1993 Astro Van Dropped Family Hauler

[notabmw1]

Well I bought a nos front, and will be painting it burgundy. Unfortunately the bowtie is molded into the plastic, then you adhere the bowtie to that. So I got a silver/black one. Can't wait to see how it turns out, and hopefully get my damn lighting back!

[Nixxon]

Paint the phantom grill black and smoke the turn signals

This.

[dbales]

This makes me wanna van now.

[notabmw1]

Well was a productive Friday, even though I was mad sick. So here's a few pics:


Drivers side shock fabrication, piece of cake.


Passenger side, not so much. I had to turn the bracket sideways, and even at maximum height it bottoms out before van can get fully aired out. Will have to revisit later. However in the meantime what a huge difference to finally have shocks! 4 months with no front shocks and bouncin down the highway.


Putting custom painted OEM grill on the car, and fixing.... this below.


Funny, the motor mounts looked fine. Not so much! Van is idling silky smooth now, I wonder why?!


Working on the clubby as well.


I like it, wife hates it. But the increased light output makes it worth it to me. Oh well.

[Yogi_Bear]

Wow man that's actually pretty impressive

[Belvader]

damn this looks really good

[evilstar]

My first car was a decked out astro van. but it was no where near as nice as this.

makes me miss it.

[notabmw1]

Thanks guys, can't wait till warmer weather to hit up the junkyards to pick a new dash, door cards, rear seat belts, etc. She's almost done, and will be getting ready to put up my pickup for sale shortly. Going to buy a Austin Mini tomorrow because I don't have enough projects to work on!

[HooWybrow]

Can I be your son, too?

[notabmw1]

Don't have a son yet, working on it... well just practicing. Not pulling the goalie for another 2 years. I just have a 4 month baby girl currently. Really need to have a boy though, I'm the last of the McGee's in our family. Pop's brother had 3 girls in a row then gave up. Would love to open up my own shop before I am 35 so I can really start cranking out some unique cars. I really just want to focus on classic Mini's mainly, but also dabble in trabants, fiats.... just different types of cars that people can't really find normal shops to work on. Anyway, back to working on the Mini tomorrow! 3 Fridays left to get it ready, 4 fridays left to get Morris running.

[Belgian_Astra]

Much better with the OEM grill! the other one looked like it was very bad made.

grtzz

[notabmw1]

Snapped some pictures this morning at work. Installed a chevy 1500 air damn. Turned out pretty good, was a very tight fit, but I think it looks clean. Sits about 1" from the ground. Wish I could get that 1 extra inch. May eventually switch to 17x7 wheels on the front so I can air out a bit more. Also refabricated the bumper mounts so it sits 1.5" higher, basically flush with that line and you can't see the mounting bolts like stock on the bumper anymore. Cheers!

[sqznby]

Awesome build man, looks sick.
Great job

Check this Astro out

http://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?20086-The-BAD-AST-Project-Faze-II

[notabmw1]

Well, finally did some more work on it. I put RE-7's up front, and it was a tight fit, but rides so much better than the RE-6's. Went from 150psi, and dropped it down to 100psi to get to ride height. I also got a new aluminum 8 port 8.5 gallon tank, downsizing from the steel 12 gallon. I welded together a mount and tucked it underneath so I could get my trunk space back. I also added a old polk momo 10" sub and box I had from 13 years ago, will have to recarpet it or dye it black. Nice to have a little bass again. Lastly switched out the 18's for a little wider 17's on the rear, and skinner 17x7 on the front to get a little more cushion on the ride. DC was killing me with the family in the van, this rides much better. Def liked the way the 18's looked, but doesn't look too bad with a little more meat all around.


Re-7 vs Re-6 in the middle


Juuuust squeezed in there with a little trim.


New 8.5 gallon tank.




More trunk space, yea!


Box tucked in there, panel trimmed around it, loss of very little space.

[notabmw1]

Well, sold the van, wife wanted me to build another "newer" one.... so without making this a long story, after looking at what was on the market custom wise, decided to get the best stock one I could. Ended up picking up a 98 Astro, one owner, with 60k on the clock. Bone stock! Grandpa colors and all.


And here she is, swapping the leathers from the 93 into the 98. And the fun begins.


Then I got some meats. Staggered wheels, 18x8 front, 18x9.5 with 255/45/18 tires.






Got some door panels at the junk yard to play with.




Just finished painting it over the weekend finally. I want to smoke the turn signals, and tails. Just picked up some paint to do those on Friday.

Now just need to drop it.... almost there, suspension comes in this week, and I am taking off 2 days this week to do black carpet, black interior, fab a double din headunit in, redo the seats in black leather and gray stitching, going to be fun, but making some progress.