Yes. They were AWD (in two flavors, viscous and electronic, depending on year). In all cases, a dual-range 4WD case from a Blazer (or several other donors) will bolt in. In most cases, no other mods are needed. (In a few cases, depending on interchange, the TC is clocked “down” a bit and some clearancing is needed…

I think I paid out of pocket to repair the first one (A/C electrical). Anybody have any idea if I have any potential redress? (Repair was Sept 2016)

Yep. The only other limiting factor beyond cost is real-estate. Higher efficiency means you can make more power per square foot of panel, but as long as you have enough room for more panels, all you really care about is cost.

Please, tell me what it is about the ribeye cut that you like when it’s served at 165°+.

But do you really? I think some eaters have a knee-jerk reaction to being “told” how to eat something, and I get that.

It is not mere opinion that the things that are good about Ribeye (fat content, tenderness) are lost if you cook that cut past 160° or so. All the fat will be rendered and you’ll have denatured all the protein so it becomes stiff. It will be neither fatty nor tender at that point.

On the other side of that coin:

Know your meat-cooking temperatures and which cuts are best served at what temperatures. If you’re not sure, leave it to the chef.

Why do you think I felt confident delegating them?

I tried to delegate once. The mashed potatoes (and my sister) showed up 3 hours late. She never said so, but I suspect it was the preparation of the mashed potatoes that flummoxed her and caused the tardiness. Better to just let me cook the food.

I like the term “Midi-van”.

The same 4L60-E has been put behind everything from V6 Astros to V8 Trucks and Suburbans. With the (relatively) lighter weight mid-size vans and 200hp V6s, it’s not even breathing hard.

I’ve been a fan for years. I started building my rig just after my daughter was born. I knew I wanted a van, but couldn’t afford a Syncro Vanagon. I sourced this pop-top from a Canadian Safari and transplanted it onto my AWD Astro. 4" lift kit and 4x4 conversion came later. (Thank you, General, for parts-bin…

I don’t think you got enough credit for this joke. Yes, Cheadle is a great actor, but I think most people are failing to remember how a similar bit of “negotiation” went for Terrence Howard when they were casting Iron Man 2.

Totally agree, but my personal rules are:

Them’s the rules. It’s a social contract - you must perform the ritual (“Trick or Treat”) to get the candy.

OK, secured the Arepa harina on Saturday. Made a quickie 1st batch just to test heat/moisture/etc. I think I had them a bit too thin, and the oil was too hot as they were crispy and brown outside but still fairly mushy inside. Nevertheless, they were palatable enough to proceed.  

Looks like you found an anachronism in that gas station shot of the Maverick. That break-away connector on the pump hose was patented in 2001.

Oh, dang. I haven’t had arepas in years. I know what I’m making this weekend.

Agreed. Super un-common in the civilian world, but super-common anywhere there are a mess of vehicles that might need to be moved on a moment’s notice without a specific person being present. Places where I know for sure this is “a thing”: