Lifting my new to me 95 safari on a budget and making it 4wd


Topic author
akforceten
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 66
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:34 pm

Re: Lifting my new to me 95 safari on a budget and making it

Post by akforceten »

Update time : I got the sub frame dome an tires on it .I also got the cylinder heads back from the machine shop so this weekend i get to reassemble them an start on putting the motor together. Of course there is always pics

Image

Image

Image
I know this is not lift related but I thought you all would like it.

Image

Image


Image

Image

Image
ok that's all i got for now
Image

1997 RWD Astro

1995 GMC Safari 4x4 lifted 5"

Topic author
akforceten
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 66
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:34 pm

Re: Lifting my new to me 95 safari on a budget and making it

Post by akforceten »

I got another box in the mail today . it contained headers for a 4.3 l inn a full size chevy truck 96 to 2000. there made by pace setters part# 70-1321 okay here are some pics

Image

Image

Image
Image

1997 RWD Astro

1995 GMC Safari 4x4 lifted 5"

Topic author
akforceten
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 66
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:34 pm

Re: Lifting my new to me 95 safari on a budget and making it

Post by akforceten »

Update: The engine is almost done an in the next two weeks I will be dropping it in the subframe . Then I will be able to see how those headers will really fit .Okay picture time

Image

Image

Image

Image

Well that's it for now.
Image

1997 RWD Astro

1995 GMC Safari 4x4 lifted 5"

Topic author
akforceten
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 66
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:34 pm

Re: Lifting my new to me 95 safari on a budget and making it

Post by akforceten »

Update time : I finished the body spacers today . Sorry this is taking so long but real soon everything will come together.Well here some pics

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image


Image
Image

1997 RWD Astro

1995 GMC Safari 4x4 lifted 5"

Captn. Crunch
I sleep in my van
Posts: 557
Joined: Wed Feb 01, 2012 12:10 pm
Location: southeastern ct
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Lifting my new to me 95 safari on a budget and making it

Post by Captn. Crunch »

Slow and steady wins the race. Nice body mounts-I like your thought prossess. Headers are a PITA but if you wanna run em read markinnh's post in the exhaust forum "cool header idea. I think it's right up your alley. You sure appear to be handy!
Was that the nose of a 70 Chevelle I saw poking into one of your pics? NEVER shoulda let go of my big block SS. Still cry over that one on occasion. Great build. Your doing what almost all of us wish we could do, your doing it right and your doing it all at once. Good on ya!
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

Topic author
akforceten
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 66
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:34 pm

Re: Lifting my new to me 95 safari on a budget and making it

Post by akforceten »

Yes your right its a 70 chevelle belongs to a customer..I do mechanical work at the shop so the owner of the shop lets me work my own stuff with his help sometimes .Thank you for the kind words. I have been doing this on a tight budget an calling in favors
Image

1997 RWD Astro

1995 GMC Safari 4x4 lifted 5"

truC
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 24
Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2015 5:31 pm
Location: Flamborough, Ontario,Canada

Re: Lifting my new to me 95 safari on a budget and making it

Post by truC »

Great work so far, best of luck with the rest of your project. These Van look so much better lifted, even the the 2" lifts make a huge difference.
Life is short, get out and get dirty.

Topic author
akforceten
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 66
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:34 pm

Re: Lifting my new to me 95 safari on a budget and making it

Post by akforceten »

Thank you truC . There is going to be about a two weeks before I can post again . My puter took a beer bath so its getting fixed .using my phone to post is a PITA
Image

1997 RWD Astro

1995 GMC Safari 4x4 lifted 5"

racrx7
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 136
Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2015 1:25 pm
Location: Charleston SC
Has thanked: 1 time

Re: Lifting my new to me 95 safari on a budget and making it

Post by racrx7 »

Looking good. :supz: Do you have a part number for the torsion keys?
O3 Astro 4X4
Image
Dropped front IFS axle
Journeys rear spring hangers and shackles, S-10 leaf springs, 2" body lift
255/70-16 BFG KO2's on 16x8 Fuel Revolvers
User avatar

Stroverlander
I sleep in my van
Posts: 308
Joined: Fri Dec 16, 2011 4:18 pm

Re: Lifting my new to me 95 safari on a budget and making it

Post by Stroverlander »

For '96-ish - up with 1.5" hex, lift torsion key part number is KEY-X-ASTRO-30.

From Airbagit for $90 + s&h

http://www.airbagit.com/product-p/key-x-astro-30.htm

or Ebay user chassis_tech for $54

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KEY-X-ASTRO-30- ... ac&vxp=mtr
2004 Astro LT AWD Stroverlander

Topic author
akforceten
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 66
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:34 pm

Re: Lifting my new to me 95 safari on a budget and making it

Post by akforceten »

here is a long awaited update got my puter back now just need to re hook up internet. as far as the van goes its almost done

Image

here is a teaser pic . I have a ton of pics of everything we did to the van so in about a week or so i will be back online an share everything with you all
Image

1997 RWD Astro

1995 GMC Safari 4x4 lifted 5"

Topic author
akforceten
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 66
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:34 pm

Re: Lifting my new to me 95 safari on a budget and making it

Post by akforceten »

Well i'm done with the van an now i'm driving it all over the place.
The 4 wheel drive works great

Image

Image


I will fill in all the blanks as soon as the modem arrives
Image

1997 RWD Astro

1995 GMC Safari 4x4 lifted 5"

AstroWill
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 163
Joined: Sun Nov 14, 2010 12:09 pm

Re: Lifting my new to me 95 safari on a budget and making it

Post by AstroWill »

NICE! Glad to hear you are out driving it!

Topic author
akforceten
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 66
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:34 pm

Re: Lifting my new to me 95 safari on a budget and making it

Post by akforceten »

Finally i got net going !!!!!!!!
I was able to get the rest of the pics downloaded on to my puter
Image
van is headed to the shop
Image

Image
making the shift lever for T-case
Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
np 233 mated to my trans
Image
add one motor
Image
putting assembly into subframe
Image
painting headers
Image
test fitting headers
Image
Image

1997 RWD Astro

1995 GMC Safari 4x4 lifted 5"

Topic author
akforceten
I get chills without my van.
Posts: 66
Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:34 pm

Re: Lifting my new to me 95 safari on a budget and making it

Post by akforceten »

Ok here we go more pics

Image
tear down time
Image
its out
Image
new stuff going in
Image

Image
headers fit nice
Image
time to build a steering shaftl
Image
all the parts to build a new shaft
Image
new shaft done
Image
exhaust time using the stock exhaust
Image
Image

1997 RWD Astro

1995 GMC Safari 4x4 lifted 5"
Post Reply