Ford AEROSTAR Sitting 20 Years Will It Run? Or Scrap It? - NNKH
Little mechanical adventure vlog on this free Ford Aerostar I picked up in Philly. Will It Run and SHOULD it be saved?
*EDIT: I was told it was a 1997, but you guys pointed out in the comments that its probably more like an '89 to '92. For several reasons like the like of airbags and sealed beam headlights. THANKS! I probably should have just checked the 10th digit on VIN.
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Back around 2003 I loaned a guy $250. He never could come up with the money to pay me back so eventually he offered me a 1988 Aerostar which I took. I cleaned it up and got it running. Ran great for years. I then gave it to my daughter in 2008. She and her boyfriend pulled out the 2nd and 3rd row seats and made it into sort of a hippy camper and they traveled the east coast from Miami to Virginia hitting all the best surfing spots. When they finished their adventure she sold it for $500. And it still ran fine.
Good motors in those
Hmmm.....the transmissions were notorious for breaking down.
@@mountainman5025 since 1991 I’ve owned 4 Taurus , 3 Explorers, an Aspire, and 3 F150s (and the Aerostar). With the exception of a blown motor on my 1994 Taurus wagon ( under warranty) I’ve never had a catastrophic issue with any of my Fords. I’m still driving an F150 today.
@@robertneblett4477 Well, I sure have but I still keep buying them.
@mountainman5025 Yep, the A4LDs were pieces of crap. My '90 Aerostar went to the scrapyard after my father borrowed it and killed the trans for the second time. My '91 Ranger also needed a trans swap during it's life.
That Aerostar brought back memories, my first dealership job was at a Ford dealership in 1987 and since I wasn’t on commission I had to do all the 3.OL main bearing bolt recalls. Good times for a 18 year old kid
Very good time
Haha. Those engines were bulletproof tho. Much better than the one year only 2.8l the Aerostar debuted with. Funny thing about the 3.0l Vulcan in the Aerostar was that it was the only platform Ford used it in a RWD (longitudinal) configuration. So it's accessories, brackets, mounts, etc were unique to Aerostar only.
@@LynxStarAuto They really are good engines, I’ve used to love working on them back then.
😢im glad u junked dat peice of crap.😎
@@LynxStarAuto My ford ranger has the 3.0l vulcan.
Aluminum driveshaft was a common swap into the fox body mustang. Also, the vans that had the 8.8 rear end came with a Detroit locker. Also a huge upgrade to the mustangs. Used to be great junkyard finds 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 good video as always Chris
The driveshaft has to be from an AWD van in order to work in a Fox.
So true. I remember that.
Owned a '87 Aerostar right off the Ford lot until 1998 when it had over 300K miles. A great value for our family until I scrapped it too. Keep the "Will It Run" sessions coming!
My brother bought one with the 4.0 automatic with dual air and it was a solid $1500 investment probably 15 years ago. Drove that van everywhere and got 20 mpg. A shame nobody saw the value especially with the minimal amount of rust on the frame. I owned a1996 Taurus with the 3.0 and it ran flawlessly. Brings back many fond memories.
I freakin' love these videos! Even if things don't work out, it's seems like one of the more genuine channels. Keep 'em coming.
بس شب٣نو قبل للققش
Winch in the garage floor is one of the best things I've ever did. Already used it many times to get them non-running rides to my lift.
Shame no one wanted that! They were great vehicles and pretty reliable back in the day. Enjoying your videos, keep up up the great work
I had the pleasure of driving a 1987 Aerostar to deliver lost luggage for Northwest Airlines. It was brand new and fully loaded. I loved the cruise, air, tilt & lumbar support. The transportation company was in the airport, and I also got to drive a loaded custom 15 passenger van, a Seville, Lincoln Town Car, 2 54" stretched Cadillac limo's & a Chrysler Mini stretched limo.
"I had the pleasure of driving a 1987 Aerostar" That's the first time those words have ever been said.
