[realityguy]

Changing them out is pretty easy..Mine were pretty messed up with the outer rubber missing some pieces from sitting for a lot of years and leaking water down into the door cavity. I asked some questions here at one time and didn't get much for answers about how they locked into place,etc..etc...except by Astrowill who gave me a link to which ones to get that would work for the Astro and Safaris.Mine are 1990 and 2004..seem to have the same length needed for both models(I did the 1990).I can only assume the door flange they hang on is similar.I'll see if I can find the link and edit in here.

Amazon.com: Fairchild Automotive KG2007 Outer Belt Weatherstrip Kit (Driver Side & Passenger Side) : Automotive

Buy Fairchild Automotive KG2007 Outer Belt Weatherstrip Kit (Driver Side & Passenger Side): Weather Stripping - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Notice the ends on these ..they are made specifically for the driver's and/or passenger side doors(comes as the set of two).Only the little bit at the square end which fits against the back trim needs to be trimmed.

I did the process with the windows up.Just careful not to put pressure or pound on the glass..besides you can clean the glass that way and check it for a snug fit.
I found the easiest way is to start at the back end of the door and pry(small screwdriver over the back of my hand)/bend UP(the rest of the way with my hands) the outer rubber coated /metal flange that rests downward outside the door pretty much straight out..starting at the door jamb edge above the lock and continue that bend process to the other end..Underneath you will find some small 1/4" wide metal flanges that can be bent out to remove the felt easily from the door's metal strip they hang on.The front end of the felt is under the vertical metal piece so you need to start at the rear and work it up and off the door's metal edge and pull up and out towards the door's rear jamb edge.
Once out clean the glass down to the bottom metal strip it lies in and the area around the "repair".
The new piece will need to be trimmed probably less than 1/8" or so at the opening door's edge to fit snug back in place.Slip it in the front end as it came out,and place it near where it needs to go to see how much trimming is needed to match the outer vertical piece.Then slide it down in place with the rubber tight to the glass and the clips where they should be.I used a 1/2" wood dowel and a small hammer to tap/finish lightly setting the felt in place.Worked grat on the driver's side!
Only problem I ran into was on the passenger side because the back end didn't seem to want to grab.and seal down in place.I pulled it back out and noticed that the strip seemed to be bent with a bow downward in the middle about 3/8"..came that way.I hadn't checked the driver side one.Double check them for that when you get them. I ended up having to add some 3m weather strip adhesive and temporarily taping the back 3" or so down in place,If it doesn't sit down right,it leaves a small gap by the window.
If your felts are bad,cracked,and leaking..replace them.It's a simple job anybody can do.Be sure to run a small scredriver at the bottom of the door and clean out the small drainholes along the bottom seam to make sure all the water that has leaked in can get out..at both ends of the door.
Pics..

 

[Ruh-Roh]

Thanks RG! I plan to replace mine soon, so this is just in time!

 

[realityguy]

It's a simple task and a whole lot better for everything inside your door than allowing all that water inside..While I was at it, I masked off the ledge there under/next to.. the rubber and "Duplo- color matched " it because it was somewhat mostly primer near the rubber.That took a little bit of extra time.I probably spent an hour and a half messing with it..and doing the paint also.(I'll mask again and add some clearcoat later).It's definitely worth the $50 plus to do it..
The yellow mung on the window... is the awful fir tree pollen we've had lately..as bad as yellow powdered snow that turns to paste with the rain..sticks to everything. It's been "snowing" for a month or two now because we had such a dry summer last year.This spring Mother Nature has been a B---(Bear)..I'm trying to get some painting and other exterior things done on the van and it's been raining practically every day lately.
All you "greenies" out there..Don't worry! I transplanted the moss that was on all the weather stripping I dug out after the van sat for 14 years! That's a "Pacific Northwest" Lawn.It stays pretty much bright green all year and you don't have to mow it..

 

[markmitch]

I need to do mine too! Thanks for posting this.

