Chevy & GMC Vans

Not in the van, yet. But, I scored a great deal on a set of iron vortec heads for my V8. Fresh out of the machine shop: $150 for the pair. And even better.....the seller lives about 6 miles from me. Craigslist comes through again.

This was a weekend of mostly Fail.

Grumpy
Since it was suggested that the intake manifold was the problem I started prepping Grumpy for the replacement. Pulled something in my left shoulder trying to break the fan clutch loose from the water pump. Two hours in, I finally got it removed after returning home to get the BFP for leverage. Of course the radiator drain does not work, so I undid the lower hose clamp on the water pump and drain it that way.

At this point I remembered that I didn't perform the check to verify that the intake manifold gasket is leaking. Reconnect the lower hose, fill radiator with water, start engine. Go back and forth between carb cleaner and propane trying to get the engine to react. Nothing, nada, zip, not a dang thing.

Since this is something I've never done before, I decide I need to visit the guy that suggested this being the solution to Grumpy's problem. I put Grumpy back together enough to drive to AdvanceAuto, where Moe did the same tests. His results were the same and he suggested trying compression leak down testing, which Advance of course does not have in their loaner tool collection or even have in stock for sale. Calling other parts stores gave the same results.

While at Advance Moe noticed Grumpy's slow start and ran a battery test. Only 440 CCA, amazing it started at all.

I returned to the garage and worked on flushing the coolant, since the stuff that was in there was pretty nasty looking. After several fill, run, and drains the coolant was mostly clear, but it was getting late so I called it a night.

On Sunday I pulled the battery, stopped by AutoZone to see if they would work with me on the battery since it was just over two years old. They wouldn't do anything, mostly since I wasn't the original purchaser. Oh well, I guess Wallyworld will get my business.

Battery resolved, I added fresh undiluted antifreeze hoping the ratio is good as I didn't have a way to check at the time.

Last thing for the weekend was supposed to be flushing the brake lines, but snapping the first bleeder valve put an end to that idea.

Green
Received a new battery as well, luckily I had purchased it and it was still under its 3 year guarantee.

Grumpy: Checked tire pressure, checked fluid level in the front diff, checked and added coolant. Drove it around, trying to get it to go closed loop, but it's just too cold out.

Drove 80 klm's east & back to pick up a 1970 Cub Cadet Garden Tractor I just aqquired.
850 lbs with snowplow attached.Put ramps down & drove it right inside the cargo.
Just barely fit,It had a 1/16" to spare

gave it a snow mohawk...scooped off snow on the sides of the roof, but didn't have a ladder or broom handy to reach the center...

I've driven mine to work on snow the past 2 days, and have learned that even with AWD, worn out 235/60 tires are no fun on snow. I can get going fairly well, but can't stop or turn, and the rear end fishtails way too easy (empty van, no seats, anything), and when it starts into a skid, it's a handful.

I still love snow and my van.

Grumpy: Fought with it starting this morning, cleaned some grounds, did some donuts in an un-plowed parking lot, finished with helping a friend move.

Looked undeneath and noticed anti-freeze making a puddle under the engine. Discovered it leaking from the water pump....looks like I'll be putting a new pump in on Saturday.

9dawgs wrote:Looked undeneath and noticed anti-freeze making a puddle under the engine. Discovered it leaking from the water pump....looks like I'll be putting a new pump in on Saturday.

Might just be a bad gasket.

Finally got the composite headlight swap done, went with chevy style grill, since the gmc style are virtually nonexistent, it went beautifully with no hiccups, as long as you have all the parts, took lots of pics especially of the wiring, since there is little pics/info on that part, I plan to post a full tutorial someday when I have time

After about a year and a bit, I finally got a chance to clean it out.
A few rotten apples, some tupperware with undescibable contents, a ball of dog hair about 2 feet around and everything just covered in slobber.
It's Kabey's van, the rolling dog house, but he let's me drive it.

Today I removed the driver's power window regulator and took the motor apart to figure out why it stopped working yesterday. I found the problem to be a broken tooth on the large plastic driven gear in the housing. I guess I can't complain; that was the original motor and it lasted almost 23 years.

Started van up - first time in 2 weeks - winter break is over - getting ready to go back to work on Monday.

Wife works 2 weeks and reties 1/15/10

Only 30 months to go for me

Drooler wrote:Wife works 2 weeks and reties 1/15/10

Only 30 months to go for me

then what drooler, moving to Florida? oh... wait... never mind .. LOL

My long New Year's Weekend to current.

New Year's Eve: Spent most the day repairing a friends garage door and opener, then loaded Grumpy with remodeling refuse and hauled it to the dump. Somehow managed to snag Grumpy's bumper cover on the garage door and pulled it off. Looks like it should go back on ok though.

New Year's Day: Brought Green over to my friend's garage. The lower oil cooler line lost its retention clip as I backed it in, resulting in a major oil spill. Worked on removing the trans. Was trying to lower it using ratchet straps then I noticed that the edge of the oil pan was cutting through one of my straps. It was already late by this point so I placed a jack under the trans and called it a night.

Saturday: Broke down and rented a trans jack. Finished removing the trans and loaded it into Grumpy. Drove 200 miles round trip to drop it off at Shift Rite Transmissions.

Monday Night: Noticed Grumpy was leaking coolant.

Tuesday: Discovered I hadn't closed Grumpy's radiator drain valve all the way.

Today: Received a call from Shift Rite, Green's trans is ready for pick up.