I purchased a 1986 Aerostar, 2.8L V6, 5-speed manual in 1989 with a little less than 50,000 miles on it. One day speeding up to merging onto the highway I told a friend in the passenger seat "it needs a V8" even though it did run really well the way it was. My wife was sitting in the middle seat with my friend's wife and she responded "no way, this thing is so dependable the way it is". The rest is history, within 6 months I started the V8 swap with a fuel injected 5.0, auto OD. This was at 150,000 miles. I drove it like that up to 300,000 miles and build a 5.0HO from a Mustang GT, changed the auto OD and added a shift kit. I did so much work to this van and it never left me sitting along the road. Installed new front calipers for an AWD Aerostar (larger brakes), PST solid front swaybar and rear swaybar for handling, I added rear A/C and heat - complete with dash controls and rear controls, complete interior from a '93 XLT that included arm rests and power lumbar support bucket seats and both bench seats made into a bed , lowered it some, 16x8 rear and 15x7 front wheels, built a ram air - cowl induction hood (yes on a mini van), built a class 3 hitch to pull my 24" camper (pulled it GREAT/ handled really well), and there's a lot more!! After 20 years and 300,000 from purchasing it, I sold it with 350,000 miles on it. I also painted it twice during the 20 years. If you search "V8 Aerostar", you'll find it. My son posted 3 videos, one just starting it in the shop, and two of it chirping the tires going into second gear. There's also a video on my channel. You may find this van interesting!!
Hey there, janky do thanky for the comment, I think we have corresponded before, always great to get some more info/stories on the mythical V8 Aerostar. If you are ever able to track down the current owner, I'd love to be able to put in an offer if they are ever in the market to sell. Or even just to get a chance to drive and review it would be very special. You and that van are an integral part of Aerostar history I have watched your video on the vehicle multiple times, I'd love to see your son's videos, can you send me his channel name? Feel free to drop it in the comments or email me at afjanky@gmail.com.
@@JankyAF His channel is xr4ti, but if you search “V8 Aerostar” you’ll find 3 (of the 5) videos he made before I sold it. He just wanted to have some videos of it since he grew up with it through the changes. A few months after making them he decided to post 3 of the videos here. There were so many questions about it that he asked me to answer them. That’s when I started a channel and posted the van video, using pictures I had of it and an Aerosmith song - “Dream on”. It just seemed fitting!!
We have a 1994 Ford Aerostar XL van which we have owned since 1998. I still drive it while at our summer home. Our kids grew up traveling in it in the summers. I love that the rear seats pull out easily and I can haul various items in it. Since I have owned it, it sits for the school year and is only driven in the summers. In about 1999 we had some troubles with it stopping after stomping on the gas. After stopping at about five Ford dealerships and having different electrical components replaced, with the issue happening again, we took it to an alley mechanic at someone’s recommendation and he shortly diagnosed it at the fuel pump seizing. After the fuel pump replacement, it ran great for many years, until at someone’s recommendation I had the transmission filter and fluid replaced. Not long after, the transmission went out and we had to put about $2000 into the repair. That was about 12 years ago and the Aerostar keeps cruising. After the fuel pump issue, someone recommended putting SeaFoam in the gas tank. I regularly put a can in when I do the last fill up before parking the van for the school year. I also change the oil at that time. I disconnect the battery and nearly every summer after reconnecting the van starts right up after setting for ten months. During the COVID-19 pandemic it sat for 22 months without being operated and still started up fine. I love my little green Aerostar.
Hi Randall, yes I believe you told me about your Van, and even sent some images of it. I hope its still running good for you, and thanks as always for sharing some Aerostar lore.
