I found a rust free (looking) 2wd 50k Astro for $6500 2 hours from me. It is a lot of money but this should be mostly just be hop in and go utility van. It is an ex dry cleaning van and barely 2 owners.
so before I go get this cherry Astro, anyone have or know of a better utility van available for purchase in the Midwest? Must be run free by Missouri standards. Thanks!
Full on enable mode. It still looks brand new! I'm thinking they didn't get a ton of clients clamoring for delivery service considering the mileage.
In reply to clutchsmoke :
Yeah, the guy that has it now bought it to relive his high school days and realized it won't fit his life. He got it from the dry cleaner last week. Talked to him for quite a bit.
Nice looking Astro ,
I need to get mine running again....
Looks like a good rig! Only 50K miles? Ours is at 267,000 and counting.
Going tomorrow, there is another buyer so I may need to spend a tiny bit more but I think this will be fine.
You're probably not going to find a van that has lead an easier life than a dry cleaning truck.
Just a word of caution after owning an Astro for 27 years. The fuel injection "spider" inside the intake manifold can be troublesome. I went through several. There isn't a really good supplier for them. Also, the front suspension wears quickly, especially the idler arms. I'm not saying don't buy it....they are awesome...just have your eyes wide open regarding potential issues.
You said Astro van and I thought
1. Not a fan of double doors. Dutch doors and hatch for me
2. Pay for the expensive idler arms
3. Install V8.
vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) said:1. Not a fan of double doors. Dutch doors and hatch for me
2. Pay for the expensive idler arms
3. Install V8.
I will have to look into the idler arms.
I think the v8 is a possibility but it is definitely a gen 3 or newer situation at this point. No reason to rebuild an LT1 if you have to go get the engine in the first place.
LSA Astro? I don't have the pocket depth for that. Maybe an LM7 or something. Can I get the new 4.3L in a crate yet?
An 02 RWD is the same back to about 97 or so 99% of the parts will interchange. 85(?) to 94 is a gen1, but there are minor differences during most of those years. 95 is 1/2 a gen 1, and 1/2 a gen 2... but doesn't matter to you! 96 is full gen 2, but some minor stuff difrerent. And 2003 and up are sometimes called a gen3, but we jokingly call them gen 2 1/2! GM went to 6 lug 16" rims, and a few other minor things.
So, short version, 97 to 02, and it will fit that van!
Little high for an 02, considering what they can be had for, but I doubt you'll EVER find one for sale with that low a miles, and if you do, it will be on the high end as well.
If you don't need one as perfect, you'll find 'em around 120-140k for $2500 or so. But it will likely not be as nice as that.
There is a bit of performance to gain from a 4.3, but mostly for the throttle body or even older carb engines. Anything to hop up a 97 up, starts getting real expensive, real fast. Feel free to reach out; I've wanted a V8 in one for 30 years, and never pulled the trigger on one. Have squeezed a few ponies out of the existing 4.3's in a few, just cause I'm stubborn! At those miles, a crate engine that ran better than existing, would cost more than a V8, and have less torque after shocking your pocketbook
vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) said:1. Not a fan of double doors. Dutch doors and hatch for me
2. Pay for the expensive idler arms
3. Install V8.
The dutch doors do have some definite advantages. But having had several of each, its a wash for me. My dad let his cousin load up part of the family in his 92 with the dutch door option (the one he had earlier didn't have) and loaded another part up in the 92 without that I owned at the time. He said the bar in the middle of the rear view mirror was a bit distracting! Before that, he had not been as happy with 'em as he thought he'd be, but had not rememberd how much nicer the visibility was.
singleslammer said:I think the v8 is a possibility but it is definitely a gen 3 or newer situation at this point. No reason to rebuild an LT1 if you have to go get the engine in the first place.
By the time I ended up with a LT1 to put in an astro, the ls was a well documented deal, so I never did quite get to it... amongst other reason.
But the easy button in a late 90's L98 350. couple of minor changes to the wiring, and adaptor mounts, and it bolts to the 4L60E in the van, and plays nice with it. adds a few minites to swaping anothe 4.3 in, but thats about it.
In reply to 03Panther :
That is quite simple but until this thing has issues, I don't plan to touch much. 5 years from now though...
In reply to singleslammer :
Send it! (if I have the vernacular correct!)
Is it a hod rod , as is? No. Are they a good fun toy, YES!
BTW, 3.73 gears are fun in them to, and don't seem to hurt the mpg enough to worry about.
I have info saved for all the RPO codes for that, if ya take a picture of the sticker in the passenger door.
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