Hey man, glad to find this update.... Wondering if you've got a link for those idler arms, I've been looking for them as well - Also that rear dif skid plate. Been working with a couple guys and we came up with engine lift brackets the go from the engine mount to the engine - You can lift the engine up into the body as much as the body spacers you've installed - Or less - It's a choice. This get the oil pan way up there so you can run a skid plate from the front cross member to the crossmember under the transmission - You have to match the lift to the transmission as well... I've got more lift so I'm good with clearing my tow hitch. Planning to eventually re-gear to 4:10 gears so I can run a 32" tire and still do OK with the fuel economy but that's down the road.
Hi Mike, I've followed Kai's engine lift that you have showcased on your channel, looks like a great solution. I've already added some spacer plates under my mounts as a stop-gap to get the pan off the diff. Would be nice to hoist the T-case up a few inches tho. My rear diff skid plate is all home-brew, welded up from 3/16 plate steel. As for the idle arms, They are a copy of the NOS gm # 12479345. I just looked through all my records and was unable to find the exact manufacturer as I think they are discontinued, and also I suck at maintaining records. But a careful ebay search of the OEM number I provided should return the same part I am using.
Thanks. Unfortunately she's taken more of a beating than shows up on the vids. I do feel bad for that but she's getting a break as I've got an old Dodge truck to destroy now. Thanks for watching!
I have not noticed that, I don't think they are. Early on in the van's 4wd life it would stuff and rub the rear tires during heavy articulation. I added extended bump-stops and cured that.
I like the van! I've seen in a few places people have installed raised engine mounts to put the engine back where it belongs after the front subframe spacers installed. Have you thought about making/finding raised engine mounts to raise the oil pan?
Hey @waroffroad. Curious if you have any suggestions for a recently bought 200 GMC Safari. It didn't make it home less than 50 miles away. It had broken a CV axle up front. shop wants to replace both, and are showing diff damage. Been owned about a week. Any suggestions for anything else that I should be aware of? We aren't going to do much off roading and I fully get that it isn't truely meant for heavy off road use. However, converting back to regular AWD isn't an option for us.
If you don't need 4wd capability remove the front drive axles, leave just the outer stub/cup to hold the hub all together. Ran mine like this while I was rebuilding the front differential. Otherwise just replace what's broken. Is it lifted too much compromising axle geometry?
What did you end up picking up to replace the Astro as the offroader? Its a bummer theres nothing like it in the market anymore. And nothing else comes close to being as versatile with awd/4x4 for the space and capabilities
Hello, I also have an AWD 1997 Chevy Astro and would like to convert it to 4x4 with the Journey conversion kit. My question is removing the full-time AWD trans converted to part/full 4x4 does it saves you on fuel and any other issues when converted? Thanks.
I have never monitored fuel economy, but I'd suspect that there is a minor improvement due to less drag/load on the engine in 2wd. The biggest driving bonus with the swap is that it is far more nimble in tight parking lot maneuvering due to the front axle now free-wheeling and not inclined to bind up as the AWD sometimes does. That alone made it much nicer to drive on a daily-basis for me. Thanks for watching!
Interesting thing to ponder, but mine appears to be due strictly to twisting force. I suspect I have been slowly killing that stub shaft and she just finally let go. Thanks for watching!
I drilled holes in the horizontal webbing that spans forward from the housing to the pinion, one on each side. I then made a steel bracket to bolt to those holes and welded the plate to the bracket. Thanks for watching, hope this helps!
change the transfer case. I pulled mine from a 1998 S-10 Blazer. I had to use driveshafts from the 1999+ AWD astro/safari. This yields 2wd, 4wd and 4lo modes.
@@deathbyninja11 Yes I believe those are the arm I used. As for the light mounts, I picked up some flat steel bar from the hardware store and bent them to the proper contour, attached to the hood hinge mount and made some small relief cuts to the cowl trim. Thanks for watching!
Those are just a basic Gabriel Ultra for stock application. Plenty of travel and excellent dampening characteristics and very reasonably priced. Thanks for watching!
Hey man, glad to find this update.... Wondering if you've got a link for those idler arms, I've been looking for them as well - Also that rear dif skid plate.
Been working with a couple guys and we came up with engine lift brackets the go from the engine mount to the engine - You can lift the engine up into the body as much as the body spacers you've installed - Or less - It's a choice. This get the oil pan way up there so you can run a skid plate from the front cross member to the crossmember under the transmission - You have to match the lift to the transmission as well... I've got more lift so I'm good with clearing my tow hitch. Planning to eventually re-gear to 4:10 gears so I can run a 32" tire and still do OK with the fuel economy but that's down the road.
