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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Springville, UT, USA
Posts: 1,010
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My wife and I recieved an 88 Astro van the other day from her parents.....it's beat up inside and out.....it has a tired 4.3 liter fuel injected engine and a rebuilt 700r4 tranny and a completely redone AC system on the engine side.......in looking at the frame underneith, the body sits flat like our cabs do.....I'm wondering if this would be a good frame to convert over to.....My LB is out of wack from a wreck....plus I want to convert over to a shortbed anyway.....my question is, would this be a good frame to use?....the suspension alone would give a much nicer ride and I was thinking that I can take that 4.3 liter and rebuild it and add some headers and then yank the smog equipment to give a some ponys.....of course the rear end would have to go.....but this would be a fun project if the wheels would line up correctly. This would give me lots of power and save gas at the same time......what does everyone think about this theory?....or has anyone tried or have any experience with these Astro Van frames.
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#2 |
ready for reassembly
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Barrie ONT, Canada
Posts: 413
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sorry, Astro/safari vans don't have a frame. They have a "uni-body". The floor pan is stamped to look like frame, and the engine cradle bolts on to that.
It was worth a shot though ![]() Jason ![]()
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stock 71 4x4 2003 Jeep Liberty, rocky mountain edition I'm obsessed, and wouldn't have it any other way! |
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#3 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: May 2002
Location: Hammond, WI
Posts: 1,804
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i hate to say it, but i think that the astro vans have a frame, but the astro vans are built off of the s-10 chassis. it will not work though. the astro vans are narrower and shorter than a short bed pickup.
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Mike 2001 Dakota R/T - Silver CC - 1 of 1671 •360 w/46RE •392 limited slip 1972 Chevy Suburban - Turquoise/Black 1969 Chevy C/10 - Blue LWB •350 w/ 700R4 •3.73 posi •PS PB A/C - SOLD ![]() Using your turn signal is not "giving information to the enemy" 67-72 FAQ |
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#4 |
ready for reassembly
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Barrie ONT, Canada
Posts: 413
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well, i can't say for sure about the newer ones, but in "88, which is the year iluvmy72 was asking about, they did not have a frame. i know because my dad had an 87 and an 88 at one time. We put a trailer hitch on the 87. we had to take the rear bumper off and bolt the hitch to the unibody, and then bolt the bumper onto the hitch.
i believe in 95 they went through a few style changes, and put metal leaf springs(older ones had nylon springs) on them, and may have have built them on an s-10 frame, but the earlier ones weren't. jason ![]()
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stock 71 4x4 2003 Jeep Liberty, rocky mountain edition I'm obsessed, and wouldn't have it any other way! |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Moore, Ok
Posts: 1,149
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Well I can't shed any light on the Astro van chassis issue. But if it does have a frame I would bet a lot of work would be required to do the swap. Why not stick the 700R4 and the 4.3 EFI engine into your truck? Seems like it would offer most of the advantages your looking for and be much easier......Stroker
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72 SWB parts and pieces Oklahoma |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Santa Fe, Texas
Posts: 250
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My mom had a 90 model Astrovan it was definately based on a S-10 frame. Chevy Lumina vans where unibody. I had to replace the A/C lines to the rear A/C they were routed thru the frame. If it had been a unibody they would not route anything thru the frame.
Mike |
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#7 |
ready for reassembly
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Barrie ONT, Canada
Posts: 413
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click this link. it gives details about chevy astro vans
http://www.parkwaychevroletcommercia...stro_cargo.htm go to the bottom of the page...."unibody construction" ...i had to do some research, cuz I was starting to doubt myself
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stock 71 4x4 2003 Jeep Liberty, rocky mountain edition I'm obsessed, and wouldn't have it any other way! |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Santa Fe, Texas
Posts: 250
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I don't think that applies to all makes and models of the Astrovan. Just the current model in production.
Mike |
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Rubber City
Posts: 5,498
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Quote:
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1969 GMC K2500 ![]() 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650 |
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#10 |
GMC SHORT FLEET F/S
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT PENNSYLVANNIA
Posts: 2,117
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mine had a frame and it kicked @$$!
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CHARLES WADE HEIN HVACR FOREMAN. LEWISBURG U.S.P. |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Mo
Posts: 963
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I have worked on lots of them and never seen a frame. Even the all wheel drive ones didn't have a frame. Not saying that they haven't made newer one with frames or what ever just my 2 pennies. Heck my wifes 94 GMC 2500 Vandura hasn't got a frame but the newer 96 up Express fullsize vans do. So it is possible that the newer Astros have a frame now. I just haven't had the pleasure yet of fixing a crashed one. Now I hope I helped confuse everyone even more. LOL
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New daily driver 96 Chevy K3500 crew cab dually 53,000 miles 350 Vortec 4L80 Nice ride 67 Chevy C-10 LWB Built 350 TH-400 Wifes ride and family rig: 2001 Furd Expedition 5.4 Liter ![]() Kickin back in Rolla,Mo. USA "Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain" Mark Twain |
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#12 |
ready for reassembly
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Barrie ONT, Canada
Posts: 413
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Finally someone who believes me, Stano! haha
They do have a partial frame where the engine bolt on to.....and something that "looks" like a frame, but it is just the stamped floor pan. It is extra beefy in the places where the springs bolt on etc., but it is not an s-10 "frame". If it had a frame, you could completely remove the body from it........which you can't!
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stock 71 4x4 2003 Jeep Liberty, rocky mountain edition I'm obsessed, and wouldn't have it any other way! |
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