Astro V8 5 speed

ANYTHING TO DO WITH SWAPPING A V8 OR DIESEL INTO THE ASTRO/SAFARI
Post Reply
User avatar

Topic author
Logan
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 160
Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:43 am
Location: Newark, Ohio

Astro V8 5 speed

Post by Logan »

Hey guys! Haven't been on in forever! But that's doesn't mean I've lost the Astro bug. I got a wild hair and stumbled on a 1988 v6 5 speed Astro and had to have it. Then proceeded to install a V8. Hope these pictures load properly.

Image
Image
Image
Image
The donor van for the V8
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

Still have some buttoning up to do like the air conditioning and entire exhaust system. Just thought I'd share. :-) Take care!!
1988 Astro Shorty full cargo - 350 TBI - 5 speed
1993 Passenger 4X4 Astro 305 TBI V8 -2 speed transfer case 5" custom lift - Built by Lockdoc
2015 Ram Promaster City - work car
2004 AWD Express 5.3
2005 Express 15 passenger 6.0
1984 Beauville Full Size Sport Van- built TBI 355-electric fans- 4L60e 95,000 original miles
2001 International School Bus

chesehd
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 87
Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:17 am
Location: The "Staggering Metropolis" of Lebanon, WI

Re: Astro V8 5 speed

Post by chesehd »

Long time, no see.

Welcome back! :bounce:
Ken

2003 AWD
Back in the saddle on a new horse!

A lot of money is tainted: 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine.

Image
User avatar

Smiliesafari
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 2667
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:34 pm
Location: Orlando, FL

Re: Astro V8 5 speed

Post by Smiliesafari »

Nice find.
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
User avatar

doyoulikeithere
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 2060
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:27 pm
Location: Misty Mountains of Cowichan BC.

Re: Astro V8 5 speed

Post by doyoulikeithere »

Another one saved from the crusher and given some TLC. What a great christmas. ;)
2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 - Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.
User avatar

WoodButcher
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 409
Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2011 7:01 pm
Location: Woodbury, CT.
Been thanked: 16 times

Re: Astro V8 5 speed

Post by WoodButcher »

Yep, you still got the bug...
Makin' the poor kid work w/ a busted flipper, shame on you!
Nice find.
'93 Safari shorty, 350 swap
'05 Astro AWD, lifted, 6 liter, cammed, ported and programmed for fast.
'69 G10, straight 6, 3 onatree, jumped at me when I had a pocketful of cash looking for a spare astro. :)
User avatar

mdmead
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 2153
Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 6:45 pm
Location: Selah, WA
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: Astro V8 5 speed

Post by mdmead »

Great to see all the pics together! Now on to an AWD subframe to slip under it.... :whistle:
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!


No new projects until the current ones are done!

Bret Schmerker
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 104
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2018 6:02 pm
Location: Byron, CA, USA
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 3 times

Re: Astro V8 5 speed

Post by Bret Schmerker »

:cheers: Sorry to bump an old thread, but I've info for @Logan on other candidate gears. Richmond Gear/Beloit once produced a ROD six-speed, which I reckon would have made the best installation, as all forks use a Long Machine & Tool external shifter; I'd have advised the 22:37 input/fifth gears, 41:17 first (4.06:1), 35:24 second (2.75:1), 28:30 third (1.57:1), 25:34 fourth (1.24:1), and 25:52 sixth (0.81:1 / 19% overdrive).

Since Richmond discontinued the ROD, TREMEC came up with new light-truck gears in the form of the TR-3160; I've earmarked the B gearset with its 4.06:1 low and staged overdrives as upgrade candidate for my own V6-4300-powered 1997 SLE, and the C gearset has a 3.76:1 low and 0.60:1 overdrive for better enduring today's torquey overhard cam small-blocks in addition to the Vortec 5300 and 6000 and refurb Chevrolet Turbo-Fires. The Borg-Warner shifter offset unit used in 1st-gen Astro/Safari production on the World Class T-5 should also work on the TR-3160.
1997 GMC M11006 (Safari SLE, 2WD, V6-4300/4L60-E/7.625" 3.73:1 open)
Acquired Jul 2018 / In service Sep 2018 - Nov 2022 / down due leaky valve(s) #5 cyl.
Post Reply