[wheels55]

Good stuff!

 

[mervchapman]

Time has come to find a good home for my good ol van. I'm torn on letting her go but feel it's time for a change.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/4668609917.html

Hate to see her go but I've run out of things to improve on and am looking for a new project! If anyone wants a turnkey 5.7 AWD van come get it and drive her home. I would like to see it go to someone who appreciates it.

 

[mervchapman]

Here's the DMV sticker.

 

[mervchapman]

Ah ha! I think i found the cause of my discontent. Lower control arm bushings look shot, that explains the wandering around the freeway,,,

 

[Lumpy]

Your control arms are outta' control!

Lump

 

[c.zhou57]

Hey Merv... Hello from a fellow Bay Arean. That van is something special.. you're probably one of the very few CA BAR legal swapped van on the site, the mods you've done on it are first rate, and the condition impeccable. Hate to see it go.. good luck with the sale. (or not.. hmm the CL ad is pulled)

 

[mervchapman]

Thanks for the props!! I took it up to lake Tahoe last weekend pulling my wakeboard boat. It was 106 degrees on the other side of Sacramento starting the climb, the temp got up to 210 ish but I had the AC on and was doing 65 uphill pulling easily 5k lbs. The reason I posted it was the handling on the highway was horrible Lurching side-side, it took all my concentration just to keep it in my lane.

Handling aside, the V8 ran great! the Nissens 1" core radiator and flex-a-lite fans kept it cool evan at prolonged full-throttle at a sustained indicated 4mpg. I did not look what the average mpg was, i'll take a peek a little later.

I thought I had replaced all the steering components w/ moog parts but it turns out I have not done the lower control arm bushings. They are visibly crap, so I have pulled the craigslist ad and ordered moog lower control arm bushings, front drive shafts and will finally get in there to replace the power steering hoses which are beginning to leak.

I'm also going to do all the pads and rotors and get it aligned at Custom Alignment in Mountain View. I'm hopeful that it will become halfway decent to drive.

I've had this van 9 1/2 yrs now, hoping to have it some more if I can sort out it's road-manners.

 

[bubbalowe]

Thanks for the props!! I took it up to lake Tahoe last weekend pulling my wakeboard boat. It was 106 degrees on the other side of Sacramento starting the climb, the temp got up to 210 ish but I had the AC on and was doing 65 uphill pulling easily 5k lbs. The reason I posted it was the handling on the highway was horrible Lurching side-side, it took all my concentration just to keep it in my lane.

Handling aside, the V8 ran great! the Nissens 1" core radiator and flex-a-lite fans kept it cool evan at prolonged full-throttle at a sustained indicated 4mpg. I did not look what the average mpg was, i'll take a peek a little later.

I thought I had replaced all the steering components w/ moog parts but it turns out I have not done the lower control arm bushings. They are visibly crap, so I have pulled the craigslist ad and ordered moog lower control arm bushings, front drive shafts and will finally get in there to replace the power steering hoses which are beginning to leak.

I'm also going to do all the pads and rotors and get it aligned at Custom Alignment in Mountain View. I'm hopeful that it will become halfway decent to drive.

I've had this van 9 1/2 yrs now, hoping to have it some more if I can sort out it's road-manners.

Any reason for the brand loyalty to Moog? I'm curious because the local NAPA manager is telling me the current Moog product isn't the same quality product. It wouldn't be the first time a reputable manufacturer put a lesser product out :?:

 

[chevymaher]

Any reason for the brand loyalty to Moog? I'm curious because the local NAPA manager is telling me the current Moog product isn't the same quality product. It wouldn't be the first time a reputable manufacturer put a lesser product out :?:

Read the boxes. The new trend is all reputable manufacturers are farming out their work to the exact companies everybody talking dirt about. Just find out where they made and get the part from the place that is making them and save 2/3's the price. It the same part you just don't pay for the name. Warentee is the same.

 

[Lumpy]

The brand name companies refer to "Our trusted manufacturing partners".

Hard to blame them. If we paid overfed, overpaid US workers to build all our stuff, an air filter would cost $60. Instead they're $6 when assembled in Nonmerica.

Nobody's fault but our own.

