Chevy Silverado - Continued XVIII

mpalombo

Sounds like you have a reputation.

lol

-Mark

obyone

but I think it had more to do with the really doubtful look I gave him. Needless to say, he wrote it up to be checked out. When I picked up the truck, it read, "Unable to verify, too many aftermarket modifications made to panel, unable to access area".

Course what he is referrring to is that the door is completely sealed with Dynamat. If they had contacted me while the panel was off, I wouldn've told them to go ahead and cut a section off as I had extra Dynamat to reseal the door. Course that never came to the tech's mind that I would've known the door was sealed right?

dustyone

Only use it if you want to get work done, otherwise use "Word" or is that "MyWord", what a POS. Been using WordPerfect since version 0.9 on DOS 3.0. It converts all known formats to WP and visa versa without any hassle. One can reveal the imbed codes for editing, etc.

On to truck subjects. Who will post the extended warranty letter? I have the knock in the 6.0 liter (Suburban) but not the 5.3 liter (Silverado)

Thanks

black_silver

I have a stock 2001 2WD xc LT and want to upgrade the shocks (at least the rears) for heavy loads.

Which is best for this application (Bilstein or Edelbrock) and why?

Thanks,

Hans

rayt2

I have no idea how to post the letter. My wife scanned it to a jpeg file since she said that was all she could do with it and that's how I sent it to Mark thru e-mail. I'll e-mail it to you also.
It doesn't matter to me if you use my name when speaking to GMCS, I've got nothing to hide, they do. LOL

Ray T.

obyone

Bilstein HD yesterday and am installing today. It's replacing my Edelbrocks.

mpalombo

GMCS just called and offered the extended warranty. This time she called it an extended warranty and she specified that it is on the engine only. She said I will have the letter in the mail in a few days. A total of 5 hours from the time that I called them and lodged the complaint. I must say, quite an enjoyable experience.

Thank you to everybody who helped me with this.

-Mark

rayt2

Like I said it's County Fair time and GM's given out the Cotton Candy.........LOL

Ray T.

minikin

What drove you to want to replace the Edelbrocks?
-- Don

seelig

did you not recieve my email with all the info?
you are entitled to a 5/100K warranty that will cover waaaay more than just the engine.......

obyone

I really like the edelbrocks. One small quirk drives me crazy. Over all types of roads these shocks handle well. It's when there are small cracks in the road and the level of the road may differ by less than an inch....I get a shockwave through the front of the truck. It's like I don't have any shocks on or totally worn shocks. I believe their variable valve can't or won't react quick enough. Other than that no problem.

quadrunner500

About the high speed chop, like the small cracks described above....Could it be that the intertial valve comes off its seat, allowing shock fluid to be pumped with less resistance?

Because that should be the holy grail of shock performance conceptually. You want it firm and resistant to movement over smooth roads (inertial valve closed), to minimize body movement, enhance control. When it hits the chop, you want it to be compliant (intertial valve opens), so as not to transmit harshness to the ride. Naturally, it's going to move around more with the valve open.

So if you are on a smooth but rolling or wavy road, you want firm control (valve closed) to mimimize motion, enhance control. But if some chop is on top of the rolling surface, you can have conflicting goals, i.e. the chop opens the valve allowing the shock to wallow excessively over the rolling part of the road surface.

obyone

I checked the specs on the two shocks. The Bilstein HD has a slightly higher internal pressure (resistance). Course that wouldn't make much of a difference if the valve does come off of its seat. Edelbrock has offered to replace all four shocks again. This time around I'm not so sure if it's an attribute of the shock or not. So I'll try the Bilstein, switch the Edelbrock....and maybe put them up for sale on Ebay depending on how the Bilsteins perform.

The first set of Edelbrocks were replaced under warrranty about 6 months ago. I had a bouncy ride on the freeway making the truck seem unsafe...sorta like that Midas commercial for shocks and the driver's side front was leaking. Only thing....if I do like the Bilsteins I may have to go and paint them red.

mpalombo

I got your email with the BBB phone number and the GM reps name and number. I didn't know there was more to it than the warranty on the engine.

The warranty that I got covers the following:
Engine block, cylinder heads, intake manifold, exhaust manifolds, all internal engine components, valve covers engine oil pan, timing gear cover, engine oil pump, oil pump housing, engine seals, and engine gaskets.

Instead of saying all of the I summed it up by saying "engine"

As far as I know this is the only warranty being offered... am I wrong?

-Mark

rayt2

I'd have to ask the same question on this warranty issue......what else is there GM should be giving or should I say owe us?????? I haven't had any thing else wrong other then the knock issue that hasn't been taken care of.
Post it here if you would or e-mail me the details also, thanks.

Ray T.

mgdvhman

Best formula yet...

get a 2500 Firm ride....leave the original shocks alone.....45K later and the ride will be just as expected....a TRUCK!!!!

geeeeeezz..

want a Caddy...buy a Caddy!

