NSR: Silverado in the shop for HEAT~ fixed!

[Stig / Major Tom]

20 yr old Chevy truck hasn't made much heat in a couple of years.
See the temp gauge after a lengthy drive!
Today - decided to send it to the shop for poss. new thermostat, coolant change...and a general "look me over."

Small , family run, shop has a stellar reputation - if a little pricey.
Not much luck with the, also pricey~!, actual Chevrolet dealer in town. So nothing to lose.
My late FIL gave me his truck....when I sold my VW and had taken to the city bus and my KYMCO for work commutes.
Wife said I'd hurt his feelings if I kept refusing it.

New Michelins & plugs, total brakes and lines, and reg. oil changes is all this thing has received for the past 2 decades.
The "engine light" ? Apparently to let me know that engine is still present. Handy!





Seriously - Pops said that the sensor that causes the eng. light had been repaired several times - then he just quit fooling with it since the truck runs fine! It has for me, too.

It'll be nice to have heat this year!
Awaiting call from the boys.....

Stig

[Iahawk]

take care of that old truck and it will take care of you! Gad you got it in...running cool can eventually cause you some issues. Let us know how it turns out.

[Stig / Major Tom]

$1,184.05
Dropped it off yesterday, picked it up this afternoon. I told them to tell me what it needs - "look it over", want to keep it.
Good commo - they called w/ estimates and approval 3 times.

New thermostat, stuck open as I thought.
Flush cooling system and fill.
Replaced battery.
R & R transmission fluid, filter and gasket.

Diagnosed and repaired both the always-on engine light and the often-on air-bag light.
Plus full inspection. Green.

often-on air-bag light Chevy dealer diagnosed as need a new 'clock spring' behind steering wheel.
AND wanted $670 + $170 to test and insure it was fixed. I said no.

 This is the 1500 W(ork) T(ruck) model. Crank windows, A/C, 4-speaker, rubber floor, bench seat, DRL's.

It's a good truck. Full 8' bed~! Cap. No rust. 6 cyl. Good paint. Only damage was to front license plate crushed by a backing Soccer Mom. MPG's?? No idea. Why look for trouble.....

I'm happy. That's surely the most $ ever spent on this 20 yr old Chevy.



Stig

[Iahawk]

car repair isn't cheap...but glad you got the main things fixed! I don't know if you can even get the old school Work Truck type package anymore? Back when I was actually selling those (early to mid 90's) we sold a ton of basic 4.3 V6, Auto, rubber floor, tweed seat, standard cab, 8 foot box work trucks, usually in 2WD.  That 4.3 is a 350 Chevy V8 with 2 cylinders lopped off. Solid motor.

I think today you get a turbo 4 or very problematic V8's to choose from??  Keep that nice old truck running.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Ta=Daa!
Look at that temp gauge! Not sure I've ever seen it go up there since Pops gave it to me. Just figured it's a cool running engine.??



I shot the thermostat hardware for 3 days with PB blaster - figuring, me, I'd snap the stud off (after 20 years!)
Pic does show a different front stud and nut.


New exp.tnk cap.


As a tear around scooter rider - I never much fussed about "heat". Don't expect it on my scoots - and as long as it gets body temp with no wind inside the truck, I was content

My wife's car has heated seats - for the whimpy I guess.
My Vanagon did have a heated outside rearview mirror - which I thought was cool! - meanwhile the exposed/outside gas cap often required me to buy a cup of hot coffee inside, then bring it out and pour it on the cap. Impresses the bystanders!

Stig

[randyo]

in New Hampshire, the State did away with annual safety inspections last year, I'm on the borderline of needing tires, but only been driving 1100-1200 miles/yr the past couple years, probably can stretch the tires another year, also have a small exhaust leak, but still quieter than many cars/trucks with stock mufflers