Grizz’s OCD Awesome ASTRO Van 🚙 Megane SCENIC 1.5dci 🚙 MX5 JEEP For Sale.🚨 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 USA Road Trip

[grizz]

10 hours ago, Barry Cade said:

Seems to be a lot of talk on the forums about tank size. I read here the low fuel light comes on with 30 litres left!  😯Yours must be 17 gal. (US)    https://www.astrosafari.com/threads/actual-fuel-tank-capacity.143162/

1985-1991/17gal.
1992-1997/27gal.
1998-2000/25gal.
2001 and later/27gal.
seems 17 gal was optional for some 4 cylinder vans,so they say.

Now that is interesting.

When I filled, the fuel gauge was on the bend of the hockey stick, but it took 63 litres, massaged in there. 
 

So if 17 US Gallons is 64 litres…….. 

I may have a problem? 

 

 

[grizz]

There you go.

 

So someone did a similar thing before.

 

https://youtu.be/v3uDoqDAKRg

[grizz]

Small  jobs.

They keep on popping their little grubby heads up.

Today, after taking the day off yesterday to do a very belated and apologetic birthday BBQ, Sally went home to clean her already clean house and various other tasks.

This made her a lot happier than a fist full of cash I gave her as an apology for forgetting her birthday.

So this morning I got going early because time slips away quietly and quickly.

Steering wheel has irked ,e from day one, just the way paint had flaked over time.

So I polished the ally boss, masked the plastic section and flatted the ally section.

Then wrapped most of the interior in T-shirts and an old sheet in order to apply some satin black.

Result.

Improved.

Video.

https://youtu.be/GXNDFWaGBW4

Once again, not a 5 minute job, but a small one that makes for the right result. 

Back to work tomorrow.

.

[grizz]

[bezzabsa]

isle of sheppey.... did you pop into Whelans??? proper aladdins cave of concrete stuff!!

[purplebargeken]

Nice tidying touches for the van!!

[grizz]

On 8/20/2023 at 5:54 PM, bezzabsa said:

isle of sheppey.... did you pop into Whelans??? proper aladdins cave of concrete stuff!!

No, I did not.

[grizz]

11 hours ago, purplebargeken said:

Nice tidying touches for the van!!

Thank you Ken

 

 

 

Seems Someone used an angry badger to enlarge the radio hole.
Fitted is a unit I want to remove as I do not understand it, and also the bottom of this dash surround has been cut.
I will be in the USA soon, with a very large case. And scrap yards are always included in my road trips. 
But I was wondering if anyone knew someone who was stripping a Mk1 van, this one is a 1990 short panelvan Astro.

Any pointers are much appreciated. 

.

 

 

[grizz]

RIGHT

NEXT SMALL JOB, WITH A BIT OF RISK, THAT BUGGED ME FROM THE DAY I COLLECTED THE VAN, WAS THE DOORS.

Sorry, caps lock.

After all the years the van has been on the road, the fabric used is actually incredibly well preserved.

But it is grubby, more so to the naked eye, than the camera lens.

So I decided to use some fabric and carpet cleaner, along with a nail scrubbing brush, at the risk of messing it all up.

Before.

Dirty, dull.

After, certainly much better.

Another job, one I usually do the day I wash a new car, is to clean the interior surfaces, knobs, stalks, controls and all grooves with an ammonia based cleaner like Jif/Cif/Handy Andy whatever, and then using some form of plastic or leather or even wax based wood polish.
This time it was Auto Glym, because I have bottle I bought previously.

Result is a distinct improvement.

 

VIDEO

https://youtu.be/qxjT2TBaXq0

That is where we are up to today.

A cleaner van.

 

[grizz]

The hive mind that is GarageJournal.com and other forums, has come up trumps.

The dash, radio and blower surround section that I was looking for could be available new.

@grenade Found a used one on eBay for $70.00 However, Bob Heine in Florida found this……..

Half the price. 

https://www.gmpartscorp.com/p/Chevrolet__Astro/Instrument-Panel-Trim-Panel/49818886/15568760.html?partner=googlebase_adwords&feedLabel=cvb_make_model&kwd=&matchtype=&device=c&network=g&userLocation=9012016&googleCampaignID=19871954312&googleAdGroupID=144138630421&googleAdID=652203626552&googleExtensionID=&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3JanBhCPARIsAJpXTx56jxeSqChhzoWQ0XCvfR5pn1kGE1WoTNsglsa1-j4XCwbE3pEOBToaAkcaEALw_wcB

 

Now of course the next trick will be to see if they have one in stock and to get it shipped to Dennis’ in St Louis. 

Pretty pleased with that. 

.

[grizz]

After asking the same question on AstroSafari.com about air vents, it seems they can end up like this.

 

Obviously, mine has not gone that badly.

 

[grizz]

Still no luck finding a surround but one more online option to chase later today. 

