V8-Swapped Chevy Astro: Hot Rod Family Hauler
The once beloved Chevy Astro succumbed to the SUV craze. But this one will conjure up plenty of fond van-related memories!
There was a time, not too long ago, when the mighty Chevy Astro van ruled our roads. You couldn’t go anywhere without seeing one of these iconic, boxy, utilitarian machines. But then came the SUV phenomenon, and suddenly, nobody wanted to drive a van anymore. Thus, like every other van on the planet, the Chevy Astro slipped into the night quietly and peacefully. But when we laid eyes upon this amazing, hot-rodded 1992 Chevy Astro LT, it brought back every one of those fond vannin’ memories.
We spotted the super sleeper on Craigslist, and it might just be the coolest Astro ever built. For starters, somewhere along the line, somebody swapped a 5.7-liter LT1 V8 in this thing. Yes, the same engine that saw duty in everything from the C4 Corvette to the Firebird/Camaro to the Caprice. It’s unclear if there are any additional mods to the motor, but its stock ratings of 300 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque aren’t too shabby to start with. Throw in all-wheel drive, and you’ve got the makings of a pretty quick van.
Of course, this sweet Chevy Astro isn’t all about that unique engine swap. The 17-inch five-spoke wheels, rear roof-mounted spoiler, and dual exhaust tips somewhat give away what lurks under the hood. But there’s nothing here that might make you believe this isn’t something that Chevrolet actually built. In fact, it looks pretty darn cool, if you ask us.
The current owner picked up this hot rod Chevy Astro from an estate sale with the intentions of robbing its all-wheel drive chassis for his own Astro project. But obviously, this thing is too nice to rip apart, so he’s selling it instead. So if you’ve still got a soft spot for the vans of old, this Astro might just be the best one left!