Hi Mike, I've followed Kai's engine lift that you have showcased on your channel, looks like a great solution. I've already added some spacer plates under my mounts as a stop-gap to get the pan off the diff. Would be nice to hoist the T-case up a few inches tho. My rear diff skid plate is all home-brew, welded up from 3/16 plate steel. As for the idle arms, They are a copy of the NOS gm # 12479345. I just looked through all my records and was unable to find the exact manufacturer as I think they are discontinued, and also I suck at maintaining records. But a careful ebay search of the OEM number I provided should return the same part I am using.
Hey happy father's Day! Thanks for the update.
Van looks awsome! It's too nice to go rock climbing anyway.. at least in my opinion. :)
Thanks. Unfortunately she's taken more of a beating than shows up on the vids. I do feel bad for that but she's getting a break as I've got an old Dodge truck to destroy now. Thanks for watching!
Cool van bro. Always let a little air out of ur tires too
So would you say that removing the sway bar and cranking the torsion bars would balance the ride comfort?
HI Eric, Have you noticed if the spring shackles are limited against the body on full compression?
I have not noticed that, I don't think they are. Early on in the van's 4wd life it would stuff and rub the rear tires during heavy articulation. I added extended bump-stops and cured that.
I like the van! I've seen in a few places people have installed raised engine mounts to put the engine back where it belongs after the front subframe spacers installed. Have you thought about making/finding raised engine mounts to raise the oil pan?
Hey @waroffroad. Curious if you have any suggestions for a recently bought 200 GMC Safari. It didn't make it home less than 50 miles away. It had broken a CV axle up front. shop wants to replace both, and are showing diff damage. Been owned about a week. Any suggestions for anything else that I should be aware of? We aren't going to do much off roading and I fully get that it isn't truely meant for heavy off road use. However, converting back to regular AWD isn't an option for us.
If you don't need 4wd capability remove the front drive axles, leave just the outer stub/cup to hold the hub all together. Ran mine like this while I was rebuilding the front differential. Otherwise just replace what's broken. Is it lifted too much compromising axle geometry?
What did you end up picking up to replace the Astro as the offroader? Its a bummer theres nothing like it in the market anymore. And nothing else comes close to being as versatile with awd/4x4 for the space and capabilities
Did you have any issues mounting your spare tire ? Any modifications needed ?
Hello, I also have an AWD 1997 Chevy Astro and would like to convert it to 4x4 with the Journey conversion kit. My question is removing the full-time AWD trans converted to part/full 4x4 does it saves you on fuel and any other issues when converted? Thanks.
I have never monitored fuel economy, but I'd suspect that there is a minor improvement due to less drag/load on the engine in 2wd. The biggest driving bonus with the swap is that it is far more nimble in tight parking lot maneuvering due to the front axle now free-wheeling and not inclined to bind up as the AWD sometimes does. That alone made it much nicer to drive on a daily-basis for me. Thanks for watching!
I installed a cast iron front differential. Much more stout with no flex. Wondering if your's busted due to flex in the aluminum cast differential?
Interesting thing to ponder, but mine appears to be due strictly to twisting force. I suspect I have been slowly killing that stub shaft and she just finally let go. Thanks for watching!
So when buying those control arms what do you have to do to them to flip it?
You just unbolt the ball joints and relocate them under the mounting pad instead of on top. Bolt them back on. It's a breeze! Thanks for watching!
Nice Van! How is your diffcover bolted? Just on the front where the axle shaft is?
I drilled holes in the horizontal webbing that spans forward from the housing to the pinion, one on each side. I then made a steel bracket to bolt to those holes and welded the plate to the bracket. Thanks for watching, hope this helps!
Nice! What kind of jobs do you guys have to be able to do this kind of stuff?
Thanks! most of us on this channel are in one form or another of the automotive industry!
What is the size of the tyre?
How big is that lift 6 inch
How do you convert from AWD to 4WD?
change the transfer case. I pulled mine from a 1998 S-10 Blazer. I had to use driveshafts from the 1999+ AWD astro/safari. This yields 2wd, 4wd and 4lo modes.
What idler arms are those???
Is it Dorman IA6392XL ? Also, how did you mount those LED lights on your windshield corners?
@@deathbyninja11 Yes I believe those are the arm I used. As for the light mounts, I picked up some flat steel bar from the hardware store and bent them to the proper contour, attached to the hood hinge mount and made some small relief cuts to the cowl trim. Thanks for watching!
what shocks do you have in the rear?
I've used RANCHO adjustable shocks before, their awesome. Baby buggy setting for highway driving, and super stiff for off road.
Those are just a basic Gabriel Ultra for stock application. Plenty of travel and excellent dampening characteristics and very reasonably priced. Thanks for watching!
it time to FSA swap it
FSA?
@@ericschulte1853 autocorrect got me. I meant to say solid front axle. SFA swap it.
What is the size of the tyre ??
30x9.50-15