Astro "El Camino" and other neat stuff,,,,

Major projects, rebuilds and overhauls covering multiple areas
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mdmead
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Re: Astro "El Camino" and other neat stuff,,,,

Post by mdmead »

Yowza! I hadn't taken a look at your Photobucket pics in quite awhile. Imagine my surprise! Awesome project and looking really good!
Matt
Selah, WA
-96 GMC Safari AWD Hi-Top Conversion -->Stalled 5.3L swap & 5" lift
-74 Ford Bronco -->Far from perfect but mine!
-99 V-10 Ford Super Duty Super Cab 4x4 -->Stock with 285 Cooper ATs
-00 Ford Focus Wagon -->The Red Turd
-95 Ford 24' Class C Motorhome -->My big block sleeper
-07 Can-Am Outlander XT -->My yellow 4x4 quad for work & play
-04 Ski Doo REV Summit -->Still several chassis behind!


No new projects until the current ones are done!
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H2OJoe
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Re: Astro "El Camino" and other neat stuff,,,,

Post by H2OJoe »

Looks like you're doing a great job there Stan. Thanks for taking so many detailed photos. I look forward to seeing the finished product.
:bounce:

Joe
2001 Astro LT AWD "Redneck Edition", 4" Custom Lift, 30x9.5R15LT on stock wheels, Hightop conversion, custom interior, custom roof racks, external solar shower, front recovery points. SOLD

1997 Astro LS AWD Starting build soon.
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HPbyStan
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Re: Astro "El Camino" and other neat stuff,,,,

Post by HPbyStan »

Thanks guys. Not going to be much more progress this year. I have two 2 car garages but can't get a car in either of them. Mill, lathes, welders, flow bench, gazillion hand tools, a motorcycle lift, bead blaster, air compressor, work benches, and BSA motorcycles under foot doesn't leave room for my 4 wheeled rides. Once I get the Silverado tailgate to fit all that will be left is finish body work and painting. It has come to my attention that I can't do that stuff in the snow. I had no idea it was going to take this long when I started. Thanks again, Stan
'04 White AWD Astro cargo
'00 Astro / El Camino
'61 BSA Super Rocket
'71 BSA B50 engine in a '67 C25 250 chassis
Impossible is just a degree of difficulty....
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HPbyStan
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Re: Astro "El Camino" and other neat stuff,,,,

Post by HPbyStan »

I got the rear bumper finished up today.
Link to pics;
http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm17 ... ?start=all
'04 White AWD Astro cargo
'00 Astro / El Camino
'61 BSA Super Rocket
'71 BSA B50 engine in a '67 C25 250 chassis
Impossible is just a degree of difficulty....
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HPbyStan
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Re: Astro "El Camino" and other neat stuff,,,,

Post by HPbyStan »

I bought two sets of Monroe air shocks for both Astros as I've had them before and really like them. I also bought two flip up license plate brackets as I'm going to modify the '04 Cargos rear bumper like the Astro-minos and hide the trailer hitch receivers behind the bumpers and access them by flipping up the license plates. Pics to follow when I get this done.
'04 White AWD Astro cargo
'00 Astro / El Camino
'61 BSA Super Rocket
'71 BSA B50 engine in a '67 C25 250 chassis
Impossible is just a degree of difficulty....
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HPbyStan
I sleep in my van
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Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:15 am
Location: Janesville, Wis

Re: Astro "El Camino" and other neat stuff,,,,

Post by HPbyStan »

http://s296.photobucket.com/user/HPbySt ... all+page=1
Got some work started on the '91 full Size Chevy tailgate, the Monroe air shocks installed on both Astros and Curt Class III trailer hitches modified to bolt BELOW the bumper brackets and move the hitch up behind the rear bumper. Also have both flipup licence plate brackets installed on my rides. I have a backup camera installed in the Cargos rear bumper and the moniter mounted on the back of the drivers inside rear view mirror. Pics not up yet on that.
'04 White AWD Astro cargo
'00 Astro / El Camino
'61 BSA Super Rocket
'71 BSA B50 engine in a '67 C25 250 chassis
Impossible is just a degree of difficulty....
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Smiliesafari
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Re: Astro "El Camino" and other neat stuff,,,,

Post by Smiliesafari »

Good to see you back at it.
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
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1Gary
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Re: Astro "El Camino" and other neat stuff,,,,

Post by 1Gary »

Smiliesafari wrote:Good to see you back at it.
Hold on a just a minute.How the hell did you get home so fast???. :yikes: :muhaha:
1979 Malibu drag race only car
1999 Sonoma 4.3 5 speed-Rufus
1989 Astro-Ole Yellar cancelled-still selling off parts
1985 Astro-shop van R.I.P. my friend
1994 Astro LT RWD W4.3 rod knock RIP
1982 Winnebago single rear wheel-Chevy 350 Scraped 1/28/13-broken dreams......