Just crossed from Kansas back into Missouri. 

Pete and Jakes hotrod shop next.  

https://youtu.be/CrkcRY8QnaE?si=Y7qNZwBthdy5ucb4

Could be interesting. 

.
 

[grizz]

@Rocket88 a bit of persistence………

 

 

So today, up at 04.25 and on the road by 04.50 

Got to Clems place at Tuba Trucks……

We went to a prop shaft builder to have propshaft shortened by 1.5” for a truck he is building with a modern trans and longer tail shaft.

After this, back to Tuba Trucks Restoration.

Clem gave me his phone and computer after he had called the GMSpares supplier who had the dash surround on their inventory.

Seems it was discontinued and made obsolete a few years ago.

Poop !!!

So I called some vehicle breakers.

Amazingly, the first ones I called, Junkyard Dog Auto Salvage in Rogers, Arkansas, said they had a few Astros in their yard…….

Rogers has a few claims to fame.

Rogers is a city in Benton County, Arkansas, United States. Located in the Ozarks, it is part of the Northwest Arkansas region, one of the fastest growing metro areas in the country.[8] Rogers was the location of the first Walmart store, whose corporate headquarters is located in neighboring Bentonville. Daisy Outdoor Products, known for its air rifles, Think Daisy BB gun, part of American history , has both its headquarters and its Airgun Museum in Rogers. The city houses a popular shopping center, the Pinnacle Hills Promenade, and a music venue, the Walmart AMP, that has housed performances by big-name artists and local performers alike. [9]

Seriously??

So I drove over there.

 

So I got to Junkyard Dog and spoke to various staff, till Sam, who I had spoken to 0n the phone, came in.

 

He took me for a junk yard tour, 4 failed Astros, and then a 95 model, when the face change happened to them……

Jackpot.

Also gave me a heater control knob

Found one, and dismantled it…. 

Not the easiest thing to find in the U.K. 

Two screws.

 

And a few easy clip switches to I clip.

 

Done…… in the truck.

Blower knob.

]

Dash panel came with a bonus.

Mud dauber wasp nest. 

Bassstards.

 

Cleared out in the end.

Once I got home, I celebrated with Clem and had a Sailor Jerry and Coke, followed by cleaning the whole surround that had cost me a whole £20.00 or $25.00 

This is the most awesome win for me.

Finding an obsolete part a long way from home, constitutes a major win when rebuilding a 30 plus year old car.

I feel vindicated. 

 

Cleaned up.

Did I mention that life is good? 

[grizz]

 

 

 

[grizz]

Got this message from a guy on www.astrosafari.com

Grizz,
If you have any interest, I have a goid condition stock Chevy steering wheel for an Astro. Doesn't match my GMC...
Yours for taking if you want it.

So now I need to orchestrate this.

It is not a “sport steering wheel “ as fitted, but I like the idea of putting things back to standard.

Let’s see what happens.

 

[grizz]

BACK TO REALITY…..

 

 

3 weeks in America gone in a flash.

 

 

https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/225385/america-grizz-2023-road-again

 

 

My planned trips completely aborted and rewritten.

 

 

Saw some of what I planned and saw, a lot that I had not planned and saw made this a much more rewarding trip.

 

 

Only did about 3800 miles or 6100km but that was enough to keep me very busy and out of sleep.

 

 

Driving 500 miles to buy a 1934 Ford, with an 81 year old veteran driving the tow rig, sharing many stories, only to find after loading the 34 that nobody remembered to bring the pile of cash sitting on a shelf in a garage in St Louis must be the stuff of road trip movies. 

 

Driving 360 miles to go meet strangers, then another 40 miles to have dinner, followed by taking them back home and then driving many more miles before settling in possibly the best $80.00 motel in all my road trips for the night before heading to Pete and Jakes in Peculiar, ending up with 800 miles for dinner…. More great memories.

 

Driving 350 miles to Fayetteville to visit friends Clem and Kim, only to call a scrap yard in Rogers, Arkansas (go Google BB Gun history) who said they have a few Astro vans, when nobody so far had even one in their junk yards……. Seriously?? Then getting there and finding a 1995 face lifted model with the right dash piece I dreamed of having….. for $20.00 -PRICELESS.

 

 

Yup, the trip was different to the plan, but it was delivering like the goose laying golden eggs.

 

 

Once again life was kind to me, in a curved ball kinda way.

 

The kindness of complete strangers always amazes me. (Admittedly, I have done the same kind of thing many times before as well, but it always humbles me)

 

While I was there in Arkansas, a member “Opelbits” from AstroSafari.com forum reached out and offered me an original steering wheel for the van, FREE for the taking, should I want it. I do not like taking stuff just because it is there, but I prefer the original to the sports steering wheel fitted.

