New Addition To The Fleet Arriving Tomorrow With An Interesting History!

[vintageracer]

New addition that arrives tomorrow on the transporter.

1995 Chevrolet AWD Astro Van converted to true solid front axle, true Hi/Lo transfer case 4WD van by Quigley. It on the rough side needing a LOT of work with ownership by Quigley family members since new.

The van was originally built at Quigley Motor Company by and for Bruce the son in law of the owner's of Quigley. As it was not a regular production van for Quigley they call it a "Quigley Custom Build" and are still very familiar with this van. I am told it has Jeep J10 axles front and rear with some sort of "special" Borg Warner transfer case. We'll see when it shows up. At this point the van runs good however the transmission will need built along with lot's of other stuff rebuilt and redone I am sure.

This will be the second true 4WD Astro van I have owned. The other Astro was built by a shop in Vegas back in 1987 for a TV station broadcast van in Vegas. That van was also a front solid axle swap.

Looking forward to seeing what it REALLY LOOKS LIKE in person when it shows up tomorrow!

More to come!

 

[RVflyfish]

That thing is beefy. And you got the factory roof rack. I so wish mine had one.

 

[vintageracer]

Showed up yesterday in the da rain.

Get a better look at it today.

 

[vintageracer]

Got the van shipped to the shop.

Nice conversation today with "Tiger" at Quigley Motor Company about this van. He told me how, when, where and why this van was built. 4.88 gears, lunch box locker in the rear and ARB air locker in the front axle, early J10 Jeep Dana 44 axles front and rear, lock out front hubs, 35x12.5x15 wheels/tires, Soft articulating leaf springs, full crossover steering, and yes the 1370 Borg Warner transfer case does say "Prototype" on the bottom tag and more. Everything is still present and complete on the van as it was originally built.

This van has been wheeled by the Quigley/McClane family many times out on the trails of Moab which is what it was built for. First trip after being built was Moab Rim Trail along with all the other trails in Moab. Been many times to the Easter Jeep Rally in Moab. Lot's more interesting history about this van from Tiger who helped build the van "After Hours" at Quigley many years ago. Owned by the family since new. More pictures to come from Quigley as promised to me.

Time to start working on it with a big pressure washing session on to the interior and then start looking at the mechanicals. A trip to the JY is also in the works to see what Astro parts that I might need I can git!

Very happy with this purchase.

 

[borison]

Really cool van with a cool provenance. Looks like you got your work cut out for yourself, but the kinda work I wouldn’t mind having! What are your plans?

 

[vintageracer]

Git it CLEAN first!

Then address the mechanicals by gitting it running/driving then start accessing any mechanical rebuild issues and then exterior cosmetics.

A trip to the local Pull A Part should yield any and all interior exterior trim or body parts I should need.

 

[vintageracer]

With all the Chinese flu hysteria still ongoing today was a GREAT DAY to go to the JY and git some parts for the van. Lot's of folks at the JY as they are one of the few places open for business! 5 different Astro vans to pick from all in white.

Spent almost 3 hours getting all sorts of stuff including replacement and/or better interior trim, weatherstripping, a NICE front bumper cover, dash parts, exterior/interior door window wipes, correct air cleaner assembly, rear hatch/door parts and more all for less than $75.00! So much stuff I had to make 2 trips to load it all in the ATF van.

Yesterday repainted the hood with Duplicolor matching white paint. A little "Scuff and shoot" rattle can restoration to see how it would look. Just painting that one panel made a huge improvement in the frontend appearance. Time to git the replacement bumper cover I purchased today fitted to the front of the van and straighten the winch mount that is slightly bent under the bumper cover to finish the new and improved front end look.

So far a LOT OF FUN messing around with the van. Anything I do is an improvement!

 

[onemanarmy]

Nice. lots of potential.

Some less wide wheels and skinnier tires would look sweet. Does the sliding door open now with those wide tires?

 

[vintageracer]

Yes the slider does open. Yes those are the same wheels (15x10) and same size tires (35x12.50x15) the van was originally designed to use and has rocked since built in 2001-2002.

Plans are to upgrade to more modern wheels, new tires that are a little narrower as you suggest. I also think it would look and perform better

 

[vintageracer]

UPDATE!

Attached are pictures of Bruce Mclane owner and builder of this van in action in Moab Utah and other places.

These photographs and many more photos provided to me courtesy of the Quigley Motor Company.

 

[macexpress]

 

[vintageracer]

GREAT DAY at the JY or should I say Automotive Recycling Center.

Scored a perfect original paint white hood and very nice original white paint rear glass hatch to replace the green rear replacement hatch currently on the van. These 2 additions will once again make the van mostly all original paint on the body panels. Removed all the stickers with the exception of "4x4 Vans" and continue the clean up and mechanical restoration to driving condition. New front bumper cover and bumper reinforcement being fitted now to conceal the winch mount on the front of the van and replace the rough front bumper cover.

 

[vintageracer]

Lot's work done today on ASSTRO. Nice original paint hood installed. Rear original paint hatch getting installed. Buffed and polished the whole van. WOW! What a difference. The original paint actually buffed up quite nice considering age and use. Polished all the door jambs front and rear. Replacement front bumper reinforcement and replacement bumper cover are being modified to fit. Got some matching touch up paint and will work on that tomorrow. Trans comes out next week for rebuild. Replaced aftermarket air cleaner with a stock air cleaner assembly. New wiper blades. Painted the wiper arms. Replaced the lower window wipe rubbers along with the upper door opening weatherstrips with nice ones from the JY. Still trying to figure out how to git the lower rear "Dutch" doors open. The doors are latched and will not open. Any ideas???

 

[vintageracer]

Replacement original white paint rear "Dutch" hatch installed today to replace the green hatch on the van when I purchased it. Finishing buffing and waxing the paint. Now working on paint touch-up and front bumper reinforcement/bumper cover replacement.

 

[simple]

Looks like your having a lot of fun with this project. Will be cool to see some actions shots from its next phase in life.