Hi your the reason I started my mechanic career
Ouch
my dad worked 30 years for interstate battery. when i was in high school i used to run hot shot deliveries for them after school and we had a aerostar with the 4.0 ranger engine. they had it painted up like the labonte nascar. what a unit! they eventually switched to a lumina van when the race team switched to monte carlos. must have been 96 or 97. this brought back memories. great video
FYI this isn't a '97. By '97, the Aerostar had a different grille and composite headlights with replaceable bulbs instead of sealed-beams, and there was a newer, more rounded dashboard with a driver-side airbag. All of those changes took effect for 1992. This would be from between 1989 and 1991 -- extended length but older dashboard. Ford was going to replace it with the Windstar, but it stuck around for two more years due to popular demand. It was discontinued after 1997 because of new safety standards that would have cost more than Ford wanted to spend.
This has to be pre 95 because of lack of airbags and composite headlights.
I was gonna say the same. The last years had a column shift, not the floor shift. The floor was early production. Guessing he meant 87.
@@matthewc3120 But the extended length didn't come out until 1989. This is a 1989-1991 model.
Incorrect.
@@aaroncrutchfield1775looks like a 91. Same color scheme as I my parents had growing up.
You have the BEST videos, Jen and Chris! The mix, the attitude, the filming, the drone shots, the content. You're firing on all 8 cylinders and watching you puts me in a better place... thank you. Too bad there were no nibbles on the Aerostar. I drove one of those once into JFK to pick up a friend and I must admit, I was happy that I was just driving it for a friend. A solid vehicle for sure - kinda reminds me the way a Pinto drove. Anyway, now I am rambling. Thanks again! Can't wait to see your next installment!
Hello 👋
Thank you, Sam! We appreciate it ❤
Killer drone shots at the end if this one...Love it!
@@clarencewiles963 - Hey there, Clarence! See you tomorrow, God willing!
Dude😂 I laughed pretty hard when the van started falling off the fork truck. That guy has a nice salvage setup. Great video, I’m glad you got it running.
My family had two of these over the years. Definitely some nostalgia there. This one is most definitely an 80's to at the newest 1991. In 92 the dash changed to a rounded dash, and they also added a driver side air bag.
Bought a '97 Aerostar, 4 liter, all wheel drive for 200 dollars from a guy that does custom work for us on our farm. That was back in 2011. All 4 springs were snapped 😳. It was also the extended version with the aluminum driveshaft. I replaced the back 2 springs with new ones from the auto parts store. New ones for the front are unavailable. Nearly impossible to find used unbroken also. Finally found a pair at a local yard. Used this van for nearly 4 years and drove it literally every day. Had a trailer hitch and hauled 2 round bales at a time from 12 miles away until all 102 bales were hauled. Hauled barn lime and always a full load. Hit a pothole with my normal full load and whole body bent in the middle as the thing was so fricking rotten. Transmission literally pulled out of the rotten frame so much that the fan pushed into the radiator and wouldn't turn. Sold it to a scrapper for 400 dollars. 😊😊
Oh man...we had a 96 Extended Aerostar AWD with the 4.0L. Loved that van! Like driving a brick but it did amazing in winter. I hope Turbo feels better soon!
Oh man now this takes me back. This is what I learned to drive in back in '98.
I personally have absolutely NO desire to fool with another Aerostar EVER again. My dad had 3 of them *at the SAME time* and I was the one tasked with the repairs and maintenance of them. He had two 1989s and one 1993. The 3.0L V6 engines ran like a top, but the automatic transmissions (2WD A4LD for the 3.0L) were all *hot garbage* in these Aerostars. I had to replace the transmission in my dad's 1993 van no less than *three* times. The one in this video was *NOT* a 1997, but more like a 1989 to 1991. The later Aerostars had the blue oval in the top groove of the grille, not the center like on the one featured here. In 1986, the standard engine was not the 3.0L V6, but the old "Pinto" 2.3L inline 4 cylinder. That 4 cylinder in an Aerostar made it take a *very* long time to get going to the point of moving faster than molasses would pour of of the jar in the dead of winter in Fargo, ND, if said jar were left outside for a week.
