The BAD AST Project - Faze II

[twosaturns]

these vans seem to resist rust, I was surprised too about my '94 safari. I had the door apart yesterday to replace the handle, and it was CLEAN inside, like new.
your van is going to be EXCELLENT. I'll have to post the link to a astro project at www.astrosafari.com, some dude was putting a big block right in the middle of his van. chopped the top too. good for a diversion, I'll have to find it.
oops! just went over there and saw you are on there as well, maybe you know which van I'm talking about?

[Colvindesign]

wow, I can see you have been putting a lot of work and planning into this project. If I had never driven a Astro before, it would go on my list of possibilities. However I have driven one and don't like the seating position at all, I know that can be changed, but I like the low position of a sports car. But a astro that can haul 5 or more people very quickly, is pretty damn cool. Reminds me of the old Renault Espace F1.

[astroracer]

Thanks guys. Boopvanner did a ton of work to his van. I am going to be a LOT more conservative with my mods!
As far as seating goes I will be lowering the seats quite a bit. The plan is to use 4 Fiero or Dodge Neon buckets. Probably go with the Fiero units as I have a source for those. I did pick up a couple of Neon buckets last year for cheap and they are fairly comfortable.
Mark

[JMarsa]

Mark,

You might want to consider pickup wheel houses. Like from a S-10 looks similar in profile. I think there are OEM looking tubs for S-10's as well.

--JMarsa

[astroracer]

I believe you are right. I had looked at some before but didn't have the immediate "need" for them. If I can't get the old wells to work I will look into them further or make my own. I just won't know til I get there I guess...
A guy on another site put the two pics of the van together. I took his work a bit further... This is getting pretty close to the look (other then the color of course) that I am going for...

I removed the roof rack, emblems, door handles and rear bumper, modified the front bumper and added a rear pan and some ground effects... There will also be some hood revisions and a tailight delete (They will be in the rear pan).
What do you think?
Mark

[astroracer]

I went out last night to start pulling the rear end out of the van and got to thinking...
When I get the rear out the van is going to be "kinda" difficult to move around. Well, the motor and trans are still in place and they will have to come out before I can yank the diff... Just makes sense. Pulling them isn't an issue but then I will have them sitting in the shop getting in the way. I don't want them (4cyl & 700R4) The motor runs great though and there isn't a thing wrong with the tranny so I gave my mechanic/junkyard owner buddy a call. He will take them AND he will also pull them out! Of course I am giving him the stuff but I just want it gone... I will drive the van to his place this weekend and he will bring it back on his rollback some time early next week... He will also pull the fuel tank for me which is also something I don't need and won't have to hassle with...
Things are starting to move on the van now. I need to get the rest of the shop cleaned up now...
Mark

[Payton King]

of the top? I think that would be slick

[astroracer]

Yes I have Payton...
This is approximately a 3" chop...

I don't know if I like it. The problem with these vans is the width. They are very wide. Chopping the top more then an inch or two upsets the proportions and makes them look bottom heavy... To me anyway.
Here is one done by another guy with a little more out of the top and good chunk taken out of the middle (sectioned) this brings the proportions back in line but would be a hellofa lotta work...

What do you all think?
Mark

[Tiger]

Hi,
nice to see som progress
I like it full height Mark, I wouldnt chop the top.
and flat hood and the lights like the first pic in the thread.

[FoxGranadaChuck]

I would not cut the top either. The Astro would look much too clumsy!

[astroracer]

Thanks guys, I have come to that conclusion also. No chop. When it comes time for paint I plan to pull all of the fixed glass and replace it with lexan so that will reduce some upper body weight. Probably more then a chop would anyway...
Mark

[shep]

What about a stingray style hood scoop? I think that might look good.

[astroracer]

What about a stingray style hood scoop? I think that might look good.

I think you're right bud... I have done a little sketching and the 427 Stringray scoop really looks good. I will try to get some finalized sketches but, at the moment, I am working in the shop making room for the "slug" to come back home.
The "brown slug" went to my buddies yesterday afternoon. It was quite an experience driving it over there. With no rear wheel wells I was tossing small stones and rocks around inside and it was VERY noisy.
We'll pull everything out from underneath that we don't need to get it home (roll back)and the front cradle will be loosened up with only a couple of bolts left in to keep it in place. I am chomping at the bit to get it back home.
I was in Toledo Saturday and picked up some 10" casters at Harbor Freight (on sale for $9.99) for the body cart build. Once the cradle and rear suspension are out I want to be able to move the "slug" around so I will be building a cart to set the body on. It will also raise the van up a bit to make access to the underside easier.
I will be working in the shop this week to get it ready for the slug to come back. I have a few new lights to hang and some re-arranging to do. I'll get pics as soon as I can.
Mark

[FoxGranadaChuck]

I think you're right bud... I have done a little sketching and the 427 Stringray scoop really looks good. I will try to get some finalized sketches but, at the moment, I am working in the shop making room for the "slug" to come back home.
The "brown slug" went to my buddies yesterday afternoon. It was quite an experience driving it over there. With no rear wheel wells I was tossing small stones and rocks around inside and it was VERY noisy.
We'll pull everything out from underneath that we don't need to get it home (roll back)and the front cradle will be loosened up with only a couple of bolts left in to keep it in place. I am chomping at the bit to get it back home.
I was in Toledo Saturday and picked up some 10" casters at Harbor Freight (on sale for $9.99) for the body cart build. Once the cradle and rear suspension are out I want to be able to move the "slug" around so I will be building a cart to set the body on. It will also raise the van up a bit to make access to the underside easier.
I will be working in the shop this week to get it ready for the slug to come back. I have a few new lights to hang and some re-arranging to do. I'll get pics as soon as I can.
Mark

I think that a 427 Stingray hood scoop would look really cool on the Astro. It would be even more cool if said hoodscoop was functional....

[astroracer]

I have done a few quick and dirty sketches and I LIKE it! Due to the short Astro hood the Stingray scoop looks a little caricatured but I think it will look good with a little more work on my part. I think I am going to order one of these from Unlimited Products and see what I can do with it. I think I can develope one out of foam core board easily enough and then redo it in steel...
It will be functional FGC...
Let me do some more sketching OR if anyone else is interested I am looking for ideas...
Mark

[sonofernest]

Two words: Center Exhaust. I think it needs a subtle chop and the cowl hood, its too boxy for a stingray hood IMO.

[formula98]

That looks great! What program did you use to generate the pictures?

[astroracer]

Unigraphics. It's an old version but I run this stuff all day at my real job so it's second nature at home... things go pretty quick once I get them conceptualized.
Mark

[formula98]

You do great work! You are a master! I spent 20 years with AutoCad and have played with a few 3D programs, but do not get the time anymore to devote to drawing. Maybe some day!

Ron

[syborg tt]

?? does the factory upper and lower control arm get used on any other production gm vehicle