1990 Chevy Astro Provan Tiger GTv8 Pop-Up Camper

[AstroWill]

Just bought a 1990 Chevy Astro Provan Tiger GT pop-up with a blown engine(thanks Laura). Already got an engine for it from Randy(thanks)! Now I just have to figure out how to get it home to work on it.

Like many RV/Conversion Vans, it's titled as a 1990, but is a 1989 Cargo conversion.

This is my first Tiger, I have a thread for my second Tiger here viewtopic.php?f=127&t=111986 and my third Tiger here viewtopic.php?f=127&t=109937

[Leeann_93]

I'm so glad the provan is to be rescued and the motor is going to be put to good use.

I like happy endings

[chevymaher]

I was wondering if you made it home yet.I just about called you today.You see our pics I posted?Was that hitch carrier alright all the way home?Your welcome and it was a pleasure having your visit welcome back anytime.

[a2l1]

I never knew that such an Astro existed. Are there any more pics? Now I want one. Who built them, I am assuming there is more than one? Is there any online literature or info available? I am really really interested in this. Thanks for the pic and the post. It is one of the most interesting vans I have seen a photo of and would love to see what the interior is like.



A J

[a2l1]

I just did an online scrounge and got some info. These are really nice. I wouldnt mind one at all. I was a westy type but these have altered that. I am going spend some more time looking up the info on Tigers. Really slick.

[AstroWill]

I just did an online scrounge and got some info. These are really nice. I wouldnt mind one at all. I was a westy type but these have altered that. I am going spend some more time looking up the info on Tigers. Really slick.

This one is in a lot better shape then the one I just purchased.
---dead link removed---

There is a Yahoo group specifically for the Tigers, edit: they moved to tapatalk: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/tigerowners/

[misterfx8]

never saw astro/safari like this one. It must be rare. Nice find.

[ihatemybike]

Astro/Safari Tigers were made by Tiger Motor Homes a division of Provan Industries and come in GT (Pop-up) and XL (Full height hardtop). I've seen a couple GTs converted to hardtops, haven't found if this was done by Provan or not.

A 1994 Tiger XL was cleaned up on Expedition Portal over the past year. According to the owner, one of the best mods that can be done to these is changing to 16" rims and running LT tires. (Though I think a V8 swap would also be up there.) http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/s ... hp?t=38228

Before


After

[AstroWill]

The Tiger has finally made it to my house. For some odd reason I can't upload images to the forums, or I'm doing it wrong, who knows.

[Leeann_93]

You're not doing it wrong; image uploading has been messed up for a few weeks.

Looks great! When're you going to do the transplant?

[Waffles]

The hardtop quoted above is now ours. I can't really make too many comments on the wheel/tire swap because I don't know what it was like before. I can say it rubs REALLY bad. Not just a little, but any kind of dip you go into, such as driveways. We have not yet taken it off road so I can't comment there, but I'd imagine it would be the same if going down anything other than a smooth forest road. It does travel nice on the pavement.

Upgrade with caution and be prepared to follow with some kind of lift and/or cutting of wheelwell.

[AstroWill]

You're not doing it wrong; image uploading has been messed up for a few weeks.

Looks great! When're you going to do the transplant?

Well that explains a lot about the images.

I hope to start working on it little by little starting tomorrow. This is all dependent on what my son allows me to get done.

[AstroWill]

For some odd reason it doesn't hold oil, and I have a slight coolant leak

[Leeann_93]

Oh, dear...that looks like my '93...

[AstroWill]

It's got that new green colored oil

[AstroWill]

Apparently the transmission has had some work done, seems like an external filter(?) has been added and there is a tag from KarWay Transmission http://www.karway1.com out of Mesa, AZ.

[Leeann_93]

Hm. Doesn't look like a tranny fluid filter...looks like a fuel filter. Generally, add-on tranny fluid filters have mounts that the filter screws onto, like an oil filter.

[AstroWill]

Hm. Doesn't look like a tranny fluid filter...looks like a fuel filter. Generally, add-on tranny fluid filters have mounts that the filter screws onto, like an oil filter.

There is some writing on it, I will have to see if it says anything because I would like to replace it while replacing the pan filter and fluid.


Here is my temporary parking brake while the parking brake is removed so I can drop the sub-frame. I just used a pair of vice-grips so the ratchet strap had something to grip on, parking brake was super easy to disconnect and unbolt.


Surprisingly the Y-pipe disconnected easily from the exhaust manifolds. Now the other end of the Y-pipe is being a PITA, but I'm sure it will come out with time, otherwise I will try to put some heat on it.


How the heck does this connector disconnect before I break it. Everything plastic is so brittle on this van, I guess that it has spent a lot of time in the southwest


Here the frame rail is cracked so it will have to get repaired at some point in time, from where it is located I'm not so worried about it right now. I just hope that it can be repaired fairly cheap once the time comes.


I want to fix that with something like the hitch is on my 99, 4 bolts on each side.

[Leeann_93]

Good idea

Heat works...worked on my oxygen sensor (okay, I applied heat to the bung, but still).

Ummmm....I don't know. I don't think I've disconnected that on my '93. I haven't taken it fully out, though. Either that or mine doesn't have it....what does it go to, do you know?

Yeah, you'll have to get that fixed eventually. I'd say you probably can rent a welder from United Rentals or Home Depot for that job.

I was happier with the hitch that came with my '93 than on the one that came on my '99 - the one on the '93 had 4 frame bolts and 2 bumper bolts (one was a Class III and one was a Class I/II). The one on the '99 had 2 frame and 1 bumper bolt. So I switched them

[AstroWill]

Not sure about the connector, it is one of two large connectors that go to the main wiring harness through the firewall.

I don't really like the way the extended the bumper/hitch in the first place. Doesn't seem beefy enough for it's purpose. I'm not sure what they would have rated it at, but looking at it the way it is I wouldn't want to tow anything with it.


I will have to extend the exhaust pipe so that it actually makes it out from under the vehicle.


Here is the Firestone Air Spring inflated to the rated max of 100psi. Really gives it quite a boost so I could get under it to work on it. And I'm not a small guy.