kjswiley
Post Reply