♻️ Grizz’s ~~ ASTRO Van 🚙 Renault SCENIC 1.5dci 🚙 1966 Chevy C10 🚘 1991 Oldsmobile 88 🚙 1999 Škoda Felicia Cube Van 1.9d 🚐

[Schaefft]

2 hours ago, grizz said:

I am certainly not doing traditional lowrider or donk. Neither appealed to me. 

BUT……

I am taking inspiration from lowriders for paint and finish. 
 

The paint on this 88 is very much TERRIBLE and for a £1500.00 car, perfectly acceptable. It’s also a prime example of GM’s paint quality of the era and after. 
So some paint could be in order. 
 

My plan with the paint may include actually going to and asking paint shops for left over paints. And to create a bit of a multi colour harlequin, using free paints. Obviously, this would not include reagents, hardeners, and labour. Clearcoat would also be for my bill. 
Of course the paint shops most likely would tell me to just  Аҽышьҭыхра

 

You are right about the 3800 of which there are 3 versions. 
The car I am getting is a Series 1 with 170bhp and well respected. 
Series 11 and Series 111 got more power and mods like superchargers in sporty versions. 
 

As you say, a virtually unknown engine here but known to do 300 to 450k miles with just the regular maintenance of a FWD car. 
 

On the car I am getting official fuel consumption is claimed to be up to low 30’s on open roads which is backed up by the sellers experience. 
 

 

MY IDEAL WOULD BE TO USE FACTORY OR AFTERMARKET LOWERED SPRINGS (not cutting) TO REDUCE RIDE HEIGHT BY 2-3 INCHES. 

 

No stupid hard slamming. Just a bit lower for aesthetics. 
 

 

The actual car on the road below. 

The Olds LSS is a slightly spicier variant of the 88 so that might have a slightly reduced ride height, and the aforementioned Bonneville SSEi might also have springs that will lower it somewhat without much fitment hassle. The 88 probably also had the FE3 suspension package option for better handling. The Series 1 3800 had supercharged variants as well (forgot to mention the most common application, the Park Avenue Ultra), the Series II wouldnt come out until 1996.

Regarding wheels, I always thought the BBS-style wheels on the Bonneville looked good, like they do on most early 90s sedans:

[grizz]

18 minutes ago, Schaefft said:

The Olds LSS is a slightly spicier variant of the 88 so that might have a slightly reduced ride height, and the aforementioned Bonneville SSEi might also have springs that will lower it somewhat without much fitment hassle. The 88 probably also had the FE3 suspension package option for better handling. The Series 1 3800 had supercharged variants as well (forgot to mention the most common application, the Park Avenue Ultra), the Series II wouldnt come out until 1996.

Regarding wheels, I always thought the BBS-style wheels on the Bonneville looked good, like they do on most early 90s sedans:

I looked at lowering springs online thr other day. 
Problem of course being that you need your description to be correct for this specific car. 
 

What came up, ranged between £90.00 and £200.00

 

Of course suspension specialists and various hotrod/custom builders may know of domestic setups that would slip right in and do the required job. 
But finding, knowing who they are is possibly a challenge. 
 

BBS has always been lovely (On someone else’s car) To me, despite being pretty and sporty looking, I dislike the whole cleaning 50 spokes when 5,6,7 spokes would do just fine. 
 

So for me, it’s certainly not a consideration. 
 

 

I believe this is a Series 1 motor. 

[Schaefft]

Yeah, that's a Series 1. Here's the same engine with an Eaton supercharger from the factory:

 

[grizz]

PS @Schaefft I really like the subtle rear spoiler/wing. 
 

Car doesn’t seem that low  

 

[grizz]

Just now, Schaefft said:

Yeah, that's a Series 1. Here's the same engine with an Eaton supercharger from the factory:

 

I would love more and more and more power but part of these engines success probably comes from being understressed. 
 

 

[Schaefft]

Just now, grizz said:

I would love more and more and more power but part of these engines success probably comes from being understressed. 
 

 

The supercharger only adds 40hp iirc, they was last just as long as the naturally aspirated one. I don't think it would make much sense to retrofit one though, it's probably quite a bit of work.

[grizz]

1 minute ago, Schaefft said:

The supercharger only adds 40hp iirc, they was last just as long as the naturally aspirated one. I don't think it would make much sense to retrofit one though, it's probably quite a bit of work.

For me, it’s often about the show and not the GO. 
 

Hence being a good turd polisher. 

[grizz]

Just going to leave this here. 

[eddyramrod]

2.5 litres might be almost enough to paint this car!  However... https://www.americandreams.co.uk/login/ might be delighted to see a slightly-scruffy example on the books, it might be exactly what a director wants!  I've registered WiFeY with them...

Best Of British Luck anyway, however you decide to take it.

[grizz]

1 hour ago, eddyramrod said:

2.5 litres might be almost enough to paint this car!  However... https://www.americandreams.co.uk/login/ might be delighted to see a slightly-scruffy example on the books, it might be exactly what a director wants!  I've registered WiFeY with them...

Best Of British Luck anyway, however you decide to take it.

So I have no clue what it is about now. 
 

Facebook not helpful either.  
 

