What did you do to/with your van today?

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Cobra
I plan to be buried in my van
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 1750
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:31 pm
Location: Toronto, Ontario

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

Post by Cobra »

finally got to play in the snow i love my van. :muhaha:
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

blacknome
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 269
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 12:58 pm

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

Post by blacknome »

Well I got the van back Tuesday night. The shop found a near break in the O2 sensor wiring =D> Monday and repaired it. However I wanted the shop owner to take the van home for the night to see if he could get it to misfire. He made it 2 blocks in the cold and called my cell because the heater fan wasn't working. High speed hasn't worked for a couple years but they were all dead. At least he had rear heat. Ughhh SMH !

Had them give me the van back. I picked up a new resistor block and fan motor Wed afternoon and started everything yesterday at work between phone calls :)
Broke one of the tabs on the overflow and dove into the resistor block. The wiring harness melted into the resistor block. Tested the fan and its OK so I swapped the fan for a new wiring pigtail. Soldering connections in the wind and 25 f temps doesn't work very well LOL. Got it all buttoned up though ( with a couple breaks to thaw out my fingers ).

So now I have heat, no misfire, no codes. Noticed the battery and tray are a little more corroded than I like so this weekend I will pull the battery and clean those up before the next cold snap. Why doesn't this van act up when its nice out ??

Cobra
I plan to be buried in my van
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 1750
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:31 pm
Location: Toronto, Ontario

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

Post by Cobra »

probably does the same thing mine does gives a heads up its going to go weird, if ignored it waits for the worst possible time as punishment. :rolleyes:
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

blacknome
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 269
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2007 12:58 pm

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

Post by blacknome »

couldn't get the battery tray off. The one bolt ( and clip ) behind the PCM are spinning. I cleaned up all the grounds and the battery tray best I could. Coat of motor oil to get it thru the winter.

No codes, runs great. Mileage back up to 13.1 mpg ( winter gas and 90% city driving ). Looking to tackle the abs/brake light issue next time I get some time.

Today I have to take the front seat out for an signage install tonight. The boards to install are 9' long x 2' wide and wont fit in the back of the van. Its supposed to rain so I cant leave it hanging out the back.
Stuff like this really makes me want to get one of those ugly nv2500 vans. All the seats are clipped in and removable.

Astrophysics
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 974
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:23 pm

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

Post by Astrophysics »

Hi,
I installed folding bucket seats from an Olds Silloutte FWD van into my 2003 Astro. Now front bucket seat can fold flat for long boards, as well as reclining.

AP

Captn. Crunch
I sleep in my van
I sleep in my van
Posts: 557
Joined: Wed Feb 01, 2012 12:10 pm
Location: southeastern ct

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

Post by Captn. Crunch »

I've had to pop the hood and tap the blower motor housing on occasion. This morning my luck ran out and I had no fan. Well below freezing and my breath and the steam from my coffee all crystallizing on the inside of the windscreen made for an interesting ride to work. I'm on my second resistor so I changed both motor and resistor after work. All is right with the world.
Captn. Crunch
"I don't beat my rig-I use it to it's maximum potential"
1994 Safari conversion (sold) and miss'n it!
1999 Safari SLE AWD junked
2003 GMC Safari AWD SLT
cast iron Torsen equipped front diff
S-10 leafs-G80 rear w/3.73’s
2” body lift w/Falken Wildpeak AT’s
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tequilasunset
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2016 9:47 pm

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

Post by tequilasunset »

Gave it a new home... MINE!

Image

Gets delivered tomorrow :guitar:

2005 Safari AWD... going to be converted for camping...
05 Safari AWD
85 Vanagon tin top 1.8T with Westy interior (stealth)
14 Lancer AWC
07 Tango (Home)
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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 »

tequilasunset wrote:Gave it a new home... MINE!

Image

Gets delivered tomorrow :guitar:

2005 Safari AWD... going to be converted for camping...
I love it. Another AWD in "That Color". There are like five of us now.
"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

danfromsyr
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:29 am

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

Post by danfromsyr »

Welcome to the Darkside Tequila ;-) :guitar:
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tequilasunset
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2016 9:47 pm

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

Post by tequilasunset »

danfromsyr wrote:Welcome to the Darkside Tequila ;-) :guitar:
LOL... fancy meeting you here :cheers:
05 Safari AWD
85 Vanagon tin top 1.8T with Westy interior (stealth)
14 Lancer AWC
07 Tango (Home)
User avatar

tequilasunset
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2016 9:47 pm

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

Post by tequilasunset »

Herbie wrote:
tequilasunset wrote:Gave it a new home... MINE!

Image

Gets delivered tomorrow :guitar:

2005 Safari AWD... going to be converted for camping...
I love it. Another AWD in "That Color". There are like five of us now.
Thanks Herbie!
05 Safari AWD
85 Vanagon tin top 1.8T with Westy interior (stealth)
14 Lancer AWC
07 Tango (Home)

racrx7
I finally get the smurf thing
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 136
Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2015 1:25 pm
Location: Charleston SC

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

Post by racrx7 »

Sweet looking ride Tequila. Congrats :cheers:
O3 Astro 4X4
Image
Dropped front IFS axle
Journeys rear spring hangers and shackles, S-10 leaf springs, 2" body lift
255/70-16 BFG KO2's on 16x8 Fuel Revolvers
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doyoulikeithere
I plan to be buried in my van
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2060
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:27 pm
Location: Misty Mountains of Cowichan BC.

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

Post by doyoulikeithere »

Took it up into the misty mountains to walk the dog :) and play with the transfer case :)
I like to see just how far I can get it in 2wd before locking in the front axle with the pull cable.
I can even run it in 2wd LO range that way just for fun. with the LS rear axle, This thing is amazing at where it will go.
Attachments
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2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 - Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.

Topic author
ihatemybike
I plan to be buried in my van
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2224
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:57 pm
Location: Elgin, IL

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

Post by ihatemybike »

Spent 6 hours driving it around for Uber yesterday, made $120 before taxes.
Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
1997 Astro (Grumpy - $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, LSD, 2" lift, 31" tires, 335k+ orig engine, $30 eBay fuel pump
Prev Astros:99,97,00,94,87,86
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H2OJoe
I finally get the smurf thing
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 188
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 7:49 pm
Location: White Salmon, WA

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

Post by H2OJoe »

Just got back from Baja California "adventure" trip. Lots of surfing, windsurfing and some unintentional traversing of 70 miles of serious "Baja 1000" terrain. Changed flat tire half way thru (3" cut in sidewall) and noticed a slight leak in rear differential. Got back to civilization and promptly forgot to check/top off rear diff. Heading home, close to Patterson, CA, the diff locked up. Thanks to Thompson Chevy Dealership in Patterson we were back on the road 24 hours later with a new rear diff. 2001 Chevy Astro AWD LT with 4" lift and 30x9.5/15LT has far exceeded my expectations for offroad capabilities.
Attachments
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2016-01-31 11.32.27.jpg
2001 Astro LT AWD "Redneck Edition", 4" Custom Lift, 30x9.5R15LT on stock wheels, Hightop conversion, custom interior, custom roof racks, external solar shower, front recovery points. SOLD

1997 Astro LS AWD Starting build soon.
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