Clean Francine - 2000 Astro LS AWD Dad Van

[kursed]

Nice looking! Enjoy your 'new' addition.

Ours is the Gray LS AWD. Love it!

Thanks, we will.

[kursed]

Good job!

Don’t bother turning the rotors. They’re not worth it, very few places even have a brake lathe any more, plus if they were warped they’ll never be right again (1st heat cycle and they’ll warp again).

They work great under jacks and jackstands to spread the weight and keep them from sinking into dirt/sand or hot pavement.

That was kind of my plan. I have a sneaking suspicion that the passenger side is a tad bit warped. If the shop finds runout they will get repurposed for sure. If they aren't warped, I would like to get them turned so I can swap them during the next brake job and have the same done to these new ones.

But if they are warped, yes they will become bases for something I'm sure.

[kursed]

Started off the morning teaching the girls how to bleed the brakes, they are nice and solid now. Then removed the old rear shocks and installed a set of Monroe Load Adjust rear coil overs. Hard to tell in the comparison picture, but we gained about 2". Pretty sure the leaf springs are weak as well, so they will be on the short list as well. HUGE improvement in ride as the old shocks were well past garbage. True test will be in a few days with the 6'x12' utility trailer loaded down and all the kiddos in their seats. So far I'm very pleased with the new shocks. Picked up the front shocks today on the way home, will hopefully install those tomorrow.

[kursed]

Got the front shocks on today. Man what a pain getting to the top nut on the passenger side. Also decided to go ahead and do the passenger side caliper and hose. Seemed like that side was getting a little hotter than the other, figured the caliper was beyond due replacing it, might as well throw a new one on. MAN what a darn difference all the new shocks and brakes made. Feels like a brand new van.

[plymouthcranbrook]

I am envious. Not just the van but the enthusiastic helpers. Great truck.

[kursed]

I am envious. Not just the van but the enthusiastic helpers. Great truck.

Thanks! Yes, the helper crew is amazing. They've been tooling along helping with the custom G van build as well, and pitching in on the house remodel where they can.

[Mmusicman]

They work great under jacks and jackstands to spread the weight and keep them from sinking into dirt/sand or hot pavement.

Damn! I knew I was saving my old ones for a good reason!

[Leeann_93]

They work great under jacks and jackstands to spread the weight and keep them from sinking into dirt/sand or hot pavement.

Damn! I knew I was saving my old ones for a good reason!

Yep, they're wonderful. And plentiful.

[kursed]

Nothing major lately, but we did get the rear bumper on today.

[kursed]

Still not much time to work on either van, but I put off some plumbing and electrical work in the renovation house to make an MDF cubby box for an old Chevy Blazer console I got with the 82 G10. I like to hold hands with my wife, but it's not so easy with nothing to lay your hands on. I'll see how I like the height for a week or so then clean and paint it.

[kursed]

Not a ton going on with the Astro right now. Just turned over 100,000 miles. She's got a tiny coolant leak which I'm suspecting is due to the commonly faulty intake gasket. For now we're just topping off the antifreeze every once in a while and hoping we can limp through until Spring.

I took the center console out for cleaning and spray painting. I cut about 1/2" off the bottom box to lower it just a tad per the wife's request. Haven't cleaned or painted it yet as I got sidetracked with the Queen Anne's Revenge engine swap among other things.

I did manage to score a set of chrome steel wheels in the junkyard yesterday for $100. Knowing we were supposed to be getting snow today, I told them I wasn't in a rush for them. So I'll go back to pick them up in a week or so. I won't put tires on them and mount them until we get the idler arms and steering parts sorted out.

I'm just glad I came across this van and these wheels. It was tucked away in a corner of the yard and I almost walked right past it without noticing it. These rims seem to be pretty hard to come by. I've searched high and low through several local junkyards with no luck until yesterday. They sell for close to $100 each when I find them online, so $25 each was right up my alley. Now I won't have to worry with blasting and polishing the old aluminum rims that I really didn't care for anyway.