Thread: Bad Ast Astro Van Build

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Here are few pics of the wire spool I made to hold all of the wire I got.
http://images59.fotki.com/v684/photo...MVC016F-vi.jpg
This is pretty simple as it's only a heavy cardboard tube with dividers made from heavy cardbooard and hotglued in place... A scrap of 5/4 deck board made the base.
http://images55.fotki.com/v268/photo...MVC018F-vi.jpg
I put hooks in this and it hangs right over my wiring bench so the wire is easy to reach and stays out of the way.
Here are some pics of the battery box. The rear most position just isn't good because it's way to high in the van.
http://images107.fotki.com/v159/phot...MVC005F-vi.jpg
I thought about putting it in the floor in front of the passenger side wheel tub but that is a lot of work for no real gain. Also it would be in the way of my planned exhaust routing.
http://images49.fotki.com/v855/photo...MVC002F-vi.jpg
I've made up my mind to put it up front. Centered in the frame as low as I can get it yet keep it above the bottom of the lower frame tube.
http://images23.fotki.com/v859/photo...MVC018F-vi.jpg
It will be sitting fairly low and will not even see the radiator. This is also going to simplfy the wiring by leaps and bounds! No huge mass of cables running front to back now.
Mark

Things are moving slowly on the van. I have been working on another "project" and the fall weather is making me take care of some "around the house" projects.
I have gotten a couple things done though. I ended up ordering some chromed pulleys from Jegs. Just to get the front dressed out and let me finish the alternator brackets. The pulleys needed a bit of work to get them tofit right but I did that last week and got the alt brackets done over the weekend.
I made the mounting studs from 3/8-16 threaded rod. Cut two to length and threaded them into the aluminum head as far as they would go. I will pull them out and put a little anti-sieze on them for final assembly. I will probably put some acorn nuts on them to clean them up.
http://images109.fotki.com/v144/phot...00_5268-vi.jpg
Here is a creen shot of my UG file for the bracket design... Looks pretty close doesn't it?
http://images55.fotki.com/v585/photo...RNATOR1-vi.jpg
I used 1" dia aluminum to make the spacers. Bored them out on the lathe and put a nice polish on them after I faced them to length.
http://images107.fotki.com/v159/phot...00_5271-vi.jpg
The brackets will get sand blasted and powder coated black after I smooth out the edges.
The pulleys will get the motor running and drivable but I plan to upgrade them to polished aluminum when the van is on it's way to completion.
http://images59.fotki.com/v683/photo...00_5267-vi.jpg
I have a chromed fan and pulley for the alt and am waiting on the power steering pulley to show up.
Mark

hey looks good by the way can you flip the alt bracket so it closer to the water pump if so i bet you could sell a bunch of them or at least one been some time was thinking at last ride may he done you in

Neat stuff Mark, I especially like the engine brackets!

Hi Pat, Hi Dave,
The alt bracket was designed to keep it low on the engine so it will clear the passenger side floor and engine cover. I looked at pulling it in closer to the engine but, if it was any closer, then you start running into the lower water pump outlet. I couldn't pull it up because of the mounting bracket itself.
Thanks
Mark

Originally Posted by astroracer

Hi Pat, Hi Dave,
The alt bracket was designed to keep it low on the engine so it will clear the passenger side floor and engine cover. I looked at pulling it in closer to the engine but, if it was any closer, then you start running into the lower water pump outlet. I couldn't pull it up because of the mounting bracket itself.
Thanks
Mark

yes i know you need it to work the way you have it but i was looking at the bracket to work closer to the water pump . more close to the top of the head next to the upper part of pump .if you had the print i could have it cut out for my use or i just lay one out like i have with cardboad

Let me look at the bracket tonight. It may work if it is turned upside down with the adjuster at the top. It will probably be real close to the pump outlet but it may fit. If it does I may run it like that.
If it works like that, and you can use it as is, I can have a set laser cut for you.
Mark

Originally Posted by astroracer

Let me look at the bracket tonight. It may work if it is turned upside down with the adjuster at the top. It will probably be real close to the pump outlet but it may fit. If it does I may run it like that.
If it works like that, and you can use it as is, I can have a set laser cut for you.
Mark

please do not go to far out of you way on it. but if it would fit i would have a use for one Thanks

This thing is killer, Mark! I'm doing everything I can to not go on Craigslist and find an Astro and a big block!

Originally Posted by falconvan

This thing is killer, Mark! I'm doing everything I can to not go on Craigslist and find an Astro and a big block!

Do it!!!! I feel so alone....
Finding the Astro would easy and the BBC even easier.... I have a couple for and you know Mr. McCarthy can supply you with anything you need...
And thank you for the kudo's, I'm glad you like the van.

Not a problem Bud, you know that... I will check it out tonight and, if I need to do any tweaks to the CAD model, I can do that this weekend and probably have them cut next week. I was just out talking to my laser guy and they aren't real busy so it shouldn't be an issue. He has some other parts to do for me so this will get him in gear.
Besides, this will give me a good excuse to come up for a visit.

It sure looks like it would work fliped over. Good easy design MORE nice work

Originally Posted by cffisher

It sure looks like it would work fliped over. Good easy design MORE nice work

That's what I'm thinking Charlie. Even if it only needs a little work it will make for a more compact package. That's what I need as well as Pat so, if anyone else can use it, I'll see what I can do to accomodate.
Mark

Very nice work, Mark. The brackets are a clean, attractive design, and most of all designed for function first, appearance second. Some of the vendors out there could take lessons....

Originally Posted by rspears

Very nice work, Mark. The brackets are a clean, attractive design, and most of all designed for function first, appearance second. Some of the vendors out there could take lessons....

Thing is they might