These are trucks guys...trucks....

Good luck on that one now.....

- Tim

seelig

GM's first offer to me was a 5yr/75K "custom" warranty. after a little BS with the GM rep about how i would easily see 100K before 5 years, he agreed to give me the 5/100K "major guard". it was also agreed that i would not persue "buyback".
from what i see lately, it seems that GM is pulling back on their generosity though, so with my wife's truck, i may have to work at it to get hers covered. maybe and maybe not.......Ray, i'd like to email you with a request to your letter, OK?
i like to go into things with all guns loaded if you know what i mean.

seelig

what do you use your truck for Mr. miller genuine draft van halen man?

LOL

obyone

Test drove one. Took it on the freeway. Ran the expansion joints. Laughed as the salesman tried to talk. Felt like hop a long Cassidy..oh and the salesguy nearly bit his tongue off trying to talk as we were bouncing down the highway.

Caddy? nah....I used to drive Lincolns...would go back to those first....maybe even a Blackwood or a Harley Davidson edition.......

If y'all think the 5.3 knocks....you need to listen to a 5.7 up close and personal...talk about knocks....

mgdvhman

....and several hauling projects in summer and on weekend...

every time I get into a car I feel like it's a death trap looking at the road at tire level...

no thanks

...but I don't expect a luxury car like ride out of it pal...
- Tim

rayt2

Your profile does not list your e-mail, without it I can't send it.

BTW it sounds like you had a multitude of problems with your truck if you were entertaining a buyback, that's probably why you got the major guard, I only have the "knock" syndrome that causes me longevity concern since I usually keep truck for 10+ years. I'm one of those diehard Chevy Truck people, this is a great truck just gotta get the gremlins outta the works LOL.....Gemlin hmmmm another AMC car I remember.

Ray T.

mpalombo

I agree with Tim, after driving a truck for the past 15 years (omg that makes me feel old), I hate being in a car, too low.

I use mine for commuting and bringing almost everything in my house back and forth to camp every weekend during the summer months....now why is it called camping again????

-Mark

mgdvhman

....don't get me wrong...dropping the top on the 'Stang and side-stepping the clutch is always fun....cruising on the highway with open air is nice.........but to commute and do the traffic thing....uhhh.......gimme my pick-em-up Wilbur.....

- Tim

cowboyjohn1

For a real change at road view, try hopping out of a 2500HD into a Corvette. Can't see over anything, look up at everything, but I still like to drive it cowboyjohn

seelig

sorry about that..........i'll email you.
the truck really hasn't had one single problem. i've just been concerned about the way the lower end sounds. maybe it's because chevy built the thing too good, and i'm expecting it to be super quiet. one good thing about being in good with a service manager is that he can hear all sorts of things if he wants to......(wink/wink).
i never gave any thought to "buyback", it was just GM's idea that if they give you such a protection plan, then they won't have to be involved with someone trying to make them buy back a truck with 90K miles.
nope, this truck is just fine.

tomh12

Those genuine hand picked beans are heavy. And Juan and his donkey take up the whole bed. LOL

OBY....
Those expansion joints must be the mother of all joints. Only time I have really been uncomfortable in my 2500ld is when I was driving ACROSS the furrows in a plowed field. Could not keep a steady foot on the gas pedal. See why they put dash throttle on old trucks....pretty clever, those early Americans!

Have a great weekend,
Tom

seelig

just what a rado needs eh Tom?............

LOL

tomh12

You got it!
Could make a song of that, couldn't we?
Might replace..."like a rock.."
LoL
Tom

blackmax200

I'm a little partial right now to Garth Brooks "Ain't Going Down 'Til The Sun Comes Up"... oh yeah "...going around the world in a PICK-UP TRUCK!" Try to stay under 90mph while that is playing on the radio!!!! Ain't gonna happen!

Joints??? thought that's what pilled up meat haulers did???

You know I have heard, off an on, sometimes the knock yaw'al talk about, but can't help but thinking that my '68 Z/28 had a curious knock back then... determined it was from the forged pistons not having the same expansion rate as the iron block or something like that... Overhauled the engine and installed new pistons at 50k in '82 and it still has the same knock today... go figure... and I want to tell you I did unmercifully BEAT the 302 like a bad dog!! (side step a clutch... hehe... do it at 7800 and hang on brother!!!)

just some late night ravings, yaw'al...

matthew

seelig

the fact that the 302 was in a Camaro didn't have anything to do with it huh? had it been a chevy Biscayne, i bet you'd have behaved yerself....

i just did some work for a mechanic that use to be a parts swapping jockey (for chevy) and now has his own garage. he claims that there is a consistent rattling sound that a lot of us hear, and it's related to the camshaft. never heard of such a thing, but the way he described it (which now i forgot cause i wasn't paying real close attention)
it made sense. not sure on the knock, but says pinging is related to a faulty prom in the computer. dealers don't like to mess with them.

mgdvhman

...of 'course every time I drive a car, it's always a sports car....aka lower than the average car...

