Astro/Safari Van Generations
While there are only 2 main body styles, 85-94 and 95-05, there were other significant changes that justify segregating into more generations.
1st Gen is 85-94 (4.3l 4300 V6 or the less common 2.5l Engine available from 85-90, T-5 Manual option through 89, 4spd manual through 87)
1.5 Gen 95 (4.3lV6, a bastardized year with a mix of 1st(interior) and 2nd Gen(exterior))
2nd Gen is 96-2002 (Vortec 4.3l Engine, new body style, 99 and up PT-Transfer Case)
3rd Gen is 2003-2005 (MPFI, part time AWD, larger front brakes, rear disks, 16"-6lug wheels, no EGR, larger diameter front axles)
Astro/Safari History/Changes:
1984 The first A/S van rolled off of the Broening Highway General Motors Plant(Baltimore Assembly Plant) on September 13, 1984
1985 First model year, carburetor, 17Gal fuel tank (100,000th A/S van produced on July 18th)
1986 First year for Throttle Body Injection(TBI), Serpentine belt drive on 4.3, optional 27gal fuel tank
1987 Serpentine belt drive on 2.5 and 4.3 engines, (500,000th M van produced August 17)
1988 Anti-corrosion improvements, last year for cable driven speedometer
1989 Last year for manual transmission, first year for extended body, rear wheel anti-lock, electronic speedometer, 27Gal metal fuel tank, (1,000,000th A/S Van produced)
1990 AWD option, Hydroboost brake booster, four wheel anti-lock on passenger vans, new dash, last year for 2.5L engine
1991 More powerful engine option LU2 on RWD, NHTSA safety rating of 1 star(out of 5 possible), lap/shoulder belts on outboard seats
1992 Dutch door(liftgate) option introduced, Optional L35(CPI) engine introduced
1993 4l60e electronic automatic transmission introduced, ScotchGuard fabric, last year of R-12 refrigerant, 100mph speedometer
1994 Driver side airbag std, side door beams, last year for non-extended body, first year for R-134a refrigerant, 3rd brake light added, 4WAL Std on cargo
1995 Front-end redesigned, composite headlights on LT and CL trims, 4.3 liter 190 hp V6 engine becomes standard, All models are extended length, Last year for fiberglass composite leaf springs(optional), (2,000,000th A/S van produced)
1996 New interior, Passenger side airbag, Steel leaf springs standard, Engine improved('vortec' style heads), SCPI, 25gal fuel tank, single key
1997 Daytime running lamps added, speed sensitive steering introduced, HomeLink
1998 Next generation airbags, Last year for BW4472 full time AWD, passlock system standard, improved clearcoat, updated transmission
1999 Part-time automatic AWD with NV136, optional running boards, overhead console std on LS and LT trims, last year for 5pass seating
2000 Smoother/quieter engine, battery rundown protection, auto headlights std, retained accessory power, Child Safety Seat Top Strap Anchors, NHTSA three-star (driver) and four-star (passenger) safety rating, plastic 27gal plastic tank, flash to pass, tow/haul mode
2001 Tilt/cruise-CD-RKE-PW-PD-PM became std passenger models, eliminated liftgate/hatch dome light switch
2002 Removed EGR valve, last year for 15inch 5 lug wheels, RKE for cargo, MPFI. (3,000,000th A/S van produced on May 7th)
2003 Larger brakes/wheels(16inch 6lug)/tires/axles, rear disk brakes, aluminum wheels standard on LS/LT, improved cabin safety(smoother surfaces and energy absorbing foam) FMVSS 201, Dynamic Rear Proportioning FMVSS 135
2004 Not a damn thing changed
2005 Falling sales, and new side impact/head injury federal standards on the way, GM determined that it wasn't worth a redesign. A/S vans were taken out of production May 14, 2005 after a production run of ~3.2million
The Last Astro/Safari van off of the line was this white GMC Safari cargo:
1GTDL19X558509740 last vin?