Sorry. 

[eddyramrod]

Ohhhhhhh sorry!

Try this... https://www.americandreams.co.uk/about-us/

[grizz]

35 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

Ohhhhhhh sorry!

Try this... https://www.americandreams.co.uk/about-us/

I have a fleet 😉

[grizz]

The preamble to my car collection continues.
 

Been busy. 
 

School of YouTube this morning 

Noticed my YouTube channel ONLY HAS 888 subscribers  

Sadly it sucks a bit   But maybe I need to up my game? 
 

Also to the garage to pull together a cereal killer starter kit  

Bit of a load you know  

Of course I have national recovery on this car  

 

.

 

PS  There may be a cryptic clue in one of the photos, as to me probably doing a 1000 mile detour before going home.

 

.

 

[93fxdl]

A suggestion about your paint choice, how about a silver base coat , such as

https://ebay.us/m/YMzCf3

Then use candy concentrate, such as

https://ebay.us/m/GRpFAo

Added To the clear coat give the green,

But different candy colours and lots of masking can be used for a low rider style paint job

Ttfn glenn 

This was my son's second ever attempt at spray painting 

Edited December 25, 2025 by 93fxdl
Adding picture

[grizz]

36 minutes ago, 93fxdl said:

A suggestion about your paint choice, how about a silver base coat , such as

https://ebay.us/m/YMzCf3

Then use candy concentrate, such as

https://ebay.us/m/GRpFAo

Added To the clear coat give the green,

But different candy colours and lots of masking can be used for a low rider style paint job

Ttfn glenn 

This was my son's second ever attempt at spray painting 

Thank you Glenn

 

As long as it’s cheap……. Game on !! 

[grizz]

Merry Christmas gang. 
 

More green 

[grizz]

Christmas dinner, Steak etc with John my friend and previous lodger.  Desert. 
 

Super chill rescue leopard gecko. 
 

I don’t do much for Christmas, happy with my own company. But lovely spending time with him and his kids. 

Renault fuel consumption is pretty silly if you drive nicely  

George fed  

 

And relax……. Nice to be home  

 

.

[grizz]

 

Same question on the collection thread   

 

 

HEEEEEEEELLLLLPP !!!!!!

 

 

Right. 
 

I like cheap wheels from other brands. 
 

£50.00 cheap is cheap because once tyred up and painted they are not £50.00 anymore. 
 

Saw these two sets. 
 

Both a fair distance away. 
 

But soft line Murano units are doable on the return trip from collecting the car (sounds like the right thing already) 

 

With my very limited (read “non existent “ ) knowledge of interchangeable parts I am not the right guy to ask. 
 

So asking you lot two things. 
 

Will they fit?? 
 

Which look like the better option? 
 

I would probably end up with a gold, bronze, copper type color that will go better with the potentially crazy colour visualisations in my head. 
 

Thank you. 
 

.

[Westbay]

Need pcd , offset (ET) and centre bore of 'new' wheels ...

[93fxdl]

2 minutes ago, Westbay said:

Need pcd , offset (ET) and centre bore of 'new' wheels ...

https://www.wheel-size.com/size/nissan/murano/

[grizz]

3 minutes ago, 93fxdl said:

https://www.wheel-size.com/size/nissan/murano/

I have been into this link Glenn but I can’t make head or tail out of it. 

[GlenAnderson]

Honestly, I’d advise driving it about for a few months, get a good idea of the car and where you want to take it, then worry about wheels, tyres and paint. 

[grizz]

Wheel seller:

 

Hi. Interesting project. The wheels came off a 2006 Nissan murano. I'm not sure they'll fit. Just double check

[93fxdl]

56 minutes ago, grizz said:

I have been into this link Glenn but I can’t make head or tail out of it. 

 

[93fxdl]

The key dimensions are 

Centre bore 66mm

Pcd 5 x 114.3

Et 40

Need to compare to your original wheel specification 

Ttfn glenn 

[93fxdl]

Centre bore 70

Pcd 5 x 115

Et 47

[grizz]

40 minutes ago, 93fxdl said:

 

 

36 minutes ago, 93fxdl said:

The key dimensions are 

Centre bore 66mm

Pcd 5 x 114.3

Et 40

Need to compare to your original wheel specification 

Ttfn glenn 

 

26 minutes ago, 93fxdl said:

Centre bore 70

Pcd 5 x 115

Et 47

Offset 40 vs 47 

Centrebore 66 vs 70.3 

 

Not sure if the 7mm offset difference would make a big difference. 
 

But my inner redneck whispering in my earhole suggests Dremmel of die grinder or see what a shop would ask. 

[Westbay]

No, not a direct fit , pcd and bore …suggest that IF  enough material is present to allow machining this should be done at an engineering shop due the centre bore locating the wheel correctly on the hub …

If the bore was bigger then you could use spigot rings to obtain correct fit.

 

 

[vaughant]

On 23/12/2025 at 15:10, grizz said:

I have a fleet 😉

Still one of my all time dream motors. Love the blue as well ❤️❤️❤️

[grizz]

Collection trip you said ?? 
 

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CALWcKVLU/?mibextid=wwXIfr