Also, if you want to see a really nice camper on the Astro/Safari platform Google "astro provan tiger camper". Kinda like Vanagons, they have a following and aren't cheap. Jeff Stewart ----- Original Message -----
> Yes, I figured I can probably 'learn' how to manage the Automatic
> transmission a little better than I do so far.. I don't think it will
> ever
> be as controllable as using a clutch and gear lever to actually engage
> any
> gear and match engine speeds to wheel speeds, etc.
> There is a web forum detailing all the possible drive line alterations
> to these vans...the easiest being to swap to the '98> electronic
> module
> controlled AWD that is more of a selectable 4wd and a dual range,
> also.
> With that later system, an improvement on the viscous coupling
> driveline,
> you can have an electronic/vacuum switch or a mechanical pull wire
> switch
> to select 2wd, 4wd or 4wd Lo range.. 4wd/Awd, that is a whole other
> topic... The other often done 'modification' is to find a junkyard
> Blazer
> or S-10 pick up and substitute the drive line components from that,
> since
> the engines and the chassis are plug and play, and those other GM
> parts
> vehicles are common and inexpensive.
> All in all though, I think these vans are OK...
> On Fri, Jul 4, 2014 at 9:55 PM, Dennis Haynes
> <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> > Just like a Syncro the all wheel drive kills the mileage. Especially
> > if
> > pulling a trailer this mileage is about normal. The 2WD versions
> > will do
> > about 18. One of the reasons these vans lost popularity is that the
> > fuel
> > economy is not much lower than the full size vans with the same
> > engine.
> > These vans are almost the Vega of the GM economy vans. Major
> > difference is
> > the engines don’t melt.
> >
> > When you really learn how to drive it you will find that you can
> > have
> > great influence over the shift points with your right foot. As for
> > what
> > sometimes seems like it is shifting excessively you can force off
> > the
> > overdrive by simply moving the shift lever. Same goes for gearing
> > down when
> > descending hills.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> > Behalf
> > Of Don Hanson
> > Sent: Friday, July 4, 2014 10:49 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Friday OT...my Poor Man's Syncro...(AWD GM Safari)
> >
> > I filled the thing up after my first tank of fuel.(holds 27 gallons)
> > and I got just 15mpg. (A 97 AWD (with a viscous coupling just like a
> > Sycnro) Van that I bought recently for two grand because I can't
> > afford
> > $20 grand for a Syncro) Driving it without a "lead foot" and at
> > 65mph
> > average highway....though it's easy to find yourself moving 75 or 80
> > in that
> > van. Not exactly stellar gas mileage, but this one has 237 thousand
> > miles on the original Vortec V-6 and it doesn't burn a drop of oil
> > or sound
> > or feel worn out at all. And I did hook up my 10 Wells Cargo utility
> > trailer with two motorcycles and pull it...Hardly slows the 4.3
> > liter lil'
> > truck down.
> > I will say I very much dislike driving an automatic vehicle now,
> > this
> > being the first automatic shifting vehicle I have had real day to
> > day
> > experience with...The auto tranny just seems like it's working at
> > 'cross-purposes' to what I am trying to do with the van/truck...It
> > wants to
> > keep going fast when I want to slow down, it shifts when it doesn't
> > really
> > have to, there is no anticipation really allowed...It bothers me,
> > I'd
> > rather be selecting all my rpms as I need them, not just "accepting"
> > what
> > this device gives me...I think the auto tranny is one of the major
> > reasons
> > the fuel economy is lower, but they stopped offering manual shifting
> > Astro/Safari vans in 89, I think.
> > The tranny is a GM certified rebuild also and it IS working as well
> > as
> > it should... Gimme my Vanagon 5sp any time....
> >
> > Anyhow, as a Friday topic...there you go..
> >