Back in the ‘80’s my friend and I each had ‘88 mustangs that we would take SCCA racing on sundays. We would prep them at home, switching to sticky BFG R1 compound tires, and adjusting camber and toe, then load them on our trailers. I towed with a lowered ‘’86 Chevy crew cab dually, but he towed with his speed shop’s delivery Ford Aerostar. I was getting around 9 mpg while he was doing just fine and getting around 14. That little Aerostar impressed me a lot!
Back about 1990, I drove an Aerostar for a flower delivery job. I liked it. Mike in Oregon
Hey bro. I could watch ur videos all ll day long. I wish u posted twice a day but I kno that's impossible. Keep the interesting projects coming. Now an Aerostar? That's sick bro. Much love from 🇨🇦 🍁 🇨🇦 😊
13:39 you don't have a 97 there :) For 92 they changed the nose in an update from sealed beam headlights to flush mounted composite lights with the bulbs replaced from behind the plastic housing. They also got a standard driver airbag in 92 so the wheel would be different than what you have. Nice vid I love your content!
Yep. That van is a pre-92. Another tale tell sign you have a face lifted model, is ford moved the emblem from the center to the top slat of the grille. Also the lower portion of the driver dash is different on 96-97 vans due to OBD 2.
85 to 88 had the truck mirrors with Aerostar name on front fenders with a metal grille. 89 to 91 which is what that one could be in the video had that front. 92 to 97 was last facelift with plastic headlights and updated grille and interior with new dashboard
Yup, prob a 91. No way it would have 185K being driven from 97 to only 2004 unless it was a rental used cross-country each week lol!
@@WildBill236 id say a 91 also having the 3.0V6. My Dad's was a 90 and the engine barely made 100k so must've been the 85-90 older V6 that was offered that was the more troublesome in those years cause his would frequently break down on us. He paid $7 grand for it in 93 was bought from a leasing company and was beat on prior to us owning it! Think it had close to 50k on it too! Was a stripped down base model manual everything with no AC even! He was happy at the time cause he finally got a minivan during the 90s minivan craze LOL me and my siblings and friends referred to it as the Turtle Van from TMNT because being kids we loved Ninja Turtles at the time! Good Ol Memories. Now I'm 37 miss when I was only 7 had no work to worry about just school and coming home to play with my Sega Genesis and my Power Rangers/ Ninja Turtles action figures haha.
@@mattmaverick703 Nice! We were never a Ford family, always Dodge minivans. We got our 92 Caravan in 97, had 3 more since. Im 32 now, yep everyone had a minivan, in every make and condition! Here in WNY we drove them to rust dust lol.
Just can’t put in to words how much I enjoy your vids. Even though the van was a flop, I think you did it right pulling it from its previous grave. Thanks for the great content! …nice intro/outro
The Zero fan is named after how many fingers you have left after using it.
I’ve been locked into your videos all week, amazing content and incredible knowledge I’m very envious, but today I’ve skipped ahead to this video and your garage look’s awesome you must be very pleased with the new work space, your video’s are inspiring I want an old American car in my garage now! Keep up the good work and thank you
My dad had a 92 one and we used it for many vacations. We took out the back seat and I'd spread all my toys out and play while we drove. Great memories.
As read from a 1993 Readers Digest I found in a Dusty corner of a abandoned part of the plant in which I work at. "Aerostar can haul six kids to school in the morning and turn around and tow a two-ton boat to the lake at night. It's also capable of providing for the comfort and safety of its occupants on a full-time basis. New this year are optional integrated child safety seats that actually incorporate a 5 point belt system. There's a driver side air bag to supplement lap and shoulder restraints. Every outer seat has a 3-point safety harness. Rear anti-lock brakes also come standard. And electronic "full-time" four wheel drive is available. What's more, Aerostar offers you a host of amenities in a comfortable interior with available leather seating surfaces. Aerostar from Ford. Designed for your comfort.....and peace of mind."
So glad you used a “that ain’t going nowhere” after your hammer test. Sign of a true man
Agreed! if he had not done that the bolts would have experienced catastrophic failure with the whole machine flying at mach 10 into the engine of the first car it wenched inside
The all wheel drive 4.0 was fun .. both 3.0 and 4.0 were nearly bulletproof.