 

[Ruh-Roh]

We have bad pollen/paste here in the south too. If a car is parked outside it gets into every crevasse and hardens if you don't clean it out pretty quickly. I'll think I have cleaned it out and it will reappear after it dries.
I love that red Astro. Red seem to be very rare

 

[realityguy]

My yard has maybe 20+ big fir trees about 150' tall so its been awful.When the wind blows the pollen becomes visible clouds flying off the trees.Wash the van one day and 24 hours later it doesn't look like you've touched it.The dark blue one looks worse!
The early red Astros,I like thwem also,but the paint was terrible ..and chipping clear coat at least to 1990..just a mess on about every one I've seen.I've been trying to touch it up and do areas with the "color match"(yeah right!) duplo cans..with Mother Nature hanging dark clouds over my shoulder watching for the clear coat to go on. I think I might have to sand out and redo the hood for the third ^%$%^&*^% time .
The correct duplo numbered one is a shade darker than the original..and more metallic ..The cost is insane for dinky cans..but once you start you are stuck with it.
The top is going to be a silver to match the graphics and wheels..and reflect heat.I hit Home depot at just the right time and got some Rustoleum larger 10 oz cans(8) for 1/2 price of the Duplo small ones..added several cans of clear coat also.Hopefully I'll have enough to redo my set of alloy rims also.Notice on the back above the license plate's right corner the angled line between the new Duplo Red(repainted upper half and the old lower half.I plan on painting the lower doors also.The front upper fender triangles were painted the same time as the hood and both clear coated but the hood is a lot darker..The top is primer yet.I'm waiting for MN to get lost for the summer time..and give me a break!

 

[AstroWill]

Damn male trees spreading their seed all over the place.

 

[Ruh-Roh]

Your yards sound impressive. The trees in the Pacific NW are awesome!
Nice work on the paint. A slight paint miss-match on older vans like ours doesn't bother me, especially if it is a do-it-yourself job. It just seems appropriate considering the resale value, and shows that the owner cares enough to take care of the vehicle.
FYI, at a neighborhood gathering yesterday a couple of guys told be they loved my van (which is in pretty rough shape right now). One told me to never get rid of it, or let him know first if I ever decide to. He said his father-in-law had a factory V8 Astro which he passed down to his son, who still drives it with over 300,000 miles on the odometer.

 

[realityguy]

Damn male trees spreading their seed all over the place.

In winter they spread 150lb+ snow covered branches all around..but we water our trees so they stay more supple and aren't bad.The neighbor's trees..well..I've had about 4 big branches through my garage roof,like big darts..Hint! 4" steel electrical box covers are the perfect patch pieces! Pull the branch butt out,carefully peel back the roofing,screw down the cover over the hole in the plywood,and set the roofing back in place..

The backyard..is basically our 125x100 private park with 500 feet of bark-chip-covered trails back and forth under big firs and maples with salal,dewberries(those small hard to find local wild blackberries),wild red huckleberries,giant rhodies, boysenberries, raspberries,wild cherry,hazelnut,3 Asian pear trees,a Puget Apricot(damn squirrels won't leave it alone!),lots of big sword ferns and moss.
I don't have a mower here,just drag out the weedwhacker and clear the trails and "mow" our only grass in our parking strip once a month just to piss off the neighbors while they are endlessly mowing,feeding,weeding,raking,weedwhacking their same size big yards.
At one time I had 4-5 campsites back there and even a few places I can hang camping hammocks.There is a cleared chipped area that has a metal firepit..otherwise it is woods..in the middle of suburbia.

The red Astro..I figure I'll leave the paint job so-so with a "50-foot paint job" so everyone will leave it alone.A couple of Astro/Safaris were stolen over the last week or so in the Seattle area.The owners posted their tales on craigslist.

The interior headliner..I yanked out a day or two ago..doesn't look too bad underneath..maybe a little patching needed to the molded portion.I bought some VidaXL 1/8 inch ribbed gray carpeting for redoing some faces on some free cabinets I found(need to be rebuilt to different specs)to match the gray interior and maybe that headliner?(6'+ wide)..maybe leave the cabinet drawers/doors the same original birch natural finish.

Once I get the exterior things done that need to be finished(brakes on and the coolant changed out),I'll post a thread about the interior "weekend camper" change and some about the outside within the thread.I Promise! I've been buying things and trying to get around the $80-150 a sheet for good grade plywood! BS..The shortage has been a hoax for the last year or two.I know..I regularly hike the local beaches of Puget Sound(today also) and have been watching 100-car trainloads of plywood coming in from BC, Canada.IT'S .HOGWASH! Let's get back to $20-40 a sheet! Quit ripping the public off!

 

[AstroWill]

I've been buying things and trying to get around the $80-150 a sheet for good grade plywood! BS..The shortage has been a hoax for the last year or two.I know..I regularly hike the local beaches of Puget Sound(today also) and have been watching 100-car trainloads of plywood coming in from BC, Canada.IT'S .HOGWASH! Let's get back to $20-40 a sheet! Quit ripping the public off!

It sucks for us, but it's just the system working as intended, record profits year over year.

He said his father-in-law had a factory V8 Astro which he passed down to his son, who still drives it with over 300,000 miles on the odometer.

Never heard of one, would love to see pictures and the VIN number.