Something about a Van, not a truck, not a car, angular and kinda sporty but tons of room in it. Don't know why so many folks deride vans but in my view on of the best forms an automobile can take. janky do thanky
I have heard a lot of debate about this, I know they began manufacturing in 1985, but I have yet to see any evidence of an Aerostar being titled as a 1985 vehicle. I'd love to see definitive evidence of this if you have any. From all the old newspaper articles from the time, It seems they were delayed in bringing the van to market (see my cybertruck video for more explanation) and we're launched during late summer of 1985 as an '86 model. I'd love to own a 89-91 version, still the old interior but with the semi-updated grille, this is when the Aerostar really hit its stride, with extended, 4wd, and eddie bauer editions really bringing it into its prime. Janky do Thanky for the comment.
@JankyAF they with the Taurus were out early. My parents got Married in 85 and know for sure both vehicles were out! Aerostars were out even earlier, Tauruses were out by mid to late summer same year. Proof with Ford is they release their models earlier usually, my Dad bought a brand new 2010 Ford Fusion Sport which is now my car and yes its still in perfect condition stored winters. Anyways its built early June of 2009 yet its a 2010 model. Mine has a few odd ball features the 09s had that 2010s don't have! Mines an early build Sport which is why it's rarer. My 2024 Kia Sportage has even a build date of July 2023. Proof automakers start production earlier now like how Ford used to do.
Awesome! Where did you find it? I had a crack in my '86, with my classic car insurance glass was covered luckily, did u have yours insured before the crack happened? - I called safelite - they showed up and told me they couldn't replace it because there was a tiny bit of rust around the window sill and they just packed up and left. So - I got ahold of a local glass guy, he acquired and installed a new one, and even rivited in a few door panels that had come loose for me. And insurance paid for the new windshield since it cracked while under their policy coverage. Anyways, short story long, you can either try to find one in a junkyard, but I think you can also get one thru a glass repair service providor, I'd try to find a local glass shop if possible. Granted, this was quite few years now and perhaps this oem stuff is getting harder to find. I also did a quick search and found this: www.fordpartsgiant.com/oem-ford-aerostar-windshield.html seems like there might be some companies selling new old stock stuff. Can either try to source one online, or again if you can find a good local glass shop who are not a-holes and willing to help out a customer with a unique request, they may be able to track one down for you. good luck, hope you get your 'star up and running, awesome u found a manual!
If I had Jay Leno money and could sink $30,000 into a $2,000 car you best believe this thing would look like it just came off the showroom floor. As is par for the course for me (see my youtube name) I do kinda lean in to the patina and various (innumerable) imperfections in this thing, so my main goal for now is just trying to make sure its mechanically as sound as possible. I'd like to try to get all the gauges on the interior working and maybe even try to upgrade the power (ive heard the 2.3L can actually make quite a bit of power) before I get into any heavy duty aesthetics. Janky do thanky for watching. Do you really have a white dodge viper?
Well I'm a subscriber now, manual aerostar I want one, Already have a narrow star it's automatic but it does have a manual transmission cut out already on it from factory
Hey Janky do Thanky! and welcome aboard. I'd suggest doing what I did and getting a manual and an automatic :) The nice thing about them is because they were offered from the factory as a manual, I imagine it would be easier than most cars to swap and automatic to a manual.
Great question and thanks for asking. I made a video about this: ua-cam.com/video/sASd-YSTzpQ/v-deo.html The short story is that in certain states (I live in NY) if you have classic car insurance and your vehicle is registered in the "historic" class HIS (as opposed to something like PAS - passenger, or COM - commercial) you can then apply for "vintage" plates, which are literally old license plates. I buy them off ebay but you can get them at flea markets, whatever, and as long as the plate corresponds with the year of the vehicle (for example the NY Liberty plate was used from 1986-2000 so it will work on my 1986 Aerostar) then after you file some paperwork you can legally drive with the vintage plates. In my state anyway you need to find a matching pair of plates (a lot of other states you only need one, which is much easier) and the plates cannot be currently registered to another vehicle. This actually happened, where even tho the plates were discontinued the number combo on the plate was still actively registered (on an updated plate I assume) to a vehicle on the road. Can do some research, and watch that video, but its actually quite a simple and inexpensive process. good luck, and janky do thanky for watching
@@JankyAF I asked because I'm from NY too and I've never seen it. That's interesting and really cool that you can even do that. One thing I don't understand however, why don't they just print these for you at a little extra cost, like a vanity plate? I'm surprised random used license plates can be considered valid lol. Do cops ever question it?