All 3 engine offerings were bulletproof. The 4 cylinder was the 2.3 Lima engine, same as that found in the Ranger.
I had a 1988 Ford aerostar xl , one of the best vans I ever owned ! The rust you showed in the video is where they all rust or at least mine did. Great van !
Love your videos bud. Down to earth and very detailed. Rockin it. Keep ‘em coming.❤
The Aerostar was built at the Ford St. Louis Assembly Plant. From 1986 till 1997. I was the tire balancer at the time. Extended Cab Version came out in 98.
How could the extended cab come out in 1998 if 97 was the last model year?
I think he meant 88!
How do you extend the cab of a van
@@mmmfloorpie My bad 1989 sorry.
@@JohnMurphy-dw6ml 1989 my bad.
I think they added the Column shifter in 1992 - 93 and the digital dash went away before that. Not sure how that can be a 97. Side note - best videos out there!
I had an extended cargo version aerostar back in the late 80s for a work van. I liked it, good gas mileage and drove really nice. Always reminded me of the space shuttle. Mine was white with a blue interior and I remember the air bag seats.👍
I don't think they had the air bladders on the cargo vans. That was usually on the wagon XLT and up trim
Absolutely love this van. I am all about trying to keep stuff alive. Literally trying to revive a 2000 caravan. Total waste but i think she has more time. Might just be for a scrapper to use but alive none the less. 236k it might last only until it actually hits pavement but i am only hoping for life lol. Awesome vid man.
Yeah, our first legit 'family' vehicle was a '90 Areostar Eddie Bauer edtition. Red with tan interior. Loved that van. The kids cried when we traded up for a town and country in '98, lol. Trans didn't last long in the Chrysler, but the Ford never gave us trouble, except it was pretty gutless in the mountains, haha. Enjoyed this vid!
Grew up riding in a 92 extended Eddie Bauer edition. Pretty hilarious. You never see them on the road anymore
I was just thinking that a couple days ago. You never see them anymore
Love you videos man. Very entertaining and also learn a lot as well about all different kinds of vehicles. Even though this one didn’t go anywhere still watched til the end and it gives the viewers a lil suspense wondering how the vehicle will turn out. Keep them coming best car channel out there.
*EDIT: I was told it was a 1997, but you guys pointed out in the comments that its probably more like an '89 to '92. For several reasons like the like of airbags and sealed beam headlights. THANKS! I probably should have just checked the 10th digit on VIN.
This channel is so great with all mixed but relevant content. Just fun to watch!
Good job mate . you do what you can , its great you doing it as other YT guys wouldnt go there and you teach the young uns about older cool cars too! LOVE your trips to the city anyway!!!
YEP a city full off adiction
I remember those vans well. As a kid growing up in the 80s suburbia, they were plentiful and looked like great vans. Really appreciate the cinematic content and drone footage. The chilly northeast is polar opposite of what we have here in So. Cal and is fun to watch. Really, really great video man. Thank you so much!!
Dad saved one just like this. Even the same color. Hug Jenny and the little doggie for us brother.
That has to be an 87, not a 97. A 97 would have airbags. Looks pretty decent and has life left in it. Great video!
‘90-‘91
89-91 with that grill
My best friend had a beige Aerostar, and we drove it all over the west coast. Amazing A/C during the summer.
my big brother had one of these bought new and drove for about 3 years. Flawless. Nothing but regular service. Comfy and good ride too. LOL some nice Gus/Turbo action there at the end. Turbo is so patient.
Best van I have ever had Drove it from Ohio to Florida hauling a 47 De Soto U-Haul trailer also the van was full of antiques. It went through the mountains and all the way down to Florida without a problem. Great van.
awww poor turbo! I hope he feels better soon. My cat has been sick this week too with diarrhea
NNKH is the best on youtube
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🔥 comment of the month 💯
👍👍👍
The eclitic mix of vehicals you aquire is amazing. I love it. Thanks for sharing your talents and adventures!!!