Lump

 

[mervchapman]

Yeah I hear ya. I've had decent luck with Moog stuff so far, gone through one of their drag links already, on a second one. Primarily I'm underwhelmed with the AC Delco oem stuff. Moog materials seem decent enough. I tend to buy whatever seems to be the best parts, the selection's not great but what can ya do right?

I'll also be replacing the orig steering hoses (leaking), front driveshafts (boots failing) and misc other stuff while i'm under there.

I'll report back on whether the handling improves and by how much.

 

[Z-Dreamer]

Do you still own it?

If so, I live in Sacramento and would love to see it in person.

As a current Astro owner, I'm looking at replacing my 97 sooner than later.

Sincerely,

Mark

 

[mervchapman]

I do still own it. I just got through SMOG again today in fact so I'm good for another couple of years!! I ask just got back from Yosemite and had no issues w/ the powertrain. The motor's got about 25k on it now and the rebuilt trans w/ the 5 pinion planetary is holding up really well. Only averaging about 12-13 MPG overall but It's mostly city stop-n-go so not too surprised with that.

I just pulled the trigger on some HD rear leaf springs as I've got to do something about the lurching, pitching and general ride. I'm pretty sure my factory leafs have had-it and will be recycled shortly. I'll be towing a 23' travel trailer with the van down to Big Sur in a couple of weeks. I hope to have the new leaf springs in by then. I'll be leaving my Ride-Rite air springs in also.

 

[mervchapman]

Changed the oil today, I was running Royal Purple but Mobil 1 was on sale at the LAPS. I'm running the HP 2002 K&N filter for the adapter I'm using from a 96 impala. I think i mentioned it earlier in this saga but that's the perfect oil filter adapter for the L31 and keeping the stock oil cooler. I've zero access or fitment issues. Happy to report absolutely no leaks anywhere on the van!! Oil was quite clean I'd say. Seems the synthetics do a good job of depositing the dirt in the filter and staying clean. really no metal to peak of on the oil plug magnet either.

Seems to run smoother, I put in just 8 1/2 Qts this time. Was running closer to 9 before, I'm wondering if that was too much and getting splattered around buy the crankcase loosing MPG. I'll try to remember to reset the mpg-o'meter and get a new average....

 

[mervchapman]

Quick update...

After (thankfully) towing a travel trailer through the California Sierra Nevada, my front differential let go at 70mph. the c-clip that holds the driver side axle output shaft apparently failed on the inside of the diff. This inevitable resulted in the axle presumably still attached to the shaft, coming off not he freeway.

Long and nauseating story short, had the front diff rebuilt and fixed it all up.

Anyway, replaced the 225/70r16 Yokohama A/T-S tires with new 235/70r16 BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2. I had to trim a bit more off the lover front bumper cover and trim a bit off the running board cladding at the rear of the front wheel well.

Driving impressions are that they are immediately noticeable in that acceleration and braking are a bit more laborious. Just noticeably, nothing dramatic.What I'm primarily pleased about is that they re just a much more robust tire. Just rocking the van w/ that 200lbs or so of gear 7 feet up is much harder. Gone is all that sidewall mush from the Yoko's.

Not really cruised on the freeway yet but not anticipating any issues. Steering/ tracking seems dramatically improved even around town :driving:

 

[mervchapman]

Anyone else end up w/ upside-down thumbnails after uploading w/ OS X? Clicking on the picture, it's the right-way up...

 

[Maintenex]

Hey mervchapman, I've read your whole thread! Nice build! I was wanting to put a crate 5.7 vortec in my 01 safari AWD. So from what I gather is the computer I have now will work with the new engine or should I get a chip or??? I mean I read about some of your error code problems....What intake manifold should I get from a junk yard, 2001 silverado or express, could is use a 2500 or 3500 intake?

I am looking for a straight forward swap. Will post more later, thanks in advance for any info.

 

[mervchapman]

April 2020 and she's still running strong. Just got through the California DMV SMOG but have gone through yet another transmission rebuild. Got really low line pressure and it's slipping, Also leaking from front pump seal so it's got to come out. Ordered a new transmission pump and removal tool and will replace it over the next couple of weeks.

 

[mervchapman]

Recent trip to Pismo beach with the kids.

 

[mervchapman]

Here we go again, I've had the trans out four different times since the V8 went in. Wish there was a manual drop-in I could use.....