Playing in the snow

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Captn. Crunch
I sleep in my van
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Playing in the snow

Post by Captn. Crunch »

I have been modifying my van over the last year or so to increase the traction potential over what was admittedly an already formidable setup. The Torsen rear diff replaced the factory open and the body lift greatly improved ground clearance. I have also installed a low range in a spare np136 transfer case but have yet to swap it into the van. I also have a cast iron front diff that will be receiving a limited slip upgrade. That is sitting right next to the transfer case waiting for warm weather.
The northeast has been whacked pretty good this year with snowstorms rolling thu on a weekly basis and this has given me ample opportunity to see just what the van is capable of handling. I live in a beachside community with lots of side streets. As soon as I cleared my driveway I went out to play. A plow truck had made a single pass on the main roasd but none of the side roads had been touched. I started with an unplowed downhill sidestreet. The berm from the plow was about four feet hi and the snow and drifts were anywhere from 18" to 36". The van plowed right thu and the powder looked like a bow wave on a lake in front of the van. I was laughing like an idiot as I blew thu the berm at the other end of the street and went looking for more. I picked the next street over which is now uphill and stuffed it in again. This time the van started to lose speed and float a bit as the snow packed under the chassis. I had to saw back and forth on the steering wheel and my speed settled to a quick walking pace. The plow berm at the top of the hill loomed large and I wasn't carrying much speed. Powder flew up over the windshield and I was back on a plowed road with my neighbors leaning on their shovels, shaking their heads and giving me thumbs up!
I can't wait to finish my mods and have power to all four corners and low range to boot. I LOVE MY SAFARI!!!!!
Captn. Crunch
"I don't beat my rig-I use it to it's maximum potential"
1994 Safari conversion (sold) and miss'n it!
1999 Safari SLE AWD junked
2003 GMC Safari AWD SLT
cast iron Torsen equipped front diff
S-10 leafs-G80 rear w/3.73’s
2” body lift w/Falken Wildpeak AT’s

dvil
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
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Re: Playing in the snow

Post by dvil »

Link to movie?? :poke: :cheers:
1989 parts car
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Topic author
Captn. Crunch
I sleep in my van
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Re: Playing in the snow

Post by Captn. Crunch »

dvil wrote:Link to movie?? :poke: :cheers:

gravely L model 7.6 with a dogeater vs. winter storm benedict_0001.wmv

While I wait for the next storm here's a link to me and my Gravely's kicking ass on a previous storm. I WILL make sure to get some snow footage soon. It's supposed to snow tomorrow and again on Tuesday so it shouldn't be long
Captn. Crunch
"I don't beat my rig-I use it to it's maximum potential"
1994 Safari conversion (sold) and miss'n it!
1999 Safari SLE AWD junked
2003 GMC Safari AWD SLT
cast iron Torsen equipped front diff
S-10 leafs-G80 rear w/3.73’s
2” body lift w/Falken Wildpeak AT’s
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doyoulikeithere
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Re: Playing in the snow

Post by doyoulikeithere »

Is this it
[youtube]www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvWBmNY4Iow[/youtube]
2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 - Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.

Topic author
Captn. Crunch
I sleep in my van
Posts: 557
Joined: Wed Feb 01, 2012 12:10 pm
Location: southeastern ct
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Re: Playing in the snow

Post by Captn. Crunch »

Captn. Crunch
"I don't beat my rig-I use it to it's maximum potential"
1994 Safari conversion (sold) and miss'n it!
1999 Safari SLE AWD junked
2003 GMC Safari AWD SLT
cast iron Torsen equipped front diff
S-10 leafs-G80 rear w/3.73’s
2” body lift w/Falken Wildpeak AT’s

Cobra
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Re: Playing in the snow

Post by Cobra »

Captn. Crunch wrote: I was laughing like an idiot as I blew thu the berm at the other end of the street
Captn. Crunch wrote: Powder flew up over the windshield and I was back on a plowed road with my neighbors leaning on their shovels, shaking their heads and giving me thumbs up!

Isn't that a great feeling, man reading this put a huge smile on my face and brought back great memories. the look on my neighbours face was "this guy is an idiot but that was pretty impressive"
1998 GMC Safari AWD, BFGoodrich AllTerrain T/A
Jet performance tuner 91 octane preset, Jet under-drive pulleys
Rancho 999000 series shock, on-board controller to be installed later
DHC rock rails and skid plate Add-A-Leaf
G3500 front calipers
Zexel Torsen Diff
11" drums
180 amp Alternator
Long tru-cool 4590 trans cooler

1997 gone

Topic author
Captn. Crunch
I sleep in my van
Posts: 557
Joined: Wed Feb 01, 2012 12:10 pm
Location: southeastern ct
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Re: Playing in the snow

Post by Captn. Crunch »

Yes!! The stupid grin syndrome is alive and well. I was very disappointed this morning as the latest winter storm only dropped 6"-8" locally. I did go out to play but there really wasn't much in the way of a challenge. I did stop to check on a friend of mine and there was no place to park so I rammed the van up onto his front lawn. I had to back out and take three more runs at it before I was happy with my parking job.The snow was so deep I had to go out the slider because I couldn't open my door. His neighbor was watching and asked if that was four wheel drive. I answered " nope just three wheel drive- four wheel drive is coming soon! Threw him an idiotic grin slip and fall on my ass in the hip deep snow. It Was a good day
Captn. Crunch
"I don't beat my rig-I use it to it's maximum potential"
1994 Safari conversion (sold) and miss'n it!
1999 Safari SLE AWD junked
2003 GMC Safari AWD SLT
cast iron Torsen equipped front diff
S-10 leafs-G80 rear w/3.73’s
2” body lift w/Falken Wildpeak AT’s
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