Well, did a few things,
1) Decided I am keeping the Astro as a daily driver.
2) replaced the t-stat with a lower temp for the summer months ( last night ).
3) got a "new" used fan clutch and fan to replace the one that died three months ago and installed them.
4) getting a new upper fan shroud for her in AM. . . MAYBE tonight?

Hope she will be happier now and stop trumping at me! Lol.

Today I finally 'installed' the dash mat that I had ordered a few weeks ago, again wrong color, but at least it matches the doghouse I recently painted in the wrong color...

I'm also driving on Liquid Purified Gas since a week or two, I had it installed a few weeks ago with a 70 liter tank bolted to the underside of the Van. This alternative fuel costs about a 1/4 of regular gas with no powerloss, happy !

Replaced oil pan gasket,took it to a cruise-in . Met two other vanners took some pictures and one of them said will post some pictures . people gathered and commented how the vans brought back memories .

I had big plans to work on the van all weekend but we had a fierce storm last night and lost power. They said it might not come back for 3-4 days!!!!!

Lee hope you get the power back on as soon as possible,the only saving grace is it is summer,GOOD LUCK!

Today I repaired my fiberglass visor had a large crack from cross wind from 18 wheeler. If I keep fixing things I may not want to sell it .

Now your getting the idea....

polished the gas tank. Bill

Finally got my van back, stayed at my grandmothers so my mother had to take the van for a couple days. Well, last time I had the van it didn't make any noise and well today the torque converter is making it's wonderful whine noise. Back in December when I rebuilt the transmission I replaced the converter and I was skeptical of the converter because it was painted and just didn't seem like a quality part but when you have limited money you have to get what you can. Well for the last oh I don't know maybe month I have noticed issues with shifts and with engine braking, didn't always want to engine brake and sometimes the van will roll backwards on a incline, even slight inclines. On top of all that when I would be driving in 4th gear and then gun it I would notice a shudder before the downshift which would be the TCC disengage, common for that shudder but for a long time never had shudder then all of a sudden on the highway I had to get going and bam-o shudder. All leading to the torque converter...
I checked to determine if it's really the torque converter and not something like the axle by putting the parking brake on and just touching the gas pedal and it only whines in forward gears and reverse, not in neutral or park.

Also about the converter, it was painted by the manufacture and there was some paint run off that collected on the converter so that probably threw the balance off, the second I saw the bad paint job I was like "ehh it's gonna shake."

Well the good news to all of this, IT'S UNDER WARRANTY! yippppeeeeee


But all that out of the way, today I drove my van to the local pepboys (only auto store close enough). I hadn't any intentions of really buying anything, but I bought some nice snap-on gloves because I am going to be replacing leaf springs next month and now going to be replacing the torque converter so I said ah why not some gloves. While waiting in line to pay there was a elderly gentleman who was looking at R134a for his Ford, I told him if he wanted to save money he could purchase the small 12oz cans. He said he needed the can tap and the manifold and of course being the mechanic I am, I travel with all my tools. So I said I had my manifold and can tap and would be more than happy to fill his system. He wasn't interested, but right after I paid for the gloves he asked me if I had my manifold and about how much refrigerant would he need, I told him that I would have to hookup my gauge and check the system pressure. So he said ok! I went ahead filled up his A/C system and he gave me 20 bucks and a bottle of some fuel additive.

Then I went back to the apartment and sprayed some WD-40 on the shackle bolts and removed the shackle bolts cleaned them with WD and then torqued them back on 45 ft-lbs. I did this just to clean the treads so when I go back to replace the springs they will come off cleanly. I actually wanted to find out if they were even going to come off without breaking and sure enough, they came off fine!

Have 500 miles left on my oil, goes fast!

But this is my list of repairs I have to do when I get back home... *disgruntled*

Replace leaky filler tube
Replace broken side door latch (lock mech)
Replace leaf springs, plates, u-bolts, bushings, etc...
Replace Torque Converter
Motor Oil/Filter Change
Need to fill side doors with R11 or equiv insulation (missing insulation)
Clean inside and outside of van (dog hair, blood, odor, damn...)
Dog ripped a plated shade so going to have to find one

One trip and damage is already adding up!

Wish me luck guys, I need it.

This is why NO ONE borrows my van. Good luck.