GRIZZ’s 1990 Chevy Astro Shorty 🚙 MORE SMALL JOBS 💙 20/11/23

Currently enjoying the video on the tv, a suggestion for he front sidelights, since you intend to fit clear indicators, why not pair them with switchback leds, white for sidelight, but flashes yellow
Ttfn Glenn

Chevy Malibu, could have sworn they were 5x114 though

Good to see you still pop in here mate.

Yes, the Deliboy was a kinda missed opportunity for me, but the stars were not aligned at the time.

I spent some sleepless nights about it.

Great van and build though.

This thing is 77 inches wide, and yes, wider for sure, in fact, it is of a width, had I known, that I may have passed on. I seem to recall being able to reverse the Blazer with both mirrors in use, and selling the blazer, one of the reasons was actually its width.

The Van will just need to be reversed (I only reverse down there) with both mirrors tucked in.




Regarding the oily substance in the glass, not sure which does the most damage, but this one certainly lubricates well.


After the week I had, it was a nice way to sit and edit the next video and photos I will be posting later.

I'm sure you would be already on it but a decent reversing camera may be useful in this situation. Not a big fan of aftermarket camera's but I think I would with your driveway!

Thanks Glen.

I do not have Swarfega Green, but have done the job.

Also not sure what it was, but not oil.

I may have a second go at it once the carpets are completely dry.

Though, again, reminding myself that it is a 33 year old van with wear and tear apparent.

Malibu rims would be almost impossible to source here.



I think just for starters, you had 8 lug, then my 66 is 6 lug (I have Mitsubishi steels on it) and then later they went to 5 lug, not sure about the spacing.

This may share a lot with cars of the era, looking at some Wikipedia info.


The Chevrolet Astro is a van that was manufactured and marketed by the Chevrolet division of American auto manufacturer General Motors from 1985 to 2005. Sold alongside the GMC Safari, the Astro was marketed in multiple configurations, including passenger minivan and cargo van.

The Astro and Safari used a rear-wheel drive chassis; all-wheel drive became an option in 1990. For its entire production, the Astro and Safari were produced by Baltimore Assembly in Baltimore, Maryland; the vans would be the final model line produced by the facility.[1] In total, approximately 3.2 million Astros and Safaris were produced from 1985 through 2005.

The Astro and Safari were introduced for the 1985 model year as the first minivan from General Motors. While marketed as a response to the first-generation Chrysler minivans, GM selected a rear-wheel drive layout, sizing the Astro and Safari closely to the short-wheelbase Chevrolet G10 van. Similar to the Ford Aerostar, to reduce production costs, GM adapted light-truck powertrain components; engines and transmissions were sourced from the Chevrolet S-10, allowing for a towing capacity of up to 5,500 lb (2,500 kg).

Prior to its use on a minivan, the Astro nameplate was used twice by General Motors; in 1967 (for the Chevrolet Astro 1 concept car)[2][3] and from 1969 until 1987 (on the GMC Astro COE semitractor). GMC sourced the Safari nameplate from Pontiac (used by the latter to denote station wagons). As GMC was half of the Pontiac/GMC Division (later including Buick), from 1985 through 1989, both GMC and Pontiac Safaris were simultaneously offered through the same dealership network.

1st Generation 1985 - 1994

Initial advertising boasted that it was a vehicle that will "make you realize that life is too big for a minivan", referring to the Chrysler minivans. The van can have a seating configuration between two and eight passengers.

Engine choices ranged from a 98 hp (73 kW; 99 PS) 2.5 L four-cylinder to a 200 hp (149 kW; 203 PS) 4.3 L V6, depending on options and/or model year. The 4-cylinder engine was only offered in cargo versions of the Astro; it was dropped after 1990. For 1985, the 4.3l V6 (RPO LB1) used a 4-barrel carburetor. For 1986 throttle body fuel injection (TBI) was used. For 1992 and later years, a central port injection was used.

Much like the second-generation F-body 1970-1981 and X-body vehicles, the GM M-van (Astro/Safari) had a bolt-on subframe. For the M-van, the front suspension shared most components with the GM B-body station wagon (Chevrolet Caprice, Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser and larger variants of the Pontiac Safari and Buick Estate Wagon) with a leaf-spring rear suspension. The lower ball joints were larger than their B-body counterparts (similar to the 1977-96 Cadillac D platform vehicles, e.g., Fleetwood limousines). These ball joints were later used in the final Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 (police package) cars manufactured in 1995 and 1996. They also shared many mechanical similarities to the GMT 325/330 midsize S/T pickups and utility vehicles.

Digital dashboards were offered in the first-generation Astro; this option did not continue after 1995.

1989 was the final year that the Borg Warner T-5 manual transmission was made available. All subsequent models were equipped with 700R4/4l60 automatic transmissions through 1993.

In 1990, a new all-wheel drive (AWD) system (the first U.S.-built minivan to do so),[4] designed and developed by FF Developments (FFD),[5] was made optional. The AWD models had a lower fuel economy: 17 miles per gallon on the highway versus 20 to 21 miles per gallon for rear-wheel drive vans. AWD Astros used a Borg Warner 4472 transfer case.

The 1990 model year also introduced a new analog dashboard and the hydroboost braking system, a system using the same accessory belt-driven pump to supply the power steering and brakes. In mid-1990 an extended body option, sharing its wheelbase with the shorter version, also became available.[6]

In 1992, a new optional door form was introduced, colloquially known as Dutch doors. This form was two bi-parting doors with a flip-up window above. Previously, Astro and Safari vans were equipped only with bi-parting doors. An optional 4.3 L (RPO L35) engine with central port injection and a balance shaft was phased in.

In 1993, the electronically controlled 4L60E 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive became standard as the sole transmission offering. As with many other 1993 model year GM vehicles, Scotchgard fabric protection also became a standard feature on Astro vans equipped with cloth seats. 1994 also saw the addition of three new exterior paint colors. These colors were Indigo Blue Metallic (#39), Light Quasar Blue Metallic (#20), and Medium Quasar Blue Metallic (#80).

For the 1994 model year, GM started manufacturing most of their vehicles, including the Astro and Safari, with CFC-free air-conditioning systems, which used R134a refrigerant instead of R-12 refrigerant.

Had a quick photo shop using similar colours to the stripes in the back of the van.
The van is awesome by the way.

Next job after the vacuum cleaner was to get the carpet cleaned.

Even small jobs take time.



So I started with Vanish, clothing bleach type stuff.



Wet the carpet and worked it into all the stains and marks.

Then left it to react for a while.



Followed by the wet dry VAX cleaner.



Resulting in this.



This morning I opened all the doors by 06.30 for it all to dry out some more.




Happy with the improvement.




The 6 litres of water I used probably only returned 2 litres of very dirty water.



And for those who do not read words,……..

VIDEO HERE.



This morning once I opened the van to dry out the carpets.

I had a QC inspection.

Passed the security muster as well.




George suggested another road trip.


.

Your seats seem to be 90s recaros out of something similar to a mk3 golf. Should be very comfy.