Hello everyone... I'm looking to buy a 97 aerostar awd with the 4.0. I've been doing a lot of research and it looks like the aerostar is about the toughest minivan ever made.. ?

The one I'm looking at doesn't have any rear seats anymore... question is, what seats, from what years are inner-changable... and are there seats from other models (windstar etc) that might fit?

Thanks, David in Mt Baldy Ca

 

I think all the later model Aerostars from 1990 on should have interchangeable rear seats. If you are looking, try to find the seat-beds, as they are more useful.

By the way, how did you find a 97 AWD? I looked for a long time in the LA area, but kept missing.

 

I found it through a mechanic longtime friend. I guess a customer had a death in the family.
Can you use the rear seats as a bed? Are there captins chair type seats for the front available?
Thanks, David

 

PS... is there some reason a 97 awd is particularly desirable?

 

The 96/97 models used sequential fuel injection for better fuel control, where as earlier models used bank fired injectors. The later models also integrated the computers for the transmission, and possibly the E4WD, with that for the engine, again for better control of both systems. There may have been a couple more new features on the 97 model that I don't know about.

There are two types of bench seats; the standard, and the seat-bed. The standard benches folded forward so you can load full sheets of plywood. The seat-beds folded backward to form a full bed which you can sleep on, or load a full sheet of plywood. You can also install captain's chairs in the back. Based just on casual observation, you can probably install 2 captain's chairs in each of the two back rows of rear seating positions. But the usual configuration for that option is to install 2 captain's chairs in the second row and a bench in the third.

 

From what I remember, there is a post from someone who put captain's chairs in the back but he had problems with the wheel wells. He added a bit of iron between the seat base and the seat to raise it. Do some searching. There were pictures.

Also the older ones had lap belts only vs the shoulder belts. This has been discussed before too. Search is a good feature.

 

turned out the van was in rough shape... coolant leak behind the water pump area, in the timing chain area... rack and pinion leaking bad, transfer case whirring... thanks for the help though! David

 

I've fixed all 3 before, but with a van in that condition, you're worried about what else you will find. You will need to be really committed to wanting it.

 

626 367 5969 IS THE guy's number... he is gonna part it out... lots of good stuff on it you could probably make him an offer and have a good solid extra body...