I believe they are original because they are the right shape with all the seam lines in the right places, but yes I have also never seen another brown vinyl version of the standard passenger aerostar seat. The bench seat is a brown over tan two tone cloth seat, which is extra weird because usually the front and rear seats always match. its a mystery, but that one of the fun things about the aerostar is the limitless combinations and different specs.
and yea big fan of the 5 spoke early grille, I love the more modern grille on my 93 sport because its fits the 90's vibe, but these older ones look so good with that simple minimalist grille.
Wow that new doesn’t have the back wind wiper? My mom had several of these vans not that anything was wrong with them just wanted to drive something different
Come to think of it I can't even remember but I think you are correct. I'll be honest I have not figured out how to spray the fluid on the front wipers, I think it is something so simple, but I try not to drive it in rain so its been less of an issue luckilly. Janky do thanky for the comment. It's funny how often people who have owned an Aerostar have owned multiple Aerostars
Janky do Thanky! Love a Martha. 92 is a great year, first year of the fully "modern" Aerostar I believe, does it have the updated interior? And I couldn't agree more, Aerostar preservation society in full effect
I purchased a 1986 Aerostar, 2.8L V6, 5-speed manual in 1989 with a little less than 50,000 miles on it. One day speeding up to merging onto the highway I told a friend in the passenger seat "it needs a V8" even though it did run really well the way it was. My wife was sitting in the middle seat with my friend's wife and she responded "no way, this thing is so dependable the way it is". The rest is history, within 6 months I started the V8 swap with a fuel injected 5.0, auto OD. This was at 150,000 miles. I drove it like that up to 300,000 miles and build a 5.0HO from a Mustang GT, changed the auto OD and added a shift kit. I did so much work to this van and it never left me sitting along the road. Installed new front calipers for an AWD Aerostar (larger brakes), PST solid front swaybar and rear swaybar for handling, I added rear A/C and heat - complete with dash controls and rear controls, complete interior from a '93 XLT that included arm rests and power lumbar support bucket seats and both bench seats made into a bed , lowered it some, 16x8 rear and 15x7 front wheels, built a ram air - cowl induction hood (yes on a mini van), built a class 3 hitch to pull my 24" camper (pulled it GREAT/ handled really well), and there's a lot more!! After 20 years and 300,000 from purchasing it, I sold it with 350,000 miles on it. I also painted it twice during the 20 years. If you search "V8 Aerostar", you'll find it. My son posted 3 videos, one just starting it in the shop, and two of it chirping the tires going into second gear. There's also a video on my channel. You may find this van interesting!!
Hey there, janky do thanky for the comment, I think we have corresponded before, always great to get some more info/stories on the mythical V8 Aerostar. If you are ever able to track down the current owner, I'd love to be able to put in an offer if they are ever in the market to sell. Or even just to get a chance to drive and review it would be very special. You and that van are an integral part of Aerostar history
I have watched your video on the vehicle multiple times, I'd love to see your son's videos, can you send me his channel name? Feel free to drop it in the comments or email me at afjanky@gmail.com.
@@JankyAF His channel is xr4ti, but if you search “V8 Aerostar” you’ll find 3 (of the 5) videos he made before I sold it. He just wanted to have some videos of it since he grew up with it through the changes. A few months after making them he decided to post 3 of the videos here. There were so many questions about it that he asked me to answer them. That’s when I started a channel and posted the van video, using pictures I had of it and an Aerosmith song - “Dream on”. It just seemed fitting!!
