[Doe_nStein]

Just a few things. Van needed a radiator. So we replaced the hoses, took all the A/C stuff off, replaced the compressor with the delete pulley, new belt, and added a transmssion cooler from a Cadillac limo

 

[Mmusicman]

BUSY CAR SHOW SEASON FOR ME:
(here's a few)

1) BIG benefit dealership show, 2 dealership lots, vendors, food.. 300 cars.
(my 3rd largest show of the year, provide additional remote sound)
Host club has donated over $150K to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital...

2) ALL BRITISH SHOW.. we take up an entire park in Palm Beach County.
500+ cars.. packed with vendors and spectators. 2 remote sound trucks
Benefit show for local wildlife organization.
Record breaking show... and my 2nd largest show of the year.

Photo below is an old aerial photo from about 5 years ago.
All green areas are now filled with cars...

3) COOL WHEELS 10TH ANNUAL BENEFIT EVENT!
1100+ cars, 3 DJ's, LIVE BAND on stage, huge vendor area, large local park.
This year broke record.. we had traffic backed up out on local highway.

I provide main stage sound for band and DJ's, live-stream, and broadcast to multiple remote sound vehicles further out in park. This is my biggest show of the year. This show also benefits local youth automotive training programs.

My DJ van fully loaded with MORE speakers, mixers, and amp-racks (it all fits)
Here I am loading trailer and pulling out around 6am...

THE MAIN STAGE... (red carpet is for show cars to roll across)
(including vintage sound stacks and 10,000+ watts)

MY VIEW...

MY BACKDROP.. (we fired up several of these 8000HP monsters)

(doesn't include my weekly cruise-nights)
Sorry, no photos of the show cars.

BEEN A BUSY MONTH!!!

 

[sixsix]

Never get tired of seeing your Vans still working - 'specially the '92 - This is our... or rather... 'their', 30th year.

Honestly Scott, I wonder how many of those shows we might have attended had we 'grown up' in my home town Tampa with relatives living down off Biscayne Bay in a hi-rise, instead of settlin' in greater Cincinnati.

Just noticed - it is our 8th year on the forum - has to be some great repeat shots of your Car Shows on this thread. Seems I recall the one from 5 yrs back.

 

[Mmusicman]

Never get tired of seeing your Vans still working - 'specially the '92 - This is our... or rather... 'their', 30th year.

Thanks! Yeah wow.. it didn't really occur to me it's a 30 year old vehicle (although I do now have it insured with Hagerty). To me, it just an Astro van (or my play & gig van).. lol. Like I say.. my 92 lives in the garage loaded and ready for shows. It goes to a LOT of them regularly. My wife even got to use it last Sunday for a show while I was out of town. She loves chirping the tires and all the attention she gets. My only issue with it is that I have a temporary TH350 trans in it (until I fix 700R4). Fresh and firm shifts (chirps tires every time).. but doesn't have lockup and overdrive which I've grown to appreciate on my highway trips.

Just noticed - it is our 8th year on the forum - has to be some great repeat shots of your Car Shows on this thread. Seems I recall the one from 5 yrs back.

GREAT MEMORY!!
I think I know the one... was it this one? LOL
(this was almost exactly 5 years ago.. lol)
Unfortunately, I didn't get much of the van in this shot..

I often work with promoters, celebrities, dignitaries, politicians, DJ's, bands, radio & TV personalities, kids organizations, restaurant and business owners, city officials, car-club officials, etc etc.. but strippers and cheerleaders are always my favorite.

 

[Mmusicman]

My 2000 got some recent action this past week or two as well.
Here's a corporate event in Boca Raton...

NEXT did this one last Sunday in Miami Beach.. (early setup photo)

Then headed from there same day to Orlando for family vacation at "Universal and Islands of Adventure"

-------------------------------------

Here's a photo of some spectators (I missed posting above) from my recent British car show near the beach.. (sorry no van in this photo.. but I was standing next to my van doing my gig when I took this shot)

Then there's always shots like this.. working with the talent at some of the shows...

But you don't want to see pictures of me...lol

 

[Mmusicman]

Ok.. ONE MORE!

Here's one I've never posted of my van...
A car cruise celebrity shot with me (including my 92)
Do you recognize this guy? Aaaaay!

I attempt to be sure my van is in most of these posts.
It's one thing to get a celebrity shot.. but it's quite another to get it in front of your Astro.. lol

 

[sixsix]

Great Pics of the Vans, celebrities notwithstanding... LOL.
Spousal Unit & I had fun trying to think of... ... ... Henry Winkler.

Keep it Young, Music.

