1999 astro cargo build thread

[stent]

i put this stuff in and the leak has stopped :

i was really skeptical but it really stopped - who knows for how long but it buys me some time.


this nasty, sticky, black snot was in the radiator filler neck when i took off the cap to add the stop leak :

black snot

i don't know what else it could be but oil, but it doesn't feel like oil.
the dipstick oil looks fine.
i wasn't planning on changing head gaskets - ugh... the only other way i could imagine oil in the radiator is through the oil cooler...


yesterday i went to the JY and practiced the intake operation on a corpse.
i took the intake home & am planning on getting this one ready to install with a new spider before i take my van apart.
it took me about 3 hours to get this out

JY intake

i might go back to the JY to practice removing the heads if we get another good weather day before they crush it.

[AstroWill]

i put this stuff in and the leak has stopped :

i was really skeptical but it really stopped - who knows for how long but it buys me some time.

Fan-freaking-tastic! You might be surprised, some of that stuff is pretty darn good.

[stent]

so far so good. this down the hole pic shows how much coolant i've used since the morning after (nov. 28) i dumped in the Bar's Leaks and i filled the expansion tank up. no more black goo in the filler neck either, & the dipstick oil still looks good. i've gone about 150 miles, putt-putting on the side streets.

[sixsix]

Just amazing - that there are these products and that they work well.
Congrats.

[AstroWill]

so far so good. this down the hole pic shows how much coolant i've used since the morning after (nov. 28) i dumped in the Bar's Leaks and i filled the expansion tank up. no more black goo in the filler neck either, & the dipstick oil still looks good. i've gone about 150 miles, putt-putting on the side streets.
:thumbup: :thumbup:

Looks good! Glad to hear it's working for you!

[stent]

thanks mike & will ! - i appreciate your support.

the Bar's Leaks goop is buying me time to round up parts for repair & to get ready for a good wrenching thrash.
i've been debit card shopping & stuff is coming in.
so far it's all from amazon. i tried to set up an account with rockauto but they wouldn't because they said they aren't set up to distribute the local taxes to whoever in metro denver they are supposed to send $ to - whatever.
i'll post pics of the stuff i'm buying while it's all new, uninstalled, & give part numbers & prices for reference to anyone looking for replacing the same stuff. i've caught the "i might as well do this while i'm in there" bug, because i want to get the mechanicals trouble free & reliable again then get back to my interior & audio installation fun stuff.......

here's where most of my post's come from :

icky vicki

i've got lots & lots of screen background pics, i think i'll start my posts with whatever is up at the time.


first part up for thread pics is the fuel injection spider. having to go at least down to the lower intake gasket "i might as well" do the injectors. i really wanted to swap in a mercruiser marine fuel injection intake system (at my leisure) but i abandoned the idea when i started to leave a trail of antifreeze wherever i went. i reconsidered briefly when i plugged the leak but didn't want to rush figuring out the injector control, mapping, upgraded ECM, legal emissions, etc. so i bought the upgraded GM spider with the "real" individual electric injectors - ACDelco No. 217-3028, $215.78. i'm easy to please & l'll be perfectly happy with this 6-legged electric bug hiding in there - lots of pics here to get a good look at what it is :

link : https://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-217-3028 ... B000NW8ES0
here's what i received, it was shipped in an outer box in addition to this white box & arrived safely :

instruction sheet with tiny print

bag of gaskets

bag of gaskets

box with bracket

bracket

spider in clamshell

more........

[Leeann_93]

It's back in stock - that's great. For a little while, no one had that kit. You'll be happy with the upgrade.

[stent]

..........more

i'll add other parts later

[stent]

a quicky update on the "Bar's Leak" leak fix.
pic into top of expansion tank after leak stopped & i refilled the tank - right after thanksgiving :

pic into top of expansion tank today - i haven't added anything more yet & i've gone about 300 easy miles total :

so far so good - all the mileage has been on city streets, none on the highway.
i never let the engine leak enough to run hot before the goo plug, it doesn't run hot at all now either.
the dipstick oil still looks like oil.
there IS some black slime on the walls of the expansion tank - see the last pic for best look.
i'm still collecting parts, i'll add more new parts pics when i get a chance.....

[AstroWill]

Thanks for the update!

Looks like it's going to give you plenty of time to acquire your parts and decide when you want to get started.

[Slime]

Nice build! I just got done doing the intake gasket on my Vortex V8 truck. Just getting to the intake to get it off was such a PITA....probably why I couldn't work in a dealership! LOL

[stent]

another stopleak update - the level in the coolant tank is about the same & the oil on the dipstick still looks like oil - been using the van to commute & am staying off the highway...

the van is running good like always, the coolant temp runs right around the thermostat rating, and the heater works fine - i was wondering about the stopleak clogging up the heater core, but it hasn't yet.
notice in the picture down into the expansion tank, however, of the scummy residue building up on the inner wall of the tank, right above the fluid level - it's definitely built up more than what was there in the first 2 pictures i posted. i will get the coolant system "detergent flushed" at a shop once i change everything out to make sure i get all of this sticky goo out (thinking out loud, maybe i should flush it right BEFORE i pull it all apart).