 

[Ruh-Roh]

Never heard of one, would love to see pictures and the VIN number.

Another Astro owner told me they made a small number of V8 Astros in one of the early years. I'll see if he knows any details, but if you haven't heard about it, then I will still doubt him.

 

[realityguy]

..and so the story goes on....

Factory V8 Safari ??? - Chevy & GMC Vans

 

[AstroWill]

It's like Bigfoot/Sasquatch, spy cameras that can read the back of your credit card from the sky, cameras all over the place recording and virtually everyone has one on them at all times these days, but never seen a clear picture of one

 

[WoodButcher]

Ditto that!

 

[realityguy]

Update on the window felts..My passenger one came in with a slight back bend and up at both ends(say 1/8" from straight)..DON'T ACCEPT THEM LIKE THAT!..SEND THEM BACK!Better yet,inform them that you know about about that problem and that you WILL send them back if they aren't straight.You can't straighten them either because of how they are made.
The problem is that they only touch the metal lip in 5 small 1/8-1/4" clip points in and out and they don't hold in place across under the window unless they are straight..the ends continue to pop up!.I've tried tightening the clip points,straightening them,RTV,etc..and they can fall off driving down the road..or probably even rolling the window up while driving.That one won't stay down in place.
You've been warned!

 

[realityguy]

Update..I did get the passenger side window felt to finally glue down with some of the 3m weather strip cement for the last 8" or so(Third time's the charm,right?)..but my power window on that side isn't working(I had fixed a broken wire(2) but putting it back in between the door and jamb seems to have broken it again.I haven't driven it much but the window felt seems to be holding in place.I'm not operating the window..keep that in mind.
It's winter in the PNW..and an ugly one(super cold to the teens.about 10" of snow..and "atmospheric rivers" of torrential rain for a week or so.. blew my HF canopy away and wrapped it around a tree..uncommon for here)..Once the weather clears up for a while I'll tear the inside of the door back out..probably take out the new window motor also and address that broken wire again more properly this time.(there were two broken inside that spring cover and tough to get everything back in place correctly with the window motor in).. and check things out..update..
A new short thread(asking about them) was started by someone else(1/2023) ..no need to post here again.I couldn't remember what they were called(duh)..but refound this thread.. and linked it there..

 

[MechBob]

Ah, so S10 outers do fit, cool! Now some info, you should have window most of the way down/or all the way, to install them. Then you can push glass away some, and block off. Works even easier of inner one is out, which is part of the door panel, but it flexes enough anyway.

 

[AstroWill]

Good thread, made it a sticky

 

[MCwith_the2003]

Do you not have to bend the inside clips inward? Installed the driver side just now, and when I roll up the window, it pushed the whole shebang up and off! At the minimum, it makes an audible CLONK! when the rail the window sits in hits what I am guessing is those inside metal clips?

 

[realityguy]

I happen to be on here right now..good timing..LOL!
I didn't have any problems with the clips attaching themselves to the seam.Everything just pulled down nice and tight.I did mine quite a while ago..and I might have tapped them down to seat them say with a wood 1/2 dowel end.The window felt fit right down into place with the window barely up to rest against..(don't break your glass)..
I did notice my track angle at the back door edge previously.It was kind of loose at the bottom at the rivets down there a while before,say a month?, when I was changing out the window motor..so I redid those rivets with bolts?.I believe it's back to its original tracking path(from using the alignment of the previous rivet holes.I wonder if your track is loose like mine was.Can you flex the window glass(easy!)at the top inward to see if the bottom of the track flexes easy outward..and loose there? What you might be hitting on with the top edge of the glass are the clips on the metal seam or the seam itself..which it shouldn't be hitting.. It should clear the seam in the normal position or it'll scratch the glass. It should hit the rubber and not the metal seam or clips.
I just now went outside and rolled mine up down and back up and it barely goes down below the top edge of the outside felt's rubber..but it does go all the way inside below the top of the rubber.
If it came off,try bending them down a little bit if you think that might fix the problem.I'd slowly roll the window up with the felt off and see how close it comes to that seam..it shouldn't hit it..You might want to put a piece of cloth or something on the seam so you don't scratch the glass as you roll it up slowly..Basically check the tracking to make sure it clears the metal seam easy.
I went out again and took a picture of the screws I used to reset theNotice the origi bottom end of the track,on the back inside edge of the door.Notice the original holes by the screws.I lined it up the best I could with the original holes and think those are short self-tappers.In the position it is in,it clears the seam the felt fits on. I don't remember the screw length..just sure they weren't in line with the glass..it's been a while since I did it. I'll probably add a couple more screws later(quick fix..).