I'd still never go back to a car for my commuter..

..and a 2500HD to a Vette...yeah that would be a drag....although like ya said....who cares....dump the clutch and smile....

- Tim

seelig

that chevy made these trucks too domesticated. the rado's and gmc's are so smooth, people don't expect to hear a squeak or rattle from them.
i wonder how many guys/gals remember what a pickup was like in the 60' and 70's......

yeah, good luck on that one now!

mikeb31

I remember seeing pics of your stereo setup, what did you finally end up with? Thinking about upgrading the system. I remember you put in a bass tube but didn't like it and upgraded even further. I started to look around and I'm getting in over my head ha. Started looking at big subs and amps. I remember a picture, did Ryan post it back when? I tried searching but no luck. Thanks

obyone

That wasnt a pic of my setup but of someone else's. However, I went with the same setup.

You can find more info here:

http://www.jlaudio.com/stealthbox/silverado_ext.html

obyone

Edelbrocks are better at overall handling. Bilsteins are better at overall smoothing of bumps and rough roads. Now if they made a shock that was good at both....think they do:

Unfortunately not for the 1500 trucks but for the Yukons 2500, Tahoes 2500, Denalis.

seelig

you cut a big hole in it.........

LOL

4262

Hi, does anyone have any info on when the release will be on the new silverados? Any links to some pics or facts would be great also. Thanks.

black_silver

Going to upgrade my Silverado to a new 2500 LT extended cab for better safety pulling an RV. The RV pulling will be 10% of the time, otherwise it will be a daily driver.

I will go with either the 8.1L gasser or the Duramax, plus the Allison tranny.

I've 'justified' the extra money for the Allison transmission, but $5K extra for the DuraMax seems out of line with my needs.

Anyone out there who has run both and can give me an objective comparison?

Thanks,

Hans

quadrunner500

I can't be objective. I'd say skip the Allison and get the Duramax if you had to choose one. I love mine. The manual ZF 6-spd tranny is always in the right gear for me!

emthouston

I remember those 60's and 70's trucks. Our family business in Mississippi had several International pickups. They were definitely a work truck. Haven't seen one of them in a long time. I'll take my 2500HD 4x4 over any others anytime. My first personal truck was "68 Ford XL 150 that got about 8 miles to the gallon. It could tow, tho.

seelig

a buddy of mine has one that also gets that great gas mileage( ).....), but the thing is a tank. talk about squeaks and rattles though.

emthouston

I bought a Chevy 2500HD 4x4 with the 8.1/Allison. My biggest reason for this was the difference in price. I drove several with the duramax and was very impressed with the power and the fact that it was a lot quieter than a Ford or Dodge. I just saved about $6000.00 by going big block gas. I am impressed by the power that my 8.1 has. I am not impressed with my mileage. I have two horses and am looking at buying a 32ft. fifth-wheel camping trailer.

emthouston

welding new beds in the winter for my father to get them ready for the spring and summer. Those Internationals went through a lot.

obyone

Only if you're coordinated enough to press the clutch and shift at the same time....or not as senile as to shift without the clutch.

tomh12

those, and the round brake and clutch pedals in the early 50's pickups. I didn't drive them when they were new, but remember riding in them as a kid, and later driving them when they were about the same age as me:>)
Tom

emthouston

You young guys can have those 6 speeds! I'll stick with my 5 speed Allison Auto. Changing clutches and driving in Houstons traffic changed my mind about maunual transmission long ago.

seelig

internationals are still on the road from as far back as early 60's out here. we don't have the snow and salt that usually leads to the decay.

emthouston

I am sure happy with progress, tho. Has anyone upgraded their tires to a +1 or +2 combo? I want to got to bigger tires and dual my exhaust. I was thinking of going to 17" rims and tires. By going +1, I am supposed to keep my speedometer close to original. I put 305/70's on my Z-71. Looked real good but hurt my mileage.

minikin

Reason I asked and am really interested: I changed out my stock Z-71 shocks for Edelbrocks a couple of months after I bought my truck. Put the rears on first and they were totally perfect at controlling the rear end. The fronts stiffened up the front end low speed harshness noticeably, but more than made up for it on high speed control. Despite the the fact that overall I'm quite happy, if there's a better solution for the front end, I'm interested. Let me know how the Bilsteins work out.
-- Don

mikeb31

Another question, what amp and other speakers did you end up with. Probably going shopping this next week, listen to some speakers. I know that what one person likes in a speaker is not what another likes since hearing is subjective and my hearing ain't what it used to be, and it's kind of tough even 'test' hearing speakers since they're not installed in a vehicle.