Last edited by stent on January 12th 2021, 10:16pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Rod's Trucks]

It looks very good to me.
There will always be a small amount of the residue working it's way to the surface, until you do the chemical cleaning ( and maybe even a tiny bit after that).
I would not be too concerned about that little bit.
But, I definitely would want to keep an yon it for any signs of a sudden change.
Rod J
issaquah, WA

[stent]

It looks very good to me.
There will always be a small amount of the residue working it's way to the surface, until you do the chemical cleaning ( and maybe even a tiny bit after that).
I would not be too concerned about that little bit.
But, I definitely would want to keep an yon it for any signs of a sudden change.
Rod J
issaquah, WA

hi rod,
thanks for taking a look - i've been checking the level every morning before starting the engine. i swear the hood release works easier from all of the opening & closing....

[stent]

the stop leak is still working, over 600 miles now -- YAY!!!

the current desktop pic - vintage sunbeam power tools.

here's some more pictures of new parts to install at the leak fix thrash....
fel-pro intake manifold bolts, # es72224.
fel-pro intake manifold gasket set, MS 98002 T.

[sixsix]

... and a phone with a cord!


And those are some Mighty Fine Gaskets you got there, sonny boy...
( that's what the guy said to Dolly from real far away )

[AstroWill]

the stop leak is still working, over 600 miles now -- YAY!!!

Awesome! Have you decided when you are going to start doing the gaskets?

[Leeann_93]

the stop leak is still working, over 600 miles now -- YAY!!!

the current desktop pic - vintage sunbeam power tools.

sunbeam.jpg

On a nice older iMac, too (she says looking at the pic on her 27" iMac)

[stent]

the desktop screen of the moment..........

bumwine

... and a phone with a cord!
And those are some Mighty Fine Gaskets you got there, sonny boy...

i did a wider angle pic this time to get the phone in. RCA in basic black.....
i thought that as many people as get the lower intake leak i'd put in good closeup pics of the fel-pro gasket set to see what you get in the box. the new manifold bolts are a separate buy, i got them just because they come with thread sealer already on them.

On a nice older iMac, too (she says looking at the pic on her 27" iMac)

check out the keyboard - it's from the solid white series prior to this one and has the clickety-clack keys.

Awesome! Have you decided when you are going to start doing the gaskets?

if i get a "BIG SPEW" anytime soon, i'll change just the gaskets as soon thereafter as i can without frostbite - but if my goop plug luck holds out , i'll wait till one of the first nice weeks in spring where i can take off for a few days and really attack with a bunch of other new stuff - once the engine is stripped enough to change the manifold a lot of other things become much easier to do at the same time : my power steering pump & one hose have been slow leaking for years; i need to upgrade the alternator & associated cables for the stereo i'm installing (slowly); it's a great time to install the underhood part of the factory cruise control i'm adding, do a new water pump, radiator, hoses, whew!! i did give up at least for now on making a go of the mercruiser marine fuel injection setup - i'll be perfectly happy with a new FI spider instead & money ahead.

i've been fitting out the old trailer i posted a few pics of previously to have a good little place to spread out tools & parts. i put in a 50 amp, 120/240V RV electrical service rather than throw an extension cord out the window; the service connection, disconnect switch & main breaker are done. i've got a breaker box for inside the trailer that i still need to install along with the associated conduit/MC cable, switches & receptacles, because the trailer was stripped to the skin & inner framing when i got it. i've got a good workbench & plenty of shop lights in already, also a 240V portable heater & a 120V window AC unit to handle whatever the weather is.

it's taken root nicely

power!!!!

i grabbed the valve covers off the JY van i took the intake from, they are some of the filthiest i've ever seen - i was planning on cleaning these now to use later when i changeover to save time....

got an oversized, welded aluminum radiator off ebay for $150.00 - it looks to be nicely made & has a real 2" core...

a real petcock !!

[AstroWill]

if i get a "BIG SPEW" anytime soon, i'll change just the gaskets as soon thereafter as i can without frostbite - but if my goop plug luck holds out :pray: , i'll wait till one of the first nice weeks in spring where i can take off for a few days and really attack with a bunch of other new stuff - once the engine is stripped enough to change the manifold a lot of other things become much easier to do at the same time : my power steering pump & one hose have been slow leaking for years; i need to upgrade the alternator & associated cables for the stereo i'm installing (slowly); it's a great time to install the underhood part of the factory cruise control i'm adding, do a new water pump, radiator, hoses, whew!! i did give up at least for now on making a go of the mercruiser marine fuel injection setup - i'll be perfectly happy with a new FI spider instead & money ahead.

I'm sure it would hold for many years, will be replaced way before it fails. Yep, at that point might as well do it 'while we are here'. If you aren't going to do some kind of forced induction you probably don't need the ability to change the injectors anyway.
You will be real happy with the new spider using real injectors.

It's nice having a comfortable place to work, spent a few years not having that and I wouldn't go back to that.