 

Logistics seemed a slight problem as he lived some distance on the other side of St Louis, same state as Dennis, but still a long way away……

 

I accepted the offer of a free steering wheel, offering to pay shipping etc. supplying him with Dennis’ address and contact number.

 

Turns out, Tony, who had offered the wheel, likes to drive his Mustang as well, and unbeknown to me, he and Dennis agreed to him driving all the way to Dennis’ place to hand deliver the wheel…….

 

As if that was not enough, he came with a load more stuff for Dennis and me.

 

What Tony brought…..

 

Treasures.

 

 

 

 

 

TOTALLY (relatively) UNOBTAINABLE GM MAINTENANCE MANUALS.

 

 

 

 

 

Every possible fault, identified, cross referenced and then answered between these manuals.

 

I cannot even describe how Dennis went on about the amazing value these three books add to owning one of these vans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And of course the original NON-AIRBAG steering wheel, which I love the idea of fitting back in the van. 

 

I absolutely love it, and it is an immaculate example as well. 

 

Along with repairing the dash…..

 

What a win.

 

 

 

One more thing he brought from his personal treasure stash ( I love this stuff) was an original steel, embossed Disabled Parking sign.

 

I had been looking for one for Andy the welder, my repeat lodger whose wife is ex-military and disabled through service. 

 

But Andy will not be getting this sign…… I decided to give it to Dennis, as it goes much better with his replica Gas Station and the age of his collection, so we traded a newer one for the original. The one Andy will get, was left with Dennis as my baggage was on the limit, well, over and I had to swap out some stuff at departures, so it may come back next year, should I make it there with having to find a new job and start saving up vacation etc.

 

 

 

 

 

So that brings us back to today, back in the U.K.

 

 

I am looking forward to seeing if these parts all fit my van, and then of course fitting them all.

 

 

.

 

[Jenson Velcro]

A great trip, thanks for sharing. No mention of Kelly though………..?

[grizz]

3 hours ago, Jenson Velcro said:

A great trip, thanks for sharing. No mention of Kelly though………..?

You mean this Kelly? 
 

Keep in mind the trip is still on last Friday. 

[Jenson Velcro]

That’s the one. Must’ve been getting hot working behind the bar that day!

[grizz]

21 hours ago, Jenson Velcro said:

That’s the one. Must’ve been getting hot working behind the bar that day!

It is always hot when she works.

 

The girl knows her job, and customers well. 

[grizz]

When I was running around with Dennis, trying to find bits for the Chevelle he is building, I also looked out for anything random that would go with me, my garage or any of the cars on site.

The Astro has one of those large UK style rear fog lamps fitted.

Being lowered means it will be at risk at times and also it is just not that pretty.

When I built the Rezin Rockit I discovered a slim line fog light in my pile of “Maybe one day we can use it” spares, fitted it and it really is great, being narrow and out the way.

So I bought a slimline (not pretty) unit for the Astro.

Yesterday afternoon,I offered up the new radio surround for the dash.

Realised there is a load of electronics to be disassembled, identified, made redundant or used…… 

So I stopped messing with that.

It is a job for a longer day, possibly with a friend or two who know electronics better than me.

And I need to make a plate, and find the right head unit.

While out there, I also checked the new Chevy steering wheel, compared to the smaller one currently fitted.

Different for sure.

Today, after @pauly had been to collect his parts, I went out to see if I could get the steering wheel fitted.

Errrrmmm…..

NOPE !

Seems that if you give a monkey an Allen key, they will go in and screw it up.

So job aborted until,I figure a way to get these stripped out heads removed.

Any advice, photos, help accepted as always, on how to address these things.

You will see one had a head broken off already in the second line.

Weather has tuned cooler too.

Still need rain to recover what is left of my dead lawn and plants.

Yup……. Ugleee.

.

[grizz]

Sally’s grandson, Harry, now 4 years old.

 

He loves anything with wheels…….

 

video:

 

https://youtu.be/2NrYARjWHjQ?si=Aney5hn1pQMnus_N

 

 

Hopefully he survives to grow up and have children. 

 

.

[grizz]

Van is headed here today…….

 

 

[grizz]

A quick recap for those who join midway and ask questions.

The van came with a small sports steering wheel, it worked, but I was not a fan.

Without even asking, advertising or mentioning it as a priority, including when I went to the junk yard in Rogers, Arkansas, a fellow member on AstroSafari.com messaged me and asked if I would be interested in an original wheel in great condition. 

My instant response was to say yes please and to worry about logistics later. (He works in shipping and PayPal can fix stuff) 

In the end Tony drove his Mustang a long way from beyond St Louis, Missouri to 45 miles beyond St Louis, in the opposite direction to deliver the wheel, and a load of books and rare service manuals to Dennis’ place before Dennis could even go to meet him halfway (keep in min, shipping would be easy) 

But that is often what some of us do for each other in this car hobby and other situations.

