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Date Posted |
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RE: 2002 3500 Chevy Express Engine Failure
How is the coolant? The early Vortec 350s were known for catastrophic intake gasket failures pumping coolant into the lifter valley. I don't have to tell you what happens next.
I doubt the economics will warrant a rebuild. Call your friendly GM parts department and get a price on a Goodwrench 350. You get a warranty and everything.
Thanks, I sure will
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jerem0621
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05/24/13 09:10pm |
Tow Vehicles
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2002 3500 Chevy Express Engine Failure
Yesterday while diving my FIL's 3500 express with a 350 V8 we experienced an apparent bottom end failure. I have never experienced this before so I may be wrong. Oil was good, recent service, always ran smooth, no engine noises etc.
This van had 125k miles on it and has always been a strong runner, always maintained on a regular basis.
We were using it to go on vacation and were about 125-150 miles from home. We sent the van home on a wrecker and rented another van to continue on the trip. I am sitting here on vacation and all I can think about is how this could have let go.
Here is the scenario
I was driving down the interstate at about 60-65 miles per hr. I noticed a slight tick coming from the drivers side. I assumed it may be valve rattle or a doughnut gasket on the exhaust manifold may have let go. However over the next half mile to mile the tick became louder. I got off the interstate and pulled into a quick lube just in time for the motor to fail compleatly. Thankfully it failed at a business that was very accommodating
Shout out to Kennessaw, Ga Casterol quick lube for letting my wife, our friends and the four children hang out while we made arrangements with the tow company and the Van rental.
I will deal with the Van for my FIL when I get home. Probably going to tear it down and rebuild it. I am just curious what could cause such a catostrauphic failure on a relatively low mileage 350 Chevy? Before the motor failed we could hear a loud 'clang clang clang clang' from the lower end.
Thanks
Jeremiah
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jerem0621
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05/24/13 04:52pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Need new tow vehicle
I think my next TV is probably going to be a 12 passenger van (shorty) in one ton or 3/4 ton. Like said before they are cheap, economical (getting 14.7 MPG with the Ford E-350 2013 5.4 Rental) tons of capacity and easy to drive.
The HD halfs are capable. No doubt. But just getting the base model in a 3/4 ton model will generally outperform even highest capacity half ton.
Choose wisely,
Jeremiah
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jerem0621
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05/24/13 02:59pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Michelin Tires
samsontdog,
Note that jerem0621 post does not state how long the tires (age) have been on his 14 year old 1999 F-350 DRW truck or how many miles are on them. I expect him to come back and claim they are only a year old and have only 5,000 miles on them. Ya right! Tires don't just leak! There has to be a hole or a bead seal problem or even a valve stem issue.
If on aluminum wheels, they corrode in the bead area as trapped salts or road chemicals lay in there and eventually cause leaking thru the compromised area. Nearly all our vehicles for my business and personal use having aluminum wheels have corroded and slowly lost air regardless of the brand of tires on them. Also on our towable RV's that had aluminum wheels. Part of the reason we now only have steel wheels on all our item's with tires and mysteriously, the slow leaking issues of the past are gone! Rusting in the bead area of steel wheels also often creates slow leaks if bad enough. Good tire mechanics/places check for rusting or corrosion and will remove/emery (sand) and seal the rust etc area. Do the research of aluminum wheel corrosion.
Actually they are NOT on my DRW truck. They are on my Town Car and they are 1.5 years old. They do however have about 30k miles on them. My other sets have been from new to 3 years old. They put nice mileage ratings on those tires. Its a shame that the sidewalls rotts out of them before the tread is worn out. Firestones are on my DRW and that's what's going back on it.
Thanks for the tip on aluminum wheels, that's what's on my car, they were bought new with the tires. If that is the case I must retract and say tht the air issues may be with the rims.
Respectfully, ask questions before you go throwing accusations at people. I try to be helpful and offer constructive honest answers about my experiences and my understanding of ratings, opinions etc etc etc. if you will look in my past posts I have admitting wrong before and try to treat other posters with respect. I respectfully ask the same.
Thanks
Jeremiah
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jerem0621
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05/24/13 01:12pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Michelin Tires
There is a reason that I don't spend the money on Michelins any more, out of the four sets I have had two sets developed extensive sidewall cracking. Another set would not balance correctly, my current set will not hold air in two of the tires. It loses 20 psi over two weeks. No apparent issues with the tires they just leak. No punctures etc.
They are the most inconsistent brand of tires I have ever owned.
Coopers on the other hand have served me well for a long time. Firestone have also served me well.
Next set will be anything but Michelins.
