1st Generation Bravada's 1991-1994

[Chris Stewart]

]Hey Gang, I'm starting a picture post.
Post a picture of your 1st Generation Bravada.



Oppps, give me some time fellas...

[Leeann94astro]

Here's mine...the hood's up 'cause I was still filling with coolant (this was right before I got 'er inspected & registered).

Pic disappeared, so here it is again:

[ericn1300]

92 in the mountains at over 6000 ft. 220k and it still pulls this load over the 7200 ft pass with no problems.

[Chris Stewart]

Here's a recent...today, picture.

[Leeann94astro]

Sweet! I wish mine looked that good. The PO would have had to take better care of it first, though.

[duke350]

I've been looking for a good condition 1st gen. Saw one go through the auction Saturday that sold for $310.00. I wanted to get it, but it had a red int., and I don't like red ints, and the GF told me I don't really need it, I have to much crap to start with. It only had 150k miles on it too.

[Chris Stewart]

You shoulda got that darlin' Duke350.
I've had a few 4WD and the Bravada's are the most snowy city street sure-footed of the bunch....and the bunch included a '70 GMC 3/4 ton and my current '01 Dodge-Cummins w/clutch pedals.

Leeann94astro,
You still have good paint and I like that teal color.
A coupla rub sessions with a clearcoat polishing compound by hand then some good polymer sealant (I use McGuires NXT) and it'll be slicker than a used car salesman promise....uhhhh...well it'll shine real good. The upcoming cool weather fall makes for good weekend afternoons rubbing paint.

Eric, yours has the tow package, right?

[ericn1300]

yeah Chris, has the tow package. never got around to having the rear leaf springs resprung. it rides about that low in the back without the trailer too.

[Leeann94astro]

I got it pretty shiny after that pic with Gel Gloss and a Milwaukee pro buffer. It's still not as nice as yours...plus the clear coat's peeling on the driver's door, just under the window. The hood is crazed and was really, really chalky before the buff/shine. It's enough better now you have to look at it hard to see the crazing.

Mine has the tow package as well. The wires were still taped up in the factory spot with the factory tag...why buy something with a tow package if you're never going to use it? I've towed a bunch with mine and it's only been registered for a year.

I love my AWD in heavy rain and snow. I drove to Detroit in January and hit a lake-effect snowstorm by Cleveland. People were stopped on the side of the road; the plow was on the other side of the highway. I slowed down to 55 and kept on truckin' - the Bravada never even hinted at slipping. Drove home in snow, too (no lake-effect that time). No problems whatsoever. It's easily the most sure-footed vehicle I've ever had.

[Chris Stewart]

Glad you got some gloss in your paint Leeann94astro. Regular non-cleaner waxing will protect whats left.
When the clear started lifting on my '92 Dodge Ram, I color sanded the clear off and shot a coupla of coats of clear urethane in my back yard and it turned out just fair.
Doing some color sanding then taking it to a pro shop to get the sanding finished then a shot of clear might not be too expensive.
Take care of any rust by wire brushing and sanding then apply some miricle of the 80's....rust converter. I touched up some rust spots on my '86 Cutlass Ciera then the young'un drove it for 6 years with regular wash & waxes and the rust did not return.

[ericn1300]

Over 225,000 and still reliable enough for the long trips. 1500 mile round trip to San Francisco over Donner's Pass (7,300 feet) and down to sea level. Still the best vehicle I've owned for snow.

[Leeann94astro]

Drove mine around here in 21" of snow last week. Never a hint of a slip as usual. I did put 4 new tires on the previous week, but still (Yokohama Geolandar H/T-S).

Easily the most sure-footed vehicle in the snow I've ever owned - and the most comfortable, too!

[Chris Stewart]

Were the AWD Astro's sure-footed as well in snow?

[Leeann94astro]

So I have heard - never driven mine in snow 'cause it needs an engine transplant (the replacement's in the back - just need to do it)