So when I got back from my trip to see Clem in Arkansas and Andy in Oklahoma, there was a pile of gifts laying on the back of the 1966 C10 NASCAR truck. 

Packed and ready to head to the U.K. 

Offered up against the smaller one.

Of course the job was not going to be easy……

So plan B was devised. 

Allen heads all drilled off.

Leaving the centre nut to remove and the boss to pull off.

Easy, using a socket.

That was not happening.

On to the next plan.

Create a puller.

Metric vs Imperial.

Made up a puller, using bits of metal and two bolts with the right thread pattern.

New steering fitted.

And super pleased.

Drove 110 miles to a car show and both on the road and through town it feels really great.

VIDEO.

https://youtu.be/j29iQnt4Ie8?si=2upEvene58VfU2js

.

[grizz]

Washed both the Astro and the S10 yesterday afternoon late.

They get dirty just standing around and if I looked at buying the S10, parked out on the sidewalk, a clean car would sell easier than one covered in a weeks worth of dust and spiders webs. 

I also spoke to Dennis and he suggested going in gentle with trying to shift the paint on the glovebox lid.

Starting with brake cleaner and a coarse rag.

The ashtray can be removed and actually is made of black plastic. 
I am not sure if that is the way they were originally made, and if they then were painted in the factory process to the colour of the “dog box” and other dash pieces, as the one the radio surround came from in Arkansas had brown down there.

The glove box can also be removed with three small screws on the hinge, making a possible repaint easier, and not necessitating a huge mask up of the interior.
This will also affect my decision making later today, as to what avenue to follow.

So I went at the whole thing for some time, using both elbow grease and a fair amount of brake cleaner.
The only place where the brake cleaner actually worked was the ashtray. 
I never felt any change in the consistency of the clear lacquer over the 90’s graffiti at all.
Eventually giving up on that.

I will take the glovebox lid off some time today and take it to a local (7 miles) paint store and see if they can colour match the plastic on the inside of the lid and then just paint it directly over the clear, as more paint will lose the texture of the plastic, and I do not want to melt down the existing plastic by any aggressive use of strippers etc.

Final result was not encouraging.

But the ashtray is less grey.

Fingers crossed for later. 

[Asimo]

That steering wheel is SO much better!

[somewhatfoolish]

Maybe worth trying caustic soda, test it on the inside first in case it attacks the plastic.

[grizz]

23 hours ago, Asimo said:

That steering wheel is SO much better!

Thank you.

On some stuff, it would work well, in this case, the wheel has turned and it is a bit passė  now.

 

Hot in 1990 

Not in 2023

[grizz]

10 hours ago, somewhatfoolish said:

Maybe worth trying caustic soda, test it on the inside first in case it attacks the plastic.

I have proceeded and fixed it now….. report below.

problem with a job like this is that it’s really small, but takes a disproportionate amount of effort.

Results below.

[grizz]

Being made redundant has its perks {not really) 

Asked the boss on Monday at our weekly team, Teams meeting what his expectations were of me, in front of the team.

His response: “Do whatever you want, however you feel”

I am still working, and going out, but not giving the constant 100% and pushing harder than most of my (still employed) colleagues. 

That is just how I am.

But, if I run out of work to do by 2.00pm…….. I head home.

They can’t exactly fire me, can they.

So yesterday I managed to stop by a paint specialist to get some satin grey paint colour matched to what was left on the ashtray, which just happened to be in the car with me. 

Custom filled spray can, the fan on the nozzle is perfect, and the paint overspray on my hand felt really “wet” also dried real fast at 5.00pm 

A 5 minute job, and I was headed home from these guys in Medway City Industrial Estate. 

Priced at under £20.00 including tax.

Highly recommend.

Back home I used a 3M scotch pad, fine-ish grade to completely scuff all the surfaces and grooves to maximise adhesion of the plastic primer (left over from a previous project) as well as really getting the colourful glovebox lid keyed up. 

Followed by a decent wipe down, then masking, which was a bit of a pain due to previously using one of those plastic polishes on all the interior surfaces. Masking tape does not stick to it at all.

Plastic primer. Recommended for use on most paint types. No reactions. 

Primered.

Two coats to ensure I did not miss anywhere, left to dry between coats.

Ashtray before cleaning and primer.

After two coats of satin grey paint and primer.

The texture of the plastic still clearly visible.

Really pleased with the result.

And of course the glovebox.

The whole interior was let down by this outdated art 

Sometimes you just need to fix stuff.

Going from this……

To his finish is a massive change. 

Again, if you look, the match is great, and it is just so much cleaner. 

And stepping back.

Before.

And now.

Well, of course a video too for those who like moving pictures.

https://youtu.be/p6RydMevyyE?si=4CdEERCIxfbWv5Ar

Soon, I will run out of jobs to do for the van.

What next?