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jerem0621
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05/24/13 08:49am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Another Trip to The Mechanic
If it makes you feel any better I lost the bottom end of an 02 3500 express with a 350 yesterday. 1200$ would feel like pocket change compared to what this van is about to get spent on it.
Was traveling with friends and we had the van towed home and called a rental van to finish the trip.
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jerem0621
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05/23/13 07:40pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Got stuck.....
Without the Limited slip or locker, you don't have a 2wd. You have a 1wd. And 1WD is pretty much useless off pavement.
dually = 2wd :B
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jerem0621
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05/21/13 08:22pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Long Box vs Short Box
Long bed all day. I love the two extra post holes (two additional tie off points)
Quite funny, I hear all this talk about parking etc being an issue and have found that parking is the least of my worries. I had a crew cab long bed dually truck and I still park in my parking garage at work. I stick out some but I fit. Driving and maneuvering is fine. It's not like you can't drive it
I have never seen a 40k truck sitting abandoned in an alleyway or sparking garage because it got "stuck".
Drive thrus at fast food, no problem for my dually. I can do whatever I need to do I just have to do a little planning.
After owning both a short bed and a long bed there is no way I can go back to a shorty. Not only are they much less useful the don't look nearly as good :).
I would love to have a 1968 Chevy 2500 long bed, one of the most beautiful trucks ever IMHO.
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jerem0621
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05/21/13 02:56pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Got stuck.....
"So the age old question asking if a 2wd dually can get stuck in the yard on wet grass is.... Yes it can..."
Sorry, based on your description, I don't see it...
"put the truck in drive and proceeded to sink in mud up to the rim :/."
Seems to me, the wet grass didn't get you stuck, the rim-deep mud under the wet grass was the culprit!
I had my old 1994 Dodge CTD 3500 dually 4X2 on wet grass, in and out of pastures and hay fields (loaded and empty), on loose gravel, on wet forest skid trails, etc., and never got stuck.
Just lucky I guess.
Yes, you are right. A 2wd is actually competent when properly equipped.
This post was more about Friends that it was my truck. I don't think I communicated it very well. Its not about mud or grass, its about stuff happening and my friends being there for me. Will they aggrivate me? Sure, will we laugh around the campfire? Yes! But they were there for me :) And I am there for them.
Now, on to the technical stuff, my truck, being a 2wd was at a disadvantage, also, being a non limited slip was also a disadvantage. The tires that sunk in the mud were the drive tires. Also, my tires are about wore out so the tread quickly filled with mud and that was about it.
Had I had good tires, locker, I would have probably been fine. Am I going to go sell my dually and buy a 4x4 because of this one event? No, I'm not?
Thanks!
Jeremiah
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jerem0621
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05/21/13 08:46am |
Tow Vehicles
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Got stuck.....
I pulled my FIL's TT home from a local campground. Backed the rig up to the trailers normal spot, unhitched, put the truck in drive and proceeded to sink in mud up to the rim :/...it was flat grass. Well anyhow.
Called my friend who has a 4x4 dually Ford and his wife pulled me out of the mud as he looked on.
She quickly reminded me that I got pulled out of the mud by a girl.
I will never live this down. Lol
Anyhow, looks like over the last 4 days I have discovered diesel power and the merits of 4x4. Lol
So the age old question asking if a 2wd dually can get stuck in the yard on wet grass is.... Yes it can...
Jeremiah
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jerem0621
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05/21/13 06:14am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: A not-really-vintage but not far off rebuild of a Mallard
Are you going to replace the old metal roof with a new rubber roof style?
(You are not saying that those on the fiver forum just wouldn't understand now are you?) LOL. I think some people believe that Fivers all came with slides. Bahahaha... yeah, there is no "classic Fivers" Sub Forum. LOL
I love these old projects.
Thanks!
Jeremiah
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jerem0621
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05/20/13 10:15pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Stopped by the Ram dealer
This is hilarious.... talking about a 60k plus truck and ya'll are discussing the value of a 3.7% cosmetic upgrade. If ya can't afford the longhorn package.. you can't afford the Laramie..
Either truck would be an absolute dream for me. I am envious that you guys can even afford to have this discussion. I'm thinking about a 15-20k used diesel and that is going to be a stretch for me. (Dang new truck test drives!!!)
Thanks!
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jerem0621
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05/20/13 10:07pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Looking for better Sway Control
Add a second "simple" sway bar and call it done. Contrary to popular opinion the old fashioned technology when set up right does a great job.
Thanks
Jeremiah
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jerem0621
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05/20/13 04:17pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Anybody besides me using old school WD hitch?
I love my old fashioned, reliable, wd hitch and dual friction sway control.