We have a 1994 Ford Aerostar XL van which we have owned since 1998. I still drive it while at our summer home. Our kids grew up traveling in it in the summers. I love that the rear seats pull out easily and I can haul various items in it. Since I have owned it, it sits for the school year and is only driven in the summers. In about 1999 we had some troubles with it stopping after stomping on the gas. After stopping at about five Ford dealerships and having different electrical components replaced, with the issue happening again, we took it to an alley mechanic at someone’s recommendation and he shortly diagnosed it at the fuel pump seizing. After the fuel pump replacement, it ran great for many years, until at someone’s recommendation I had the transmission filter and fluid replaced. Not long after, the transmission went out and we had to put about $2000 into the repair. That was about 12 years ago and the Aerostar keeps cruising. After the fuel pump issue, someone recommended putting SeaFoam in the gas tank. I regularly put a can in when I do the last fill up before parking the van for the school year. I also change the oil at that time. I disconnect the battery and nearly every summer after reconnecting the van starts right up after setting for ten months. During the COVID-19 pandemic it sat for 22 months without being operated and still started up fine. I love my little green Aerostar.
Hi Randall, yes I believe you told me about your Van, and even sent some images of it. I hope its still running good for you, and thanks as always for sharing some Aerostar lore.
I love vans 2x2, 4x4, and AWD vans! Good 🥳 👍👊💪 TIMES😵💫
Something about a Van, not a truck, not a car, angular and kinda sporty but tons of room in it. Don't know why so many folks deride vans but in my view on of the best forms an automobile can take. janky do thanky
85 was the first year Aerostar. 1985 to 1988 looked the same, 89 to 91 had the next face-lift then 92 to 97 was final face lift.
I have heard a lot of debate about this, I know they began manufacturing in 1985, but I have yet to see any evidence of an Aerostar being titled as a 1985 vehicle. I'd love to see definitive evidence of this if you have any. From all the old newspaper articles from the time, It seems they were delayed in bringing the van to market (see my cybertruck video for more explanation) and we're launched during late summer of 1985 as an '86 model. I'd love to own a 89-91 version, still the old interior but with the semi-updated grille, this is when the Aerostar really hit its stride, with extended, 4wd, and eddie bauer editions really bringing it into its prime. Janky do Thanky for the comment.
@JankyAF they with the Taurus were out early. My parents got Married in 85 and know for sure both vehicles were out! Aerostars were out even earlier, Tauruses were out by mid to late summer same year. Proof with Ford is they release their models earlier usually, my Dad bought a brand new 2010 Ford Fusion Sport which is now my car and yes its still in perfect condition stored winters. Anyways its built early June of 2009 yet its a 2010 model. Mine has a few odd ball features the 09s had that 2010s don't have! Mines an early build Sport which is why it's rarer. My 2024 Kia Sportage has even a build date of July 2023. Proof automakers start production earlier now like how Ford used to do.
I just bought a 1986 Ford Aerostar XL 5 speed manual. And i need to get a new windshield and i dont know where to go to get one
Awesome! Where did you find it? I had a crack in my '86, with my classic car insurance glass was covered luckily, did u have yours insured before the crack happened? - I called safelite - they showed up and told me they couldn't replace it because there was a tiny bit of rust around the window sill and they just packed up and left. So - I got ahold of a local glass guy, he acquired and installed a new one, and even rivited in a few door panels that had come loose for me. And insurance paid for the new windshield since it cracked while under their policy coverage.
Anyways, short story long, you can either try to find one in a junkyard, but I think you can also get one thru a glass repair service providor, I'd try to find a local glass shop if possible. Granted, this was quite few years now and perhaps this oem stuff is getting harder to find.
I also did a quick search and found this:
www.fordpartsgiant.com/oem-ford-aerostar-windshield.html
seems like there might be some companies selling new old stock stuff. Can either try to source one online, or again if you can find a good local glass shop who are not a-holes and willing to help out a customer with a unique request, they may be able to track one down for you. good luck, hope you get your 'star up and running, awesome u found a manual!
That Ford Aerostar would be really cool 😎 if it was fully restored from the inside and out...
