Parts We Trust
Recommended Parts
Nothing on this page is theoretical. Every part is bolted to our Astro and has been tested on real gravel.
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Cooling
Recommended
Stant SuperStat Thermostat
Stant 45359
195°F OEM-spec thermostat for the 4.3L. Used in our [cooling repair](/blog/astro-thermostat-cooling-system-repair).
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Recommended
Stant Radiator Cap
16 PSI OEM-spec cap. A weak cap lets coolant boil at a lower temp.
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Recommended
Upper + Lower Radiator Hoses
OEM-spec Gates or ACDelco hoses. Do them together.
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Emissions
Recommended
O2 Sensor Spacer (M18×1.5)
With mini-catalyst. Solved our P0420 — see [Chapter 7](/blog/o2-sensor-spacer-install-astro).
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Ignition
Recommended
ACDelco Ignition Kit
Cap, rotor, wires, plugs — set. Part of the [mechanical baseline](/blog/astro-mechanical-baseline).
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Suspension
Recommended
JOR 5" Lift Kit (AS-2WD5SUPVAN)
AS-2WD5SUPVAN
2WD-specific coil-spring spacers. The kit that finally made this van work off pavement.
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Drivetrain
Recommended
Eaton Detroit Truetrac LSD
Helical-gear limited-slip differential. Adds real off-pavement traction without the noise of a locker.
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Recovery
Recommended
Smittybilt X2O Gen 2 10,000 lb Winch
98510
Synthetic rope, wireless remote. Runs behind our [hidden winch bumper](/blog/hidden-winch-bumper-build).
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Charging
Recommended
GM AD244 145A Alternator
Higher-output alternator to support winch + house electrical draw.
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Interior
Recommended
HushMat Sound Deadening
Butyl-based sound deadening for floor, doors, and wheel wells.
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