Placemotorsports said:Saw this and thought I would share
https://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/d/westminster-1999-gmc-awd-van/7264143461.html
That's the smaller and slightly more plentiful Astro/Safari. I have one like that in a bit worse shape, for a lot less for sale, But Curtis is looking not to buy another project! If it was closer, I'd prolly go look at it, but I don't want to go that far to lowball the guy.
In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :
I'm throwing my prediction in with Robbie's!
Not really knowing what equipment you have access to, but could there be a little poor boy rust repair in your future? Mind you, not along the lines of Loose Cannon and the 'burb' but a twenty footer perhaps.
I do have a welder. I suppose I could replace that rocker and bondo the quarter panel spots.
I'm horrible at body work, and you never know what's behind the rust you see, but if I get it, that will be a priority. That and a Krown treatment.
My years in NE Ohio exposed me to Ziebart ......is Krown similar but different?
In reply to 759NRNG (Forum Partidario) :
Yup. Pretty much the same if you believe their marketing. I just happen to have a Krown place about 5 miles, but no Zeibart.
Its the one that they basically coat the whole thing with liquid paraffin.
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
These are not the most common alloys pictured in this ad and there is a second badge on the rear door below Savana but even with zoom i can not read the badge. Could this be awd?
In reply to John Welsh :
I'm pretty sure that's the StabiliTrak (stability control) badge.
It's worth an ask, but I think its the Stabilitrak. Pretty sure the AWD emblem was red after 2010.
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
I'll keep looking.
Compromise? Astro awd in Charleston WV I know it's not your first choice but it looks clean, relatively close and low mile.
Worth a look. Really hoping for a full-size for the cargo capacity and towing, but I'll give them a call and see how badly they want to get rid of it :)
When I started looking for a full size AWD GM van, I hadn't realized that they have kinda lapsed over into unicorn territory. I thought I could just look one up locally and buy it.
Our winter work van is an AWD aerostar. It's suprisingly huge and easy to work out of.
The downside is smaller tires but it's pretty close to the rangers and explorers if that era otherwise
Awd Aerostar last offered in 1995 or 26 years ago. Since then, nothing but Chevy Express and Chevy Astro and the last there was Express in 2014 or 7 years ago.
I think the pipeline is drying up. The southern ones have probably headed north and then the owners keep them forever because they can't replace them with similar.
Just this year, the 2020 model, Ford is offering a factory awd full size van again.
John Welsh said:Awd Aerostar last offered in 1995 or 26 years ago. Since then, nothing but Chevy Express and Chevy Astro and the last there was Express in 2014 or 7 years ago.
I think the pipeline is drying up. The southern ones have probably headed north and then the owners keep them forever because they can't replace them with similar.
Just this year, the 2020 model, Ford is offering a factory awd full size van again.
They are getting old definitely, 4.0ohv is a pretty sturdy engine too.
You do see them with fairly low miles more often than not though
Antihero (Forum Supporter) said:John Welsh said:Awd Aerostar last offered in 1995 or 26 years ago. Since then, nothing but Chevy Express and Chevy Astro and the last there was Express in 2014 or 7 years ago.
I think the pipeline is drying up. The southern ones have probably headed north and then the owners keep them forever because they can't replace them with similar.
Just this year, the 2020 model, Ford is offering a factory awd full size van again.
They are getting old definitely, 4.0ohv is a pretty sturdy engine too.
You do see them with fairly low miles more often than not though
I wish my 4.0 ovh wasn't such a lemon or I wouldn't be looking for another vehicle 
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
From what I remember you saying the problems weren't engine related though?
Well... some of them aren't. But persistent oil leaks, coolant leaks, ticking lifters, misfire that I can't track down... not to mention the blisteringly fast 160 hp and tire-melting 225 lb-ft of torque that really limits what I can tow.
Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:Well... some of them aren't. But persistent oil leaks, coolant leaks, ticking lifters, misfire that I can't track down... not to mention the blisteringly fast 160 hp and tire-melting 225 lb-ft of torque that really limits what I can tow.
Yeah, they definitely aren't powerhouses. Lifter noise is a problem with early ones sadly, my 91 has it. Oil leaks? My valve cover seeps on the same 91 at about a quarter quart every 5k miles so I haven't fixed it yet. I also had a coolant leak on the same 91 that ended up being the lower intake gasket. Thats all in a 21 year period and something like 270k miles.
I have 4 vehicles with it 91 ranger with 270k, 00 explorer with 240k, a 97 explorer with 122k and a 97 aerostar with 212k. That's 844k miles all together and a lot of them were mine.
In reply to Antihero (Forum Supporter) :
I mostly ignore the lifter tick. I think the only reason it bothers me is resale value. Who would want to buy a ticking truck?
