Astro AWD "Stroverlander"

[digitaldelay]

Hey, what do you mean by "warm up"?

Good catch on the Mag-Lite, I've carried that thing in my van(s) for ten years or so. Guess it found a new home in the drawer (another photo perhaps?)! Reminds me I need to look into an led conversion for it too.

Saturday is supposed to be like 45F after weeks of -20F... downright balmy! :wings:

I have all my Mags converted over to LED now. They still don't compare to all my newer flashlights from Fenix, but I continue to use my old Mags and will always have a soft spot for them.

Jason

 

[Nitinat]

In a van full of space, compartmentalized storage is surprisingly pretty limited.

Indeed. I am interested to look for one of those as well.

 

[Slicky72]

I remember my mom's 85 had those bins. There is no room under my power seats for those but you did a great job as usual of documenting your mod.

 

[Stroverlander]

Saturday is supposed to be like 45F after weeks of -20F... downright balmy! :wings:

I have all my Mags converted over to LED now. They still don't compare to all my newer flashlights from Fenix, but I continue to use my old Mags and will always have a soft spot for them.

Jason

That's gonna feel like summer! :sombrero:

Indeed. I am interested to look for one of those as well.

Parts breakdown shows '96-'03 and option code is BA8 if you're looking for one that way.

Parts breakdown image (NLA):

I remember my mom's 85 had those bins. There is no room under my power seats for those but you did a great job as usual of documenting your mod.

Good point, I should have mentioned it does not work with power seat base or under driver's seat.

Did you add a power seat base to passenger side? I didn't think any ever came with power passenger seat and was going to install a power base for the passenger seat eventually but now that I've installed the storage bin, I think this is handier for me. I never sit over there anyway!

 

[Slicky72]

Yup mine is a 98 LT and has power seats on both sides, the wife loves driving the van so much I get relegated to the passenger seat from time to time

 

[Stroverlander]

The power seat controls mounted inboard on both seats?

The General cheaped out later on since my '04 LT only has a power driver's seat.

Man should you feel lucky that your wife likes driving the van, that seems to be a rarity! :smiley_drive:

 

[Slicky72]

Thanks,I am glad that my wife is behind me on this project. Yes the power seat controls are both mounted inboard.

 

[Colby Jack]

I love this thread!!! I too am ditching my Full size Dodge ASAP and pursuing an Astro/Safari. Tons of AWD up here in the Great White North!

 

[Stroverlander]

Welcome and thanks. Also to everyone else that's contributed along the way.

Look forward to seeing your van!

 

[Stroverlander]

Next on: As The Astro Turns... not...over...

With the Interstate MTP-78 Mega-Tron Plus battery in Stroverlander failing around the five year mark, it's time to replace.

Upon removal I was greeted with this rusty battery tray. Bleh. After cleaning with baking soda and water, it became apparent that some additional care would be required, mainly because you know... I couldn't install a new battery without first refinishing the tray to my satisfaction.

My first thought was to attack it with a wire wheel and Scotchbrite pads to remove rust, then mask off, prime and paint. At some point while looking at it, I realized the battery tray is removable so that makes things easier.

After removing the four bolts securing the tray to inner wheelwell and fender, I separated the aluminum PCM from its plastic mounting bracket attached to the battery tray. I could then remove the battery tray and PCM bracket together, unfasten the plastic push clip locking the bracket to tray and slide the plastic bracket out of the tray. Voila, or something.

With the tray removed, I took a few extra minutes to inspect and clean under the battery tray with baking soda and water then a little spray cleaner wax.

The battery tray doesn't appear to be painted or treated from GM so that's always nice. The rust was mostly surface rust on top with some pitting. It's solid overall and nothing that would really warrant replacement.

Looking at various methods I could use to clean/remove rust and paint, I wasn't confident I would get anything resembling a lasting, protective finish for a reasonable amount of time, effort and money.

So in the end, I decided to drop it off and leave it in the hands of the powder coating shop and for $25 the battery tray was chemically stripped, blasted and powder coated satin black.

Turned out decent, some of the pitting is still visible in the top of the tray and if I were doing it myself (and using my own powder) I'd have laid it on heavier for sure but the aesthetic is not as important as the protection offered.

Next episode is battery selection, installation and maybe a few other minor details...

 

[Slicky72]

The tray looks great! Your truck is so clean under the hood. Do you ever drive it in the rain ?

 

[Stroverlander]

It's not that clean and does get driven in any and all conditions! Probably once a year or so the engine compartment gets sprayed down, usually because I'm doing some other work under the hood. I also use a spray cleaner wax like Protect-All to wipe it down when I'm done which helps keep too much dust from sticking to everything. I'll admit to wiping down the steering shaft rubber boot before I took those photos!

 

[Herbie]

Yeah, that astro battery tray is just one of those parts you know is going to rust. It's like the door sills on Datsun Z or the rear glass surrounds on anything British.

My van was in AZ the first 7 years of its life and I still had enough rust that it took an afternoon with a coarse wire wheel in my grinder before I could prime and paint it...

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Stroverlander]

It didn't stand a chance living on the humid Gulf Coast then. I was surprised to see it when I removed the battery though, definitely didn't look like that when I installed previous battery.

After painting the wheels and mirrors, I was sort of over spending (too much) time on refinishing work!

 

[Slicky72]

After painting the wheels and mirrors, I was sort of over spending (too much) time on refinishing work!

Well it's not going to maintain it's self