I was looking for either a 4.3 V6 or 5.3 V8 $35K-40K to use as a family vehicle with short commute trips. But NOOOOO I now have to buy a $55K 3/4 ton truck with a 6.0 just so I can have a reliable vehicle that is worth spending money on!
$40K on a piece of **** or $55K on a way over built...
Apparently the 07-13 setup shut down the same 4 cylinders every time. The new version will cancel any of the 8 and not necessarily at the same time either. It is supposed to be a fully ECM controlled system that uses a large amount of variables to determine which and how many cylinders shut...
Oh as far as the 37s go you will need to do some major trimming to stuff 37s under a 4" lift. You would need an 8" lift to properly clear 37s with out bent fenders.
Well I found this article plus a few others about the VVT and it looks like a real good and simple performance upgrade to any LS engine! Should be quite reliable too :)
http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/hrdp-1007-gms-variable-valve-timing-system-performance-test/
The AFM on the 1/2 tons...
Oh and the pin is installed before the truck is painted at the factory so its really easy to see where the pin should be when it comes time to reinstall it.
Both of my trucks have no tack welds on the nut. They are square pieces with little cleats on the surface to stop them from spinning. Every truck I have owned has been the same. Even if they were welded it would be easy to just use a large washer and a nut with a lock washer.
Ya as long as you have a regular cab pickup. Simply remove the corner speaker and then just reach around the door pillar to hold the nut while you use a T-45 socket to undo the striker pin/bolt.
If you have a crew cab or jimmy it may be more complicated to gain access to that nut....but the...
I would check the back lash and maybe think about replacing the outer bearings.
The Astro van is a mini van/truck. It will not fit unless you want the wheels to be well inside the wheel wells. You need a full size truck axle.
Usually there is a lot of metal in the diff if its going out. So...
Just put the switches under the gauge bezel on the drivers side. Drill a hole or whatever closer to the steering column, on the metal part of the dash. You wont notice it much there and it wont get accidentally bumped, yet it is easy to reach there but you will have to intentionally do it rather...