My valve covers leaked so I fixed them. I had a rear main leak which I nursed through until it really needed a clutch. So I did a clutch and a rear main. Not only did the clutch fail (we think maybe it was the wrong diaphragm... super hard to push and wouldn't fully disengage), but the rear main still leaked. So we did another clutch and this time used the repair sleeve on the crank with some green locktite and a good FelPro main seal. Now it leaks even worse. My brand new pavement on my driveway is completely ruined and I need a quart every 500 miles. The back of the truck is coated with oil spray. Then of course I had the intake leak at the front, so I did the works. Basically, it if was a replaceable part from the heads up, I replaced it. Injectors, o-rings, stat, FPR, belts, hoses, plugs, wires, coil, cleaned the TB, cleaned the IAC, cleaned the MAF, and treated it to a non-oiled washable air filter. Radiator sprung a leak, so I replaced. Then the heater core sprung a leak. Then three months later, it sprung a leak again. U joints were bad so I replaced. Front bearings were growling so I replaced. Three months later at an inspection they noticed one was loose so they tightened it. Replaced front brakes and rotors and the bearings looked fine, but I replaced them again anyway since they were cheap. Within one year they were so loose my rotors were rubbing the calipers. Front hubs broke (common) so I replaced them with manual hubs. Shifter bushing (common) has been done twice in the 2.5 years I've owned it. The shocks have blown, so I ordered some. Now I have an EGR code and the DPFSRE (whatever that EGR sensor is called) tested bad, but a new one didn't fix the surge/misfire.... put it this way. I paid $4000 for the truck and I know I've put more than $4000 in 2.5 years just to keep it running, and it's STILL NOT RIGHT. My next step on the surge/misfire is to gut the cats. If that fixes it, I have a universal cat I can weld in. The frustrating part is that it doesn't start misfiring and surging until you go about 40-50 miles. By the end of a 250 mile trip I am topping hills in 3rd gear at 45, and the only code I get is for the EGR.
But it's not rusty. In fact, it's so un-rusty that it still has the entire factory original exhuast from manifolds to tailpipe, and parts of it still look like shiny silver metal. I'm starting to believe it's just because it leaks so much oil that it keeps the underside covered in 5w30.
I'm strongly considering going for broke and dropping in a 4.6L/4R70W, but it's my only vehicle (running and inspectable) right now, so I would have to buy a second work vehicle while I make this one a project... with no garage.... and no need for a third project car.... and if I buy a decent other work vehicle, I don't need a souped-up Branger anyway. That means, buy something else and get what I can for this lemon-flavored money pit.
And I thought head gaskets on the DuraMaxx were a PITA.....bro you got me beat in spades.....late
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
It sounds terrible really, I hate to say it. My 91 hasn't been as trouble free as the 00 (which are the 2 I've owned the longest)
I did replace the stock clutch at 212k( actually I had someone else do it because they quoted me a $450 to do it. ). The firewall cracked on the clutch which gave me a bit of starting problems but I car-guyed it until I got the firewall welded. The intake leak was annoying. It's currently sitting because I need to do the fuel pump but I don't consider that to be a issue at 270k since it's never been replaced. Not afunjob but I get it
In reply to Antihero (Forum Supporter) :
The frustrating part is that it always seems to come immediately on the heels of a repair and always completely unrelated. Do the clutch and now the radiator leaks. Fix the radiator and now the bearings get loose. Fix the bearings and it has a misfire. I don't think I've had more than 3 months without having to take it off the road. I would love to say it's all my fault, but A) I'm a pretty darn fine mechanic and did it professionally for a long time, and B) some of the stuff failed after I did it, then failed again the same way after my trusted shop did it.
Maybe I should hire my Reiki master to come purge its Chi.
759NRNG (Forum Partidario) said:And I thought head gaskets on the DuraMaxx were a PITA.....bro you got me beat in spades.....late
Is that done yet?
No, it's outside .....I've been doing yard work (raking leaves/burning when weather permits) repairing fence rows that the new 'puppy' has found to escape thru .....which, so far involves clearing copious amounts of underbrush using the tractor......which in itself is therapeutic (outdoors/drinking beerz)....and I've encountered the "BOLT" on the nose of this motor which is going to necessitate the removal of the crankshaft dampner.......please don't show this to your dear mother, the running onness would probably make her eyes shoot blood.....wink stay warm/safe peace out.
Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:In reply to Antihero (Forum Supporter) :
The frustrating part is that it always seems to come immediately on the heels of a repair and always completely unrelated. Do the clutch and now the radiator leaks. Fix the radiator and now the bearings get loose. Fix the bearings and it has a misfire. I don't think I've had more than 3 months without having to take it off the road. I would love to say it's all my fault, but A) I'm a pretty darn fine mechanic and did it professionally for a long time, and B) some of the stuff failed after I did it, then failed again the same way after my trusted shop did it.
Maybe I should hire my Reiki master to come purge its Chi.
Some cars are just snakebit imo.
My parents had a 76 Jeep Cherokee that was just berkeleying terrible. It actually cracked the CV joint apart from normal driving. It wasn't lifted and we replaced the u joints several times. The whole assembly ended up coming apart and took a chunk of the tranny with it.
Someone bought it from us for a plow rig and last I heard he rolled it off a mountain because he hated it. He then trekked down the mountain to light the damn thing on fire because it rolling off a mountain wasn't dead enough for him.
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