If I had Jay Leno money and could sink $30,000 into a $2,000 car you best believe this thing would look like it just came off the showroom floor. As is par for the course for me (see my youtube name) I do kinda lean in to the patina and various (innumerable) imperfections in this thing, so my main goal for now is just trying to make sure its mechanically as sound as possible. I'd like to try to get all the gauges on the interior working and maybe even try to upgrade the power (ive heard the 2.3L can actually make quite a bit of power) before I get into any heavy duty aesthetics. Janky do thanky for watching. Do you really have a white dodge viper?
@@JankyAF NOPE I do not have a White Dodge Viper! I wasn't even thinking 🤔 about a car or that car when I chose my user name 🤣
@@whiteviper1979 hehe just can't get cars off my mind, think a Viper goes look great in white tho. google image searching as we speak...
Well I'm a subscriber now, manual aerostar I want one, Already have a narrow star it's automatic but it does have a manual transmission cut out already on it from factory
Hey Janky do Thanky! and welcome aboard. I'd suggest doing what I did and getting a manual and an automatic :) The nice thing about them is because they were offered from the factory as a manual, I imagine it would be easier than most cars to swap and automatic to a manual.
How did you get the 90s plate? Love how period-correct it is
Great question and thanks for asking. I made a video about this: ua-cam.com/video/sASd-YSTzpQ/v-deo.html
The short story is that in certain states (I live in NY) if you have classic car insurance and your vehicle is registered in the "historic" class HIS (as opposed to something like PAS - passenger, or COM - commercial) you can then apply for "vintage" plates, which are literally old license plates. I buy them off ebay but you can get them at flea markets, whatever, and as long as the plate corresponds with the year of the vehicle (for example the NY Liberty plate was used from 1986-2000 so it will work on my 1986 Aerostar) then after you file some paperwork you can legally drive with the vintage plates. In my state anyway you need to find a matching pair of plates (a lot of other states you only need one, which is much easier) and the plates cannot be currently registered to another vehicle. This actually happened, where even tho the plates were discontinued the number combo on the plate was still actively registered (on an updated plate I assume) to a vehicle on the road. Can do some research, and watch that video, but its actually quite a simple and inexpensive process. good luck, and janky do thanky for watching
@@JankyAF I asked because I'm from NY too and I've never seen it. That's interesting and really cool that you can even do that. One thing I don't understand however, why don't they just print these for you at a little extra cost, like a vanity plate? I'm surprised random used license plates can be considered valid lol. Do cops ever question it?
Can't stop staring at that grill, also are those seats original like I have never seen them that color or leather?
I believe they are original because they are the right shape with all the seam lines in the right places, but yes I have also never seen another brown vinyl version of the standard passenger aerostar seat. The bench seat is a brown over tan two tone cloth seat, which is extra weird because usually the front and rear seats always match. its a mystery, but that one of the fun things about the aerostar is the limitless combinations and different specs.
and yea big fan of the 5 spoke early grille, I love the more modern grille on my 93 sport because its fits the 90's vibe, but these older ones look so good with that simple minimalist grille.
Thanks for the video, I love this thing!
my pleasure, and more where that came from!
So brown, so janky, so you. Stacy's got soul.
I do enjoy a spicy brown mustard...janky do thanky
Wow that new doesn’t have the back wind wiper? My mom had several of these vans not that anything was wrong with them just wanted to drive something different
Come to think of it I can't even remember but I think you are correct. I'll be honest I have not figured out how to spray the fluid on the front wipers, I think it is something so simple, but I try not to drive it in rain so its been less of an issue luckilly. Janky do thanky for the comment. It's funny how often people who have owned an Aerostar have owned multiple Aerostars
@@JankyAF it’s been 20 years since we had one so I couldn’t even tell you.
Nice rig Brutha! I love my 1992 Aerostar that goes by the name of Martha. We gotta keep these classics on the road.
Janky do Thanky! Love a Martha. 92 is a great year, first year of the fully "modern" Aerostar I believe, does it have the updated interior? And I couldn't agree more, Aerostar preservation society in full effect
Oh man that car really is jank af bro lol
Well janky do thanky, I couldn't agree more, what a compliment. Gets a little jankier every year too hehe