The Dude Abides

Buy the way, being a mechanic have you ever known any heat issues to be due to bad radiator circulation. My car gets up to temp but it seems to take forever and the heat is warm but not hot. People have suggested heater core clog but i cant just flush it here in the apartment parking lot.

On a side note if you want to sell the rebuilt waterpump you just picked up id be willing to get it if you wanted to sell it. Almost postiive mine is the original. Neres another thing you could try. I know its cold but why not try running it with no t stat and see how it works then. Would atleast eliminate a coolant flowing problem or a tstat problem.

Since your a mechanic im sure you know how to check for HG problems or what the tail tail signs of one are. Leaks through exhaust white smoke and what not. Ive been told that its not just getting to the H that kills motors its running it long on H. If i could suggest anything would be a coolant flush. ONly because it sounds like you do have an airbubble in there. A coolant flush will get rid of your problem, i doubt your motor is toast.

And i need to thread this as far as i can into the head.

7/16x14 is the tap size i have. Should this do the trick.

Dude i suggested rules and i didnt get praise WTH:)

My problem was in a 99 malibu car, and it had an iron block. I couldnt tell where it was leaking out and i dont remember having a loss of power. Infact i kept driveing it for a while filling it up occasionally untill i could afford to fix it. How many miles are on your blazer, mine had less then 50k when this happened. I dont remember if the mechanic said it could leak internally and externally. Might be worth looking into though. If its got a ton of miles it could be a HG i guess.

Oreagon and Washington arent beautiful or anything. Man Iowa is really boring. Nice wheelin shots, thats the first time ive seen you get that dirty since you finished it.

So should there be some rules or something like. You both need to have the same car. OR you both need to start with a car from scratch. What about wheeling said vehicle. Because then it not only becomes a build off competition but a wheeling ability competition as well. And my car is still available in stock form:grin:

Going to go ahead here and post my opinion. I had a 99 malibu which had a similar problem. It turned out to be the intake gasket had failed. When i had it repaired i was explained typical GM iron block with aluminum intake. All they did was pull the intake replace the gasket and put some RTV on it. No problems after that. I later learned that this is a common problem on GM vehicles. Not saying that this is your problem but i had all the symptons you were having. Im not saying its impossible to blow the headgasket in a 4.3 gm motor, one of the most durrable motors gm has produced. Im just saying its improbable. Improbable yes but definately possible. Check around the intake and see if you see any leaks. And make sure its leaking out the exhaust not just on it.

I read about people gutting the cats but leaving the stock exhaust. It has alittle more rumble but not as annoyng as running mufflerless. How can i gut a cat on the car. Cut out the bottom remove the bits then have someone weld it back up.

I would like to offer my car as one of the build cars, as long as i get it back after you guys put your goodies on it.

Ive been curious how and when a cat goes bad. I have 200k on my car with the original california cat and i wouldnt know if its hindering anything because the car runs so bad anyways.

what size tire are u runnin.

Just curious how common this is. My brothers legacy only takes 12 gallons to fill up when it is just above E. So my question is there a reserve fuel system in this car or do the fuel gauges tend to go south on these. Or is the tank full of crud. Ben

Na the check engine light was disabled buy the previous owner (di*k) but oh well that was the only code that popped up and hes been driveing it for a week trouble free.

I have a fine thread tap but would you say the thicker version would be better.

I hate you and your friggin lack of snow and ice.

Going along great, crank angle sensor fixed the problems and they had a junk engine they were sending to subaru for a core so they pulled it off that and charged him for the diagnostics and alittle bit of labor. He did find out that one of the snowflake wheels is bent so hes on the search for a new one. Its wobbles pretty good but i think it would be good enough for a full size spare. Now on to the cleanup cuz this thing is nasty.

So last night i ditch work to take a friend out to pleasant hill so he can get a car. He totaled his last week. Now my car (guido) hasnt been running on par lately. His manifold leak has him way underpowered and lack of heat is really annoying. Especially when its -10. So the roads are terrible, going 35 on the street and passing every tom, wongleflute and harry pokeing along. We hit the highway big mistake. Black ice everywhere. Now ive never driven on the highway when it gets like this but its the worst ive ever seen. Police and towtrucks pulling cars out of the ditch. Flipped suvs everywhere. Cars and trucks all over the ditch, just terrible. Guido was no exception, the black ice tried to take him but never did. When i started slideing sideways just downshifted and countersteered. Never been so scared white knuckled in my life. As much as i complain about this car it has always started in this bitter cold a** weather and has yet to let me down. Just tears up the snow. I can only imagine if i had some really good snow tires on. On a side note my friend was freaking out thinking this was a mistake, i told him not to worry and have faith in the suby. Hes buying a 08 cobalt but i know he was thinking subaru after that night.

Just checked with local fastenall. They only have grade 2 allthread. Now they say they can special order grade b7 in but it will take a few days. Fine or course thread in 3ft sections.

Last Q, should i do all 4 since its easy and make it stronger. Or just do this one and get buy until the others go.

Ive heard keep the muffler but get rid of the midpipe. That accounts for a more throatier sound but not so annoying.

Oh and after relooking at the exhaust studs you could buy i can see why you would suggest the all thread. You just have more contace with the metal and not the space inbetween.

Thanks again for your help GD, i keep looking at this thread and trying to figure out where go. Piece of cake, ill get it. Oh 1 more thing, i havent looked but since its been snowy and wet and the gasket has been exposed. Is it a good bet that its bad and i should replace it.