You are not unsafe if you don't use one of the different friction sway control devices (which the DC and the Equal-i-zer are) as a matter of fact sway control is not about what brand hitch you have.
Note: I have both Dual Friction bars and DC devices. I prefer the friction bars over DC. Equal-i-zer is about the same. The only difference is that Equal-i-zer uses metal on metal friction while a sway bar uses metal on brake pad material.
NOTE: If your trailer is over 25 ft you need to use TWO friction bars. Many people miss this and go from one and skip the second which would have taken the rest of the wiggle out of the rig and go straight to a DC or something else.
Thanks!
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jerem0621
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05/20/13 04:01pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 3,500 max tow capacity.
Another option is to buy a much larger "park model" type trailer and store it at a local storage lot. When you are ready to head south call someone to haul it to your site.
Thanks!
Jeremiah
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jerem0621
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05/19/13 10:38pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Goodyear Marathons Made in China?
I have a set of Maxxis tires on my TT right now. I assure you, they are just tires. They are well made but they are not magical. I had one of them pick up a screw and had to have it repaired.
No worries though, the are very good tires. I prefer them over China Bombs any day of the week. I wish they were made in the USA but the QC seems to be there in the Taiwan factory.
I will run them until they show signs of separation or bands breaking in the tires. 5 years or 8.. I am not sure. However long they last.
Thanks!
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jerem0621
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05/19/13 10:26pm |
Towing
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RE: 2003 duramax questions
Drove it today, wife didn't care for it like I thought. She wants to wait and get a newer version in a year or so. Bad memory's of the 01 with injector issues and large bill to fix (second set) plague her mind. She wants to stick with gas like we have been doing for the last few years, so I may pass unless she changes her mind some. The dealer would not budge on price so I walked away... Funny thing is they have been blowing up my cell phone the last,hour.....I will keep y'all posted.
Women also tend to be very rational people as well. Trust your wife on this one. Happy wife, happy home. My wife LOVES our gas truck. She picked it out, I said I wanted a crew cab dually, she pointed at this one and said "buy this one." And that is what I did.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with staying with a Gas truck. There does come a point where the weight of the trailer demands a diesel but that is a very substantial weight. Most modern gassers can handle a 9-15k (depends on ratings now) trailer with ease.
I test drove a new Duramax yesterday. I was impressed by the motor. Very impressed. But the Gas Dually meets my needs, and no $1300 payment every month.
Good luck no matter what you decide.
Thanks!
Jeremiah
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jerem0621
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05/19/13 10:09pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Truck or SUV recommendations
Yea, your trailer is going to grow to about 6500 -7500 lbs loaded. My trailer has a similar dry weight and ready to go camping its about 6500-7000 lbs.
Remember that dry weight is only going to matter to ONE person in reality. That is the person who pulls the trailer from the factory to the dealership.
thanks!
Jeremiah
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jerem0621
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05/19/13 10:02pm |
Beginning RVing
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RE: Equilizer hitch needed on 3500?
Yes... Not required but makes everything ride much nicer.
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jerem0621
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05/19/13 09:48pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Fiver TV - 2002 F-350 Lariat 7.3L Diesel Dually
Hello OP,
Great question an it is one that is very subjective with the answer. The 7.3 PowerStroke is a great diesel... there is no doubt about that. However, it still has its issues that must be dealt with and that you should be aware of. Injectors can still run $1000.00 or more, Thinks like the HPOP are relatively expensive, there are two batteries.. Standard diesel stuff.
Now, what you need to be aware of is the 4R100 transmission is the weak link in these (our ) trucks. This transmission is quite literally a late 1980's slightly refined technology. The 4R100 is very similar to E4OD with the main differences coming from the electronics. They are reliable in their stock form but can suffer from stiff 2-3 (as in shake the dash hard) shifts. This may mean that you need a rebuild. It may also mean that you have some broke/weak springs in your valve body. I have a V10 F350 and I suffer from the hard 2-3 shift. I am getting ready to rebuild my valve body to see if this resolves the issue. But I am prepared to rebuild the transmission as well.
If the diesel has been modified or "chipped" you can expect a new transmission shortly.
This Diesel does have turbo lag. There is a bit of time it takes for the turbo to spool up. If you have driven gassers or you are use to a newer diesel you will notice the turbo lag, especially from a standing start.
The newer diesels (the 6.0 and the 6.7) use different technologies to pretty much eliminate turbo lag.
With this in mind the 7.3 is an awesome motor, proven, reliable, and relatively powerful. If everything checks out, I would not hesitate to own one, let me put it that way.
Thanks!
Jeremiah
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jerem0621
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05/19/13 09:41pm |
Tow Vehicles
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