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

[RVflyfish]

Still trying to figure out how to git the lower rear "Dutch" doors open. The doors are latched and will not open. Any ideas???

Is a cable to the rear latch broken?

 

[vintageracer]

No cable total electric in function.

 

[vintageracer]

Finally got the electrics working on the rear hatch. It now unlatches and opens via the switch on the dash. Start tomorrow on the figuring out why the lower doors will not unlatch from each other. Looks totally mechanical. The key latch will not move so I would say something is stuck or jammed. Hope to resolve this issue tomorrow.

Continuing to make progress!

 

[RVflyfish]

Hmmm, well good luck. I'd love to be of more help but thankfully I haven't had to figure that problem out because mine have always worked.

 

[vintageracer]

Hey everybody I wanted to give you an update on Bruce Mclanes's Quigley Custom ASSTRO van.

The van runs however does not drive. I have most everything working with the exception of the transmission. My transmission guy is out due to some surgery therefore I have focused on getting the exterior in better condition.

I have buffed the original paint on the van and it looks pretty damn good considering. Rather than repaint body parts I decided to go look for nice original GM paint body parts and replace them on the van. As such the van now has a nice original paint hood, rear hatch and gas door replacing the bad or wrong colored parts. The front fenders are OK however I am on the lookout for a nice original paint pair when I find em.

I disassembled the front end bumper cover and crash bar. The crash bar was rusty and bad condition so I replaced it with a nice rust-free bumper reinforcement bar along with a factory black plastic bumper cover. The front winch mount is still there however the replacement bumper cover now covers the winch mount. When I get a proper winch I will cut the bumper cover for the winch. At this point the front end now looks stock. I like the black bumper cover better than the original white bumper cover. Give the van a more aggressive look. I will also be replacing the rear bumper with another straight black bumper to complete the look when I find one. I am working out the dent in the driver's door. It's a LOT better than it was however there is more work to do to push out the dent. Better to keep the original driver's door than replace it due to weld on hinges rather than bolt on hinges.

I made several trips to the local Pull A Part yard for bolts, screws, exterior and interior trim pieces that were either missing or damaged. All the light bulbs and other stuff has been replaced. I have replaced a lot of weatherstripping on the van from JY vans. It's amazing how many Astro's are still in the yards down here with LOT'S of great parts. Moving on to the interior next and then the suspension and transmission.

Attached are some pictures of the van as it sits today. Quite a change from when it arrived here in Tennessee 3 or 4 weeks ago!

 

[vintageracer]

Had a good day with the help of a good friend!

Installed 4 new Mevotech Terrain Tough ball joints in the front Dana 44 axle, greased the bearings while apart, serviced the Mile Maker lockout hubs, installed new brakes, installed new u-joints in the driveshafts, installed new in-tank electric fuel pump on the Quigley/McClane Families 1995 "Quigley Custom" ASSTRO van!

All that work along with the completely rebuilt 4L60E automatic transmission and the van now drives good and runs great!

Now all I need is some new or nice used 35x12.50-15 tires to replace the old tires currently on the van!