One trouble with older vehicles is usually if it isn't a two door with a V-8 nobody wants it. I for one tend to keep my vehicles for ten to fifteen years so I'm glad that you see why you can't take a car without a title and sell it for salvage/scrap. I always look to see if You or Jen have uploaded anything new. Can't wait to see the replacement of Jens transmission.
I love NNKH. I am sorry it didn't work out for the Aerostar to live. Like you, I never thought they were as good looking as the Astro/Safari. Still, when you showed us the underside, that was a truck underneath! I had thought those were more car based. I would consider one of these in the future if one came my way. I do love watching you work. Thanks Chris!
I love this channel. I don't mind if the car doesn't sell, I just love seeing them brought back to life. Yes it's more interesting if you have to MacGyver them back to life with a paperclip and some bubble gum, but a win is a win. Amazing nighttime aerial shot of the city, I usually hope for the hot blonde at the end of your videos, but Gus and Turbo are fun to watch as an outro. You and Jen are both amazing, keep on keep'n on!
The garage floor winch is a genius idea!!!! Would save me so much effort moving cars into my garage!! Thanx Chris!!!
Cheers Chris, love the way you have your nuts bolts etc all sorted out , started to do the same in the shed 👍mate 👍🇭🇲
Love the videos Mr Brown. Yours and Jens. Hope turbo starts feeling better.
Good to see the ramps in use. Good little setup at home works fine. Nice shoes Jen And Gus n Turbo all doing fine. . Sweet family
I haven't quite finished the video, but this appears to me to be a pre-1992 facelift model. In 1992 they came with the airbag steering wheel and more rounded dash than the 1986-1991. Also the automatic trans selector was moved from the floor to the steering column on the later models. These things were very overbuilt to be just a people carrier. The Ranger chassis was great to make a small work van with the seats removed. Glad you were able to show it to us. I haven't seen one since the early 2000s when we traded in out 1993 model. Lots of memories!
We had two Aerostars: a new 1989 Aerostar XL and a barely used 1993 XLT. We drove the wheels off of them both getting 30+ mpg.
You have amazing drone skills Chris. So cool.
Years ago, I replaced the 4.0 in an AWD Aerostar with a rebuilt unit. What a job! We put it on a lift, put 2 55 gallon drums under the front subframe, unbolted that whole subframe assembly, and lifted the van back up, swapping the engine under the van in the air. It was owned by a pilot, and he used it to trailer his airplane around. He loved that thing, said it towed pretty well (that aircraft and trailer wasn't very heavy I don't think), and with the AWD he could go and tow it just about anywhere. Nice try saving this one, but can't save 'em all! Take care bro, and keep the killer content coming!
Man, I swear you can make a video about anything and it’s interesting. And this was another great video. Definitely, not a fail. kept me entertained tonight keep these videos coming Love the channel nothing but support for your brother 💯🙏👏👍
I walk around trucks talking to myself all the time😮
acá en chile... en Sudamérica tengo una aerostar del 92 y funciona very good, excelente ....una camioneta americana excelente en este mundo de autos chinos desechables.... saludos.
Hello Chris. I’ve been subscribed to your channel for a long time, today I saw an episode with Aerostar. It's a pity that Aerostar went into details. I live in Russia, and six months ago I became the owner of the same Aerostar with a 3.0 engine and rear-wheel drive and an automatic transmission. It cost me a ridiculous $750. I fixed the brakes, installed a radiator on the automatic transmission, and added a third brake light. It starts without problems, runs quickly, and does not cause any trouble. An excellent car for a family living in a private house.
Ive said in a previous comment section but bro you’re gonna make it big. Got a good thing going, love the vids. God bless you.
That was a hard van for my Dad to get running after it had been sitting for 2 years in 2001!
It's actually nice to see a video where someone has the guts to scrap an old piece of junk.
Hey Chris, great video as always, I know it’s gonna be a good day when I get the KZhead notification about a new video from NNKH, if you’re ever looking for an apprentice I’d love to learn from you!
Thank you you have definitely inspired me to work on my 93 Chevy Cheyenne I like your approach to working on vehicles 🙏☮️🇺🇸
I love how you and a lot of other people save these old cars and try to get them running again max respect.
