Hello, All! And a big thanks for all the help you didn't know you've given me.
I've been learning and lurking since this summer, and thought I'd make an intro, finally.
Being in the restaurant business, by the summer of 2020, I decided having a big SUV with a similarly big monthly payment was no longer desirable. I loved my Armada, but I needed to shed some financial weight. I had equity in it...so I went looking for something kick @ss, but something I could pay cash for, or with a much, much smaller payment. I couldn't lose any cool factor, though. :snooty: :lol: Long story short, I got 2 cars to replace the one, huge Nissan Armada Platinum, black on black with a custom Pioneer Tray from Rhino Rack that I loved and used so much...I know. It's a completely obnoxious vehicle. Wasteful, huge, earth killer. :lol: But, it was so cool! :evil: Any way I got a 2016 MINI Countryman S ALL 4...(we moved to a barrier island and hardly drive these days, so, I bought a go-cart for when I need to haul kids instead of stuff...fun as hell!)
And for the Utility aspect I was giving up, I had to find an Astro. I never realized AstroSafari AWD was almost one of my dream vehicles (any 4x4 Van) until I came across a lifted one for sale and subsequently discovered this site in my scramble to shine light on my blasphemous, Chevy ignorance.
It took until Halloween, but I finally found my van and immediately committed to overpaying for it, so I wouldn't lose another one. :banghead: :banana: I love it. It's solid. So far, I had a local mech flush the coolant system, change the oil, diff oil, TC fluid, trans fluid, new cap and wires. I changed the idle air control valve, MAF, coil and module, replaced the head unit, and replaced the none existent passenger grab bar that passengers shouldn't actually use to, you know, grab. :shrug: :lol: Spent hours reading this site, watching videos and deciding which rims I want. Eventually this will be a work/beach/surf/family camper, but all in due time. For now, just work.
I know everyone loves photos, so
The Day I got the van:
The first thing I did was the simplest head unit I could find. Tuner, wired CarPlay...not much else to it.
Which leads me to...FREE RADIO with 1.5 din Mount for our vans...Gotta Pick Up. (and help me with in the 236/246 hybrid I'm refurbishing. )
I don't know much about it, cept the PO didn't connect to or bypass the e-brake, and it is so complicated I could barely change the station. :lol: Harness and antenna adaptor included!
Here are a couple more photos, just cuz. I decided my first mod would be to add 4wd. Why? Freakin 4x4 Van. That's why. :evil: :lol: I'm currently rebuilding the NP236 with parts from a 246 like Capn and Racr showed everyone. I'm waiting on my used, clutch pack tool to finish assembly. I'm still wrapping my mind around the electrical, but I chose this method to achieve 4wd, so I can learn the most about my van and vehicles in general. I'm pretty green, even though I'm old. I find it fun and fascinating and need a project. The fact that I found both the transfer cases on eBay for $203.00 shipped to my door...with encoder motors, connectors, and speed sensors on both; helped very much and sealed the deal. I got them on "myautostore" on eBay. They are literally like a pick and pull, but they ship. Both cases had every other part still attached, including about 10% of the rear drive shafts. I searched the VINs and both donors were totaled by insurance and the cases looked great on the inside. Not perfect, but serviceable on the outside. I kind of regretted not just throwing the $50 TC when I saw how good it looked on the inside, but I'm in no hurry to get this mod done...just want it done right the first time. My plan is to try to use the leftover parts from the 236/246 to make the OEM 136 a 2 speed TC, rebuild it, and create a full install kit for some other lucky AstroSafari van. Capn (sorry, full names escape me ATM) already showed everyone that the 236 internals fit in the 136 and racr showed that the 246 internals fit into 236, so I'm going to try to make 2 4wd TC's out of 3, and since I have to do all the wiring, anyway; I plan to get two of everything and assemble a nice package for someone, and hopefully, help offset some of the cost, down the road.
Anyway...photos:
And my contribution to AstroSari Land...you CAN fit full sheets of plywood in a shorty.
Thanks again! Tons of help, so far. I hope to be able to give back a bit...you know...when I learn enough to actually have something to offer. :chevy:
Oh, yeah...almost forgot...Anyone ever see one of these before? It's on the body pillar, behind the driver's side door.
(I must confess...I never in my life have used emoticons or whatever they're called. You folks made me break my lifelong boycott. hahaha. Don't tell anyone. HA!)
