New to me 2003 AWD Astro

[mdmead]

This is their site.

http://journeysoffroad.com/products.html

Picking the 2003 up Sat AM!! can't wait to get started on it.

Wow, never heard of them. Love the rear leaf spring brackets and think I will incorporate a set of them when I get to that point!

[mdmead]

Matt; With the reindexing keys you still are cranking the torsion bars, they just allow you to crank them that much more than the stock keys (I have the keys on mine).

That's interesting, but doesn't jive with my understanding of what a re-indexing key does. That's not to say you can't crank a re-indexed bar to further increase lift, but if you are running the stock number of pre-load turns stock, and then again with the re-indexed bars, you should be sitting higher with the re-indexed bars. (Or lower if the indexing keys were for lowering a vehicle.) In looking for some further info on this, I found someone on that other site saying they gained exactly 2" of lift with just re-indexing and the stock number of turns to set the pre-load.

But in the end, I'm not going to doubt your results as obviously you have actually done it to your van.

[RINNY]

Ya the rear spring hangers is what really made me call Mike. He is very knowledgable. Still very confusing about exactly what to do like the front bumber kit, OVL has a really good looking bracket compared to Journeys but is it nesc? The helper springs Journey offers seems to be just as good as replacing the spring stack. I dont thin k there bushing in the hangers or perhaps the shakles dont quite know.
That e350 was a beast, actually too much van for what I am doing now. The 6.0 has alot of issues unless you bulletproof them and that is about 10K. I did like driving it though, it was a beast.

Papagreen75 has the setup I am going to be using as a goby

[mdmead]

A helper spring will make for a stiffer ride. You may or may not want that. Personally, I like my van's stock ride, so my goal will be to gain lift without changing it significantly. A custom spring pack would be the best way to get more arch/lift without a negative impact on the ride. Of course then you have to find a spring builder and the price will be a lot higher than a helper spring. Everything is a trade-off I guess.

[RINNY]

OK this is where I am at.
S10 HD spring stacks (stock hangers and shakles as nesc) and shim to realign pinion if nesc.

2" aluminum (or perhaps stainless) body spacers with the smaller bolts because the larger diameter ones will shear instead of bend (straight from Mike at Journey lift kits) and new bushings as nesc.

Move (probably new) ball joints to the bottom of the a frame, and perhaps replace the lowers at the same time.

Reindexed keys

Bumper relocation kit from Ovl if I can get it.

H3 wheels and BF Goodrich AT ko2 around 31"

Opinions Very welcome

[arlon]

With 31" tires, gears might become an issue. I have 3.73 gears and went to a 29" tire. The jump from stock to 29" (225/75/16 E BFG AT KO) resulted in a substantial loss in performance. Even with the 3.73 gears I have been thinking of jumping up to 4.10 just to get some power back. These vans don't have a ton of power to start with and you really feel the difference with a big heavy tire, at least I did.

[photo_van]

X2 on loss of power, especially if you live in hill country. That said, I drove mine for many years w/31s and 3:43s before going to 4.10.

With 2" body lift, no need for bumper brackets. Again, I ran mine (and others do as well) moved to the upper hole w/one bolt per side for many years before fabing brackets.

[RINNY]

Yes a 2 speed transfere case and 4.10 gears will be in the second phase, if I go that far.

[RINNY]

Going to use the Journey:

Super lift Kit
Brake line extention
Bump Stops
All fasteners included

ATS springs
22-1195XHD - Chevy Astro and Safari Compact rated at 2550lbs
Van Leaf Spring, Rear XHD
Leaf Spring Eye Bolt Kit, Grade 8 (2 Bolt Kit)
Chevy/GMC Astro Safari Upper U-Bolt Kit(2
U-Bolt Kit w/ Stud Bolts)

I want to replace the body mount bushing when I install the 2" body lift pucks. Will this kit work?
Prothane 7-108-BL Black Body and Standard Cab Mount Bushing Kit - 12 Piece
http://www.amazon.com/Prothane-7-108-BL ... B003AVR8FQ

[Stroverlander]

Going to use the Journey:

Super lift Kit
Brake line extention
Bump Stops
All fasteners included

ATS springs
22-1195XHD - Chevy Astro and Safari Compact rated at 2550lbs
Van Leaf Spring, Rear XHD
Leaf Spring Eye Bolt Kit, Grade 8 (2 Bolt Kit)
Chevy/GMC Astro Safari Upper U-Bolt Kit(2
U-Bolt Kit w/ Stud Bolts)

I want to replace the body mount bushing when I install the 2" body lift pucks. Will this kit work?
Prothane 7-108-BL Black Body and Standard Cab Mount Bushing Kit - 12 Piece
http://www.amazon.com/Prothane-7-108-BL ... B003AVR8FQ

Yes, that is the Prothane kit I used or Energy Suspension 3.4116.