 

[WoodButcher]

HAAYYYYYY,

 

[Mmusicman]

Pulled a tree stump yesterday..
With 4-low I barely touched the throttle, yanked it right out

 

[Big_kid]

My van was on loan for a few days last week until my daughter was able to get a tire replced on her car. Then Thursday my son was in an accident with the red truck, it's totaled. He's fine, that's what matters. My wife and I went camping last weekend, but we towed with her truck. It did ok, but nowhere near as easy as the Astro handles pulling the camper. My son has been driving it to and from work this week. I'd noticed a Ranger around the block from us had been sitting in the street for a while, recently it was moved to a driveway with a wheel chock and no tags. I saw the owner was outside this morning so I stopped to ask about it. I took my son to look at it after work today. He bought it, I disconnected the drive shaft and towed it home with a strap. The seller says it's stuck in 4th gear. Even if it needs a transmission, it's a decent truck for the price. Now we just need to strip what we can use off the Mazda and get rid of what's left.

I did clean out the Astro last weekend, finally. The stereo sounds so much better without a huge pile of camping gear etc in front of the speakers.

 

[cdoublejj]

 

[Leeann_93]

^^ ewww. Wasn’t the original formula Dexcool awesome?

Charlie- sorry to hear about the boy’s truck. At least he’s okay…and now he has another project

 

[Big_kid]

Leeann- thanks, that's the important thing, new project is secondary.

We got the transmission swapped and a new battery in the Ranger, all that's left is to reinstall the carpet, seats , shifter, then on to paperwork. Maybe one of these weekends I'll get the pool filled and the Astro can get some desperately needed love.

Anybody need Ranger/2300 parts? lol

 

[AstroWill]

He's fine, that's what matters.

Glad to hear he is fine. Sounds like you got lucky on finding the other truck.

 

[Big_kid]

Got lucky finding it, but DMV is another story. Hopefully it'll be legal by Friday. Until then it's a prettier driveway cover than the red truck. Speaking of which... A buddy at work in NC has a son with a 2.3 Ranger in need of a 5 speed, so like has been done before, a trip is being planned for a transmission handoff/pickup/something TBD. The transmission chain continues.

 

[Mmusicman]

The officer controlling traffic told me not to hit the turtles while I was on the sidewalk...
She said she didn't want to have to fill out a report.. lol

Here's a show I was at on FTL beach the day before.. (sorry no van shot)

 

[Maximan1]

I mounted my light bar and PIAA rock lights/driving lights a few days ago. Now I just gotta find the time to wire them up, plus rear lights that I have yet to install.

 

[Mmusicman]

INTERESTING DAY FOR ME:

First... I swapped my front left fender (on my 2000 AWD) with one of our junk vans at work.
My fender (although dent free) has pit marks and paint chipping off.

My old fender...

My old fender removed:

I had the pick of 4 white cargo vans, so I found the best fender.
Here are 3 of the 4 vans.. all 04 models (all run.. two have bad transmissions).

The donor van... (been parked for a few years)

Replacement fender is mint condition.. pretty clean inside too...

I forgot to take a photo of my completed project (I'll add it later)
But here is the last photo of it with the old fender.. lol.. (can't see the issues from here)

JOB DONE!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Below is the #4 junk van.. a rust free, dent free 2004... bad trans (we think).. ran when we parked it.
It has good fenders and looks like it will be the donor replacement for my right front fender (also pitted).

I expressed interest in getting one of the junk vans, and was told I could have my pick. This was it. This van is fairly clean, minor dings, no rust. It also has the GT4 3.73 rear.
If it wasn't 6 lug, I would have probably swapped the rear long ago into my 2000.

A minute later I have a signed title in hand for a FREE VAN! Cool!

I decided I would pay it forward and I'm giving it to a long-time friend of mine who has been looking for a van (who will fix it up and rebuild the transmission himself). I don't need another van, no place to keep it, and I already have two running vans. It was my intention of getting him one of these abandoned vans that have been sitting for a few years. So it's temporarily mine until he can come get it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's our #5 97 junk van (but I don't really count it). No dents or rust.
It was used as a parking lot sign for some other company long ago.
It also ran when we parked it 10 years ago.
Trans "may" be good... but van is in no condition to drive again.
I pulled the drive-shaft as a spare... and grabbed some door seals.
Easy stuff. I think I'm going to grab the sway bar.
This one will go to the junk yard.

So that was my interesting and fun day.

 

[Mmusicman]

* * * UPDATE * * *

So as I posted above... I was given a free 2004 Astro by my company a few weeks ago.
I "paid it forward" and gave it to a good friend in need, who came down to get it this weekend.

We loaded it up yesterday.. and today it's on it's way (from South Florida) to it's new home in Alabama.
The ramps needed some help.. but trailer is good, with mix of new and good tires.
Pulled it up with an electronic winch (chain was for backup in case anything snapped)

SUCCESS!
Our measurements were good.. with "less than an inch" to spare!
Close fit... tire right up against trailer side

Positioned for good tongue weight..

The other vans watched on..

Final shot in South Florida...

My buddy has big hopes and plans for his "new" van.
On it's way to it's new home (it's a few hundred miles up the road as of now)

Good luck & safe travels

 

[Big_kid]

Glad to see it getting a new home and a new lease on life!