I've been learning and lurking since this summer, and thought I'd make an intro, finally.
Being in the restaurant business, by the summer of 2020, I decided having a big SUV with a similarly big monthly payment was no longer desirable. I loved my Armada, but I needed to shed some financial weight. I had equity in it...so I went looking for something kick @ss, but something I could pay cash for, or with a much, much smaller payment. I couldn't lose any cool factor, though. :snooty: :lol: Long story short, I got 2 cars to replace the one, huge Nissan Armada Platinum, black on black with a custom Pioneer Tray from Rhino Rack that I loved and used so much...I know. It's a completely obnoxious vehicle. Wasteful, huge, earth killer. :lol: But, it was so cool! :evil: Any way I got a 2016 MINI Countryman S ALL 4...(we moved to a barrier island and hardly drive these days, so, I bought a go-cart for when I need to haul kids instead of stuff...fun as hell!)
And for the Utility aspect I was giving up, I had to find an Astro. I never realized AstroSafari AWD was almost one of my dream vehicles (any 4x4 Van) until I came across a lifted one for sale and subsequently discovered this site in my scramble to shine light on my blasphemous, Chevy ignorance.
It took until Halloween, but I finally found my van and immediately committed to overpaying for it, so I wouldn't lose another one. :banghead: :banana: I love it. It's solid. So far, I had a local mech flush the coolant system, change the oil, diff oil, TC fluid, trans fluid, new cap and wires. I changed the idle air control valve, MAF, coil and module, replaced the head unit, and replaced the none existent passenger grab bar that passengers shouldn't actually use to, you know, grab. :shrug: :lol: Spent hours reading this site, watching videos and deciding which rims I want. Eventually this will be a work/beach/surf/family camper, but all in due time. For now, just work.
I know everyone loves photos, so
The Day I got the van:
The first thing I did was the simplest head unit I could find. Tuner, wired CarPlay...not much else to it.
Which leads me to...FREE RADIO with 1.5 din Mount for our vans...Gotta Pick Up. (and help me with in the 236/246 hybrid I'm refurbishing. )
I don't know much about it, cept the PO didn't connect to or bypass the e-brake, and it is so complicated I could barely change the station. :lol: Harness and antenna adaptor included!
Here are a couple more photos, just cuz. I decided my first mod would be to add 4wd. Why? Freakin 4x4 Van. That's why. :evil: :lol: I'm currently rebuilding the NP236 with parts from a 246 like Capn and Racr showed everyone. I'm waiting on my used, clutch pack tool to finish assembly. I'm still wrapping my mind around the electrical, but I chose this method to achieve 4wd, so I can learn the most about my van and vehicles in general. I'm pretty green, even though I'm old. I find it fun and fascinating and need a project. The fact that I found both the transfer cases on eBay for $203.00 shipped to my door...with encoder motors, connectors, and speed sensors on both; helped very much and sealed the deal. I got them on "myautostore" on eBay. They are literally like a pick and pull, but they ship. Both cases had every other part still attached, including about 10% of the rear drive shafts. I searched the VINs and both donors were totaled by insurance and the cases looked great on the inside. Not perfect, but serviceable on the outside. I kind of regretted not just throwing the $50 TC when I saw how good it looked on the inside, but I'm in no hurry to get this mod done...just want it done right the first time. My plan is to try to use the leftover parts from the 236/246 to make the OEM 136 a 2 speed TC, rebuild it, and create a full install kit for some other lucky AstroSafari van. Capn (sorry, full names escape me ATM) already showed everyone that the 236 internals fit in the 136 and racr showed that the 246 internals fit into 236, so I'm going to try to make 2 4wd TC's out of 3, and since I have to do all the wiring, anyway; I plan to get two of everything and assemble a nice package for someone, and hopefully, help offset some of the cost, down the road.
Anyway...photos:
And my contribution to AstroSari Land...you CAN fit full sheets of plywood in a shorty.
Thanks again! Tons of help, so far. I hope to be able to give back a bit...you know...when I learn enough to actually have something to offer. :chevy:
Oh, yeah...almost forgot...Anyone ever see one of these before? It's on the body pillar, behind the driver's side door.
(I must confess...I never in my life have used emoticons or whatever they're called. You folks made me break my lifelong boycott. hahaha. Don't tell anyone. HA!)