"Simplify, and add lightness" - Colin Chapman It's not just for race car engineers, it's good for overlanders too. My process of slashing weight off the van continues. By going through a bunch of small steps, I have been slowly eliminating or finding new homes for many of the items that I'...

I believe it's some kind of overload or bump-stop arrangement specific to the fiberglass springs. They're not shown in the diagram, but these instructions for converting the springs from fiberglass to steel include the statement "It is not necessary to re-use rubber pads from OE Composite Sprin...

So aside from a few COVID-projects to optimize a couple parts of the van, things have been pretty stable/reliable for a while. After a particularly hard push at the day job, I took advantage of a free day to take a solo overnighter up to one of my favorite areas in the San Bernardino National Forest...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0FMu4u-7U7UNtXIeNBQb1pzfP0eQZ2C-X-3fUdIx5HrWbUNd6DzhCvis1wbJQ0FCY9hSKJKWGH_Yz-oCfUKb274KJ_-C8OtocefSexLC6FCDHGcCJ915No7BT5FBnqC3cPfJlmI7M_9igNsTee_GtCLAApHKqBoXDHKNo6tSbp8JgrDt8esMrCDD19bLu4i5eYKxmWEJNJaDDmhSzORu-TTn0vg2Q4bWOZw-WrJe8-1ZthXPNRdY4uyaC-JY78sdEhruTCgUX...

Manual shift TC makes more sense if you don't have the clutch controlled AWD as an option, but if the NP236 swap had been this well documented when I'd been doing my conversion so many years ago, I'd probably have taken that route. I would also consider electronic 3 button swap... Encoder motors ar...

Manual shift TC makes more sense if you don't have the clutch controlled AWD as an option, but if the NP236 swap had been this well documented when I'd been doing my conversion so many years ago, I'd probably have taken that route.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLUnXmV1Df20T8PsW-MhcCRRacVY_674TFxd7ScI8MYSEK1nKYfSFDk-9ikcxgRNTcWo-Dvh2VtS0-ASGL899YJtpo0C-AvaL5FnMfWiNI1EAMhhIlnGaiaD8uwGar4fcpUEGJouBDzywNmenL9S0rIvyA=w600?.jpg I had swapped my spring pack to the 4-leaf HD pack a few weeks back (22-687HD - 1750lb rated ...

What are the exact symptoms that you think is the diff binding? Not saying you're wrong, just trying to get a baseline. Also, what's your load like? (I had some problems with the behavior of the lunchbox locker I had installed in my van that were rooted in the rear end being a bit over the rear GAWR.)

Interesting. Any theories why the TC blew up? How useful is 3rd when you're wheeling around in 4-low? At that speed, doesn't it make more sense to be in 4-high in 1st or 2nd? Not strictly needed, but it's convenient not to have to keep switching back and forth if you get to a smooth section - espec...

Written version of procedure:
https://itstillruns.com/program-chevrol ... 49180.html

Do you still have a key that works in the ignition?

If so, any GM-compatible key fob can be programmed to work:
https://amzn.to/3w8zFTl

This procedure should be correct for 2003-2005 vans:

2) Awning Bracket Upgrade This one should have been pretty minor, but it turned out to be a surprising amount of work. Ever since I harvested parts from the 1995 LuLu Island/GTRV back on page 2, (11 years ago.... sheesh), I'd been running the pair of "custom" awning brackets that had been ...

While I'm waiting for the weekend to arrive, so I can get back to the pick-n-pull for more parts to play with, I can do a quickie update on a few other things: 1) On-Board Air Update A while back I'd gone through the effort of fabbing up some brackets so I could sling a viair tank under the slider-d...

Yeah, a microswitch is the common solution for np231 (or converted np233). You'll love the 4.10 gears! Best mod I've done to mine so far.

Can't wait to see the bumper.

Pin is run, 4low works, although I'm not sure it didn't work the whole time as after hooking the pin up it still didn't go into 4lo... Then I tried neutral on the transmission and it clunks in. Is it normal for it to not want to go into 4lo when in park? It will go between 2hi and 4hi in any condit...