Rochester,NY
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HPbyStan
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Re: Astro "El Camino" and other neat stuff,,,,

Post by HPbyStan »

Smiliesafari wrote:Good to see you back at it.
Thanks Skip. The thing was in storage all winter and I was beginning to think it twas never going to warm up. Last year there were many 70+ degree days in March but this year I've still had the heat on in the house till this week.
'04 White AWD Astro cargo
'00 Astro / El Camino
'61 BSA Super Rocket
'71 BSA B50 engine in a '67 C25 250 chassis
Impossible is just a degree of difficulty....
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Topic author
HPbyStan
I sleep in my van
Posts: 601
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:15 am
Location: Janesville, Wis

Re: Astro "El Camino" and other neat stuff,,,,

Post by HPbyStan »

Today I got the inner tailgate mods all but done. I can draw up the outer skin plans for A&A Sheet Metal to do the skin in 20 gauge sheet now. The "build" part of this Astro-mino project is finally nearing the end. I think finish body work is in my near future. One more thing to learn.
http://s296.photobucket.com/user/HPbySt ... all&page=1
'04 White AWD Astro cargo
'00 Astro / El Camino
'61 BSA Super Rocket
'71 BSA B50 engine in a '67 C25 250 chassis
Impossible is just a degree of difficulty....
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Topic author
HPbyStan
I sleep in my van
Posts: 601
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:15 am
Location: Janesville, Wis

Re: Astro "El Camino" and other neat stuff,,,,

Post by HPbyStan »

HPbyStan wrote:Today I got the inner tailgate mods all but done. I can draw up the outer skin plans for A&A Sheet Metal to do the skin in 20 gauge sheet now. The "build" part of this Astro-mino project is finally nearing the end. I think finish body work is in my near future. One more thing to learn.
http://s296.photobucket.com/user/HPbySt ... all&page=1
Just added pics of the working backup camera. Mirror image but at least you can tell something is back there.
'04 White AWD Astro cargo
'00 Astro / El Camino
'61 BSA Super Rocket
'71 BSA B50 engine in a '67 C25 250 chassis
Impossible is just a degree of difficulty....
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Topic author
HPbyStan
I sleep in my van
Posts: 601
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:15 am
Location: Janesville, Wis

Re: Astro "El Camino" and other neat stuff,,,,

Post by HPbyStan »

I got the tailgate skin roughed in today. It didn't go just to plan but the end result is pretty close considering my near total lack of body shop type tools. As always, a short note under the pics. Tks for lookin, Stan

GOOD GRIEF, PHOTOBUCKET IS GETTING SOOO SCREWED UP I'M ABOUT READY TO THROW IN THE TOWEL. PLEASE GO TO THE 1ST POST ON THIS THREAD AND CLICK ON THE LINK THERE.THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE, STAN
'04 White AWD Astro cargo
'00 Astro / El Camino
'61 BSA Super Rocket
'71 BSA B50 engine in a '67 C25 250 chassis
Impossible is just a degree of difficulty....
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Smiliesafari
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Re: Astro "El Camino" and other neat stuff,,,,

Post by Smiliesafari »

Lookin' good, Stan. Thanks for the update.
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
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Topic author
HPbyStan
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Re: Astro "El Camino" and other neat stuff,,,,

Post by HPbyStan »

Added a couple more pics. 2 are of the cure for '96 to at least '00 Astro cold feet in the winter. By at least '02-'05 there is an easy 2 piece retro fit to warm those toes right up in winter and cool them in summer. The other pic is my "fix" for turning off the Brake & ABS lights on a late model Astro that doesn't let you change the bulbs. Also in the pic are the Blue Dash bulbs that I like. Short notes under the pics.
Again, please go the the 1st post on this thread and click on THAT link. Why we have to do that is a mystery to me,,, but that can be said of a lot of stuff these days.
'04 White AWD Astro cargo
'00 Astro / El Camino
'61 BSA Super Rocket
'71 BSA B50 engine in a '67 C25 250 chassis
Impossible is just a degree of difficulty....
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Topic author
HPbyStan
I sleep in my van
Posts: 601
Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:15 am
Location: Janesville, Wis

Re: Astro "El Camino" and other neat stuff,,,,

Post by HPbyStan »

Still puttering around with the Astro-mino. Progress has been a bit slow this year for several reasons, not the least of which is it's more fun to drive it now than work on it.
For some reason we have to click on the link on the 1st post to this thread to get to the Photobucket pictures. I apologize for the hassle but the "improved" photobucket isn't as user friendly to a computer putz like myself as it was.
'04 White AWD Astro cargo
'00 Astro / El Camino
'61 BSA Super Rocket
'71 BSA B50 engine in a '67 C25 250 chassis
Impossible is just a degree of difficulty....
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