You should have saved that thing bro. Why you don't let it get scrapped and parted out.
Sorry to see Turbo not feeling well. Thanks for sharing the AeroStar experience though. Glad it found a Final Parting place. Definitely a memory ride.
Loving the videos as always, great content. Fun & interesting.
Hey!!!😂
Good job on the van either way. Really enjoy your car repair and i have picked up some knowledge while watching you.
My parents bought a 95 Ford Aero Star. I had to pass my Drivers Test in it. Rule was, if you want to drive their vehicle, pass the test in it. Wow, good video as usual.
My dad owned one of those, it was a royal piece of shit 💩!!
I randomly had an opportunity to buy one of these vans recently, and this video was very useful in making a decision. Great video, keep doing what you are doing. I enjoy them all!
the nitetimepics with your flyin camera are pure gold!
Brought back memories. Just an FYI. That 1/2” Redhead Dropin Anchor has a pull out strength of over 3100 pounds. Use them all the time. Incredible strong. Enjoy your weekend.
Gotta get us some more of the abandon building footage love those videos. I went back last week and was watching your old videos about the old abandoned churches. It’s been a while let’s get one in.
Awesome work!!Cheers!! Keep em coming!
Didn't know much about those Aerostars. Until this video. Always learning something thanks to your videos. The filming is always good and so is the adventure. Thanks
I love these tours of the city! So much Flavor!
I finally finished the vid. Keep it up. Ive miseed these.
Hey Chris! I know you get all kinds of health comments, but I thought I would mention in automotive school we had some thick rubber tubes with a metal hook on the end for extending the exhaust outside under the garage door. You could even make a hole in the siding for a dedicated port for it. Keep on keepin' on!
I just want to say this is the best channel to watch in your college dorm😂
Always great videos Chris, I look forward to every one. The Gus-man very amusing too !. 🎉
We had one of these when I was a kid. 1994 white XLT with the non sealed beam headlights and 4.0 v6. Weird what they changed on some, ours was column shift with a completely different gauge bezel and wiper/headlight switches. Even after the liquefied torque converter (twice) and cracked intake manifold, my dad always talked about how much he liked that van😅.
My friend's parents in high school had an aerostar. We used to go drinking along deserted back roads and he would be our designated driver. We packed that back of the AeroStar with many cases of beer over the years. It never let us down.
I had one of those 4.0L all wheel drive Aerostars, and it was an awesome beast. I was living in Montreal, Quebec back in the 90s, and the city there had good snow cleaning...but only on the main streets. The side streets they would just plow the middle of the street, and leave banks on either side that you have to plow through or climb over to park. I lived around the corner of a short dead-end street that never got plowed. So I made great use of my AWD, and thus always had a parking spot all winter. The only time I was stuck with that van was the one time I hesitated going through a 3 foot high snow bank. If there hadn't been ice under it, I would have been OK. The only gripe I had about it is that to do a tune-up on it, the 4.0L barely fit, and it took a long time to change the spark plugs on it. The dealer wanted to charge me over $600 (1990s dollars!) to do the tune-up because of that, but my mechanic only charged me $200, as we put the most expensive plugs we could find so I would never have to replace the sparkplugs again. It did last me until the body started to fall apart, and off to the scrap yard it went. I was sad to see it go...
hope turbo feels better soon! the van did what it needed to do for you!
Suffered a VERY long road /fishing/winterizing trip in one of these . It didn't let us down.
Cant win them all but great video. Its fun going thru older vehicles and getting them running! I enjoy your cruise on the board thru the town!
Amazing shots of Philly! Hope Turbo is feeling better...
When my Bronco II broke down on a trip to Maine in the late 90’s, I rented a Aerostar. Fell in love!
Cool old van, I'm kinda surprised no one jumped on it. I've got some PB blaster silicone that I like, glad to see them keeping you stocked up!
I love aerostars. My mother had a 90 when I was growing up. I remember taking 9 hour trips to see my family from Virginia Beach to brick NJ in the back. I remember sleeping on the trip because the seats went down into a bed. And some how Toto Africa is the song that sticks out as what always seemed to be on the radio.