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Re: Clean Francine - 2000 Astro LS
kursed #748066 May 06th 2019 12:18 pm
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,692
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Glad to see you're out enjoying it.

How do you like those Dutch doors on the rear? Always an interesting design, I thought. Nothing else quite like them in the van world.

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Re: Clean Francine - 2000 Astro LS
Dyno_Dave #748069 May 06th 2019 12:54 pm
Joined: Jan 2014
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Originally Posted by Dyno_Dave
Glad to see you're out enjoying it.

How do you like those Dutch doors on the rear? Always an interesting design, I thought. Nothing else quite like them in the van world.


I'm loving them so far. It has been handy to just pop the top hatch and drop items in, so you don't have to slam the rear hatch shut to squeeze everything in if that makes sense. Very packing friendly.


[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]
Re: Clean Francine - 2000 Astro LS
kursed #748242 May 10th 2019 6:41 am
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Got the new power window motor and the new door lock actuator installed yesterday. Also got the new speakers in place. I was so cooked from several days in the sun, I forgot to take very many pictures of the progress, but I'll share what I can.

So the Memphis 1" tweeters I ordered from eBay arrived. Darn if that box doesn't look huge for a pair of 1" tweeters right?

[Linked Image]

Yeah, that's a big box because the Amazon seller sent me a whole case of them. lol I just re-read the Amazon description, and there is nothing in there to indicate you are purchasing 10 SETS of 1" tweeters. LMFAO! Oh well, I have extras now.

[Linked Image]

So the factory tweeters have a female pigtail you can clip off, but the factory door speakers female socket is soldered directly to the speaker. I have a very nice soldering station, but still didn't want to fiddle with trying to wire to the socket direct, so I stopped back by the stereo shop and he had packages of two female pigtails ready to go. I also mistakenly grabbed 5.25" door speakers, but when I pulled them I realized they were 6.5" speakers. So while I was at the stereo shop, I grabbed some "Power Bass" brand (first I had heard of them) 6.5" speakers for cheap.

Old factory tweeter

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

Notice the disc that the tweeter is mounted in. I couldn't find an easy way of getting it out of that disc without damaging either, so I just used clear packaging tape to hold the new one firmly in it's place. I will say I'm very impressed with the new Power Bass brand speaker, it sounds great.

[Linked Image]

Here is the factory socket attached to the 6.5" speakers.

[Linked Image]

And the new pigtails I got to remedy that issue.

[Linked Image]

I'm satisfied with all the parts I've used for this job, so I'll link them in case anyone else needs some.

DOOR PANEL CLIPS

POWER WINDOW MOTOR

POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR

I also picked up a "Blue Driver" brand bluetooth transmitter for OBDII diagnostics and logging. I'll review it in a separate thread though.


[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]
Re: Clean Francine - 2000 Astro LS
kursed #748689 May 21st 2019 3:13 pm
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Cleaned and painted the Reese hitch receiver. Paint was supposed to be a hammered finish, doesn't look very hammered to me, but I hosed it on anyway. Nice and shiny now, no more crusty rust.

Attached Files
20190521_113540.jpg (379.5 KB, 121 downloads)
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20190521_141610.jpg (409.18 KB, 117 downloads)
Last edited by kursed; May 21st 2019 3:14 pm.

[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]
Re: Clean Francine - 2000 Astro LS
kursed #749124 May 31st 2019 2:34 pm
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Got the little ladies (Jasmine is 14, Miakota "Mia" for short is 13) out yesterday and worked with them on installing the trailer wiring and hitch receiver. Taught them how to test the wiring from the factory harness, solder and shrink tube the connections, and remove the rear bumper, then lastly install the hitch receiver.

The original inner bumper reinforcement is rotten pretty bad, so we ordered a new one, and will re-install the bumper once it arrives. Broke one Stanley socket wrench in the process, but overall they had a great time learning, and I had a great time teaching. Going to need help getting the wiring bracket mounted to the receiver as my drill just wasn't cutting it today.

Attached Files
20190531_105556.jpg (386.78 KB, 107 downloads)
20190531_111105.jpg (357.68 KB, 106 downloads)
20190531_111059.jpg (408.49 KB, 104 downloads)
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20190531_115733.jpg (363.07 KB, 106 downloads)
20190531_115742.jpg (374.7 KB, 106 downloads)

[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]
Re: Clean Francine - 2000 Astro LS
kursed #749152 June 01st 2019 1:35 pm
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 12,107
Likes: 37
Maniac
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Originally Posted by kursed
Got the little ladies (Jasmine is 14, Miakota "Mia" for short is 13) out yesterday and worked with them on installing the trailer wiring and hitch receiver. Taught them how to test the wiring from the factory harness, solder and shrink tube the connections, and remove the rear bumper, then lastly install the hitch receiver.

The original inner bumper reinforcement is rotten pretty bad, so we ordered a new one, and will re-install the bumper once it arrives. Broke one Stanley socket wrench in the process, but overall they had a great time learning, and I had a great time teaching. Going to need help getting the wiring bracket mounted to the receiver as my drill just wasn't cutting it today.



Excellent! Neither you nor they will ever regret the quality time you spent teaching them how to be self sufficient. Good job!


Windows- they're what make a van worth owning!
Re: Clean Francine - 2000 Astro LS
Reed #749162 June 01st 2019 8:12 pm
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Originally Posted by Reed
Excellent! Neither you nor they will ever regret the quality time you spent teaching them how to be self sufficient. Good job!


Thanks man. They are always eager to learn. They love learning all sorts of things. I'm very blessed to have 3 amazing kiddos for sure.


[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]
Re: Clean Francine - 2000 Astro LS
kursed #750405 July 08th 2019 6:33 pm
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Front brake pads and rotors are done. Right side pads were cracked and missing a chunk, probably causing the pedal vibration. Kept the old rotors in case I can find someone local to turn them for me. Driver side has a fairly new caliper and hose already. The girls did a great job on their first brake job (13 & 14). Front and rear shocks tomorrow. Forgot to grab pics of the new rotors and stuff, but they're working great. Might grab pics of that tomorrow while doing the shocks.

Attached Files
20190708_132309.jpg (306.42 KB, 80 downloads)
20190708_164519.jpg (377.89 KB, 80 downloads)
20190708_164540.jpg (333.84 KB, 81 downloads)

[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]
Re: Clean Francine - 2000 Astro LS
kursed #750455 July 09th 2019 5:44 pm
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Started off the morning teaching the girls how to bleed the brakes, they are nice and solid now. Then removed the old rear shocks and installed a set of Monroe Load Adjust rear coil overs. Hard to tell in the comparison picture, but we gained about 2". Pretty sure the leaf springs are weak as well, so they will be on the short list as well. HUGE improvement in ride as the old shocks were well past garbage. True test will be in a few days with the 6'x12' utility trailer loaded down and all the kiddos in their seats. So far I'm very pleased with the new shocks. Picked up the front shocks today on the way home, will hopefully install those tomorrow.

Attached Files
20190709_144250.jpg (370 KB, 69 downloads)
20190709_132141.jpg (325.97 KB, 69 downloads)
20190709_144238.jpg (363.61 KB, 68 downloads)
20190709_145105.jpg (319.5 KB, 69 downloads)
692019173252.jpg (343.58 KB, 70 downloads)

[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]
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