Astro portal axle
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Topic author - I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 1750
- Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:31 pm
- Location: Toronto, Ontario
Astro portal axle
I've been fantasizing nonstop since seeing this on topgear. Particularly the CTIS and drivetrain had my full attention and it got my on the topics of Portal axles and why haven't i seen an astro with them yet? I say a company that had DANA 60 style conversions but i'm sure they are super expensive i didn't look into that any further becuase they didn't mention anything about the CTIS and that's the initial reason i'm looking at the portal axles. Any thoughts?
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
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
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- I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 1768
- Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2007 7:11 pm
- Location: Bellingham, Wa
Re: Astro portal axle
Back when I first built my van and was still making a six figure income I enquired about portal axles and found it would be about $8k. Awesome is as awesome costs.
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Topic author - I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 1750
- Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:31 pm
- Location: Toronto, Ontario
Re: Astro portal axle
the prices i saw listed are above that now, there has to be a way to do it cheaper. the dynatrac ones i saw today said they couldn't retain the ABS or some electronic traction controls but they didn't have any prices on their site.
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
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
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- I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
- Posts: 4379
- Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
- Location: New Haven, NY
Re: Astro portal axle
If you are going to that extreme, ABS and traction control electronics are not really needed. When I did the SAS on the SPB, I removed ABS. I didn't need it kicking in, in low range and steep decline!
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
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
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Topic author - I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 1750
- Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:31 pm
- Location: Toronto, Ontario
Re: Astro portal axle
yeah the ABS is normally more annoying than useful to me at least. I'd love to do something alone these lines just lifted and portals
my imaginations just won't stop, anyone know any info on this one?

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
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