southern wisconsin AWD astro driver
southern wisconsin AWD astro driver
Figured it was time to introduce myself a bit after stalking the forum for awhile. So I have a 2002 AWD LS Astro with currently 117,000 on the clock. the van's been in the family for all but about 10,00 of those miles and its been an amazingly reliable vehicle for us. Currently its basically stock except for a Viair 400c air compressor and that I mounted above the jack storage.
and now some pics for the fun of it (I have always loved this color blue...)
no pics of the compressor setup right now as I had the back loaded up ready to go back to school and could not access it, but I will grab a picture or two later
and now some pics for the fun of it (I have always loved this color blue...)
no pics of the compressor setup right now as I had the back loaded up ready to go back to school and could not access it, but I will grab a picture or two later
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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: southern wisconsin AWD astro driver
That is a nice clean van! I like the color too.
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
Re: southern wisconsin AWD astro driver
Thanks guys. And this weekend I am going to be turning what normal is a 1 1/2hour drive into a 4+ one by taking all the backroads. not all are paved so it might not be so clean when I get done with it though....
also I cant wait to get started modifying the van more!
also I cant wait to get started modifying the van more!
Re: southern wisconsin AWD astro driver
As promised, more details on the onboard compressor, comes in quite handy
I had also notice a few weeks ago that the top of the plastic cove on my running boards was pulling away and there was rust behind it. Fearing it was rocker panel I had left it go until I had more time. But today I took the boards off and to my surprise it was just a separate bracket that was disintegrating .
here's was it looks like under there, guess this is what all that salt on the roads does
so I decided to make up some of my own and this is what I came up with
it bolted right up and work quite well. Ran out of time so driver rear and the passenger side will come in the next week or so
looks a little different without the running boards on
I had also notice a few weeks ago that the top of the plastic cove on my running boards was pulling away and there was rust behind it. Fearing it was rocker panel I had left it go until I had more time. But today I took the boards off and to my surprise it was just a separate bracket that was disintegrating .
here's was it looks like under there, guess this is what all that salt on the roads does
so I decided to make up some of my own and this is what I came up with
it bolted right up and work quite well. Ran out of time so driver rear and the passenger side will come in the next week or so
looks a little different without the running boards on
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- I plan to be buried in my van
- Posts: 2153
- Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 6:45 pm
- Location: Selah, WA
- Contact:
Re: southern wisconsin AWD astro driver
Welcome! Very nice van! Your onboard air system is pretty slick.
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!
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!
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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: southern wisconsin AWD astro driver
What agreat idea, to put the air compressor in the jack cubby! I've always thought about the wasted nooks and crannys behind the interior panels, but never that.
Congrats on finding a late van that isn' Pewter like too many of us!
Congrats on finding a late van that isn' Pewter like too many of us!
Re: southern wisconsin AWD astro driver
with the air compressor I was told to keep the compressor hidden and that's just were it worked out! it would have gone on the driver side where the tank would have fit in with it except the rear a/c took up too much room. that space is not reserved for the future power inverter.
in other news, I got the van dirty again, and found the Mississippi.
in other news, I got the van dirty again, and found the Mississippi.
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- I am smitten with my van
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Mon Apr 12, 2010 12:05 pm
- Location: Milwaukee, WI
Re: southern wisconsin AWD astro driver
Welcome from someone on the lake side of the state. Nice looking van. Was that rust only the bracket or had it starting rusting the rocker? If so, did you treat it with anything? Hate to see a nice van rust away.
-Andrew
-Andrew
81 Yamaha Maxim XJ650, Black & Green, 64k miles
83 Yamaha Venture 1200cc, White, 74k miles
91 Chevy Astro 2WD, 4.3L, Maroon, 229k miles
00 Dodge Grand Caravan, 3.8L, Blue, 145k miles
83 Yamaha Venture 1200cc, White, 74k miles
91 Chevy Astro 2WD, 4.3L, Maroon, 229k miles
00 Dodge Grand Caravan, 3.8L, Blue, 145k miles
Re: southern wisconsin AWD astro driver
fortunately it was just the bracket and the rocker appears to be fine. I didn't do any treatments yet but I will this weekend when I take it back off. I'm thinking spaying the bracket and panel with a bed liner or something to prevent this again. not sure what to use yet but im open to all suggestions!icebrrg3rd wrote:Welcome from someone on the lake side of the state. Nice looking van. Was that rust only the bracket or had it starting rusting the rocker? If so, did you treat it with anything? Hate to see a nice van rust away.
-Andrew