I can feel you on the "daunting" part, especially working on a van with a tight engine compartment.
I would honestly probably price out all the parts from a junkyard (except the obvious stuff like ball joints), and then hire someone like me; an out-of-work mechanic who wants to make $500 laying on his back and cussing like a sailor.
But seriously... don't ask me to do it.
patgizz wrote:Wall-e wrote: It's not all wheel drive is it?if AWD and you want a grm'er to get it, i'm looking for an awd astro driveline donor for a top secret project.
I would rip the AWD stuff out and graft it into Duke's 67 LeMans 
curtis73 wrote: I can feel you on the "daunting" part, especially working on a van with a tight engine compartment.
That's really where I'm at. If I had a Miata or a Honda that needed this kind of work, I wouldn't hesitate, because I'd know that the work would be fairly strait forward and I would not need to budget an hour for staring at a bolt I can't figure out how to get purchase on and crying.
I'm glad you aren't close and I don't already have a 4wd s10.
What about dumping it and trying to find a cheap awd Grand Caravan?:
http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/5285110458.html
In reply to Beer Baron:
Tough call. You got some serious $$$ coming your way, so the easy button is punt and buy a newer chevy express 1500 awd van. But since this is GRM, and deep down you really love your astro, you really want to keep her alive and well!
First your power steering leak/brake booster leak is probably the rear o-ring of the hydroboost unit. Here is a link on how to fix it and the best place to buy the rebuild kit.
http://www.duramaxforum.com/forum/diy-tech-discussion/149770-how-hydroboost-rebuild-leak-fix-discussion.html
When I rebuilt my hydroboost, I was beyond astounded at how easy it turned out to be... Next for your intake gasket leak. Those are tougher, but not as tough as it appears. Best thing to do is unbolt both front seats and set them on the middle seats. Now the dog box comes off with a few clips at the firewall and maybe a bolt or two up under the cup holders. I cant remember exactly as its been a few years since I sold my astro. But then the whole intake is right there in front of you. I'm not saying its easy to get to all the bolts, but its not the end of the world either. Also buy a new intake manifold, don't just replace the gasket. The intakes are plastic/composite and warp, and won't ever seal again or for a long time if you just replace the gasket. IMHO changing out the intake is easier than changing the spark plugs on the left bank in that beast, for a comparison... If you have never changed plugs on an astrofari, you should just once, for umm fun!
Good luck
Paul
TIL that the late model Carvans came in AWD.
Would they be any easier to work on? Doubt it.
In reply to paulmpetrun:
From what I'm seeing, the job of taking off the intake can't just be done through the doghouse in the cabin. Everything I've seen says you need to remove the radiator, airbox, distributo... most of the stuff in front of and on top of the engine. Is it really possible to get to this just from the doghouse?
Beer Baron wrote: In reply to paulmpetrun: From what I'm seeing, the job of taking off the intake can't just be done through the doghouse in the cabin. Everything I've seen says you need to remove the radiator, airbox, distributo... most of the stuff in front of and on top of the engine. Is it really possible to get to this just from the doghouse?
Minus the air intake and radiator hose, yes. Its all right there, i have mine off right now on the 98 i just bought for a tuneup. I did heads on my old 96 before i yanked the 4.3 and LS swapped it. Intake gaskets are pretty painless just dont move the distributor when you take it out, and take pics of the rotor orientation before you pull it so it goes right back in.
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