Who else has a 5 speed?

[aerostar5speed]

Hi... I am new here. Just found you guys by accident. Just wondering how rare the 5 speed is and who all has one?

I love my Aerostar and love my 5 speed.
I am the 2nd owner, owned about 10 years and has about 65K miles on it.
Its 100% stock. Except for radio.

One of my first questions is to change the air cleaner. I want to put on one of those "coned shaped" air cleaners. Any suggestions? K&N or Spectre band? Anybody have a part number. Thanks, Steve

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Most of them came with an automatic. A manual is very rare. Post a picture of your manual shifter. Don't install an air filter that has to be oiled. The oil gets caught on the element in the MAF sensor.

 

[aerostar5speed]

Thanks. Also thanks for the heads up on the air cleaner. What other options do I have? Aren't all the cone shaped filters oil treated?

Does anybody else here at the forum have a 5 speed like me? Am I the only one?

Give me a little time to take a picture. Weather here is bad. But will do.

 

[BrooklynBay]

I'm not sure if there are any other members with a manual Aerostar. We have a couple of members with the E-4WD system. All of my vans have an automatic transmission. 4 of them have a 3.0L, and one has a 4.0L. The 1993 has the 4.0L, and is extended. What size is your engine? Do you have the extended body? We don't have any members with a sport model.

 

[chebucto]

I'm not sure if there are any other members with a manual Aerostar. We have a couple of members with the E-4WD system. All of my vans have an automatic transmission. 4 of them have a 3.0L, and one has a 4.0L. The 1993 has the 4.0L, and is extended. What size is your engine? Do you have the extended body? We don't have any members with a sport model.

i've got the sport model. the pink stripe and fly ass running boards really impress the ladies. you guys are missing out!

 

[BrooklynBay]

You should add this information in your profile. A lot of guys on this site own Aerostars, but don't tell anybody. Could you post a picture of your sport model?

 

[aerostar5speed]

Think I have seen the sports model before. Did it have a 5 speed?

Regarding my Aerostar, its a real plane jane. 3.0 engine, vinyl seats, small mirrors, no luggage rack, plastic hub caps, You can tell it was real bottom of the line minivan. But I really like it. Its kind of like driving a Ford Ranger with a van body.

 

[BrooklynBay]

My 88 is a cargo van, and it came with vinyl seats. Nothing is power. It didn't come with a tilt steering column, roof rack, lighted mirrors on the visor, rear defrost or a rear wiper either. These accessories are probably part of the more expensive trim packages such as the XLT.

 

[Joe Dirt]

You can tell it was real bottom of the line minivan.

AKA- a lot less stuff to go wrong!

 

[ddgiant]

I have a 5 speed manual on the sports model and love it. Just keep going through the drivers seat belt latches.

 

[aerostar5speed]

Welcome to the forum. Glad to have found another 5 speed. Do you have any pictures of your van? I am like you, and really love shifting thru those gears..!!

 

[ddgiant]

Soon

I would love to take a photo and post it, but I want to finish the engin work that I am currently doing. Trying to figure out how to bring the idle down now that I put a new air control valve on it.

as for how it currently looks, stock with 18 year old red paint.

 

[joe5454us]

Another 5 speed Aerostar

Mine is short wheel base, plain Jane model, 3 liter, 118k mile and now in Ohio. Originally from California, so no rust yet. It's a good vehicle. I sold the other 1992 model I had because of rust. The other one was just junked at 260,000 miles by a friend that purchased it 5 years ago.

 

[aerostar5speed]

Hi Joe. Your van sounds just like mine. What color is it? Mine is beige exterior and interior. Still gotta get some pics up, weather here is better.

 

[Joe Dirt]

joe- you should oil spray the underside of your van and keep it clean! Sounds like a awesome AeroSpecimen!

Pics! Pics!

 

[aerostar5speed]

Thanks JD, thats an interesting idea about the undercarriage. You mean like using WD40?
I just usually use my power washer. I have just one of the cheapies, about 70 bucks on sale, and puts out plenty of pressure for me. But the oil would help w/ surface rust forming..

Anybody else have any ideas for keeping the undercarriage clean? Thanks again.

 

[BrooklynBay]

What about Rustoleum spray paint or primer?

 

[Glen4X4]

I seen a year or so ago one of these for sale the setup looked the exact same as the ranger/explorer same boot and pedal assembly of course.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Pressure washer is great- just watch the electrical connections, and gasket mating surfaces. Easy rule- if it's leaking oil or fluid, it's getting out. If it's getting out, something else can get in. Thus, the caution with the pressure washer- but that's a great tool. I have a similar unit from Menards, and I love it- does awesome, and I hit my cars a few times every winter. Unfortunately, the rockers on poor Snowball let loose this winter, so they will need to be replaced in the spring.

A lot of the classic guys use WD-40 (which wears off relatively fast under Michigan winters) but have better luck with Jig-A-Loo, and a few of the guys use old motor oil put into a bug sprayer and let-er fly... When they change their oil, the old oil gets sprayed on the undercarriage.

Rustoleum seems to cover up ok, but the oil products get into the nooks and crannies better, they seep into the cracks. When I get my new Ex, it will be oiled for sure. Michigan is tough on cars.

Jury is out on Ziebart, etc., they can do very well, they can trap water and cause worse rusting them if the car didn't have it at all. Kind of depends on the life the car is subjected to, where it is parked, etc.

In the spring, park a lawn sprinkler under your car, run it full blast, and move it around. Helps a lot if you don't have a pressure washer.

Last but not least- clean your carpets in the spring. When winter is done, there are a lot of salt particles and dust in your carpet. As the car runs, they work through the carpet and end up near the floorpans. When it rains, you get in and your wet shoes wet the carpet keeping the salt somewhat moist and feeding the rust, kiling your car's floorboards from the inside out. Vac often in the winter, and clean in the spring. Let your significant other spring clean the house, you spring clean your Aero/Ex/Mounty/Ranger!

 

[aerostar5speed]

Thanks Joe Dirt for all the ideas..
Also, since I am new here, have you guys seen this?
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/main.php?g2_itemId=41365